MINNEAPOLIS -- A bullpen in need of help is getting some. The Twins agreed to terms on a one-year contract with free-agent lefty Taylor Rogers on Thursday, sources told MLB.com. The deal, which has not been confirmed by the club, would be worth $2 million.
Rogers, 35, began his career with the Twins, pitching for Minnesota from 2016 until he was traded to San Diego in April of '22. He was an All-Star with the Twins in '21.
He split last year between the Reds and Cubs, moving to Chicago via Pittsburgh in a pair of Trade Deadline deals. Rogers went 3-2 with a 3.38 ERA, 53 strikeouts and 23 walks in 50 2/3 innings over 57 appearances.
Over the past two seasons, the southpaw has refined his arsenal to just two pitches, a sweeper and a sinker. While Rogers throws both pitches about the same amount, his sweeper was considerably better in 2025. Opponents batted just .168 with a .337 slugging percentage against the breaking pitch, compared to a .326 average and .537 slugging percentage against Rogers’ sinker, which declined in velocity for the fourth straight season.
Rogers did not have a huge split between right- and left-handed batters last year, though his strikeout rate against lefties was much higher. From 2019-2022, he amassed 79 saves with the Twins, Brewers, and Padres, but in recent years he has served more as a lefty specialist.
And he’s been effective in that role, striking out almost 33 percent of left-handers in that span. That rate has diminished some over the past few years, though, with Rogers fanning 28.6 percent of lefties in 2025.
He joins a bullpen with very few set roles, but probably becomes the top left-handed option in an inexperienced group.