{"id":145023,"date":"2026-01-25T11:07:50","date_gmt":"2026-01-25T11:07:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=145023"},"modified":"2026-01-25T11:07:50","modified_gmt":"2026-01-25T11:07:50","slug":"twins-report-twins-corresponding-moves-to-caratini-rogers-signings-include-one-big-surprise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=145023","title":{"rendered":"TWINS REPORT: Twins’ corresponding moves to Caratini, Rogers signings include one big surprise"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Milwaukee<\/p>\n

Twins\u2019 Surprise DFA Signals Bigger Bullpen Move After Victor Caratini, Taylor Rogers Signings<\/h2>\n

The Minnesota Twins took another step toward reshaping their roster on Friday, finalizing the signings of catcher Victor Caratini<\/strong> and left-handed reliever Taylor Rogers<\/strong>. While the additions themselves were not unexpected, the corresponding roster moves required to make space on the Twins\u2019 already-full 40-man roster sparked conversation across baseball.<\/p>\n

One of those moves was widely anticipated. The other came as a legitimate surprise\u2014and may signal that an even bigger bullpen move is still on the horizon.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Twins Forced to Make Roster Decisions After New Signings<\/h3>\n

Because Minnesota\u2019s 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<\/strong> was designated for assignment.<\/p>\n

Pereda, 29, fit the profile of an expendable piece. Prior to the Caratini signing, the Twins already had Ryan Jeffers<\/strong> and Alex Jackson<\/strong> on the roster. Adding Caratini\u2014a switch-hitting catcher with postseason experience\u2014made Pereda redundant.<\/p>\n

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

The second move, however, told a much more interesting story.<\/p>\n

Twins Designate Pierson Ohl for Assignment in Surprise Move<\/h3>\n

The Twins also designated right-handed reliever Pierson Ohl<\/strong> for assignment, a decision that caught many observers off guard.<\/p>\n

Ohl, just 26 years old, completed his rookie MLB season in 2025. While his surface-level statistics were underwhelming\u2014a 5.10 ERA across 30 innings<\/strong>\u2014the underlying metrics painted a far more intriguing picture.<\/p>\n

Despite inconsistent results, Ohl showed flashes of real potential. Most notably, he posted:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • \n

    An elite 31.1% chase rate<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    An impressive 5.3% walk rate<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    A strong finish to the season, throwing eight scoreless innings with nine strikeouts over his final six appearances<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    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.<\/p>\n

    Why Pierson Ohl Likely Won\u2019t Clear Waivers<\/h3>\n

    Given the current state of the league, it\u2019s difficult to imagine Ohl passing through waivers untouched.<\/p>\n

    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.<\/p>\n

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

    If Ohl is claimed, the Twins could soon regret losing a controllable arm just as he appeared to be turning a corner.<\/p>\n

    Twins\u2019 Projected Opening Day Bullpen Takes Shape<\/h3>\n

    \"Does<\/p>\n

    The decision to move on from Ohl becomes even more puzzling when examining Minnesota\u2019s projected bullpen.<\/p>\n

    Locks to make the Opening Day roster appear to include:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • \n

      Taylor Rogers<\/strong> (LHP)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    • \n

      Kody Funderburk<\/strong> (LHP)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    • \n

      Cole Sands<\/strong> (RHP)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    • \n

      Justin Topa<\/strong> (RHP)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    • \n

      Eric Orze<\/strong> (RHP), acquired earlier in the offseason from the Tampa Bay Rays<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      That group accounts for five bullpen spots, leaving approximately three open roles<\/strong>\u2014depending on roster construction and rotation decisions.<\/p>\n

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

      Yet Minnesota chose to DFA him anyway.<\/p>\n

      Starting Pitching Depth May Be Driving the Decision<\/h3>\n

      One possible explanation is the Twins\u2019 abundance of MLB-ready starting pitching<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

      Minnesota has several starters who may not fit into the Opening Day rotation and could transition into bullpen roles. Those arms\u2014often possessing stronger pitch arsenals than traditional relievers\u2014can push fringe bullpen candidates off the roster.<\/p>\n

