Twins continue to build rotation in trade with Orioles

Dean Kremer. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Twins continue to build rotation in trade with Orioles

By Kevin Henry | Last updated Jul 31, 2026 11:25 PM ET

In what has been a fairly quiet 2026 MLB trade deadline so far, the Minnesota Twins continued to make noise in rebuilding their pitching ahead of what they hope will be a run to the American League postseason.

On Friday night, MLB insider Ken Rosenthal reported that the Twins had acquired starting pitcher Dean Kremer from the Baltimore Orioles. It is Minnesota's second trade in as many days for a pitcher, as the Twins landed reliever A.J. Minter from the New York Mets on Thursday night.

Much like the Minter deal where the Mets owed the pitcher $3.37 million, Rosenthal reported the Twins would take on the balance of Kremer's $1.7 million salary this season.

In return for Kremer, Minnesota is reportedly sending 18-year-old prospect Jhomnardo Reyes to the Orioles. The outfielder, ranked as the 24th-best prospect in the Twins system, was playing for Low-A Ft. Myers (Fla.) at the time of the deal.

Twins acquiring RHP Dean Kremer from the Orioles, source tells The Athletic.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) August 1, 2026

What does Dean Kremer bring to the Minnesota Twins?

Sidelined with a right quad strain in late April, Kremer returned to the Baltimore rotation on July 1 and has made just seven starts this season. He has given up 21 runs in 25.0 innings in 25.0 innings in July, with opponents hitting .303 against him in the month.

In his last start on July 28 at Detroit, Kremer surrendered eight runs on eight hits in just 4.0 innings. Baltimore eventually lost the game, 14-0.

The 30-year-old right-hander is under team control through the 2027 season and will likely serve as a back-end starter for the Twins.

While he has struggled this season, he has a career ERA of 4.37. In two starts at Minnesota's Target Field, Kremer has posted a 5.73 ERA in 11.0 innings.

Minnesota opened a weekend series in Seattle against the Mariners on Friday night with a 55-55 mark, just 3.5 games out of first place in the AL Central and a half-game out of the final AL wild-card spot.

Kevin Henry

A member of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA), Kevin Henry has been covering MLB and MiLB for nearly two decades. Those assignments have included All-Star Games and the MLB postseason, including the World Series. Based in the Denver area, Kevin calls Coors Field his home base, but travels throughout North America during the season to discover the best stories possible

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