Taylor Rogers Is a Step Forward, but the Twins’ Bullpen Still Needs Real Answers

For much of the offseason, the Minnesota Twins bullpen has felt less like a coherent plan and more like a loose collection of theoretical possibilities. Roles were undefined, upside outweighed certainty, and experience was in short supply. That finally changed this week.

On Thursday, the Twins took an important step toward restoring structure by reportedly reuniting with former All-Star reliever Taylor Rogers on a one-year, $2 million contract. It is not a splashy move, nor does it instantly transform the bullpen into a strength. But it matters. After trading away their top five relievers last summer, Minnesota badly needed a foundation—and Rogers provides exactly that.

This signing does not complete the bullpen. It gives it a starting point.

Why Taylor Rogers Matters—Even If He’s Not the Same Pitcher

Taylor Rogers is no longer the dominant late-inning weapon Twins fans remember from his first stint in Minnesota. His velocity is down slightly, his margin for error is thinner, and his role now projects more toward the middle-to-late innings than pure shutdown work.

Still, Rogers brings something the Twins bullpen has lacked for months: credibility.

He offers experience, reliability, and familiarity with high-leverage situations. Even if he is not the closer, he stabilizes the group by raising the baseline level of competence. That alone is valuable for a bullpen that has leaned far too heavily on projection rather than performance.

Rogers does not solve the Twins’ bullpen problems—but he gives them something real to build around.

A Clearer Bullpen Picture—But Still an Incomplete One

With Rogers added to the mix, the bullpen picture finally has some shape. As things stand, a realistic snapshot of Minnesota’s bullpen looks like this:

Locks

• Taylor Rogers

• Cole Sands

• Justin Topa

On the Fence

• Eric Orze

• Kody Funderburk

Wild Cards

• David Festa

• John Klein

• Travis Adams

This group is more coherent than it was a week ago, but it is not yet dependable. Too many spots are still occupied by question marks, development projects, or arms better suited for low-leverage innings.

The Rogers signing also pushes Connor Prielipp out of the immediate projection. Roster math matters here. Carrying three left-handed relievers seems unlikely, and Rogers’ presence narrows the path. That does not diminish Prielipp’s upside—only his Opening Day odds.

Connor Prielipp and the Internal Options Still Matter

Prielipp remains one of the most intriguing arms in the organization. Ranked as Twins Daily’s No. 6 prospect and named Minor League Pitcher of the Year, he finally stayed healthy long enough in 2025 to make a meaningful impact.

Across 82 2/3 innings, Prielipp struck out 98 batters, showcasing the swing-and-miss stuff that made him a high-upside prospect despite an injury-plagued amateur and early professional career. At 25 years old, he profiles as a potential high-impact bullpen arm if his health continues to cooperate.

President of baseball operations Derek Falvey has already mentioned Prielipp—along with Marco Raya—as a candidate for a bullpen transition. That alone signals that internal conversions are very much on the table.

Raya is another fascinating case. Long viewed as one of the Twins’ top pitching prospects, he reached Triple-A at just 21 years old, but struggled last season in St. Paul, posting an ERA north of 6.00 with a 22.6% strikeout rate and 12.6% walk rate. His dominant curveball and pitch mix could play better in shorter stints, making the bullpen a logical pivot point.

More Starters Could Be Headed to the Bullpen

Beyond Prielipp and Raya, it feels increasingly likely that at least one young starter will be shifted into a relief role. That group includes:

• David Festa

• Simeon Woods Richardson

• Zebby Matthews

• Mick Abel

• Taj Bradley

Festa appears to be the cleanest fit right now. After dealing with shoulder issues last season, his stuff could tick up significantly in shorter appearances. Bradley also stands out as a logical bullpen conversion. With nearly 400 major league innings already logged, the evaluation phase as a starter may be nearing its end, and a power relief role could unlock a new version of his value.

These conversions are part of the Twins’ broader strategy: extract value from pitching depth without overspending in free agency.

The Importance of Long Relief and “Glue” Arms

Not every bullpen spot needs to be flashy. Long relief and mop-up innings still matter, especially over a 162-game season.

In that category, Pierson Ohl (if he clears waivers) and Travis Adams profile as natural fits. Andrew Morris could also fill that role if needed. These are the innings eaters—the bridge arms who make the rest of the bullpen functional by absorbing low-leverage workload.

They will not win games on their own, but without them, the bullpen collapses under strain.

Why the Twins Still Need a Veteran Reliever

Even with Rogers in place, the bullpen remains fragile. The difference between a workable bullpen and a liability often comes down to one reliable late-inning arm.

That is why free agency still matters for Minnesota.

Several veteran relievers remain available, including:

• David Robertson

• Liam Hendriks

• Paul Sewald

• Michael Kopech

• Scott Barlow

• Hector Neris

• Ryan Brasier

Each name comes with risk—age, injury history, volatility, or all three. But the Twins do not need perfection. They need someone who can handle the seventh or eighth inning without making every close game feel precarious.

Experience matters here. A bullpen full of maybes rarely survives a full season.

Trades Should Also Be on the Table

Free agency is not the only path forward. The Twins could also explore trading from a position of surplus—particularly among left-handed hitters—to acquire a controllable bullpen arm.

This approach addresses multiple issues at once:

• Balances the roster

• Adds bullpen stability

• Preserves top pitching prospects

• Keeps payroll flexible

It is the kind of targeted move that fits Minnesota’s front-office philosophy.

The Front Office Knows More Moves Are Coming

At a recent Winter Caravan stop in Fargo, North Dakota, Twins broadcaster Kris Atteberry offered a telling update. When asked about who would close games for the 2026 Twins, former reliever Glen Perkins mentioned names like Sands and Rogers without committing to a single option.

Atteberry then interjected with an important clarification: the bullpen picture is not complete.

He told fans that the Twins will have multiple additional bullpen options on the roster before the team reports to Fort Myers next month. That aligns with everything we’ve seen so far—Rogers is the beginning, not the end.

Rogers Is the Start, Not the Finish

The Twins bullpen now has structure. It has a foundation. What it does not yet have is certainty.

Add one legitimate late-inning right-hander. Replace one or two fringe arms. Do that, and this bullpen begins to resemble a true eight-man unit rather than a developmental experiment.

The choice facing Minnesota is clear: settle for fragile upside, or take deliberate steps toward real stability.

Taylor Rogers was a meaningful first move. Now the Twins must finish the job.

How do you think Minnesota should complete the bullpen? Join the discussion and share your thoughts.