Much of the first and second tiers of relief options<\/strong> 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<\/strong> who could make a significant impact in 2026.<\/p>\n The Twins\u2019 bullpen struggled at times in 2025, with inconsistent production and a lack of a true dominant setup man or closer. While Ryan Helsley<\/strong> joins the team as the designated closer, the back-end and middle relief roles<\/strong> are still in flux. Minnesota\u2019s front office has been conservative in its approach, perhaps hoping to capitalize on overlooked free-agent talent<\/strong> later in the offseason.<\/p>\n Given that the relief market often undervalues bullpen arms<\/strong>, the Twins\u2019 plan may revolve around waiting for the right fit<\/strong>, particularly players willing to take a \u201cprove-it\u201d deal to re-establish themselves as elite relievers. Fortunately, several options still exist with proven strikeout ability, velocity, and potential for dominance<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Evan Phillips<\/strong> stands out as a top target for Minnesota, provided he can return to health after Tommy John surgery in May 2025<\/strong>. At 31 years old, Phillips is a veteran reliever who has demonstrated dominance at the MLB level.<\/p>\n During his peak seasons in 2022 and 2023 with the Dodgers<\/strong>, Phillips posted sub-2.00 ERAs<\/strong> across 124 innings while striking out approximately 30% of batters faced<\/strong>. He was considered one of the league\u2019s most elite bullpen arms<\/strong>, combining a high-velocity fastball with a sharp breaking ball to neutralize hitters in high-leverage situations.<\/p>\n In 2024, before his injury, Phillips maintained a 3.62 ERA across nearly 55 innings<\/strong>, proving that he could still perform effectively. However, his 2025 season was cut short<\/strong>, leaving questions about his post-surgery velocity and durability.<\/p>\n For the Twins, Phillips represents a potential bullpen ace<\/strong> capable of setting the tone for other relievers. If willing to take a one-year prove-it deal<\/strong>, he could slot into the top of Minnesota\u2019s relief hierarchy<\/strong>, providing leadership, strikeouts, and late-inning reliability.<\/p>\n Another intriguing option is Seranthony Dominguez<\/strong>, a reliever known for his electric stuff<\/strong> and strikeout ability. While Dominguez has struggled with consistency throughout his career, his 2025 season showed a resurgence<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Dominguez split 2025 between the Baltimore Orioles<\/strong> and the Toronto Blue Jays<\/strong>, posting a 3.16 ERA across 62 innings<\/strong>, along with the second-best strikeout rate of his career<\/strong>. His repertoire includes a high-90s fastball, a devastating slider, and a splitter with nearly a 50% whiff rate<\/strong>, making him a potential game-changer in late-inning situations.<\/p>\n The primary concern is control<\/strong>. Dominguez walked 13.8% of batters<\/strong>, the highest rate of his career, which has likely contributed to teams\u2019 hesitancy to sign him. For Minnesota, however, a reliever with elite swing-and-miss stuff<\/strong> can outweigh occasional control issues, particularly if paired with a strong catcher and bullpen management strategy<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Dominguez\u2019s availability gives the Twins a chance to secure high-upside talent without overpaying<\/strong>, particularly if they are willing to structure a contract around performance incentives.<\/p>\n Jose Leclerc<\/strong> is another name to monitor. Leclerc, who suffered a lat strain early in 2025 requiring surgery<\/strong>, has a strong track record when healthy. Across 370 career innings, he has posted a 3.34 ERA and a 30.8% strikeout rate<\/strong>, demonstrating his ability to generate swings and misses.<\/p>\n Leclerc\u2019s challenges lie primarily in control<\/strong>, which has at times limited his opportunities to close games or maintain consistent high-leverage roles. However, his mid-90s fastball and sharp slider<\/strong> provide the raw tools to succeed if he regains full health.<\/p>\n For the Twins, Leclerc represents a high-risk, high-reward option<\/strong> that could slot near the top of the bullpen, either in setup or closer scenarios<\/strong>, complementing Helsley\u2019s closing duties.<\/p>\n The Twins face a unique challenge: balancing budget constraints with the need for reliable relievers<\/strong>. 