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Twins Sign Danny Coulombe

By Steve Adams | February 7, 2025 at 1:40pm CDT

February 7: The Twins have now officially announced the Coulombe signing.

February 4, 9:49am: It’s a one-year major league deal that comes with a $3MM guarantee, reports Bobby Nightengale of the Minnesota Star-Tribune. Minnesota has a full 40-man roster and will need to make a corresponding move when the signing is finalized.

8:07am: The Twins have agreed to a deal with free agent left-hander Danny Coulombe, reports Jon Heyman of the New York Post. The ALIGND Sports client’s contract is pending the completion of a physical. It’ll be the veteran reliever’s second stint in Minnesota.

Coulombe, 35, was with the Twins from 2020-22 and pitched quite well during that stretch. In 49 1/3 innings, he logged a 2.92 ERA while punching out 22% of opponents against a 9.3% walk rate. Those rate stats were both a bit worse than average, but Coulombe did a good job keeping the ball in the yard and avoiding hard contact during his original run in Minneapolis.

Despite that strong run and a big spring in 2023 (nine shutout innings, 13 strikeouts, four walks), the Twins somewhat surprisingly let Coulombe go to the Orioles. He’d been back in camp on a minor league contract, and rather than select him to the roster at the end of spring training, the Twins allowed Coulombe to use an upward mobility clause that granted him the ability to opt out of the contract if another club was willing to place him on the 40-man roster. Minnesota sent Coulombe to the O’s in exchange for cash, and the lefty gave Baltimore two excellent years in manager Brandon Hyde’s bullpen.

From 2023-24, Coulombe tossed 81 innings with a 2.56 earned run average. He showed greatly improved rate stats, fanning 28.4% of batters faced versus a tiny 5.4% walk rate. With the Orioles, Coulombe added a cutter, scaled back his usage of a four-seamer, scrapped his changeup and ramped up the usage of his sinker. It was a new-look pitch selection that’s helped him generate more whiffs and far more grounders. With a sinker sitting just under 92 mph, an 86 mph cutter and a 79 mph knuckle curve, Coulombe isn’t the prototypical power-armed reliever most clubs covet in today’s game, but the results in recent years speak for themselves.

Were it not for some elbow troubles last summer, there’s a good chance Coulombe might still be with Baltimore. The lefty underwent surgery in June to remove bone spurs from his left elbow — a procedure that shelved him until late September. He made it back to the mound and tossed 3 2/3 shutout innings with four strikeouts against two walks, adding a scoreless postseason appearance (two-thirds of an inning) for good measure. The Orioles, however, declined Coulombe’s $4MM club option and allowed him to become a free agent.

Coulombe will return to a bullpen that’s still sporting plenty of familiar faces for him, reuniting with Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax, Cole Sands and Jorge Alcala — all of whom pitched in the 2022 Twins’ relief corps. The Duran/Jax combo is one of the best one-two punches of any bullpen in the game, and the 27-year-old Sands had a breakout showing of his own in 2024, giving the Twins an outstanding trio of power arms who not only miss bats but show plus command.

One glaring area of need in the ’pen, however, was a reliable lefty. Kody Funderburk and Brent Headrick were the only southpaw relief options on the Twins’ 40-man roster. Neither has established himself in the majors yet. Minor league pickup/non-roster invitee Anthony Misiewicz gave the Twins another option but, like the other in-house candidates, lacks a consistent track record. Coulombe gives manager Rocco Baldelli at least one immediate left-handed option.

Duran, Jax, Sands, Alcala, Coulombe and out-of-options righties Brock Stewart and Michael Tonkin all appear like locks for the bullpen. Rule 5 pick Eiberson Castellano could make the club with a good spring showing, but the Twins are a win-now club in spite of a quiet offseason that’s seen them lie dormant amid payroll concerns and a potential sale of the team. Carrying a Rule 5 pick is tougher for a postseason hopeful, and Minnesota could opt to give that final ’pen spot to veteran Justin Topa (who has minor league options remaining) or out-of-options righty Ronny Henriquez if Castellano struggles during Grapefruit League play.

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Minnesota Twins Transactions Danny Coulombe

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View Comments (32)
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32 Comments

  1. Tigersin2050

    5 months ago

    Welcome to the offseason, Minnesota!

    8
    Reply
  2. mlbnyyfan

    5 months ago

    Are there any LHP left beside the obvious tim hill.

    3
    Reply
    • tom brunanskys black sock

      5 months ago

      Tony Fossas

      6
      Reply
  3. Salzilla

    5 months ago

    Left handed reliever left:

    Scott Alexander (35)
    Tyler Alexander (30)
    Jalen Beeks (31)
    Ty Blach (34)
    Andrew Chafin (35)
    Jake Diekman (38)
    Victor Gonzalez (29)
    Tim Hill (35)
    Matt Moore (36)
    Colin Poche (31)
    Brooks Raley (37)
    Will Smith (35)
    Drew Smyly (36)
    Ryan Yarbrough (33)

    13
    Reply
    • mlbnyyfan

      5 months ago

      thanks Sal

      2
      Reply
      • Salzilla

        5 months ago

        No problem. I was going to look anyway after this signing. I don’t mind Hill back, but from this list I’d personally like Beeks and Poche. Beeks closed a little for the Rockies last year so he has some pressure experience and Poche has done well for years in the ALE.

