Coulombe: Return to Twins was ‘a no-brainer’

TWINS REPORT

Left-handed reliever was prepared for long free agency wait and is happy with Twins

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Then-Baltimore Orioles reliever Danny Coulombe makes a pitch during a game on June 8 against the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg, Fla. Coulombe projects as the lone left-hander in the Twins’ bullpen after signing with Minnesota as a free agent. CHRIS O’MEARA — ASSOCIATED PRESS

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By Betsy Helfand

bhelfand@pioneerpress.com

FORT MYERS, FlA. >> Danny Coulombe expected his foray into free agency to be a long one — that’s just how it is for many relievers these day. His agent prepared him for the possibility, noting that when it was all over, the southpaw would end up in a good spot.

“And he wasn’t wrong,” Coulombe said. “I ended up in the best spot for me.”

After the Baltimore Orioles turned down his $4 million option for the 2025 season, Coulombe waited nearly all winter to find his new home. On Feb. 7, his one-year, $3 million deal with the Twins was made official, reuniting him with his previous team after fielding “a lot of interest from a lot of teams.”

“Lefties are a need for a lot of teams, but what it ultimately came down to was the Twins stepped up with an offer that was comparable to a lot of the other ones I received,” Coulombe said. “It was just a no-brainer. I love the team here. I think the team is a really good team (plus) just the familiarity with all the guys.”

Not that much has changed in the coaching staff and bullpen since Coulombe pitched for the Twins in the majors from 2020-22. He also was with them in spring training in 2023 but was not going to make the Opening Day roster.

As a result, an upward mobility clause was exercised and he left for Baltimore, where he pitched for the past two seasons.

Coulombe posted a 2.81 earned-run average in his first year with the Orioles, and a 2.12 ERA last season, which was interrupted by a surgery to remove bone spurs from his left elbow.

Coulombe was a different pitcher in Baltimore, introducing a cutter in spring training 2023 before he left the Twins.

The pitch quickly became his most used over the past two seasons.

The 35-year-old slots in as the only left-handed reliever projected to make the Twins’ 26-man roster out of camp and is one of just two lefties on the 40-man roster, joining Kody Funderburk.

“He’s added some weapons since he was here with us,” manager Rocco Baldelli said. “He’s added some great experience since he was here with us last, and bringing him back, he has a good, clear role with us.”

Camargo to play in WBC Qualifier

Catcher Jair Camargo will leave the team during spring training to compete in the World Baseball Classic Qualifier from March 2-6. The qualifier will take place in Tucson, Ariz., and Camargo will compete for Colombia in a pool that also includes China, Brazil and Germany.

The team with the best record among the four will earn a spot in next year’s World Baseball Classic. The second and third teams will play on March 6 to determine the pool’s other qualifer.

Camargo made his major league debut last season, playing in five games for the Twins. Right now, he’s slotted to begin the year at Triple-A as a backup to Ryan Jeffers and Christian Vázquez.

Briefly

Reliever Brock Stewart, who is tracking slightly behind his teammates in his build up following a shoulder surgery last year, said he believes he will be ready for Opening Day on March 27.