The Twins' new manager is expecting the bullpen to look different next month than it does right now.
Derek Shelton is set for his first season as the manager of the Minnesota Twins in 2026. On Wednesday, the Twins' new skipper made time for an interview on Inside Twins. While a number of topics were discussed, one comment especially caught attention. Shelton said he expects the bullpen to look different in spring training than it does at the moment.
"Yeah, it's definitely going to look different than it does on February 12 or February 13, whenever we report to spring training, than it is now," Shelton said. "I think we've seen the reliever market be a little volatile this offseason. And it's kind of gone back and forth... It's gonna be interesting to see not only how our bullpen shakes out, but throughout the industry how bullpens shake out."
The Twins are seemingly looking for bullpen upgrades. Justin Topa, Kody Funderburk, Cole Sands and Eric Orze are among Minnesota's current reliever candidates. Minnesota could certainly use a couple of more reliable relievers in the bullpen, though. There is a lot of uncertainty at the moment.
The good news is that the starting rotation -- while far from perfect -- features depth as well as star-power at the front. Joe Ryan and Pablo Lopez are going to lead the way as a number of other starters are set to impact the rotation as well.
Bullpens are crucial, however. Shelton is expecting some changes to be made, and the Twins still have over a month before pitchers and catchers report for spring training. Work needs to be done in order for this squad to have a realistic chance of competing for a playoff spot.
As for Shelton, he is a manager who spent the past five seasons in Pittsburgh with the Pirates. His first season came in 2020 with Pittsburgh, and the Pirates moved on from him during the 2025 campaign. His overall 306-440 record is obviously not ideal, but he did all he could with a Pirates front office that was unwilling to spend in free agency.
The Twins are probably closer to winning, and they have found more success in recent seasons than the Pirates. Shelton is a respected manager, and perhaps he can help Minnesota return to the playoffs sooner rather than later.
A strong bullpen may end up making the difference, though. It will be interesting to see which relievers end up in Minnesota this spring.