Minnesota Twins Transactions

Saturday, January 14

TEAM	PLAYER	TRANSACTION
		The Minnesota Twins and right-hander Chris Paddack avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $2.4 million deal. Paddack only made five starts for the Twins in 2022 in his first year with the team and needed his second Tommy John surgery in May. In his five starts, he allowed 10 earned runs on 25 hits while walking two and striking out 20 in 22 1/3 innings. Because the 27-year-old starting pitcher likely won't be ready to rejoin the starting rotation until the second half of 2023, he won't be worth drafting in mixed leagues. Paddack has struggled to replicate his rookie year in 2019 with the San Diego Padres, when he posted a 3.33 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and a career-high 153 strikeouts in 26 starts.
		Updating a previous report, the Minnesota Twins and right-hander Chris Paddack agreed to a three-year, $12.5 million deal on Friday as the two sides avoided salary arbitration. The Twins take care of the rest of his arbitration-eligible seasons and will pay him $2.5 million in 2023 and 2024 and $7.5 million in 2025. The deal also includes $2.5 million in incentives. The 27-year-old only made five starts for the Twins in 2022 before needing Tommy John surgery for the second time in his career. As such, fantasy managers can avoid him in mixed leagues in 2023 with him unlikely to return to Minnesota's rotation until the second half of the season. Paddack still needs to prove he's the same pitcher that he was in his rookie season with the San Diego Padres in 2019.

Wednesday, January 11

TEAM	PLAYER	TRANSACTION
		Shortstop Carlos Correa has passed his physical with the Minnesota Twins, and the team is expected to officially announce their six-year, $200 million deal with the 28-year-old on Wednesday. Correa's physical was a big deal after both the San Francisco Giants and New York Mets backed out of big deals with him due to concerns over a surgery that he had on a fractured right fibula back in 2014 when he was in the minors. The Twins signed Correa to a one-year, $35.1 million deal in 2022, so they were likely more comfortable with his medical records. If Correa remains healthy well into his new deal, he could stick with the Twins for up to 10 seasons due to vesting options that could net him an additional $70 million.

Tuesday, January 10

TEAM	PLAYER	TRANSACTION
		The Minnesota Twins and free-agent shortstop Carlos Correa are finalizing a six-year, $200 million deal on Tuesday, according to sources. The deal has a vesting option that can max out at $270 million and is pending a physical. This will be the third deal that Correa has agreed to this offseason, previously coming to terms with the San Francisco Giants and New York Mets before both teams backed out due to concerns about an ankle injury that Correa sustained in the minor leagues. However, the Twins are more familiar with the 28-year-old after he played for them in 2022. In the end, the Twins may have a bargain on their hands if Correa's body holds up beyond the next six seasons. Correa hit a strong .291/.366/.467 with 22 home runs last season in Minnesota. His likely return will afford Royce Lewis (knee) more time to heal from a torn ACL, and he'll eventually return to the outfield when he's healthy.
		The Minnesota Twins have acquired right-hander A.J. Alexy from the Washington Nationals, per a tweet from the American League Central club's official Twitter account on Tuesday. The Twins are trading right-handed pitching prospect Cristian Jimenez to Washington in the deal. Alexy has appeared in nine games at the major-league level for the Texas Rangers over the last two seasons, throwing 30 innings in the process. The former Ranger owns a career 6.30 ERA and 6.35 FIP in the majors. He'll give the Twins some additional rotation and bullpen depth heading into the 2023 season.

Friday, January 06

TEAM	PLAYER	TRANSACTION
		The Minnesota Twins claimed right-hander Oliver Ortega off waivers on Friday from the Los Angeles Angels and designated Blayne Enlow for assignment in a corresponding move. Ortega made 27 relief appearances for the Halos in 2022 in just his second major-league season and posted a 3.71 ERA (4.76 FIP), a 1.47 WHIP, one save, 33 strikeouts and 18 walks in 34 innings pitched. He made just eight relief appearances in his MLB debut in 2021 and allowed five earned runs on 12 hits while walking two and striking out four in 9 1/3 frames. The 26-year-old will serve as organizational relief depth for the Twins in 2023.

Thursday, January 05

TEAM	PLAYER	TRANSACTION
		The Minnesota Twins agreed to a minor-league deal with free-agent catcher Tony Wolters on Thursday. Wolters will likely receive a non-roster invitation to major-league spring training, but the 30-year-old backstop will likely begin the 2023 season in the minor leagues. He played in just two big-league games in 2022 with the Los Angeles Dodgers and was hitless in four plate appearances with three strikeouts. Known as a glove-first catcher, Wolters has played in seven major-league seasons and has a career slash line of just .235/.321/.314 with a .635 OPS, seven home runs, 123 RBI, 131 runs scored and six stolen bases in 407 games played. Wolters figures to serve as organizational catching depth behind Christian Vazquez and Ryan Jeffers.

