The Minnesota Twins have reunited with a familiar face.
The Minnesota Twins are turning to a familiar face as they look to stabilize a bullpen that was gutted during last year’s trade deadline. After moving five relief pitchers in a midseason fire sale, the club entered the offseason with one of the least experienced relief groups in the league.
The front office has made clear that rebuilding the bullpen is a priority, and on Thursday they took a step in that direction by agreeing to terms with left-hander Taylor Rogers.
Rogers, who spent the first six seasons of his career in Minnesota and earned an All-Star selection in 2021, returns on a one-year, $2 million contract. The deal is pending a physical and has not yet been confirmed by the team.
His addition immediately gives the Twins a veteran presence in a bullpen that currently features Justin Topa, Cole Sands and Kody Funderburk as its most seasoned arms.
“Reporting along with @Ken_Rosenthal: Twins are reuniting with former All-Star closer Taylor Rogers on a one-year, $2 million contract. Logical fit for both sides, as the 35-year-old Rogers returns home to the team that drafted him and the Twins add some much-needed bullpen help,” reported Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic on X.
Rogers’ track record makes him a logical fit. In 2025, he posted a 3.38 ERA with 53 strikeouts across 50 2/3 innings split between the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs. While his walk rate ticked up a bit, he remained a useful middle-relief option.
Over the past two seasons, Rogers has leaned heavily on a sweeper and sinker, though declining velocity has limited the latter’s effectiveness. Even so, opponents continued to struggle against his sweeper last year, underscoring its continued value as a weapon.
The Twins know Rogers well, having drafted him in the 11th round of the 2012 MLB Draft. He debuted with the club in 2016 and served as closer from 2019 to 2021. His return comes at a time when Minnesota’s payroll sits around $109 million, roughly $25 million below last year’s figure, leaving room for additional bullpen reinforcements.
Whether Rogers is asked to handle high-leverage innings due to his experience with 83 career saves or simply provide stability, his presence should help a relief corps that ranked near the bottom of the league after last summer’s trades.
For a team seeking to rebound from a 70-92 season, the reunion represents both a practical move and a nod to familiarity.