The Twins appear to have a new veteran leader in their bullpen.
Longtime major league reliever Taylor Rogers is close to returning to the team that drafted him in the 11th round of the 2012 amateur draft, an MLB source said Thursday. The left-hander was an all-star for the Twins in 2021, his final season in Minnesota before being traded to the San Diego Padres along with Brent Rooker for pitchers Chris Paddack and Emilio Pagan and a player to be named later, which was minor league pitcher Brayan Medina.
Rogers amassed 30 saves in 2019 for the Central Division-winning Twins and has a 3.34 career ERA. He pitched in four postseason games for Minnesota, and had one playoff appearance for the Chicago Cubs last season.
The deal is pending a physical and, according to The Athletic, is one year for $2 million.
Rogers, 35, earned a career-high 31 saves in 2022 pitching in Milwaukee (3 saves) and San Diego (28) but has just two in three combined seasons pitching for San Francisco, Cincinnati and Chicago from 2023-25. He struck out 181 batters in 162 1/3 innings in those three seasons, with a 3.16 ERA.
But he struggled in 17 games for the Cubs last season, posting a career-high 5.09 ERA before becoming a free agent.
The team has not announced a deal, which would be its first for a bullpen decimated at the trade deadline last July. If Rogers passes his physical, he and Kody Funderburk are the early candidates to be the high-leverage lefties out of the pen this year.
They are hosting their annual TwinsFest this weekend at Target Field.
Related Articles
Twins swing minor deal for utility infielder Tristan Gray
Twins agree to deal with catcher Victor Caratini
Brian Dinkelman named manager of St. Paul Saints
Twins’ Byron Buxton named to USA’s World Baseball Classic roster
Former Twins outfielder Max Kepler suspended after positive PED test
Leave a Reply