Twins decline Justin Topa's 2026 option
The Minnesota Twins declined righty reliever Justin Topa's $2 million club option for next season, according to The Minnesota Star Tribune's Bobby Nightengale. He will receive a $225,000 buyout and remains with the organization for now, eligible for arbitration.
Topa, whom the Twins acquired in the 2023-24 offseason as part of the Jorge Polanco trade, posted a 3.90 ERA with 49 strikeouts and 18 walks over 60 innings with Minnesota last season. He wasn't amazing, but he surely was worth over $2 million, making the Twins' decision to decline his option somewhat puzzling, especially given the fact that the team traded five relievers this past summer. Now, if Topa can receive more than $2 million in arbitration, Minnesota will let him sign with another team.
Luis Ramirez, Ramon Borrego returning to Twins' coaching staff
Like Pete Maki, Luis Ramirez and Ramon Borrego will return to the Twins' coaching staff in 2026, according to The Athletic's Dan Hayes. Ramirez will continue to serve as the infield coach, while Borrego will replace Sammy Watkins, who recently joined the Atlanta Braves' coaching staff, as third base coach. The Twins still have yet to announce who will serve as the team's hitting and quality control coaches next year. As of now, the only other reported additions to Derek Shelton's staff are LaTroy Hawkins as bullpen coach and Grady Sizemore as outfield/baserunning/first base coach.
Former Twins ALDS starting pitcher Randy Dobnak signs minor-league deal with Mariners
The Seattle Mariners signed former Twins right-handed pitcher Randy Dobnak to a minor-league deal with an invite to big league camp, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan, after the Detroit Tigers declined the former Uber driver's $6 million option for 2026. Dobnak, whom the Twins traded to the Tigers along with Chris Paddack this past summer in exchange for catching prospect Enrique Jimenez, received a $1 million buyout from Detroit.
Dobnak signed a five-year, $9.25 million extension with the Twins in March 2021 after posting a 3.12 ERA (3.56 FIP) with 50 strikeouts and 18 walks over 75 innings across parts of two seasons (2019-20). Dobnak made a start during Game 2 of the 2019 ALDS against the New York Yankees, suffering the loss after allowing four earned runs on six hits and two walks in two innings. The extension didn't go as planned, as Dobnak spent more time with Triple-A St. Paul than he did with Minnesota after signing the five-year deal.