Twins’ Surprise DFA Signals Bigger Bullpen Move After Victor Caratini, Taylor Rogers Signings

The Minnesota Twins took another step toward reshaping their roster on Friday, finalizing the signings of catcher Victor Caratini and left-handed reliever Taylor Rogers. While the additions themselves were not unexpected, the corresponding roster moves required to make space on the Twins’ already-full 40-man roster sparked conversation across baseball.

One of those moves was widely anticipated. The other came as a legitimate surprise—and may signal that an even bigger bullpen move is still on the horizon.

As the Twins continue to fine-tune their roster ahead of the 2026 season, it is becoming increasingly clear that the front office is not finished, particularly when it comes to reinforcing the bullpen.

Twins Forced to Make Roster Decisions After New Signings

Because Minnesota’s 40-man roster was full at the time of the Caratini and Rogers signings, the team needed to clear two spots. The first move came as no shock: catcher Jhonny Pereda was designated for assignment.

Pereda, 29, fit the profile of an expendable piece. Prior to the Caratini signing, the Twins already had Ryan Jeffers and Alex Jackson on the roster. Adding Caratini—a switch-hitting catcher with postseason experience—made Pereda redundant.

As a journeyman with limited upside and minimal long-term value, Pereda was the logical choice to DFA. That move barely raised an eyebrow.

The second move, however, told a much more interesting story.

Twins Designate Pierson Ohl for Assignment in Surprise Move

The Twins also designated right-handed reliever Pierson Ohl for assignment, a decision that caught many observers off guard.

Ohl, just 26 years old, completed his rookie MLB season in 2025. While his surface-level statistics were underwhelming—a 5.10 ERA across 30 innings—the underlying metrics painted a far more intriguing picture.

Despite inconsistent results, Ohl showed flashes of real potential. Most notably, he posted:

• An elite 31.1% chase rate

• An impressive 5.3% walk rate

• A strong finish to the season, throwing eight scoreless innings with nine strikeouts over his final six appearances

Those numbers suggest a pitcher who may be closer to figuring things out than his ERA would indicate. For a team that has emphasized analytics and development, the decision to DFA Ohl was surprising.

Why Pierson Ohl Likely Won’t Clear Waivers

Given the current state of the league, it’s difficult to imagine Ohl passing through waivers untouched.

Bullpen depth is at a premium across MLB, and a 26-year-old reliever with strong swing-and-miss metrics and improving command is exactly the type of arm rebuilding or depth-seeking teams look to acquire.

Even with his uneven rookie season, Ohl profiles as a low-risk, moderate-upside bullpen piece, and several teams could view him as a candidate for refinement with minor mechanical or pitch-mix adjustments.

If Ohl is claimed, the Twins could soon regret losing a controllable arm just as he appeared to be turning a corner.

Twins’ Projected Opening Day Bullpen Takes Shape

The decision to move on from Ohl becomes even more puzzling when examining Minnesota’s projected bullpen.

Locks to make the Opening Day roster appear to include:

• Taylor Rogers (LHP)

• Kody Funderburk (LHP)

• Cole Sands (RHP)

• Justin Topa (RHP)

• Eric Orze (RHP), acquired earlier in the offseason from the Tampa Bay Rays

That group accounts for five bullpen spots, leaving approximately three open roles—depending on roster construction and rotation decisions.

With room still available, Ohl seemed like a logical candidate to compete for one of those final spots, especially given his late-season improvement.

Yet Minnesota chose to DFA him anyway.

Starting Pitching Depth May Be Driving the Decision

One possible explanation is the Twins’ abundance of MLB-ready starting pitching.

Minnesota has several starters who may not fit into the Opening Day rotation and could transition into bullpen roles. Those arms—often possessing stronger pitch arsenals than traditional relievers—can push fringe bullpen candidates off the roster.

Even accounting for that depth, however, the decision to retain right-hander Travis Adams on the 40-man roster while DFA’ing Ohl raises questions. Adams remains less proven at the big-league level, making Ohl’s removal even more notable.

What Pierson Ohl’s DFA Really Signals

Ultimately, Pierson Ohl’s designation for assignment appears to be less about Ohl himself and more about what the Twins plan to do next.

By removing Ohl from the roster now, Minnesota is creating flexibility to add another reliever—likely a more established, late-inning option—via free agency or the trade market.

That assumption was confirmed when MLB.com’s Matthew Leach reported that the Twins are actively seeking to add another right-handed reliever. In that context, Ohl’s DFA begins to make more sense.

If Minnesota does add another bullpen arm, it’s widely expected that Travis Adams could be next to be designated for assignment.

Twins Bullpen Still Has Room to Improve

It’s unrealistic to expect the Twins’ bullpen to fully replicate its pre-trade-deadline dominance from last season. At that point, Minnesota’s relief corps was among the best in baseball, featuring:

• Jhoan Durán

• Griffin Jax

• Louis Varland

• Brock Stewart

• Danny Coulombe

That group gave the Twins elite velocity, swing-and-miss ability, and matchup flexibility. While that level of dominance may not be attainable again in 2026, the bullpen still has the potential to be a strength—especially with one more high-leverage addition.

Potential Right-Handed Reliever Targets for Minnesota

If the Twins follow through on adding another right-handed reliever, several established options remain available on the market.

Possible targets include:

• Liam Hendriks, a proven closer with postseason experience

• Michael Kopech, a high-upside power arm who could thrive in a relief role

• José Leclerc, a former late-inning option with swing-and-miss stuff

• Paul Sewald, a steady veteran with closing experience and consistency

Any of these arms would immediately raise the ceiling of Minnesota’s bullpen and justify the difficult decision to part with younger, less proven pitchers like Ohl.

Front Office Showing Aggressive Intent

Taken together, the Caratini and Rogers signings—combined with the surprising DFA of Pierson Ohl—suggest that the Twins are operating with urgency.

Rather than settling for internal options, the front office appears committed to actively upgrading the roster, even if it means cutting ties with recent contributors.

That mindset could pay dividends if the Twins successfully land another established reliever and solidify the bullpen ahead of Opening Day.

Final Outlook

At first glance, designating Pierson Ohl for assignment seemed puzzling. He’s young, showed improvement, and possesses underlying metrics teams covet.

But viewed through a broader lens, the move strongly suggests that the Twins are not done adding to their bullpen.

By clearing roster space now, Minnesota is positioning itself to make another impactful move—one that could significantly shape the pitching staff for the 2026 season.

Whether that addition comes via free agency or trade remains to be seen. What’s clear is that Pierson Ohl’s DFA isn’t the end of the story—it’s a signal that something bigger is coming.