Saturday, December 31

TEAM	PLAYER	TRANSACTION
		The Minnesota Twins signed free-agent infielder Willi Castro to a minor-league deal on Friday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training. Castro can play pretty much all over the diamond, but he spent most of his time in 2022 with the Detroit Tigers in the outfield. He finished the year hitting .241/.284/.367 with a .651 OPS, eight home runs, 31 RBI, 47 runs scored and nine stolen bases in 392 plate appearances and 112 games for Detroit. The 25-year-old won't be assured a major-league roster spot out of spring training, but he should see time at the big-league level with the Twins at some point as a utility bat.

Tuesday, December 27

TEAM	PLAYER	TRANSACTION
		Minnesota Twins shortstop prospect Royce Lewis (knee) tore the ACL in his right knee for a second time this past May. The first overall pick of the 2017 draft lost the 2020 campaign because of the COVID pandemic, missed all of 2021 with a torn ACL and then tore his ACL again last season. He's not expected back with the Twins until late June or July. This time around, Lewis has a better understanding of the rehab process. He's hoping to begin swinging a bat by the middle of January. Minnesota is excited about Lewis' future, but they are tempering expectations after he hit .300/.317/.550 in 41 plate appearances in the big leagues before his injury. Everything is going well in the 23-year-old's recovery and he's hoping to report to spring training and progress to more activities sometime in March.

Friday, December 16

TEAM	PLAYER	TRANSACTION
		The Minnesota Twins agreed to a one-year deal worth $11 million with free-agent outfielder Joey Gallo on Friday, according to sources familiar with the deal. The former two-time All-Star had the worst season of his career in 2022 with the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers in 126 games. The left-handed slugger hit a combined .160/.280/.357 with 19 home runs, 47 RBI, 48 runs scored and three stolen bases. Gallo struck out almost 40 percent of the time and finished with 163 K's in 410 plate appearances. He hit under .200 in 2021 as well, but it came with 38 home runs. With the 29-year-old, he offers prodigious left-handed power, but the Twins and fantasy managers are buying a ton of strikeouts and a crippling batting average.

Wednesday, December 14

TEAM	PLAYER	TRANSACTION
		The Minnesota Twins signed free-agent right-hander Patrick Murphy to a minor-league deal on Tuesday. He'll have a multi-inning relief role with the team next year, and his deal will include an invite to spring training. The 27-year-old saw only 5 2/3 innings of relief for the Washington Nationals in 2022, allowing six runs (four earned) on eight hits while walking eight and striking out four. He has a 4.76 ERA (4.05 FIP), a 1.64 WHIP, 38 strikeouts and 20 walks in 39 2/3 relief innings in his three major-league seasons with the Nationals and Toronto Blue Jays. Murphy will be trying to win a spot on the active roster out of spring training, but it's likely that he'll open the 2023 campaign in the minor leagues.
		Free-agent right-hander Jose De Leon announced on his Twitter account on Tuesday that he signed a minor-league deal with the Minnesota Twins. The deal includes an invitation to spring training next year. De Leon only appeared in 11 minor-league games for the Toronto Blue Jays this past season due to injury, posting a combined 4.05 ERA, a 1.42 WHIP, 20 strikeouts and eight walks in 13 1/3 innings over 11 appearances (six starts) with three different levels. The 30-year-old was once a top prospect for the Los Angeles Dodgers, but injuries and control issues have slowed him down. In five major-league seasons with the Dodgers, Rays and Reds, De Leon has gone 4-1 with an 8.44 ERA (5.98 FIP), a 1.85 WHIP, a 27.7 percent strikeout rate and a 14.5 percent walk rate in 48 innings over 22 outings (six starts).

Tuesday, December 13

TEAM	PLAYER	TRANSACTION
		The Minnesota Twins agreed to a three-year, $30 million deal with free-agent catcher Christian Vazquez on Monday. Vazquez began last season with the Boston Red Sox before being traded to the World Series-champion Houston Astros. The 32-year-old veteran backstop hit a combined .274/.315/.399 with nine home runs, 52 RBI, 41 runs scored and a stolen base in 426 plate appearances over 119 games played. He was one of the better hitting catchers in fantasy in 2022 and had a career-high 23 long balls as recently as 2019 in Boston. With the Twins, Vazquez should become the regular catcher next season and beyond while sharing time with Ryan Jeffers at the position. In eight major-league campaigns, Vazquez has a .261/.310/.386 slash line with 55 home runs and 276 RBI.

Friday, November 25

TEAM	PLAYER	TRANSACTION
		The Minnesota Twins re-signed infielder Elliot Soto to a minor-league deal this week. He's expected to get an invite to major-league spring training. The 33-year-old was selected to the 40-man roster in June of 2022 but was designated for assignment a day later and didn't appear in a game. He played in 92 games for Triple-A St. Paul, hitting .223/.320/.342 with four home runs, 32 RBI, 48 runs scored and nine stolen bases in 344 plate appearances. Soto, a glove-first player, made it up to the big leagues for three games with the Los Angeles Angels in 2020 but hasn't made it back since. He'll merely serve as infield depth for the Twins again in 2023 and is well off the fantasy radar.