      Even accounting for that depth, however, the decision to retain right-hander Travis Adams<\/strong> on the 40-man roster while DFA\u2019ing Ohl raises questions. Adams remains less proven at the big-league level, making Ohl\u2019s removal even more notable.<\/p>\n

      What Pierson Ohl\u2019s DFA Really Signals<\/h3>\n

      Ultimately, Pierson Ohl\u2019s designation for assignment appears to be less about Ohl himself and more about what the Twins plan to do next.<\/p>\n

      By removing Ohl from the roster now, Minnesota is creating flexibility to add another reliever<\/strong>\u2014likely a more established, late-inning option\u2014via free agency or the trade market.<\/p>\n

      That assumption was confirmed when MLB.com\u2019s Matthew Leach reported that the Twins are actively seeking to add another right-handed reliever<\/strong>. In that context, Ohl\u2019s DFA begins to make more sense.<\/p>\n

      If Minnesota does add another bullpen arm, it\u2019s widely expected that Travis Adams<\/strong> could be next to be designated for assignment.<\/p>\n

      Twins Bullpen Still Has Room to Improve<\/h3>\n

      It\u2019s unrealistic to expect the Twins\u2019 bullpen to fully replicate its pre-trade-deadline dominance from last season. At that point, Minnesota\u2019s relief corps was among the best in baseball, featuring:<\/p>\n

        \n
      • \n

        Jhoan Dur\u00e1n<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

      • \n

        Griffin Jax<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

      • \n

        Louis Varland<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

      • \n

        Brock Stewart<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

      • \n

        Danny Coulombe<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        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\u2014especially with one more high-leverage addition.<\/p>\n

        Potential Right-Handed Reliever Targets for Minnesota<\/h3>\n

        If the Twins follow through on adding another right-handed reliever, several established options remain available on the market.<\/p>\n

        Possible targets include:<\/p>\n

          \n
        • \n

          Liam Hendriks<\/strong>, a proven closer with postseason experience<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

        • \n

          Michael Kopech<\/strong>, a high-upside power arm who could thrive in a relief role<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

        • \n

          Jos\u00e9 Leclerc<\/strong>, a former late-inning option with swing-and-miss stuff<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

        • \n

          Paul Sewald<\/strong>, a steady veteran with closing experience and consistency<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Any of these arms would immediately raise the ceiling of Minnesota\u2019s bullpen and justify the difficult decision to part with younger, less proven pitchers like Ohl.<\/p>\n

          Front Office Showing Aggressive Intent<\/h3>\n

          Taken together, the Caratini and Rogers signings\u2014combined with the surprising DFA of Pierson Ohl\u2014suggest that the Twins are operating with urgency.<\/p>\n

          Rather than settling for internal options, the front office appears committed to actively upgrading the roster<\/strong>, even if it means cutting ties with recent contributors.<\/p>\n

          That mindset could pay dividends if the Twins successfully land another established reliever and solidify the bullpen ahead of Opening Day.<\/p>\n

          Final Outlook<\/h3>\n

          At first glance, designating Pierson Ohl for assignment seemed puzzling. He\u2019s young, showed improvement, and possesses underlying metrics teams covet.<\/p>\n

          But viewed through a broader lens, the move strongly suggests that the Twins are not done adding to their bullpen<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

          By clearing roster space now, Minnesota is positioning itself to make another impactful move\u2014one that could significantly shape the pitching staff for the 2026 season.<\/p>\n

          Whether that addition comes via free agency or trade remains to be seen. What\u2019s clear is that Pierson Ohl\u2019s DFA isn\u2019t the end of the story\u2014it\u2019s a signal that something bigger is coming.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          Twins\u2019 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… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":145024,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-145023","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\nTWINS REPORT: Twins' corresponding moves to Caratini, Rogers signings include one big surprise - NEWS USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=145023\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"TWINS REPORT: Twins' corresponding moves to Caratini, Rogers signings include one big surprise - 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