Bold opener: The Twins’ bullpen might be poised to surprise, moving from a glaring weakness to a potential strength that could propel Minnesota back into playoff contention.
There’s still plenty to learn about the 2026 bullpen, but a couple of recent moves suggest the unit could be more solid than feared. As spring training opened in Florida, Minnesota added right-hander Liam Hendriks on a minor-league deal and acquired lefty Anthony Banda from the Dodgers. Both figures are expected to slot into the back end of the bullpen, though Hendriks faces the big question: can he prove he’s healthy after limited pitching over the last three years? Additionally, the Twins brought in righty Julian Merryweather to add competitive depth in camp.
Hendriks and Banda join a group that already includes Taylor Rogers and Eric Orze as notable offseason additions. If you pair those four with returnees Cole Sands, Justin Topa, and Kody Funderburk, you start to see the outline of what could be a serviceable relief corps.
Crucially, the Twins also possess several young starter prospects who could transition to relief roles, potentially boosting the bullpen’s ceiling. Names in the mix include David Festa, Taj Bradley, Connor Prielipp, Marco Raya, and others. It’s worth noting that many of the game’s best relievers began as starters, and the Twins traded away big-time relievers last season (Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax, Louis Varland) at the deadline. While veteran depth raises the floor, it’s the move-from-starter-to-reliever candidates who will shape the ceiling in the coming years.
Here’s my current eight-man projection for Minnesota’s bullpen, with the understanding that Opening Day (March 26) could shuffle things:
- RHP Cole Sands
- LHP Taylor Rogers
- LHP Anthony Banda
- RHP Liam Hendriks
- RHP Justin Topa
- RHP Eric Orze
- LHP Kody Funderburk
- RHP David Festa
Does this look like a great on-paper bullpen? Not exactly. Sands had a rough season, Banda has had bouts with walks, and Rogers and Hendriks aren’t at peak effectiveness. There isn’t an obvious closer or true A-level reliever in the group, which is a real concern.
But could it be a competent unit? Absolutely possible. The mix includes solid veteran experience for bullpen coach LaTroy Hawkins to lean on. Optimistically, Sands flashed brilliance in 2024, Banda has delivered reliability for the Dodgers over the past couple of seasons, and Rogers and Hendriks together own 199 career saves. Topa and Orze should provide solid work, and Funderburk emerged as the Twins’ best reliever down the stretch last year. Festa’s high-velocity stuff could play up nicely in a late-inning role.
In sum, Minnesota’s rotation looks strong on paper in 2026, led by Joe Ryan and Pablo López. The lineup could be productive if Byron Buxton stays healthy and Royce Lewis rebounds. The key to sustaining a playoff push in a relatively weak AL Central will be a bullpen that isn’t a total drain, and recent moves have made that outcome feel much more attainable than it did after last season’s deadline shakeup.
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