Mark Polishuk | March 7, 2026 2:27 PM CDT
that Blue Jays started asking twins for Louis Balland It was three months before a reliever was actually dealt at last summer’s trade deadline, and Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune wrote that the Twins were aiming high in negotiations by asking for one of the following: Tray Yesavig or Kendry Rojas In return. Yesavage (the Jays’ top pitching prospect and future postseason breakout star) didn’t go anywhere, but Toronto eventually budged on moving Rojas and the outfielder. Alan Roden In exchange for Varland thai france.
Heading into spring training, Roden is competing for a spot in Minnesota’s outfield, and Rojas’ low-90s velocity is garnering attention in camp. Rojas, 23, has faltered over 32 1/3 innings in Triple-A in 2025 and is still trying to utilize his control, but he could be a candidate to make his MLB debut at some point this season. The Twins will continue to develop Rojas as a starting pitcher, but some scouts believe a high-utility relief role could be in the left-hander’s future. An early call-up as a reliever could help Rojas ease his way into the big leagues without closing the door on Rojas’ potential future as a rotation piece.
More from around AL Central…
- tutelar right handed Hunter Gaddis‘ Imaging on his forearm “I came back clean.,” manager Stephen Vogt Gaddis spoke to MLB.com’s Tim Stebbins and other reporters earlier this week after feeling pressure in his forearm following his first spring outing on Feb. 27. Gaddis has resumed his pitching progression and, as Vogt said, the issue is unlikely to affect his Opening Day status.All I hear is good news and we can go now.” Stebbins said the Guardians already had workhorse reliever Gaddis and Cade Smith It builds gradually over the season to reflect how much both right-handers pitch in 2024-25. Gaddis’ 151 appearances are the second-most in baseball over the past two seasons, with Smith close behind with 150 appearances. Gaddis has solidified his durability with a 6.3% walk rate and 25.2% strikeout rate, and will again be relied upon to provide key leverage innings for the Cleveland bullpen in 2026.
- Beau Briske We plan to have a bullpen session today. tigers Measure recovery from right rib cage compression. Brieske has pitched in only two games this spring, but manager AJ Hinch told Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press and other reporters that Brieske “He has plenty of time as a reliever to accomplish what he needs to perform well for this team..” Ankle and elbow injuries limited Brisk to just 22 innings in the majors last season, and his poor health certainly contributed to his 6.55 ERA. Although the rib cage issue is another setback, Brisk is aiming to return to his past role as a solid swingman on Detroit’s staff.
- More posts are being scheduled. twins According to the news, the X-ray results were negative. Byron BuxtonThe outfielder’s forearm after being ruled out after being hit by a pitch during yesterday’s World Baseball Classic game. U.S. coach Mark DeRosa told reporters (including MLB.com’s Ryan Kelafire) that the sixth-inning ejection was merely a precautionary measure and was done in part because the U.S. already had a big lead en route to a 15-5 win over Brazil. Even a minor injury situation like this is bound to raise additional concerns considering Buxton’s checkered health history, but the outfielder appears to be fine.
