The Minnesota Twins announced they have acquired left-handed pitcher Anthony Banda from the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for international bonus pool money.
Banda, 32, appeared in a career-high 71 games (1 start) for the Dodgers in 2025, going 5-1 with a 3.18 ERA (65.0 IP, 23 ER), 34 walks, 61 strikeouts, a .197 opponent batting average and a 1.22 WHIP, which included holding left-handed batters to a .153 average (.496 OPS) and right-handers to a .229 average (.774 OPS). His 70 relief appearances were tied for 11th in the National League and tied for fifth-most among left-handers. Over his last two seasons with the Dodgers, the lefty has gone 8-3 with a 3.14 ERA (114.2 IP, 40 ER), 52 walks, 111 strikeouts and a .214 opponent batting average. In that span, he is one of 12 lefties in baseball with a sub-3.15 ERA and a sub-.215 opponent batting average (minimum of 100.0 innings pitched). The Corpus Christi, Texas native was originally selected by the Dodgers in the 10th round of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft out of San Jacinto College in Houston, Texas. He has played in parts of nine major league seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks (2017), Tampa Bay Rays (2018-20), New York Mets (2021), Pittsburgh Pirates (2021-22), Toronto Blue Jays (2022), New York Yankees (2022), Washington Nationals (2023) and Dodgers (2024-25).
To make room on the 40-man roster, the Twins have designated right-handed pitcher Jackson Kowar for release or assignment. Kowar was claimed off waivers from the Seattle Mariners on February 3.
In addition, the Twins have signed right-handed pitchers Liam Hendriks and Julian Merryweather to minor league contracts with invitations to spring training.
(info courtesy of Twins)
