Griffin Jax trade paying major dividends for Twins early in 2026

If it weren't for the Griffin Jax trade, the Minnesota Twins could easily be 0-6 rather than 2-4. Thanks, Derek Falvey!

The Twins traded Jax to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for right-handed starting pitcher Taj Bradley at last summer's Trade Deadline. Neither the Rays nor the Twins made the postseason last year, so determining who saw the best results from the trade in 2025 is a moot point.

This year, the Twins are probably much happier with the trade than the Rays are. It may be early in the season, but it's still always fun to compare performances from players who were traded for each other.

Former Twins reliever Griffin Jax struggling with Rays in 2026

Jax, who played for Team USA during this year's World Baseball Classic, is not performing well for the Rays in 2026.

There's still time for Jax to bounce back. He allowed 10 earned runs through his first 12 innings last season, suggesting he may just need time to adjust.

Still, the Twins have to be extremely happy with the trade at this point in the season. During his first start of the season, Bradley allowed one run on three hits and three walks while striking out nine batters en route to the Twins winning their first game of the season, 4-1 against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards on Saturday.

Taj Bradley has another dominant start as Twins beat Royals 5-1

Bradley had an even better outing against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on Thursday, despite collecting just one-third of the number of strikeouts from his first start. He threw 100 pitches across six innings, allowing five hits and one walk. Not to mention, he broke the record for fastest pitch from a Twins starting pitcher when he struck out perennial MVP candidate Bobby Witt Jr. looking on a 100-mph fastball down the middle.

The Royals also had a strong outing from their starter, as lefty Cole Ragans allowed zero earned runs, four hits and a walk with eight strikeouts in six innings.

The Twins scored the first run of the game in the second inning after catcher Salvador Perez attempted to pick off Kody Clemens at second base but threw the ball into the outfield, allowing Clemens to score.

Lefty Kody Funderburk followed Bradley's strong six innings with a scoreless seventh inning.

Byron Buxton gave the Twins a 2-0 lead on a sacrifice fly off righty John Schreiber in the eighth inning before Cole Sands allowed Kansas City's lone run of the game in the bottom half of the inning. Lefty Taylor Rogers entered the game after Sands and struck out Jac Caglianone to end the frame with the tying run on second base.

The Twins added three insurance runs in the ninth inning, all on solo homers against righty Seven Cruz. Matt Wallner homered to left-center field, Clemens homered to left field, and Josh Bell, as a lefty, homered to right field.

Righty Justin Topa threw a scoreless ninth inning, giving the Twins their second win of the season.