The Minnesota Twins acquired left-handed reliever A.J. Minter from the New York Mets on July 31, 2026, trading minor-league prospects Billy Amick and Bruin Agbayani to bolster a bullpen ranking among the majors’ worst as they push for a postseason berth.
The Minnesota Twins made their move ahead of the trade deadline, addressing a glaring roster weakness by acquiring veteran southpaw A.J. Minter from the New York Mets in exchange for minor leaguers Billy Amick and Bruin Agbayani. The transaction comes as the Twins sit at a 55-55 record, trailing the Chicago White Sox by three games in the AL Central while holding just a one-game deficit behind the Cleveland Guardians for the final American League Wild Card spot.
Minnesota Addressing Bullpen Woes With Minter Addition
Upgrading the relief corps stood as the front office’s clear priority after general manager Jeremy Zoll declared the team would buy at the deadline. Minnesota relievers have labored through a cumulative earned run average hovering near 5.00—ranking among the bottom tier in Major League Baseball—while struggling with elevated walk percentages and low strikeout totals.
Minter brings immediate veteran stability to manager Derek Shelton’s bullpen. The 32-year-old left-hander carries a 2.35 ERA and a sparkling 1.00 WHIP across 23 appearances this season, though scouts note his peripheral metrics suggest some overperformance after a drop in his fastball velocity to an average of 92.9 mph. Minter missed the start of the 2026 campaign following surgery on a torn left lat muscle performed in May 2025, an operation that required a full calendar year of recovery.
“I like him a lot. He is a ballplayer. Left-handed hitter. Can run and has power.”
Bobby Valentine, former Mets manager, via New York Post
Financial Impact and Roster Flexibility for the Twins
Minter is playing out the final year of a two-year, $22 million contract signed ahead of the 2025 season and will become an unrestricted free agent this winter. To accommodate the new arm, the Twins must clear a 40-man roster spot, a move expected to involve transferring Cole Sands—currently slated for season-end arthroscopic elbow surgery—to the 60-day injured list.
Prospect Package Heading to New York
In return for the experienced reliever, the Mets secured two young infield prospects packaged by the Twins front office. Billy Amick, a 23-year-old corner infielder drafted in the second round in 2024, has spent the season at Double-A Wichita, where he has launched 23 home runs and driven in 72 runs while slashing .217/.338/.482.
The second piece of the return is 19-year-old Bruin Agbayani, the sixth-round draft pick from 2025 whose father, Benny Agbayani, carved out a memorable tenure with the Mets from 1998 to 2001, highlighted by a walk-off postseason home run in 2000. The younger Agbayani has appeared in just 10 games this season for Class-A Fort Myers due to thumb and shoulder setbacks, posting a .268/.412/.342 slash line.
Broader Deadline Outlook for the Mets and Twins
For New York, parting with Minter marks the opening salvo of an anticipated roster liquidation. The Mets retain none of Minter’s salary, saving over $8MM while pivoting firmly into seller mode ahead of the August 3 deadline. Industry expectations point to additional moves involving prominent veterans as the front office eyes a thorough retooling phase.
Minnesota, meanwhile, is not finished shaping its roster for the stretch run. With Minter slotting into a late-inning relief corps alongside Yoendrys Gómez and Andrew Morris, front office executives continue to scout for additional bullpen depth before the deadline bell rings. The newly reinforced club opens a critical series against the Seattle Mariners on Friday night.
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