Saturday, November 19

TEAM	PLAYER	TRANSACTION
		Kyle Farmer is the newest member of the Minnesota Twins after being acquired in a trade from the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds will receive minor league right-handed pitcher Casey Legumina in exchange for Farmer. The 32-year-old Farmer enjoyed arguably his best year at the plate in 2022, recording a .701 OPS with 14 home runs in 583 plate appearances, though that only resulted in a 91 wRC+. Farmer figures to be a depth piece and fill some of the playing time vacated by the earlier trade of Gio Urshela to the Los Angeles Angels, but fantasy managers should not look to invest in the righty swinger.

Monday, November 07

TEAM	PLAYER	TRANSACTION
		The Minnesota Twins will pick up right-hander Sonny Gray's $12.5 million team option for the 2023 season. Gray injured his hamstring late in the season and finished on the injured list, but overall it was a very solid season for the 32-year-old starting pitcher in his first year in Minnesota. He finished with an 8-5 record, 3.08 ERA (3.41 FIP), a 1.13 WHIP, 117 strikeouts and 36 walks in 119 2/3 innings over his 24 starts. Gray's 24 percent strikeout rate was a bit of a disappointment and his lowest mark since 2018 with the New York Yankees, but the two-time All-Star should remain a solid fantasy arm in 2023 as the Twins' top rotation arm, barring an offseason acquisition.

Wednesday, October 05

TEAM	PLAYER	TRANSACTION
		Minnesota Twins rookie corner infielder Jose Miranda (mouth) is being listed as day-to-day after being hit by a pitch in Tuesday's game against the Chicago White Sox. Miranda was forced from the game early, but it looks like he's avoided a serious injury. However, with just one game remaining in the Twins season, it's possible that the 24-year-old has played in the final game of his first MLB campaign in 2022. Miranda only had the one plate appearance before departing the contest. He entered Tuesday's game with a .268/.324/.426 slash line with 15 home runs, 66 RBI, 45 runs scored and a stolen base in 482 plate appearances over 123 games for the Twins, and Miranda figures to be a big part of Minnesota's future moving forward.

Tuesday, October 04

TEAM	PLAYER	TRANSACTION
		Minnesota Twins second baseman Luis Arraez (hamstring) remains out of the starting lineup on Monday against the Chicago White Sox. It will be Arraez's second straight game starting on the bench due to a hamstring injury, but hopefully he'll be able to return on Tuesday to close out the final two games of the regular season while trying to extend his current seven-game hitting streak. The 25-year-old left-handed hitter has done nothing but hit in 2022, slashing .315/.372/.419 with eight homers, 49 RBI, 86 runs and four stolen bases in 542 at-bat. Nick Gordon is getting the start at the keystone on Monday and is hitting third against White Sox right-hander Johnny Cueto. Gordon finished up the month of September hitting .250 (23-for-92) with three homers, 15 RBI and seven runs scored in 26 games.
		Minnesota Twins second baseman Luis Arraez (hamstring) is back in the starting lineup on Tuesday against the Chicago White Sox and right-hander Lucas Giolito, serving as the designated hitter and batting leadoff as he chases the American League batting title. Arraez is back in the lineup after missing the last two games with a hamstring injury, but he's good enough to return as the DH on Tuesday. The 25-year-old is in the midst of a seven-game hitting streak and currently leads the league with a .315 batting average (171-for-542). Arraez also has a .372 on-base percentage, eight home runs, 49 RBI, 86 runs scored and four stolen bases in 596 plate appearances over 142 games this year. Get him back into your lineups.

Monday, October 03

TEAM	PLAYER	TRANSACTION
		Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Trevor Megill (oblique) exited early during Sunday's game against the Detroit Tigers. The 28-year-old bounced a warmup pitch during the seventh inning. He was immediately lifted after that for precautionary reasons due to oblique tightness. Megill has a 4.80 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 49/17 K/BB ratio across 45 innings this season. His 2022 campaign could very well be done after suffering that injury.

Tuesday, September 27

TEAM	PLAYER	TRANSACTION
		Minnesota Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers (thumb) went 3-for-4 with a double, home run, three RBI and two runs scored in his minor league rehab game for Triple-A St. Paul on Monday night. Jeffers still has a little bit of time to return to the major-league roster for the Twins, who are close to being eliminated from postseason contention. The 25-year-old backstop has been out since having surgery to fix a fractured right thumb in the middle of July. Before his injury, he was slashing just .214/.291/.375 with seven home runs, 25 RBI and 23 runs scored in 214 plate appearances over 60 games in his third major-league season.
		The Minnesota Twins activated catcher Ryan Jeffers (thumb) from the 60-day injured list on Tuesday and placed catcher Sandy Leon (knee) on the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move. Leon will need to have surgery to fix a meniscus injury in his right knee. Jeffers has missed the team's last 62 games after having surgery on a fractured right thumb in mid-July. He went 8-for-35 with a double, three home runs, seven RBI and four walks during a nine-game minor league rehab assignment for Triple-A St. Paul. In 60 games for the Twins before his injury, Jeffers was hitting just .214 (41-for-192) with 10 doubles, seven home runs and 25 RBI. The 25-year-old backstop will start Tuesday's game against the Chicago White Sox on the bench.
		Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton (knee) had successful season-ending right knee surgery on Tuesday, according to manager Rocco Baldelli. The oft-injured Buxton will finish with 92 games under his belt in 2022, and he's only managed to play in over 100 games once in eight major-league seasons to this point. He finishes with a .224/.306/.526 slash line with an .833 OPS, a career-high 28 home runs, 51 RBI, 61 runs scored and six stolen bases in his 382 plate appearances for the Twins. If the 28-year-old can ever stay healthy for a full season, he could easily be in consideration for MVP honors. But his extensive injury history continues to make him a risk-reward fantasy selection.

