Twins further deplete bullpen after trading lights-out reliever to Texas Rangers

The Twins traded a reliever for the third time in the past two days.
Pittsburgh Pirates v Minnesota Twins
Pittsburgh Pirates v Minnesota Twins | David Berding/GettyImages

Twins trade lights-out lefty reliever Danny Coulombe to Texas Rangers

As expected, the Twins have traded reliever Danny Coulombe. The lefty is headed to the Texas Rangers, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. In exchange, Minnesota received left-handed pitcher Gerrett Horn, the team announced.

Coulombe, 35, has been dominant on the mound for Minnesota this season. He has accrued 1.4 bWAR with a 1.16 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 31 innings pitched for the Twins this year. He relies on five pitches. He mainly utilizes his cutter, which he throws 39% of the time. He also throws a sweeper, a sinker, a four-seam fastball and occasionally a knuckle curve.

The Twins certainly will miss Coulombe's presence in their bullpen, but since he is set to be a free agent this upcoming offseason, it made perfect sense for the Twins to trade him to a playoff contender. Minnesota may bring Coulombe back next season, just as they did this year after he spent two seasons with the Orioles.

Who is left-handed pitcher Garret Horn, whom the Twins acquired for lefty reliever Danny Coulombe?

Horn, 22, was selected in the sixth round of the 2024 MLB Draft out of Liberty College by Texas. He throws a four-seam fastball that sits around 93 mph, and mainly uses his slider as his secondary pitch. He also throws a changeup and a sinker.

Horn has impressed on the mound in his first season of professional baseball, surrendering just two runs in 6 1/3 innings of work across three outings in rookie ball before being promoted to Low-A Hickory, where he has given up six earned runs on 15 hits and three walks in 18 1/3 innings pitched over six starts.

Coulombe is the third notable reliever the Twins have moved in the past two days after trading Jhoan Duran to the Philadelphia Phillies yesterday and moving Brock Stewart to the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier today. Additionally, Minnesota has traded shortstop Carlos Correa to the Houston Astros, Harrison Bader to the Philadelphia Phillies, Willi Castro to the Chicago Cubs and Chris Paddack to the Detroit Tigers.

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