MINNEAPOLIS – In a first signal that they intend to bolster their roster over the coming weeks rather than subtract from it, the Twins acquired right-handed reliever Tommy Nance from the Blue Jays on Friday. Minnesota also received international bonus pool money, sending prospect Ryan Sprock to Toronto in return.
Nance, 35, relies on a curveball and slider to complement a 94-95 mph fastball. He had an outstanding year for Toronto in 2025 and has been effective in ’26, with a 3.82 ERA, 34 strikeouts and 13 walks in 33 innings over 32 appearances. He showed little platoon split in ’25, but has been somewhat vulnerable to lefties in ’26, who are hitting .327 against him.
The move bolsters what has been the club’s most glaring area of need all year, a bullpen that ranks last in the Majors with a 5.28 ERA. Somewhat oddly, they’ve actually solidified the back end of their relief corps, with Yoendrys Gómez and Andrew Morris pitching late in wins, but have been searching for consistency otherwise to get them to that point.
“I think we’ve talked about the areas that we need to improve our club and our bullpen is target No. 1 in terms of doing that,” manager Derek Shelton said. “And being able to do that and being able to do that before the break and for, honestly, a player that does not affect our Major League team right now. … Right now we’re not taking anything off our Major League club, and we’re adding to an area that we feel is an area that we need to get better at. I think our group’s going to get a little spring in our step off of it.”
Within the clubhouse, the move was greeted warmly. Twins officials have indicated a desire to be buyers rather than sellers at this year’s Trade Deadline, and there is reason to believe that ownership supports that desire. Still, a team under .500 is not a sure thing to add Major League talent to, so the trade had symbolic value as well as baseball value.
The Twins did not announce a corresponding move, since they likely will not add Nance to the active roster before Saturday. The Blue Jays are currently playing the Padres in San Diego. In order to make room on the 40-man roster, they moved righty Mick Abel to the 60-day injured list. Abel recently had arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow.
Buxton feeling better, going to Philly
Though he’s on the injured list due to a strained right hip and will not play in the All-Star Game, Byron Buxton and his family will travel to Philadelphia to experience the All-Star festivities. He’s looking forward to it, even though he’d obviously rather be playing.
“I would like to play in the game,” he said. “But, at the end of the day, the biggest thing is winning here. It wasn't a hard thing for me. I'm still going. My family still gets to enjoy the festivities. I get to do that. Just not being able to represent the Twins is a little more heartfelt. That's why you want to do those things, putting on a Twins jersey, going out there in front of all those people and representing Minnesota. That's special.”
Quick promoted
Right-hander Riley Quick, the Twins’ second pick in the 2025 Draft (No. 36 overall) and their current No. 10 prospect, has been promoted for the second time this year, this time from High-A Cedar Rapids to Double-A Wichita. He joins fellow 2025 draftee Marek Houston at Wichita. Quick, 22, has a combined 3.47 ERA over 49 1/3 innings at Cedar Rapids and Single-A Fort Myers, with 74 strikeouts against 26 walks.