The Minnesota Twins are in the middle of a rough stretch, having dropped six of their last seven games. While some fans may be reminiscing about former stars like Carlos Correa, a closer look across the league shows that not every former Twin is thriving in a new uniform.
In fact, several players from the 2025 roster are struggling significantly with their new teams in the early stages of the 2026 MLB season — a reality that may soften the blow of Minnesota’s recent skid.
Former Twins Facing Early Struggles in 2026
1. Willi Castro – Colorado Rockies
Willi Castro was a versatile piece for Minnesota before being traded to the Chicago Cubs last July in exchange for pitching prospects. He later signed a two-year, $12.8 million deal with Colorado in the offseason.
While Castro continues to showcase his defensive flexibility — logging innings at every infield position and even left field — his offensive production has been underwhelming. Through 21 games, he’s slashing .246/.316/.348 with a 78 OPS+, along with just one home run and nine RBIs.
For a player expected to provide steady offense in a hitter-friendly environment like Coors Field, those numbers fall short of expectations.
2. Chris Paddack – Miami Marlins
Chris Paddack has had a difficult transition since leaving Minnesota. After being traded to the Detroit Tigers in a midseason deal, he signed a one-year, $4 million contract with Miami.
So far in 2026, Paddack has struggled mightily. He currently leads Major League Baseball in losses with four and owns a 6.38 ERA and 1.542 WHIP over five appearances.
Command issues and an inability to limit hard contact have plagued the right-hander, making it a challenging start to his tenure with the Marlins.
3. Griffin Jax – Tampa Bay Rays
The trade involving Griffin Jax is looking increasingly favorable for Minnesota. In exchange for Jax, the Twins acquired Taj Bradley, who has been dominant with a 1.63 ERA and 34 strikeouts in just over 27 innings this season.
Meanwhile, Jax has struggled to find consistency out of the bullpen for Tampa Bay. In 11 appearances, he has allowed 11 runs (10 earned) across nine innings, accompanied by shaky control and elevated hit totals.
This contrast highlights one of the more lopsided early returns on a trade in 2026.
4. Harrison Bader – San Francisco Giants
Harrison Bader entered free agency on a high note after a strong finish with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2025. That performance earned him a two-year, $20.5 million deal with San Francisco.
However, his 2026 campaign has gotten off to a disastrous start. Before landing on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain, Bader posted a shocking .115/.145/.192 slash line over 55 plate appearances.
Injuries have long been a concern for Bader, and this latest setback only adds to the frustration for the Giants.
5. Danny Coulombe – Boston Red Sox
Danny Coulombe was highly effective for Minnesota in 2025, allowing just four earned runs over 31 innings. But since being traded to the Texas Rangers last season, his performance has declined sharply.
Now with Boston, Coulombe continues to struggle. After a rough outing against the New York Yankees, his ERA sits at 7.11 with a 1.579 WHIP in limited action this year.
For a pitcher once relied upon for consistency out of the bullpen, the drop-off has been significant.
A Silver Lining for the Twins
While the Minnesota Twins are clearly dealing with their own issues on the field, the struggles of these former players offer some perspective. Not every departure has resulted in success elsewhere — and in some cases, Minnesota appears to have made the right decision at the right time.
Baseball is a game of constant adjustments, and early-season numbers don’t always tell the full story. Still, these performances reinforce the unpredictability of roster moves and player development.
For the Twins, the focus now shifts to turning their season around. But as they look ahead, they can take some comfort in knowing that moving on from certain players hasn’t come back to haunt them — at least not yet.