Saturday, September 24

TEAM	PLAYER	TRANSACTION
		Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Tyler Mahle (shoulder) will not take the mound again this season. The right-hander has been shut down since September due to lingering shoulder problems. This is a shame as Mahle only ended up making four starts as a member of the Twins roster. Although, he was solid throughout most of the season, so the hope is that it'll continue in 2023. Fantasy managers who were holding Mahle can safely drop him now.
		Minnesota Twins infielder Jorge Polanco (knee) continues to deal with a lingering issue that could sideline him for the rest of the season. Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey mentioned that Polanco is still battling with his left knee soreness. That being said, it seems extremely unlikely that Polanco gets back on the field this season. He wasn't hitting that well, so the team will likely opt to rest him over taking a risk and having him suffer a worse injury. Before going down, Polanco was hitting .235/.346/.405 with 16 long balls, 56 RBI through 104 games. Fantasy managers should look for another option if they still roster Polanco.

Friday, September 23

TEAM	PLAYER	TRANSACTION
		Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton (hip, knee) will undergo arthroscopic knee surgery this Tuesday, ending his season. It was originally reported that Buxton was expected to return at some point in the season, but with the Twins falling out of contention the team has decided the best course of action is to get Buxton right for the 2023 season. Buxton, once again, has dealt with multiple injuries throughout the season. At this point, it is hard to see him playing much more than three-quarters of a season, which obviously significantly impacts his fantasy value. On top of that, he has stopped running almost completely, likely due to the injuries, and has just six steals this year. He will still contribute power-wise, but it will be hard to draft him as an integral part of fantasy rosters next season. The upside remains sky-high, but the likelihood he can maintain that over a full season is decreasing rapidly.

Tuesday, September 20

TEAM	PLAYER	TRANSACTION
		The Minnesota Twins placed starting pitcher Sonny Gray (hamstring) on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday with a right hamstring strain and also reinstated right-hander Trevor Megill from the COVID injured list. The team also outrighted right-hander Dereck Rodriguez. Gray left his start early on Monday after just two innings and will now miss at least the next two weeks. He'll be eligible to return for the final game of the regular season on Oct. 5, so he's basically done for the year. The 32-year-old veteran right-hander has gone 8-5 for the Twins this year with a 3.08 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP with 36 walks and 117 strikeouts in 119 2/3 innings pitched.

Monday, September 19

TEAM	PLAYER	TRANSACTION
		Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Sonny Gray (hamstring) left his start early on Monday against the Cleveland Guardians with right hamstring tightness. Gray made it just two innings before being pulled, allowing four earned runs on five hits while walking one and striking out one. The 32-year-old right-hander will surely go for more tests on his injured leg, and until we know more, fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day. With time running out in the regular season and with Gray already dealing with a hamstring injury earlier this year, it's quite possible he'll be shut down the rest of the way. Heading into his start on Monday, Gray was 8-4 with a 2.83 ERA (3.29 FIP), a 1.09 WHIP and a 116:35 K:BB in 117 2/3 innings over 23 starts.

Saturday, September 17

TEAM	PLAYER	TRANSACTION
		Minnesota Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers (thumb) had a big game in his first minor league rehab outing for Triple-A St. Paul on Friday night. Jeffers went 2-for-6 in the game with a home run, three RBI, a run scored and a strikeout. He served as the designated hitter in this one. The 25-year-old catcher has been away from the Twins since the middle of July after having surgery to fix a fractured right thumb. Because of the long layoff, he's likely to need at least a handful more rehab games, but there's a chance he can return to the Twins lineup before the end of the regular season, barring any setbacks. Before fracturing his thumb, Jeffers was hitting .214/.291/.375 with seven home runs, 25 RBI and 23 runs scored in 192 at-bats for the Twins.
		The Minnesota Twins are placing outfielder Max Kepler (wrist) on the 10-day injured list on Saturday and selecting the contract of outfielder Matt Wallner from the minors in a corresponding move. The team also designated Drew Strotman for assignment. Louie Varland was added to the active roster as the 29th man on Saturday. Kepler had missed the team's last four games with a leg contusion, but he was also dealing with a right wrist sprain. The 29-year-old lefty slugger will be eligible to return next weekend, but he won't have much time to help fantasy managers after that before the end of the season. Kepler has been a very mediocre fantasy asset this year, as he's currently hitting .227/.318/.348 with nine home runs, 43 RBI, 54 runs scored and three stolen bases in 388 at-bats.

