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Fort Myers, FL \u2013 May 2026<\/strong> \u2013 The Minnesota Twins<\/strong> may have a quick solution to their bullpen woes in veteran left-hander Andrew Chafin<\/strong>, who recently opted out of his minor-league deal with the Cincinnati Reds<\/strong> after posting strong early-season numbers in Triple-A. Chafin, 39, could provide the stability and experience that Minnesota\u2019s relief corps sorely needs.<\/p>\n After being released by the Twins in February and signing a minor-league deal with Cincinnati, Chafin posted a 0.96 ERA with eight strikeouts across 9 1\/3 innings<\/strong> for Triple-A Louisville, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post<\/em>. During spring training with Minnesota, he pitched six innings with a 3.00 ERA and five strikeouts<\/strong>, demonstrating that he still has the ability to get major-league hitters out with a high-80s fastball and strong command of secondary pitches<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Given Minnesota\u2019s bullpen struggles, reuniting with Chafin could provide immediate reinforcement, particularly as the team searches for more reliable left-handed pitching options.<\/p>\n Minnesota\u2019s relief corps has been among the worst in MLB through early May. The bullpen ranks 28th in ERA (5.31), 29th in strikeout rate (18.3%), and last in opponent batting average (.271)<\/strong>. Key left-handed relievers Anthony Banda (9.00 ERA)<\/strong> and Taylor Rogers (5.27 ERA)<\/strong> have struggled mightily, suggesting that Chafin could replace one of them to improve the team\u2019s late-inning performance.<\/p>\n Other relievers have also faltered:<\/p>\n The struggles across both left- and right-handed relievers highlight why a proven option like Chafin could be valuable. While he wouldn\u2019t single-handedly \u201cfix\u201d the bullpen, he could be more consistent than several of Minnesota\u2019s current options<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Chafin brings a wealth of MLB experience, having spent 12 seasons in the majors<\/strong>. He debuted in 2014 with the Arizona Diamondbacks<\/strong>, where he pitched eight seasons with a 3.74 ERA and 337 strikeouts over 306 innings<\/strong>. He was later traded to the Chicago Cubs in 2020<\/strong>, and has since logged innings with the Oakland Athletics, Texas Rangers, Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Angels, and Washington Nationals<\/strong>.<\/p>\n In 2025, Chafin posted a 2.41 ERA with a 25.2% strikeout rate in 33 2\/3 innings<\/strong> across stints with the Angels and Nationals. While he has struggled to limit walks at times, he has consistently limited hits and generated strikeouts at an above-average rate, making him an attractive depth option for Minnesota\u2019s bullpen.<\/p>\n With Joe Ryan recently clearing an elbow scare<\/strong> and Taj Bradley continuing his strong start<\/strong>, Minnesota\u2019s starting rotation remains solid. However, the bullpen is a weak link that could compromise the team\u2019s ability to protect leads. Adding Chafin could:<\/p>\n Manager Rocco Baldelli<\/strong> and the Twins front office now face a decision: re-sign Chafin to shore up the bullpen or continue relying on the current mix of relievers, which has produced inconsistent results thus far in 2026.<\/p>\n Reuniting with Chafin would give Minnesota a low-risk, high-reward option for a bullpen in desperate need of consistency. If the veteran left-hander can replicate his Triple-A and spring performance at the MLB level, he could help stabilize late innings and increase the Twins\u2019 chances in tight games.<\/p>\n While not a complete solution, Chafin\u2019s presence could improve matchups, particularly against tough left-handed hitters, and provide manager Baldelli with more strategic flexibility. As the Twins continue their season, his addition could prove pivotal in keeping Minnesota competitive in the American League Central.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Twins Could Reunite with Andrew Chafin to Bolster Struggling Bullpen Fort Myers, FL \u2013 May 2026 \u2013 The Minnesota Twins may have a quick solution to their… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":183766,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-183756","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\nChafin\u2019s Minor-League Success<\/h3>\n
Twins\u2019 Bullpen in Crisis<\/h3>\n
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Chafin\u2019s Major League Experience<\/h3>\n
![\"Reds](\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_5321,h_2993\/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images\/ImagnImages\/mmsport\/inside_the_reds\/01kn8682fcp5wrdw6h65.jpg\")
<\/p>\nWhy the Twins Should Consider Chafin<\/h3>\n
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Looking Ahead<\/h3>\n