The Minnesota Twins acquired starting pitcher Dean Kremer from the Baltimore Orioles on Friday in exchange for minor league outfielder Jhomnardo Reyes. Minter, the aggressive moves push the Twins’ player payroll toward higher figures as ownership pushes for a deep postseason run.
The Minnesota Twins are not waiting until the final seconds of the deadline to patch together a competitive roster. Minter from the New York Mets, the Twins struck a deal on Friday night to acquire starting pitcher Dean Kremer from the Baltimore Orioles.
Rotation Stabilization and Kremer’s Tough Season in Baltimore
Kremer arrives in Minnesota carrying heavy baggage from a difficult 2026 campaign. His season was derailed early by a right quad strain that cost him more than 10 weeks of action, and he was rocked for 14 runs over his final two outings in a Baltimore uniform.
Despite those struggles, the underlying metrics suggest a durable mid-rotation arm. Kremer has recorded a career 4.37 ERA across seven seasons, all with the Orioles after joining the organization in the 2018 Manny Machado trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers. From 2022 through 2025, he was a steady presence, posting a 3.95 ERA over 109 games.
His primary issue has been the long ball, having surrendered 12 home runs this year—an outlier rate for a pitcher who previously hovered around a 1.3 HR/9 mark. Leaving Camden Yards, which has yielded a high volume of home runs since fence adjustments, could offer immediate relief.
He is playing on an arbitration salary, with Minnesota assuming a portion for the remainder of the season. He remains under team control through the 2027 season.
Payroll Shifts and the Twins’ Push for the Postseason
The trades for Kremer and Minter mark a sharp departure from the front office’s financial posture over the previous two seasons. After cutting payroll by $30 million following an October 2023 playoff series win and standing pat at a disastrous 2024 deadline, the ownership group has changed course.
Twins chairman Tom Pohlad authorized general manager Jeremy Zoll to add payroll to support the clubhouse as reported by The Athletic. Prior to the deadline deals, Minnesota’s player payroll sat around prior figures.
Players noticed the pivot.
Managing Workloads and Injury-Plagued Rotations
The rotation acquisition addresses an urgent need for stability. The Twins’ pitching depth has been battered by major injuries, losing staff ace Pablo Lopez, David Festa, and Mick Abel to long-term ailments. That attrition forced heavy reliance on unproven arms like Zebby Matthews and rookie lefty Connor Prielipp.
Prielipp has logged 91 innings between the majors and Triple-A this season, sailing past his previous career workload limits while posting a 4.73 ERA over his first 14 starts. Adding an experienced innings-eater like Kremer gives manager Rocco Baldelli the flexibility to protect young arms down the stretch or shift a rookie option to the bullpen to bolster the relief corps.
Meanwhile, the Orioles are navigating their own balance between buying and selling. Baltimore expects veteran right-hander Chris Bassitt back from a back injury within the next couple of weeks.