Friday, September 16

TEAM	PLAYER	TRANSACTION
		Minnesota Twins second baseman Luis Arraez (hamstring) is back in the starting lineup on Friday against the Cleveland Guardians and right-hander Triston McKenzie, serving as the designated hitter and batting leadoff. Arraez didn't start Thursday's game after leaving Wednesday's contest early with hamstring tightness, but he's back in there on Friday for the start of a weekend series against Cleveland. The 25-year-old Venezuelan native doesn't bring a ton of power, but he's still plenty useful in fantasy. He currently leads the league with a .320 batting average, and he's also sporting a .380 on-base percentage, .812 OPS, eight home runs, 46 RBI, 79 runs scored and a stolen base in 128 games. Get the first-time All-Star back into your lineups.
		Minnesota Twins middle infielder Jorge Polanco (knee) is set to start a rehab assignment for Triple-A St. Paul on Friday. The switch-hitter will play second base tonight and possibly tomorrow, and could rejoin the Twins in Cleveland this weekend depending on how things go. Polanco is having a down year after his breakout 2021 and was slashing just .234/.341/.364 with two homers in August before his injury. Still, he should be activated and started in most leagues if he returns this weekend, as he has five-category potential.

Thursday, September 15

TEAM	PLAYER	TRANSACTION
		Minnesota Twins infielder Luis Arraez (hamstring) was removed from Wednesday's game versus the Kansas City Royals with left hamstring tightness. He went 1-for-1 with a run scored before exiting. The 25-year-old sustained the hamstring injury while on the bases, and he was removed from the game the following inning. The severity of his injury is unknown, and he is considered day-to-day. Kyle Garlick replaced him during the second inning. Arraez is deemed questionable for the series finale against the Royals.
		Minnesota Twins second baseman Luis Arraez (hamstring) is not in the starting lineup on Thursday against the Kansas City Royals. Arraez was forced to leave Wednesday's game early with hamstring tightness, but he's considered day-to-day after an MRI exam showed no structural damage. He won't start on Thursday, but he could be available off the bench and could be back in the starting lineup as soon as Friday. With Arraez starting on the bench, Jermaine Palacios will start at the keystone and hit eighth, while Kyle Garlick is serving as the designated hitter and is batting leadoff against Royals left-hander Daniel Lynch. Garlick profiles as a deep sleeper in DFS. He's hitting .254 (18-for-71) and has hit six of his nine home runs against southpaws in 2022.
		Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler (leg) remains out of the starting lineup on Thursday against the Kansas City Royals. Kepler is dealing with a right leg contusion and will now miss his third straight game this week. Fantasy managers should continue to consider him day-to-day for now. The 29-year-old German native is batting just .227/.318/.348 on the season with nine home runs, 43 RBI, 54 runs scored and three stolen bases in his 388 at-bats. Jake Cave is getting the nod in right field on Thursday and will hit ninth in the batting order against Royals left-hander Daniel Lynch. DFS gamers should be able to find better options than Cave. He's hit just .196 (18-for-92) on the year with three home runs.

Sunday, September 11

TEAM	PLAYER	TRANSACTION
		Minnesota Twins shortstop Jorge Polanco (knee) could return early-to-mid next week. According to Twins manager Rocco Baldelli, early to mid next week is probably a realistic timeline for Polanco to return from the injured list. The 29-year-old is eligible to return from the IL but will need extra days to recover from patellar tendinitis. He is slashing 235/.346/.405 with 16 home runs, 56 RBI, 54 runs, and three stolen bases in 445 plate appearances in 2022. Polanco is on track to return next week, and fantasy managers should continue to stash the Twins infielder in all league formats.
		Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton (hip, knee) is expected to return before the end of the regular season. According to manager Rocco Baldelli, Buxton is expected to return before the end of the season, but not this weekend and probably not early next week. The 28-year-old has yet to resume baseball activities, and the team is hopeful Buxton will contribute this season. He slashed .224/.306/.526 with 28 home runs, 51 RBI, 61 runs, and six stolen bases over 382 plate appearances in 2022. Fantasy managers should continue to stash Buxton in all league formats.
		Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Chris Archer (pectoral) has been placed on the 15-day injured list. The veteran right-hander exited his start on Saturday against the Guardians early with pectoral tightness. He should be activated in time to cap off the regular season for the Twins. Minnesota selected the contract of Jharel Cotton from Triple-A St. Paul in a corresponding move.
		Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler left Sunday's game against the Guardians early with an apparent injury. Gilberto Celestino took over in right field in the beginning of the third inning but there's no report from the Twins as to why Kepler was removed from the lineup. The 29-year-old outfielder has been dealing with some hip tightness recently so that could be the reason for the early exit. The Twins should provide an explanation at the conclusion of Sunday's game.

