The Baltimore Orioles traded right-hander Dean Kremer to the Minnesota Twins on July 31, 2026, in exchange for 18-year-old minor league outfielder Jhomnardo Reyes. The deal comes as both American League Wild Card contenders push for postseason position ahead of the trade deadline.
Dean Kremer Moves to Minnesota Amid a Turbulent Season
The Minnesota Twins added to their pitching depth by acquiring right-hander Dean Kremer from the Baltimore Orioles. The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal first reported the agreement on July 31, 2026, setting off movement between two teams locked in the American League Wild Card race. For Baltimore, the trade marks a pivot from buyer to seller as the deadline approaches, sending away a veteran arm who has spent his entire seven-year major league career within the organization.
Kremer’s departure closes a long chapter in Baltimore. Originally drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2016, he arrived in the organization as part of the July 2018 trade that sent Manny Machado to Los Angeles. After making his major league debut during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Kremer settled into a dependable back-end starter role. Between 2022 and 2025, he logged 599 1/3 innings across 109 appearances, posting a 3.95 ERA with a 20.6 percent strikeout rate and a 39.9 percent ground-ball rate.
Struggles, Injuries, and Financial Terms of the Deal
The 2026 campaign has proven far more difficult for the 30-year-old right-hander. Kremer’s struggles began on the final day of spring training when the Orioles surprisingly optioned him to the minors to clear room in the rotation for Zach Eflin. Though recalled in April, Kremer made just two starts before suffering a right quadriceps strain that sidelined him for over two months, keeping him out until a July 1 return.
Since returning to the mound, his form has cratered. Kremer carries a 6.50 ERA and a 1.361 WHIP across 36 frames and seven starts this year, going 1-4 overall. His slide deepened during a rough July in which he went 1-3 with a 7.56 ERA, culminating in a career-high eight runs allowed in four innings during a 14-0 loss to the Detroit Tigers. Playing on a one-year, $5.75 million contract, Kremer remains under team control through 2027, and the Twins are taking on the roughly $1.7 million remaining on his salary for the remainder of the season.
Jhomnardo Reyes Heads to Baltimore in Return
In exchange for their veteran starting pitcher, the Orioles received 18-year-old outfielder Jhomnardo Reyes, who ranked as the Twins’ No. 24 prospect according to MLB Pipeline. Reyes signed with Minnesota out of the Dominican Republic in January 2025 for a $322,500 bonus and quickly made noise in his stateside debut.
During his time in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League, Reyes batted .296 with seven home runs, 44 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases across 49 games before earning a promotion to Single-A Fort Myers. While he went 2-for-19 in his initial Class-A stint, the left-handed hitter provides Baltimore with a high-upside power bat for their developing minor league system.
A Busy Deadline for the Minnesota Bullpen and Rotation
The acquisition of Kremer follows another pitching move by the front office. Twins general manager Jeremy Zoll stated earlier in the week that the organization intended to be buyers at the deadline with a clear focus on bolstering the pitching staff.
Minnesota entered its July 31 matchup against the Seattle Mariners at 55-55, sitting just behind the Cleveland Guardians for the final American League Wild Card spot. Baltimore, holding a 54-56 record, trails the Twins by a single game in the crowded playoff chase. Kremer is expected to slot into the Minnesota rotation, though his recent performance leaves him vulnerable to a move to the bullpen if he fails to regain his previous form.
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