Rangers place former Twins lights-out reliever Danny Coulombe on 15-day IL
The Texas Rangers placed lefty reliever Danny Coulombe on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder strain on Thursday (retroactive to Monday), the team announced. Coulombe will be eligible to return on Sept. 16, and the Rangers reinstated righty reliever Cole Winn from the injured list as a corresponding move.
Coulombe, who signed a one-year deal with Minnesota worth $3MM last offseason, was nearly unstoppable with the Twins this year, allowing just four runs with 31 strikeouts and nine walks in 31 innings before being traded to the Rangers for left-handed pitching prospect Garrett Horn. Coulombe started the season with 16 1/3 scoreless innings before allowing a run.
While Coulombe, 35, was dominant with the Twins this season, the lefty has struggled severely in his time as a Ranger, surrendering seven earned runs in 8 1/3 innings with Texas before landing on the injured list. In his last outing, Coulombe recorded just one out and allowed three earned runs on three hits (two home runs) on Aug. 26 against the Los Angeles Angels at Globe Life Field.
As it stands, the Rangers are half a game behind the Seattle Mariners for the third and final American League Wild Card spot with a 73-69 win-loss record. If Coulombe, who relies on a cutter, sinker, sweeper, four seamer and knuckle curve, returns later in the month, he could play a crucial role in helping the Rangers' postseason aspirations.
Could Danny Coulombe return to the Twins next season?
Coulombe has already been on the Twins in two separate stints (2020-2022, 2025), and he could come back to Minnesota for a third. Since Coulombe has struggled since the trade deadline and is now on the injured list, he will likely make less money than he would have if he continued dominating like he did with the Twins earlier in the year.
The Twins need to rebuild their bullpen next season, and they could likely bring back Coulombe on another one-year contract. Coulombe may not be a fan of what the Twins have done with their roster recently, but if he signs with the organization and the team isn't competing near the trade deadline, he could see himself being moved to another team just like he did this season, anyway. Additionally, if Coulombe were to sign with the Twins, the lefty veteran would easily be the Twins' most-counted-on reliever to start the season unless they sign a big-name bullpen arm.