Saturday, September 10

TEAM	PLAYER	TRANSACTION
		Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler (hip) is back in the starting lineup Saturday against Triston McKenzie and the Cleveland Guardians. Kepler didn't start the previous five games for the Twins with a hip issue, although he was able to pinch hit during that stretch. Outside of a hot April and May, Kepler has had a brutal season, posting OPS's of .649, 667, .505, and .429 in the months following. Needless to say, you can drop Kepler in virtually any league.

Thursday, September 08

TEAM	PLAYER	TRANSACTION
		Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler (hip) remains out of the starting lineup on Thursday against the New York Yankees. Kepler will miss his fourth straight game and remains day-to-day for now. The good news is that he's come off the bench in two of the team's last three games, so there's a good chance he'll be back in the starting lineup at some point this weekend against the Cleveland Guardians. Kyle Garlick is in right field on Thursday and is batting leadoff against Yankees left-hander Nestor Cortes. Garlick will be a low-cost sleeper play in DFS out of the top spot in the batting order. He's hitting .277 (18-for-65) with six of his nine home runs against left-handed pitching this year.

Tuesday, September 06

TEAM	PLAYER	TRANSACTION
		The Minnesota Twins are calling up right-hander Louie Varland from Triple-A St. Paul for his major league debut on Wednesday against the New York Yankees. Varland is a St. Paul native who was drafted out of Concordia University in 2019, and he's the reigning Minor League Pitcher of the Year for the Twins. He'll be the first Twins pitcher to debut with a start at Yankee Stadium. The 24-year-old was recently promoted to Triple-A after posting a 3.34 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 119 strikeouts in 105 innings over 20 outings (19 starts) at Double-Wichita. He allowed just four earned runs while striking out 27 over four starts at St. Paul. Varland has increased his velocity in recent years and also has a nasty changeup and slider. He could stick in the rotation the rest of the season, making him attractive in deeper leagues. Varland is the team's No. 10 prospect, per MLB Pipeline.

Monday, September 05

TEAM	PLAYER	TRANSACTION
		Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler (hip) was scratched from the starting lineup on Monday against the New York Yankees due to hip tightness. Kepler is said to be available off the bench, so fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day for now. In 437 plate appearances over 110 games this year, Kepler is hitting .232/.325/.356 with nine home runs, 43 RBI, 54 runs scored and three stolen bases for the Twins. Kyle Garlick is starting in right field and is hitting sixth on Monday against Yankees right-hander Jameson Taillon. Garlick also has nine long balls on the year while hitting .265/.326/.521 with an .847 OPS, 18 RBI and 21 runs scored in 117 at-bats in 2022.
		The Minnesota Twins are moving right-hander Sonny Gray's (hamstring) next start to Thursday against the New York Yankees. His bullpen session will also be pushed back a day to Tuesday, but he'll get on the field on Monday to see how he's feeling. Gray left his last outing early on Friday against the Chicago White Sox due to right hamstring tightness, but it's not a serious injury and won't cause him to go on the injured list. It won't be an ideal matchup on Thursday against the Yankees, but the 32-year-old has very good for fantasy managers this year with a 7-4 record, 3.10 ERA (3.42 FIP), a 1.13 WHIP, 101 strikeouts and 33 walks in 104 2/3 innings over 21 starts in his first year in Minnesota.

Sunday, September 04

TEAM	PLAYER	TRANSACTION
		Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Tyler Mahle (shoulder) was placed on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation. The 27-year-old righty was just activated from the IL on Saturday and started against the White Sox before exiting after two innings with the same shoulder injury. This is clearly a recurring issue for Mahle and with just a month left in the regular season, the Twins may decide to keep him out for the remainder. The team should provide an update on him within the next week. Jovani Moran was recalled from Triple-A St. Paul in a corresponding move.

Saturday, September 03

TEAM	PLAYER	TRANSACTION
		Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Sonny Gray (hamstring) left his start early on Friday against the Chicago White Sox with right hamstring tightness. Before exiting, Gray allowed two earned runs on five hits while walking one and striking out two in four innings. It remains to be seen if he'll be able to make his next scheduled start next Wednesday against the New York Yankees in the Bronx. Stay tuned for more updates on the 32-year-old right-hander either after the game or Saturday morning. Coming into the day, Gray had a 7-4 record, 3.04 ERA (3.42 FIP), a 1.11 WHIP and a 99:32 K:BB in 100 2/3 innings over 20 starts for the Twins. He's been useful in all fantasy leagues in 2022.

Friday, September 02

TEAM	PLAYER	TRANSACTION
		Minnesota Twins second baseman Jorge Polanco (knee) is still out of the starting lineup on Friday against the Chicago White Sox. Polanco remains day-to-day, but this will be his fifth straight game starting on the bench. If he misses the rest of the weekend, there's a good chance he'll be placed on the injured list. In his absence, Nick Gordon will make another start at the keystone and bat fifth on Friday against White Sox right-hander Davis Martin. Gordon has been a nice sleeper option in DFS lately, as he's hitting .297 (11-for-37) with a homer, nine RBI and five runs scored in 12 games over the last two weeks for the Twins. Keep riding him in deeper leagues with Polanco still sidelined.

