The Minnesota Twins have had a more active off-season than in the previous two years. Still, they’ve mostly claimed players off the waiver wire. Their only two free-agent signings have been first baseman Josh Bell and catcher Victor Caratini.
After the Twins had traded away five of their eight relievers on the active roster during their fire sale at the 2025 trade deadline, their No. 1 priority entering the offseason appeared to be adding veteran relievers. However, they haven’t signed any major-league relievers this offseason.
The Twins traded for RHP Eric Orze from the Tampa Bay Rays on November 18. Still, aside from him, they’ve only used minor-league signings to acquire relievers.
Grant Hartwig, Andrew Bash, and Luis Quiñones are the three relievers they’ve signed to minor-league deals, adding them to the St. Paul Saints roster. Hartwig is the only one of these three with MLB experience. He last pitched for the New York Mets in 2024. Meanwhile, Bash and Quiñones have spent most of their pro careers in the Toronto Blue Jays farm system, but neither has reached the majors.
Under Derek Falvey’s leadership, Minnesota’s front office has prided itself on converting its young starters who aren’t performing in the minors into quality MLB relievers. They already began this last year with Travis Adams and Pierson Ohl and will undoubtedly do the same for Marco Raya and Connor Prielipp in 2026.
Even though they have the depth to fill all eight bullpen spots on their 40-man right now, the Twins can’t expect every one of these young arms to be healthy or MLB-ready on Opening Day. They still need to go out and sign at least two veteran relievers to alleviate a workload that currently falls heavily on Cole Sands, Justin Topa, and Kody Funderburk.
For the time being, one of Hartwig, Bash, or Quiñones could fill one of those spots if they pitch well in spring training. So what do they have to offer if they are called upon early in the season to be a part of a rebuilding Twins bullpen?
Grant Hartwig is returning stateside after leaving the Syracuse Mets on June 27 for an opportunity to pitch with the Hanshin Tigers of the Japan Central League. Before he left for Japan, Hartwig had a 3.42 ERA and 1.56 WHIP in 23 ⅔ Triple-A innings. In Japan, he had a 3.31 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 16 ⅓ innings over 20 appearances.
However, Hartwig hasn’t fared as well in the majors. He owns a 5.14 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, and 82 OPS+ in 42 innings over 32 appearances between 2023 and 2024. Hartwig has struggled with his command in the majors. He had a walk of 10.1% and a strikeout rate of 18%. Hartwig has a lot of pitches in his arsenal for a reliever with a sinker, cutter, slider, and changeup all in the mix.
Meanwhile, Andrew Bash had a strong season with Triple-A Buffalo in 2025. He posted a 2.57 ERA. 1.29 WHIP, and allowed just four home runs in 84 innings of work over 40 relief appearances. It was his second full season with the Buffalo Bisons. Still, the Blue Jays never added him to their 40-man roster.
Bash has been a long reliever recently. He still has a sinker, sweeper, and changeup in his arsenal, along with a fastball that tops out at over 96 MPH. If he pitches well enough in spring training, Bash could be Minnesota’s first option for a long-relief mop-up man to start the season.
Finally, Luis Quiñones is in a similar situation to Bash. He never pitched above Triple-A, reaching that level at age 27 in 2024. He was suspended for PED use in his first year in pro ball in 2019. Quiñones hasn’t had numbers as good as he did before he was suspended.
Quiñones missed all of 2025 due to an undisclosed injury. He owns a 4.77 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 231 walks, and 478 strikeouts through 360 ⅔ innings over 120 career appearances in the minors. Quiñones had an impressive performance in the Puerto Rican Winter League this offseason, pitching 26 scoreless innings, allowing just nine walks and 36 strikeouts over 17 appearances.
Between the three of them, Hartwig looks like the clear frontrunner because he has major league experience. But based on their overall numbers, Bash looks like the next likely candidate who could be in the Twins bullpen on Opening Day, especially if he dominates in spring training.
But as things stand right now with an empty bullpen, one of Hartwig, Bash, and Quiñones will be in Minnesota’s bullpen on Opening Day. Even if they perform well in spring training and hold their own in the majors, the Twins still need more MLB relief veterans to ensure their bullpen can hold leads.
