MINNEAPOLIS -- The Twins bolstered their Major League bullpen and added six players to their 40-man roster on a busy Tuesday afternoon.
Right-hander Eric Orze, 28, joins Minnesota after an effective season with the Rays in which he posted a 3.02 ERA, 40 strikeouts and 19 walks in 41 2/3 innings. In exchange, the Twins send Minor League right-hander Jacob Kisting to Tampa Bay.
Signings & Trades
• Latest free-agent and trade rumors
• Top 30 free agents | Every free agent, by position
• Tracking every team's offseason moves
• FA guides: Tucker | Bregman | Valdez | Alonso
• Offseason dates, rules & terms explained
The addition of Orze marks the first step in rebuilding a bullpen that was gutted at the 2025 Trade Deadline, when the Twins dealt five relievers from what had been one of the league’s better ’pens.
Additionally, in advance of a 5 p.m. CT deadline to protect them from next month’s Rule 5 Draft, the Twins added all of the following players to their 40-man roster: left-handers Connor Prielipp and Kendry Rojas, righties Andrew Morris and John Klein, and outfielders Gabriel Gonzalez and Hendry Mendez.
Prielipp (No. 9), Rojas (No. 5), and Gonzalez (No. 8) all rank among the organization’s top 10 prospects, and all could figure into the team’s 2026 plans. Prielipp and Rojas are hard-throwing left-handers who will hope to compete for rotation spots but could move more quickly in relief. Gonzalez rebounded after a rough 2024 to turn in one of the best offensive seasons of any Twins farmhand, and his bat could force him into roster consideration.
Mendez (No. 25), acquired from the Phillies in the Harrison Bader trade, enjoyed a strong season at Double-A but is probably still a year away from competing for a 26-man roster spot. Morris (No. 19) had an inconsistent year after a breakout 2024 but will hope to work his way back onto the radar as a starting candidate. Klein racked up 128 strikeouts in 106 1/3 innings this year but also walked 37.
Among those the Twins left unprotected for the Rule 5 Draft were five ranked prospects: right-hander C.J. Culpepper (No. 17), righty Jose Olivares (No. 24), catcher/outfielder Ricardo Olivar (No. 26), outfielder Kala’i Rosario (No. 29) and infielder Danny De Andrade (No. 30). Rosario had an exceptional year, leading the Texas League in home runs (25), RBIs (83), and runs scored (92) and stealing 32 bases, but he also struck out 159 times.
With the seven total additions, the Twins’ 40-man roster is now full. However, the tender deadline is set for Friday, and it’s possible Minnesota could non-tender one or more players by that time.