baseballamerica
The Minnesota Twins have made another move ahead of the 2026 MLB trade deadline, securing right-handed starter Dean Kremer from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for highly touted outfield prospect Jhomnardo Reyes. This transaction comes on the heels of Minnesota's acquisition of left-handed reliever A.J. Minter from the New York Mets, signaling the franchise's intent to remain competitive in the American League Central.
Reyes, an 18-year-old outfielder, had been climbing the Twins' prospect rankings and was recently listed as the organization's No. 12 prospect. Despite missing time in minor league spring training due to a back injury, he impressed observers in the Florida Complex League, posting a .296/.409/.541 slash line with seven home runs in 49 games. His performance earned him recognition as the No. 4 prospect in the FCL, and he was promoted to Low-A Fort Myers before the trade, where he appeared in six contests.
Scouts praise Reyes for his above-average bat-to-ball skills and keen plate discipline, though they note a vulnerability to pitches at the top of the strike zone. His exit velocity metrics have been strong, with a 90th percentile mark of 104.6 mph, and he consistently drives the ball in the air to his pull side. Defensively, Reyes possesses the arm strength to profile as a right fielder if his body allows him to remain there long-term.
Kremer Brings Stability to Minnesota's Rotation
Dean Kremer, a 30-year-old right-hander, arrives in Minnesota with a career 4.37 ERA over 130 starts in seven seasons with the Orioles. He was originally acquired by Baltimore in the 2018 trade that sent Manny Machado to the Los Angeles Dodgers. An Israeli citizen, Kremer has been limited to seven starts in 2026 due to a right quad sprain that kept him sidelined for two months, and he currently holds a 6.50 ERA. However, he is striking out batters at the highest rate of his career, thanks in part to increased usage of his splitter, which has been his most effective pitch this season.
The Twins are 3.5 games behind the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central, and Kremer's addition provides a veteran presence at the back of a rotation that has leaned heavily on rookie left-hander Connor Prielipp, who is nearing a career high in innings (82.2), and right-hander Zebby Matthews, who has struggled with a 5.64 ERA since his debut two years ago. Kremer is under team control through 2027, offering more than just a short-term rental for Minnesota.
Originally reported by baseballamerica.