Wednesday, August 31

TEAM	PLAYER	TRANSACTION
		Minnesota Twins pitcher Tyler Mahle (shoulder) is listed as the team's probable starter for Saturday's game against the Chicago White Sox. He reportedly felt "really good" after throwing a bullpen session on Monday. The 27-year-old is expected to be activated from the 10-day injured list before Saturday's start. He owns a 4.17 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and a 126:43 K: BB across 118 2/3 innings in 2022. Mahle was on the IL for the 10-day minimum and is not expected to be on a pitch count for Saturday's start. Fantasy managers can start Mahle in all league formats for Saturday's main slate.
		Minnesota Twins second baseman Jorge Polanco (knee) remains out of the starting lineup on Wednesday against the Boston Red Sox. Polanco will miss his fourth straight game with left patellar tendinitis, but fantasy managers should continue to consider him day-to-day. It remains to be seen if the 29-year-old will be ready to go for the start of a series against the Chicago White Sox on Friday after a day off on Thursday. Nick Gordon is getting another start at second and is hitting seventh against Red Sox right-hander Michael Wacha. Gordon went 2-for-4 with a home run, double, six RBI and a run scored in the 10-5 win over the Red Sox on Tuesday and is hitting .312 (24-for-77) with two homers, 15 RBI and 10 runs scored in 25 games this month. Keep riding him in fantasy.

Tuesday, August 30

TEAM	PLAYER	TRANSACTION
		Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton (hip) is likely to continue to rehab at home instead of joining the team for their upcoming road trip. Buxton has been sidelined with a strained right hip since August 23. Buxton will not be with the Twins when they embark on their road trip but there is the possibility that Minnesota will fly him out to join them if he shows improvement. Buxton is hitting .224 with 28 homers, 61 runs, 51 RBI, and six steals across 340 at-bats in 2022.
		Minnesota Twins shortstop Tim Beckham cleared waivers after being designated for assignment and was outrighted to Triple-A St. Paul, so he'll remain with the organization. Beckham was dropped from the 40-man roster when the Twins reinstated outfielder Kyle Garlick from the injured list recently. The 32-year-old only appeared in 12 games for Minnesota, going 2-for-25 (.080) with no home runs, one RBI, one run scored and nine strikeouts. He'll continue to provide middle infield depth for the Twins in the minors, but he's well off the fantasy radar at this time.
		Minnesota Twins infielder Jorge Polanco (knee) will remain out of the starting lineup for Tuesday's game against the Boston Red Sox. The switch-hitting infielder is dealing with left knee soreness. He hasn't been able to play since Saturday, but is hopeful to avoid a trip to the injured list. In the meantime, Nick Gordon will cover second base and bat fifth versus right-hander Kutter Crawford on Tuesday. Hopefully, fantasy managers will get Polanco back within the next few days.

Monday, August 29

TEAM	PLAYER	TRANSACTION
		Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Tyler Mahle (shoulder) threw a 25-pitch bullpen session at Target Field on Friday and reported feeling "really good," according to manager Rocco Baldelli. Mahle will throw another bullpen session with more intensity in the coming days, and if that goes well, the Twins are aiming for Sept. 2 as a "loose target" for Mahle's return. It's the first day he's eligible to return from the injured list. The 27-year-old right-hander doesn't have any structural damage in his right arm following his early exit from his Aug. 17 start against the Kansas City Royals. Mahle previously missed three weeks in July with a right shoulder strain. In three starts with the Twins after being acquired from the Cincinnati Reds, Mahle has allowed four earned runs on eight hits while walking four and striking out 12 in 14 1/3 innings.

Sunday, August 28

TEAM	PLAYER	TRANSACTION
		Minnesota Twins shortstop Jorge Polanco (knee) was removed from Saturday's game against the San Francisco Giants with left patellar tendonitis. He went 0-for-3 with a strikeout before exiting. The 29-year-old had been dealing with knee soreness over the past week and is considered day-to-day. He was replaced by Nick Gordon in the top of the seventh inning. Gordon would see an uptick in at-bats if Polanco misses any games. The 26-year-old is a speculative add in most league formats after slashing .268/.312/.414 with five home runs, 24 RBI, and six stolen bases over 280 at-bats in 103 games in 2022. Polanco's next chance to return to the lineup will be Sunday for the series finale against the Giants.

Saturday, August 27

TEAM	PLAYER	TRANSACTION
		Minnesota Twins right-hander Tyler Mahle (shoulder) is scheduled to throw a 15-20 pitch bullpen session on Friday and will use all of his pitches. Mahle has been on the injured list since last week after coming down with inflammation in his right shoulder. The veteran hurler is eligible to come off of the injured list next Friday and appears to be trending in the right direction. Mahle has a 6-7 record, 4.17 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and 126 strikeouts over 118 2/3 innings of work in 2022.

