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
