Twins bring back left-handed reliever Danny Coulombe

MLB: Minnesota Twins at Baltimore Orioles — Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Danny Coulombe pitches against the Baltimore Orioles during the fifth inning on May 4, 2022 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore.

By Betsy Helfand / St. Paul Pioneer Press

February 04, 2025 at 8:24 PM

After an offseason of near silence, the Minnesota Twins, at long last, have made a move to bolster their roster.

The Twins came to an agreement with left-handed reliever Danny Coulombe on a one-year deal reportedly worth $3 million, making their first move to address the major league roster all winter with just about a week to go before pitchers and catchers report to Fort Myers, Florida.

Before the move, which has not yet been made official, the Twins had not added to their major league roster via trade or free agency this offseason.

If the name sounds familiar, it’s because Coulombe, now 35, pitched for the Twins from 2020-22. He was with the Twins in spring training of 2023, as well, on a minor league deal but the Twins did not add him to the major league roster to begin the season and he used an upward mobility clause to join the Baltimore Orioles.

From there, Coulombe posted a 2.81 earned-run average that year and a 2.12 ERA in 2024 with Baltimore. Coulombe struck out 32 batters in 29⅔ innings and posted a 0.674 WHIP, but his season was interrupted in June when he had surgery to remove bone spurs from his left elbow.

He returned near the end of the season after which the Orioles declined his $4 million option in November and he became a free agent.

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The move gives the Twins a left-handed option for a bullpen that is projected to be one of the best in the majors but was missing an established southpaw following the departure of Caleb Thielbar. Prior to the move, Kody Funderburk and Brent Headrick were the only lefties on the 40-man roster.

Coulombe joins a stacked bullpen featuring the likes of Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax, Cole Sands and Brock Stewart, among others.

The Twins still have uncertainty at first base following the departure of Carlos Santana in free agency and are on the lookout for another right-handed bat, most likely an outfielder.

Twins release promo schedule

The Twins will host two postgame concerts (hip-hop on July 11 and country on Aug. 15), Minecraft Movie Day (May 25), a Peanuts 75th Anniversary Night (July 25) and SpongeBob SquarePants Night (Aug. 29) as part of their 2025 promotional calendar.

Those join a host of returning theme nights, such as Star Wars Night (May 23), Country Night (June 6) and Pride Day (June 7). After introducing it last year, the Twins will bring back Bark at the Park, allowing fans to bring their canine friends to the ballpark twice this season on May 19 and Sept. 2.

A Joe Mauer statue dedication will take place on April 13, and a replica giveaway will be passed out to the first 10,000 fans through the gates on Aug. 30. Other giveaways include a Royce Lewis City Connect bobblehead on May 24, a Byron Buxton bobblehead on July 12 and a Bailey Ober City Connect jersey on July 26.

The full list of promotions, theme nights and special events can be found on the Twins’ official website.

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