Friday, August 26

TEAM	PLAYER	TRANSACTION
		Minnesota Twins pitcher Tyler Mahle (shoulder) has resumed throwing and is expected to throw a bullpen session on Friday. He was placed on the 15-day IL last Saturday with right shoulder inflammation. Mahle initially felt soreness in his right shoulder in his previous start last Wednesday. The 27-year-old is eligible to return from the injured list on September 2. He owned a 4.17 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and 126: 43 K: BB across 118 2/3 innings before landing on the injured list. Mahle should continue to be stashed in all league formats and could provide fantasy managers a boost for the final stretch of the regular season.

Tuesday, August 23

TEAM	PLAYER	TRANSACTION
		Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton left his team's Monday game early with a knee injury. Buxton appeared to tweak something in his right knee during a swing, but he was able to stay in the game. Later, he attempted to make a diving catch in center field, stayed down afterward, and was then replaced in the outfield by Jake Cave. Buxton has had issues with his right knee before and has been playing through the pain for much of the year. There is no indication as to how serious the knee injury is at the moment, but look for the Twins to update his status before Tuesday's game.
		Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton (hip) will undergo an MRI after injuring his hip in Monday's 2-1 loss to the Rangers, per the Athletic's Aaron Gleeman. Buxton appeared to tweak something in his right knee during a swing and later exited after an attempted diving catch in center field. Manager Rocco Baldelli said that, in addition to the season-long right knee injury, Buxton has also played much of the season with a hip injury. It is a shame to hear that the 28-year-old may have to miss even more time, as he has slashed .224/.306/.526 with 28 home runs, 51 RBI, and six stolen bases this season. Fantasy managers should wait to see what the MRI yields, but they should start preparing a contingency plan should Buxton have to miss time.
		Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton (hip) will be placed on the 10-day injured list with a right hip strain on Tuesday. He did not travel with the team to Houston. With Buxton sidelined, Gilberto Celestino and Jake Cave should see more playing time in Minnesota's outfield. Nick Gordon is in center field and is batting fifth on Tuesday against Houston Astros right-hander Justin Verlander, while Cave is in left field and batting eighth. The injury-prone Buxton will head back to the injured list, but he remains worth stashing after hitting .224/.306/.526 with an .833 OPS, 28 long balls, 51 RBI, 61 runs scored and six stolen bases to this point in the season.

Sunday, August 21

TEAM	PLAYER	TRANSACTION
		Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Kenta Maeda (elbow) is throwing 87-90 mph and is progressing towards a live bullpen session, according to beat writer Aaron Gleeman. Maeda has been throwing off a mound recently and is working his way towards a potential September debut with the Twins. The veteran hurler underwent Tommy John surgery last September and could help Minnesota in a late-season playoff push if all goes well. The 34-year-old compiled a 6-5 record, 4.66 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, and 113:32 K/BB ratio over 106 1/3 innings (21 starts) during the 2021 season prior to his surgery.

Saturday, August 20

TEAM	PLAYER	TRANSACTION
		Minnesota Twins right-hander Tyler Mahle (shoulder) is likely to have his next start skipped or pushed back. Mahle was shut down from throwing after experiencing soreness in his right shoulder during his last start, which came on Wednesday. The 27-year-old told reporters on Friday that he feels good, but the Twins will understandably be cautious with their recent trade deadline acquisition. Mahle has made 22 starts in 2022, posting a 6-7 record, 4.17 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and 126 strikeouts in 118 2/3 innings of work.
		Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Tyler Mahle (shoulder) is headed to the 15-day IL with right shoulder inflammation. The Twins have been debating whether they wanted to leave Mahle on the active roster and see if he is feeling better later next week, but ended up placing him on the IL with no clear return date laid out. Mahle felt soreness in his right shoulder in his start on Wednesday, and although he told reporters he is feeling better, the Twins are opting to play it safe. This is probably the right call considering Mahle missed time earlier this season with a shoulder strain. Hopefully the 27-year-old doesn't miss much time, as he has looked sharp since the beginning of June, sporting a 3.05 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 68 strikeouts over 65 IP. Fantasy managers will need a replacement for next week, and should keep an eye on Mahle's status while he recovers.

Thursday, August 18

TEAM	PLAYER	TRANSACTION
		Minnesota Twins right-hander Tyler Mahle's (shoulder) MRI results came back clean on Thursday after he left his start early on Wednesday with what the team is now describing as "general soreness and fatigue" in his right shoulder. Mahle will remain day-to-day, but it still remains unknown if he'll be able to make his next scheduled start. Since being acquired from the Cincinnati Reds at this summer's trade deadline, the 27-year-old has allowed four earned runs on eight hits while walking four and striking out 12 in 14 1/3 innings over just three starts. Mahle is 6-7 with a 4.17 ERA (3.77 FIP), a 1.19 WHIP and a 126:43 K:BB in 118 2/3 innings over his 22 starts this season.