The Minnesota Twins made a bold pivot at the trade deadline, flipping much of their bullpen – including Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax, Louis Varland, and Brock Stewart – in a move that signaled a clear shift toward long-term planning. But now, with the dust settled and 2026 looming, one thing is obvious: the Twins have a serious void in the late innings.

This isn’t a surprise. After dealing away their most reliable arms, Minnesota is staring down a season where bullpen depth is more question mark than exclamation point. They’re not expected to contend in 2026, but even rebuilding teams need stability at the back end of games – whether to protect young starters, mentor emerging arms, or simply avoid burning out a rotation that’s still developing.

Enter Ryan Pressly.

The veteran right-hander, familiar to Twins fans from his first stint in Minnesota between 2015 and 2018, is one of several experienced closers still on the market. And while his best years came in Houston – where he became a postseason staple and racked up high-leverage experience – the idea of bringing him back to where it all started is gaining traction.

Joel Reuter recently pointed to the Twins as a potential landing spot for Pressly, noting that despite much of the top-end relief talent already signing this offseason, a few proven arms remain available. That group includes Pressly, Seranthony Dominguez, Chad Green, and Kirby Yates – all of whom have closed games and logged meaningful innings in high-pressure situations.

From a fit perspective, Pressly makes a lot of sense. He’s not the same dominant force he was at his peak, but the stuff still plays – and more importantly, he knows how to handle the ninth inning. For a team that just cleared out its bullpen depth chart, having a veteran who’s been through the fire could help stabilize things both on the field and in the clubhouse.

There’s also the familiarity factor. Pressly knows the organization.

He knows the market. And while the Twins aren’t looking to make a deep playoff push in 2026, having a guy who can lock down games and help guide the next wave of relievers could be a valuable piece of the puzzle.

Would it be a full-circle moment? Sure.

But more importantly, it could be a smart, low-risk move for a team that needs to reestablish some structure in its bullpen. If Minnesota is serious about not letting the late innings become a free-for-all next season, a Pressly reunion might be more than just a feel-good story – it could be a step toward rebuilding with purpose.