It’s not easy for a player to move from the best team in the sport to one that hasn’t made the playoffs since 2023, but that’s what Minnesota Twins southpaw reliever Anthony Banda did this past offseason. The Los Angeles Dodgers traded the 32-year-old to the Twins for international bonus space on Feb. 12, and he admitted that he was “shocked” on Thursday, via Foul Territory.

"One, don't get me wrong. I love everybody in that organization. Everybody involved in it, have done right by me, love me,” he admitted. “When I got the phone call, it was more shock. I couldn't get any words out. I was so shocked.”

"I wasn't shocked in the sense of maybe a potential trade at some point,” he continued. “I'm not oblivious. There's a lot of lefties that are really talented and stuff, and the whole DFA process was a shocker to me.”

Banda has plenty of reasons to love the Dodgers. The 6-foot-2, 221-pounder elevated his career in Los Angeles, as he notched 48 and 71 appearances in 2024 and 2025, respectively. Before that, his career-high for a season was 32 outings in 2022.

Banda also played a role in the Dodgers’ World Series runs in 2024 and 2025, as he pitched in 17 playoff games over those two years, logging a combined 4.61 ERA. He also notched a 3.08 ERA in the 2024 regular season and a 3.18 mark in 2025.

Banda now brings that experience to Minnesota, which is in a different position than Los Angeles. The club has All-Stars in pitcher Joe Ryan and outfielder Byron Buxton, but little top-end talent outside of those two. 

While Banda might not compete for titles in Minnesota, he can make himself some money for his next contract. The veteran is under team control through 2027, so he can increase his market value with more quality performances.

Banda joins a relief staff including fellow southpaws Kody Funderburk and Andrew Chafin as well as right-handed Eric Orze. The latter two pitchers are also new to the team this year, along with closer Taylor Rogers.

Banda should get plenty of chances to stand out amongst that group, although he hasn't gotten off to the best start in spring training. The Texas native has allowed four runs on three hits in five innings and has seven strikeouts against four walks.

However, a few forgettable spring innings won't define Banda's tenure in Minnesota. If the 2012 10th-round draft pick pitches like he did in Los Angeles in the regular season, he'll be on his way to a sizeable contract after next year.

Banda was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2012 before they traded him to the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2014. He made his big-league debut for Arizona in 2017, who then traded him to the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018. Unfortunately, he tore his UCL in June of that season and didn't pitch another MLB game until September 2019.

The Rays then traded Banda to the San Francisco Giants in 2020, who dealt him to the New York Mets in 2021. The Mets designated him for assignment later that season, and he was then picked up by the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The latter club then traded him to the Toronto Blue Jays in 2022, and he was DFA'd again before going through a short minor-league stint with the Seattle Mariners. After that, he spent time with the New York Yankees, Washington Nationals, and Cleveland Guardians before finally landing with the Dodgers in 2024.