        6
        Reply
    • Yankee Clipper

      5 months ago

      Coulumbe has pitched really well. I imagine his deal isn’t that expensive because MN signed him, which begs the question: what in the world is Cashman doing? I get that we aren’t privy to the back room meetings and they are likely still working a number of angles; but the Yankees are painting themselves into a corner.

      Imho, they should have selected the two best relievers from the remaining pitchers (also considering durability).

      6
      Reply
      • Fernando P

        5 months ago

        @Yankee Clipper – I assume Coulumbe was even cheaper than Chafin or Hill will be. Don’t see how Stroman trade would hold back making this type of low cost move.

        1
        Reply
      • Os1995

        5 months ago

        The Orioles had him under team control for cheap and cut him at the start of the offseason. I think their is an issue with his arm where they don’t think he will stay healthy.

        2
        Reply
        • Salzilla

          5 months ago

          Yes the dude has had problems staying on the field. To me, as an observer from using middle relievers in fantasy baseball, I wouldn’t have went for him either right now.

          1
          Reply
        • gorav114

          5 months ago

          I think the 4 million scared them off too. I imagine they probably tried to bring him back but wanted him cheaper

          1
          Reply
        • O'sSayCanYouSee

          5 months ago

          I think the Orioles had a verity of reasons on Columube; 4 million option seemed expensive, given they have Soto and Perez as LHP in the pen, and ‘options’ left in the pen as whole. 3 LHP w/o options in the Pen limits moves, and Povich could also be a factor in the Pen too, so 4 LHP in the pen might be one too many.

          I don’t think medicals or performance had much to do with letting Danny walk.

          1
          Reply
        • Jbigz12

          5 months ago

          $4MM is cheap for 2023 coulombe. It has to be the medicals. He’s a better deal than Gregory Soto if his arm holds up.

          Reply
  4. HopefulTwinsFan

    5 months ago

    Let’s go! We did something!

    Everyone, have a drink to celebrate the Twins’ first major league signing of the offseason (assuming it is one).

    9
    Reply
    • Jelvisdela

      5 months ago

      (pops champagne)

      4
      Reply
  5. Church34

    5 months ago

    More dumpster diving for the Twins.

    1
    Reply
  6. Old York

    5 months ago

    The Twins letting Coulombe go in 2023 only to bring him back after two dominant seasons is the baseball equivalent of sending back a dish at a restaurant, then realizing it was actually chef’s kiss perfection all along.

    5
    Reply
  7. Jbigz12

    5 months ago

    If he’s healthy then this will be a bargain. Good reliever. Inclined to believe the O’s didn’t like his medicals.

    2
    Reply
    • ForDoingNothing

      5 months ago

      His option was 4 million, quite a bit high for what his FA market would actually be. Doesn’t mean they weren’t interested but would mean the twins outbid someone which also seems unlikely

      2
      Reply
      • Jbigz12

        5 months ago

        $4MM is pretty cheap for a guy who put up Coulombe’s numbers the past 2 years without some sort of injury concern. The Twins may have some level of concern with his elbow too but will roll the dice for $3MM for one year.

        Reply
    • Bart Harley Jarvis

      5 months ago

      There was also some concern about Coulombe being slapped with a 25%-50% tariff.

      4
      Reply
      • Old York

        5 months ago

        @Bart Harley Jarvis

        I heard that applies to Philadelphia, as well.

        Reply
        • Bart Harley Jarvis

          5 months ago

          @OldYork,
          Any relation to Old York Road, north of Philadelphia?
          So what are we talking here, imports, exports, or both? We’re no longer the manufacturing hub we once were from the beginning to mid 20th Century.

          Reply
      • Boston’s Alignment

        5 months ago

        I didn’t know Coulombe was from China.

        2
        Reply
        • Bart Harley Jarvis

          5 months ago

          @Lindor’s Bodyguard,
          You are absolutely correct, and I didn’t make that claim.

          Reply
  8. Dmac13

    5 months ago

    Yankees need to sign chafin or beeks they should also sign tim hill but due to the arm angle he isn’t the prototype lefty. Granted his arm angle it’s tough to pick up the ball. Go spend some $.. also cashman you may as well check in on bregman! GET IT DONE! maybe stroman will be traded for a AAAA lefty reliever

    Reply
  9. benhen77

    5 months ago

    Modest upgrade over Thielbar for nearly the same money. Solid.

    2
    Reply
    • gorav114

      5 months ago

      I enjoyed his time as an Oriole. He was pretty reliable when healthy

      2
      Reply
  10. LOUIS LOUIS

    5 months ago

    Poorhouse Pohlads really digging deep into their pockets!

    1
    Reply
  11. northsidez

    5 months ago

    There has been worse RPs getting more $ so this is a solid deal.

    Reply
  12. dm867

    5 months ago

    This is an absolute steal if he pitches anywhere close to the last couple of years.

    Reply
  13. Dorothy_Mantooth

    5 months ago

    This guy has put together very strong results over the last 4 seasons. I’m shocked that he is only valued at $3M in this market. I would think he’d easily get 2/$10M or even more given his track record and consistency. Nice deal for the Twins!

    Reply

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