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<\/strong> over long-term contracts.<\/p>\n Waiting for relievers to fall in the market, as the Twins have done in previous offseasons, may allow them to target undervalued arms<\/strong> who still have the potential to dominate. However, there is risk in delaying<\/strong>, as some remaining options\u2014particularly Phillips\u2014may command contracts with performance incentives<\/strong> or short-term guarantees<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The Twins\u2019 approach may include:<\/p>\n Signing one veteran arm to anchor the bullpen<\/strong> (e.g., Phillips or Leclerc)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Adding high-upside, low-cost relievers<\/strong> like Dominguez to complement the core<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Leveraging minor-league depth<\/strong> to create competition and flexibility during the season<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n With potential additions like Evan Phillips, Seranthony Dominguez, and Jose Leclerc<\/strong>, Minnesota could dramatically improve its bullpen depth<\/strong> 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<\/strong>.<\/p>\n A strong bullpen is critical in a division like the AL Central<\/strong>, where tight, low-scoring games often decide playoff positioning. Minnesota\u2019s ability to compete against Cleveland, Chicago, and Detroit<\/strong> may hinge on the performance of its relief pitchers.<\/p>\n While the high-end free agents are mostly gone, several other under-the-radar relievers<\/strong> could still provide value:<\/p>\n Daniel Bard:<\/strong> A veteran with elite fastball\/slider combination<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Diego Castillo:<\/strong> High strikeout rates but limited innings<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Taylor Hearn:<\/strong> Emerging reliever with strong velocity<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Aaron Loup:<\/strong> Left-handed specialist for matchup flexibility<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n For the Twins, patience in the market could pay dividends. By waiting for the right combination of talent, health, and contract terms<\/strong>, Minnesota could assemble a bullpen capable of supporting a full-season playoff push<\/strong> without overcommitting financially.<\/p>\n The Minnesota Twins\u2019 bullpen remains an area of need<\/strong> as they head into 2026, but the free-agent market still offers several viable, high-ceiling options<\/strong>. Veteran relievers like Evan Phillips<\/strong> could anchor the group if healthy, while Seranthony Dominguez and Jose Leclerc<\/strong> offer upside with strikeout ability and dominant stuff.<\/p>\n Minnesota\u2019s strategy appears to be waiting and targeting undervalued arms<\/strong> while complementing the proven closer Ryan Helsley<\/strong>. If successful, the Twins could turn one of their most significant offseason weaknesses into a strength, providing a stable, high-impact bullpen<\/strong> capable of supporting their power-laden lineup<\/strong> and rotation anchored by Shane Baz and Zach Eflin<\/strong>.<\/p>\n As the market continues to develop, Twins fans should watch for late signings and prove-it deals<\/strong>, which could provide the team with the depth and strikeout ability needed to compete in the AL Central and beyond in 2026<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 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… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":134146,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-134145","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nCurrent State of the Twins Bullpen<\/h2>\n
![](\"https:\/\/dtb3yzl0vm3pr.cloudfront.net\/monthly_2026_01\/Untitleddesign(1).jpg.990715b586346223a3fa0ca8bd6ad679.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\nTop Available Bullpen Targets<\/h2>\n
![\"High-upside](\"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Spencer-Turnbull-768x432.jpg\")
<\/p>\nEvan Phillips: High-End Proven Closer<\/h3>\n
\nSeranthony Dominguez: Explosive, High-Upside Option<\/h3>\n
\nJose Leclerc: A Risk-Reward Play<\/h3>\n
\nStrategy for Minnesota<\/h2>\n
![\"Top](\"https:\/\/www.justbaseball.com\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/Michael-Kopech-Dodgers-e1724851679944-768x432.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\n
\nBullpen Depth and 2026 Outlook<\/h2>\n
\nOpportunities in the Market<\/h2>\n
\n
\nConclusion<\/h2>\n