Minnesota Twins Search for Bullpen Reinforcements: High-Upside Relievers Still Available

As the Minnesota Twins head into the 2026 MLB season, one area of concern remains glaring: their relief pitching corps. Despite improvements elsewhere on the roster, including the offseason acquisitions of Pete Alonso, Taylor Ward, Shane Baz, Zach Eflin, and Ryan Helsley, the bullpen has not seen the same level of investment.

Much of the first and second tiers of relief options on the free-agent market have already been signed, leaving Minnesota with limited proven high-end options. Nevertheless, the remaining pool still contains several high-ceiling relievers who could make a significant impact in 2026.

Current State of the Twins Bullpen

The Twins’ bullpen struggled at times in 2025, with inconsistent production and a lack of a true dominant setup man or closer. While Ryan Helsley joins the team as the designated closer, the back-end and middle relief roles are still in flux. Minnesota’s front office has been conservative in its approach, perhaps hoping to capitalize on overlooked free-agent talent later in the offseason.

Given that the relief market often undervalues bullpen arms, the Twins’ plan may revolve around waiting for the right fit, particularly players willing to take a “prove-it” deal to re-establish themselves as elite relievers. Fortunately, several options still exist with proven strikeout ability, velocity, and potential for dominance.

Top Available Bullpen Targets

Evan Phillips: High-End Proven Closer

Evan Phillips stands out as a top target for Minnesota, provided he can return to health after Tommy John surgery in May 2025. At 31 years old, Phillips is a veteran reliever who has demonstrated dominance at the MLB level.

During his peak seasons in 2022 and 2023 with the Dodgers, Phillips posted sub-2.00 ERAs across 124 innings while striking out approximately 30% of batters faced. He was considered one of the league’s most elite bullpen arms, combining a high-velocity fastball with a sharp breaking ball to neutralize hitters in high-leverage situations.

In 2024, before his injury, Phillips maintained a 3.62 ERA across nearly 55 innings, proving that he could still perform effectively. However, his 2025 season was cut short, leaving questions about his post-surgery velocity and durability.

For the Twins, Phillips represents a potential bullpen ace capable of setting the tone for other relievers. If willing to take a one-year prove-it deal, he could slot into the top of Minnesota’s relief hierarchy, providing leadership, strikeouts, and late-inning reliability.

Seranthony Dominguez: Explosive, High-Upside Option

Another intriguing option is Seranthony Dominguez, a reliever known for his electric stuff and strikeout ability. While Dominguez has struggled with consistency throughout his career, his 2025 season showed a resurgence.

Dominguez split 2025 between the Baltimore Orioles and the Toronto Blue Jays, posting a 3.16 ERA across 62 innings, along with the second-best strikeout rate of his career. His repertoire includes a high-90s fastball, a devastating slider, and a splitter with nearly a 50% whiff rate, making him a potential game-changer in late-inning situations.

The primary concern is control. Dominguez walked 13.8% of batters, the highest rate of his career, which has likely contributed to teams’ hesitancy to sign him. For Minnesota, however, a reliever with elite swing-and-miss stuff can outweigh occasional control issues, particularly if paired with a strong catcher and bullpen management strategy.

Dominguez’s availability gives the Twins a chance to secure high-upside talent without overpaying, particularly if they are willing to structure a contract around performance incentives.

Jose Leclerc: A Risk-Reward Play

Jose Leclerc is another name to monitor. Leclerc, who suffered a lat strain early in 2025 requiring surgery, has a strong track record when healthy. Across 370 career innings, he has posted a 3.34 ERA and a 30.8% strikeout rate, demonstrating his ability to generate swings and misses.

Leclerc’s challenges lie primarily in control, which has at times limited his opportunities to close games or maintain consistent high-leverage roles. However, his mid-90s fastball and sharp slider provide the raw tools to succeed if he regains full health.

For the Twins, Leclerc represents a high-risk, high-reward option that could slot near the top of the bullpen, either in setup or closer scenarios, complementing Helsley’s closing duties.

Strategy for Minnesota

The Twins face a unique challenge: balancing budget constraints with the need for reliable relievers. Free-agent pricing for elite bullpen arms has escalated, particularly for pitchers with proven strikeout ability and past high-leverage experience. Minnesota may be forced to prioritize health, upside, and affordability over long-term contracts.

Waiting for relievers to fall in the market, as the Twins have done in previous offseasons, may allow them to target undervalued arms who still have the potential to dominate. However, there is risk in delaying, as some remaining options—particularly Phillips—may command contracts with performance incentives or short-term guarantees.

The Twins’ approach may include:

1. Signing one veteran arm to anchor the bullpen (e.g., Phillips or Leclerc)

2. Adding high-upside, low-cost relievers like Dominguez to complement the core

3. Leveraging minor-league depth to create competition and flexibility during the season

Bullpen Depth and 2026 Outlook

With potential additions like Evan Phillips, Seranthony Dominguez, and Jose Leclerc, Minnesota could dramatically improve its bullpen depth in 2026. Assuming Helsley takes the closer role, the remaining arms would be positioned to protect leads, provide late-inning strikeouts, and bridge to the back end of games effectively.

A strong bullpen is critical in a division like the AL Central, where tight, low-scoring games often decide playoff positioning. Minnesota’s ability to compete against Cleveland, Chicago, and Detroit may hinge on the performance of its relief pitchers.

Opportunities in the Market

While the high-end free agents are mostly gone, several other under-the-radar relievers could still provide value:

• Daniel Bard: A veteran with elite fastball/slider combination

• Diego Castillo: High strikeout rates but limited innings

• Taylor Hearn: Emerging reliever with strong velocity

• Aaron Loup: Left-handed specialist for matchup flexibility

For the Twins, patience in the market could pay dividends. By waiting for the right combination of talent, health, and contract terms, Minnesota could assemble a bullpen capable of supporting a full-season playoff push without overcommitting financially.

Conclusion

The Minnesota Twins’ bullpen remains an area of need as they head into 2026, but the free-agent market still offers several viable, high-ceiling options. Veteran relievers like Evan Phillips could anchor the group if healthy, while Seranthony Dominguez and Jose Leclerc offer upside with strikeout ability and dominant stuff.

Minnesota’s strategy appears to be waiting and targeting undervalued arms while complementing the proven closer Ryan Helsley. If successful, the Twins could turn one of their most significant offseason weaknesses into a strength, providing a stable, high-impact bullpen capable of supporting their power-laden lineup and rotation anchored by Shane Baz and Zach Eflin.

As the market continues to develop, Twins fans should watch for late signings and prove-it deals, which could provide the team with the depth and strikeout ability needed to compete in the AL Central and beyond in 2026.