The Minnesota Twins have acquired left-handed reliever A. J.
Minter from the New York Mets, according to reports from ESPN and SNY.
The deal, completed on Thursday, July 30, 2026, sends prospects Bruin Agbayani and Billy Amick to New York.
Minter, 32, joins a Twins team that improved to 55-55 after a walk-off win on the same day.
The Mets, who are 47-63, began their expected trade deadline sell-off with this move.
Minnesota sits three games behind the Chicago White Sox in the American League Central and one game behind the Cleveland Guardians for the final Wild Card spot.
The front office has signaled its intention to strengthen the roster ahead of Monday's 6 p. m.
ET trade deadline.
Bullpen Boost
Relief pitching was a clear need for the Twins.
Their relievers have posted an ERA near 5.00, ranking fifth-worst in Major League Baseball, and have the second-highest walk percentage in the majors.
Minter provides a high-leverage option following the season-ending left lat strain suffered by Anthony Banda in June.
Minter missed the first 54 games of the 2026 season recovering from May 2025 surgery on his left lat before debuting in late May.
In 23 relief appearances covering 23 innings this year, Minter holds a 1-1 record with a 2.35 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 20 strikeouts, and two walks.
His four-seam fastball velocity has dropped to 93 mph after surgery, but he has effectively used an upper-80s cutter.
Minter spent eight seasons with the Atlanta Braves, posting a 3.28 ERA and helping them win the 2021 World Series, before joining New York in free agency prior to the 2025 season.
He is scheduled to become a free agent after this season.
In exchange, the Mets acquired Agbayani, a 19-year-old left-handed hitting shortstop selected in the sixth round of the 2025 draft, and Amick.
Agbayani is the son of former Mets outfielder Benny Agbayani, who played for New York from 1998 to 2001 and appeared in the 2000 Subway Series.
