On paper, the Minnesota Twins have excellent starting pitching depth heading into 2027. However, if the team decides to move on from a starter on an expiring contract, such as Joe Ryan or Bailey Ober, and/or suffers multiple major injuries, that depth could suddenly become a weakness.
Entering this year's spring training, the Twins' starting pitching depth looked like a strength. However, that depth quickly worsened. Pablo López missed the season after undergoing an internal brace procedure. David Festa missed the whole year with injuries. Mick Abel missed most of the season. Joe Ryan missed a month late in the season due to a glute injury.
The Twins would be wise to add another starter or two this offseason despite having a seemingly full rotation. Regardless, let's project the Twins' starting rotation for 2027 based on players currently under contract.
Projected Twins 2027 starting rotation
- RHP Joe Ryan
- RHP Pablo López
- RHP Taj Bradley
- RHP Mick Abel
- RHP Dean Kremer
The Twins might trade Ryan this offseason, but since Pohlad said he plans to increase payroll, he may not want to move on from one of the team's best players unless he plans to add another top starter. One concern regarding Ryan is his tendency to regress in the second half of the season; he has a 3.17 career ERA in the first half and a 4.98 ERA in the second half. That may convince the Twins to trade him, but Ryan has still been one of the team's most valuable players over the past few seasons, so Pohlad and the front office will likely hold onto the ace if they are as serious about winning next year as they say they are.
Ryan, López and Bradley will most likely be the Twins' top three starting pitchers in 2027. When healthy, López is an All-Star-level pitcher. Bradley won the Twins' Pitcher of the Year Award after recording a 3.73 ERA with 202 strikeouts in his first full season with Minnesota.
The bottom of the rotation is harder to predict. I think Abel ultimately cracks the Opening Day roster as a starter. He made just four outings last year before landing on the IL and missing the rest of the season. Before landing on the IL, he threw 13 scoreless innings with 16 strikeouts across two starts and had an outstanding spring training.
I put Kremer as Minnesota's No. 5 starter, which leaves Ober, Zebby Matthews and Kendry Rojas out of the rotation. The Twins acquired Kremer from the Baltimore Orioles at the trade deadline. He recorded a strong 3.48 ERA across 10 starts with Minnesota.
Ober had a decent 2026 season, but his decrease in velocity is concerning. Minnesota might trade or not tender him this offseason. If not, he can serve as a long reliever and step into the rotation if there's an injury.
Meanwhile, Matthews and Rojas can start the season at Triple-A St. Paul and be called up in the event of an injury to a starter. The Twins could also use one or both of them as bullpen arms, but Minnesota should want to ensure there's enough starting pitching depth in case multiple injuries occur, which is likely.
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