Twins Acquire Reliever Tommy Nance in Trade Deadline Deal with Blue Jays The Minnesota Twins made a significant move on the trade deadline Friday by acquiring right-handed reliever Tommy Nance from the Toronto Blue Jays in a deal that also involved the exchange of prospects and roster adjustments. Nance, a 35-year-old veteran with a career 3.82 ERA in 32 games this season, is expected to join the Twins’ roster on Saturday. The 33-inning outing for Nance includes 34 strikeouts and 13 walks, showcasing his potential to bolster a bullpen that ranks among the worst in the majors with a 5.28 ERA entering the trade. The trade, finalized in the early hours of Friday, saw the Twins send 21-year-old prospect Ryan Sprock to the Blue Jays. Sprock, an eighth-round pick from the 2025 draft, split time between catcher and third base during his time in the minors. He was recognized as the Florida State League’s player of the month for June and was recently promoted to high-A Cedar Rapids. The Twins also moved Mick Abel to the 60-day injured list to create space on the 40-man roster, a necessary step to accommodate Nance’s addition. Nance’s career trajectory with the Blue Jays has been marked by limited high-leverage appearances, as he primarily served as a middle reliever in 2024. However, his postseason experience, including two appearances in the 2023 playoffs, adds value to the Twins’ depth. Manager Derek Shelton emphasized the importance of addressing the bullpen’s shortcomings, stating, “We’ve talked about the areas that we need to improve our club and our bullpen is target No. 1.” Shelton noted that the trade did not require removing a player from the major league roster, highlighting the strategic flexibility of the deal.#toronto_blue_jays #minnesota_twins #derek_shelton #ryan_sprock #tommy_nance
MINNEAPOLIS – The Minnesota Twins made a strategic move to strengthen their bullpen by acquiring right-handed reliever Tommy Nance from the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday. In exchange, the Twins sent prospect Ryan Sprock to Toronto and received international bonus pool money. This trade marks the first significant addition to the roster ahead of the Trade Deadline, signaling the team’s intent to bolster its depth rather than trim it. Nance, 35, brings a wealth of experience with his repertoire of a 94-95 mph fastball, complemented by a curveball and slider. He had a standout season with the Blue Jays in 2025 and has continued to perform effectively in 2026, posting a 3.82 ERA with 34 strikeouts and 13 walks in 33 innings across 32 appearances. However, his effectiveness has been somewhat inconsistent against left-handed hitters, who have managed a .327 batting average against him this season. The trade addresses a critical weakness for the Twins, whose bullpen ranks last in the Major Leagues with a 5.28 ERA. While the team has solidified the back end of its relief corps with Yoendrys Gómez and Andrew Morris pitching effectively in late-game situations, the lack of consistency in the middle innings has been a persistent issue. Manager Derek Shelton emphasized the importance of improving the bullpen, calling it the team’s top priority. “We’ve talked about the areas we need to improve, and the bullpen is target No. 1,” Shelton said. “We’re not taking anything off our Major League club, and we’re adding to an area we feel is critical to get better.” The move was met with enthusiasm within the clubhouse, reflecting the team’s desire to be active buyers rather than sellers at the Trade Deadline.#toronto_blue_jays #minnesota_twins #derek_shelton #tommy_nance #ryan_sprock
Taj Bradley strikes out 10 as Minnesota Twins top Cleveland Guardians Minnesota Twins pitcher Taj Bradley delivered a dominant performance, striking out 10 batters across seven innings to lead his team to a 3-1 series-opening victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. The win marked the Twins’ first home series win against the Guardians since May 2022 and extended their winning streak to six games out of their last eight. Bradley’s outing was highlighted by his ability to dominate the Cleveland lineup, yielding only three hits and one run while showcasing a near-unhittable cutter. Bradley’s performance was a stark contrast to his earlier struggles following a stint on the injured list. Twins manager Derek Shelton had previously criticized Bradley’s lack of “swagger,” a term Shelton borrowed from Carl Crawford’s hitting coach in Tampa Bay. Shelton described Bradley’s pitching style as reminiscent of a 12-year-old, emphasizing his energetic delivery and joy on the mound. “The thing I love about watching Taj pitch is it’s like watching a 12-year-old pitch,” Shelton said. “I mean that in a beautiful way. The way he jumps off a mound. His energy. That’s awesome.” The game’s turning point came in the sixth inning when Bradley froze Kahlil Watson with a 99.6-mph fastball for a called third strike, prompting Bradley to punch his hand into his glove and run off the mound in celebration. The Twins’ offense supported Bradley’s dominance with a two-run rally in the second inning, led by a solo home run from Rhys Hoskins. Hoskins hit a fastball over the 411-foot marker in center field, giving the Twins an early lead. Despite Cleveland’s efforts to rally, the Twins’ defense held strong.#cleveland_guardians #minnesota_twins #taj_bracket #derek_shelton #rhys_hoskins
Taj Bradley strikes out 10 in 7 innings in Twins' win over Guardians The Minnesota Twins secured a critical three-game series opener against the Cleveland Guardians with a 3-1 victory on Tuesday, powered by a dominant performance from right-hander Taj Bradley. The 28-year-old pitcher delivered one of his best starts of the season, striking out 10 batters while walking none in seven innings. His ability to dominate hitters with a mix of high-velocity fastballs, a sharp splitter, and a devastating cutter highlighted his resurgence as a key contributor for the Twins. Bradley’s outing marked his second consecutive game with double-digit strikeouts, continuing a strong stretch that has seen him post a 1.89 ERA over his last three starts after a brief slump in June. Bradley’s dominance was evident from the start, as he consistently kept Guardians hitters off balance with his varied arsenal. The right-hander induced 25 swings and misses, tying for the fourth-highest total in a single game this season and marking the most by a Twins pitcher since Joe Ryan’s 24 whiffs on April 27, 2025. His cutter, which reached speeds of 92-94 mph, accounted for 17 of those strikeouts, the most by any pitcher using the pitch since Luis Garcia of the Astros recorded 17 whiffs on April 19, 2023. Bradley’s ability to keep hitters guessing with his fastball, splitter, and cutter was a major factor in his success. The game’s turning point came in the second inning when Rhys Hoskins hit a solo home run off Bradley, giving the Guardians an early lead. However, Bradley quickly settled in, working around a one-out single in the fourth and a leadoff double in the seventh to protect Minnesota’s slim advantage.#cleveland_guardians #minnesota_twins #taj_brandon #derek_shelton #steven_vogt
