Twins add another arm, acquire starter Dean Kremer in trade with Orioles: Source

Twins add another arm, acquire starter Dean Kremer in trade with Orioles: Source

Economy World


The Athletic has live coverage of the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline.

SEATTLE — The Minnesota Twins are adding on again, acquiring starting pitcher Dean Kremer from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for a rookie-ball outfielder, a league source told The Athletic on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been announced.

Kremer is 1-4 with a 6.50 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 36 innings this season for the Orioles. Before this season, Kremer owned a 4.26 career ERA while striking out 7.7 batters per nine innings.

A team source, who spoke on condition of anonymity since the deal is not yet official, said the Twins will send 18-year-old outfield prospect Jhomnardo Reyes to the Orioles. Reyes posted a .296/.409/.541 slash line in the Florida Complex League before recently being promoted to A-ball.

The Twins are taking on the remaining $1.7 million owed to Kremer, a league source told The Athletic. It’s the second time they’ve added to their payroll in less than 24 hours. The Twins also are paying the remaining $3.3 million owed to reliever A.J. Minter, who was acquired from the New York Mets late Thursday night.

The Twins’ rotation could benefit from some additional depth. Rookie Connor Prielipp’s 91 combined innings between Triple A and the majors this season represent a career high; he entered this season with 112 2/3 innings pitched since his professional career began in 2022. The Twins also have received inconsistent results from Friday’s starter Zebby Matthews, who began the game with a 5.21 ERA and yielded an early two-run double to Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh.

Beyond those two, the Twins currently have unanswered questions about Joe Ryan, who struggled in his past two outings as he’s battled balance and lower-half issues, including surrendering a major-league record six home runs in a July 20 loss to Cleveland.

Though Twins chairman Tom Pohlad suggested GM Jeremy Zoll would have the necessary resources to make deals, the Twins rarely have been a team that absorbs significant salary in-season. In years past, the Twins often provided better prospects to avoid taking on salary. Because they took on Minter’s money, the Mets were willing to accept a package that didn’t include any of Minnesota’s top prospects.

A Twins source speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the team’s thinking suggested Pohlad is willing to give Zoll even more financial aid to strengthen the roster. Though the Twins have added Minter and Kremer, the team wants to keep adding talent before the Aug. 3 deadline.

“We’ve got to be willing to make investments and make bold moves that allow us to be successful in the playoffs,” Pohlad said July 10. ” … This is a build-and-they-will come situation. The fans are not going to come back based on words. They’re going to come back once they see investment in the team and success on the field. I know that.”