The Minnesota Twins are doing something nobody expected them to be doing in late July: competing. And their latest move suggests they might actually believe in it.
The Twins acquired right-handed reliever Tommy Nance from the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday, sending infielder Ryan Sprock the other way, according to ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez and Jeff Passan. It’s not a blockbuster. But it’s a signal.
Nance has dealt with a forearm injury this season and has only appeared in 32 games. Still, his 3.82 ERA and 34-to-13 strikeout-to-walk ratio are respectable. More impressive? Last year he posted a 1.99 ERA across 30 appearances with a 32-to-7 K/BB ratio. That’s the version Minnesota is betting on.
Why the Twins bullpen needed help yesterday
The Twins bullpen is bad. Like, historically bad. Through Friday, their relievers have a combined 5.28 ERA, dead last in baseball. Opponents are hitting .262 against them, fourth-worst in the league. And they’ve walked 178 batters, tied for seventh-most. Those numbers aren’t a blip. They’re a crisis.
Nance won’t fix all of that on his own. But he gives the Twins a veteran arm with a track record. That’s more than a lot of their current bullpen options can say.
Sprock, the guy they gave up, was an eighth-round pick in 2025. He’s played 90 minor league games, all at Single-A. He can play infield and catch, which is interesting, but he’s not close to the majors. The Twins needed help now, not later.
What this says about Minnesota’s deadline approach
The Twins are 46-48. That’s not great. But they’re only two games back in the AL Central and one game out of a Wild Card spot. In a division where nobody seems to want to run away with anything, that’s enough to keep hope alive.
Does this move make the Twins big buyers at the deadline? Not necessarily. But it shows they’re at least looking around. They see a path. Whether they take it depends on what happens over the next few weeks.
For now, they’ve added a guy who can get outs. They’ll take that.
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