The Twins announced that they have acquired right-hander Michael Tonkin from the Mets, after the latter club designated him for assignment last week. Outfielder Max Kepler has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a right knee contusion, opening an active roster spot for Tonkin. Right-hander Zack Weiss was transferred to the 60-day IL due to his right shoulder strain, opening a spot on the 40-man.
Tonkin, 34, returns to the organization that originally drafted him in the 30th round back in 2008. He’s pitched in the D-backs, Brewers, Braves and Mets organizations since originally leaving the Twins, in addition to stints in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball, the Mexican League and the independent Atlantic League.
Though he pitched just four innings with the Mets, Tonkin spent the entirety of the 2023 season in the Braves’ bullpen, working to a 4.28 ERA with a solid 23.1% strikeout rate and 7.1% walk rate in 80 innings of relief. That marked his first MLB experience since 2017. Overall, Tonkin has appeared in parts of seven big league seasons. He carries a career 4.38 ERA with strikeout and walk rates that closely mirror his 2023 levels in Atlanta.
Tonkin originally signed a split one-year deal with the Mets, which calls for just a $1MM base salary. The Twins will owe him the prorated portion of that sum for any time spent on the big league roster, though he’ll have a different rate of pay in the minors if Minnesota designates him for assignment, passes him through waivers and outrights him to Triple-A St. Paul. He’s out of minor league options, so he can’t be sent down unless going through that waiver process first.
The Twins have several relievers on the injured list, most notably including Jhoan Duran, Caleb Thielbar and Justin Topa. None of those injuries are expected to require long-term absences, but Tonkin will add a veteran arm to a group that’s been tested more early on than the front office would’ve hoped. If he can get on track and carve out a role in the Twins’ bullpen, he’s technically controllable through the 2026 season via arbitration.
Kepler fouled a ball into his leg recently, creating the contusion that’s currently hobbling him. The 31-year-old is out to a poor start at the plate, having gone just 1-for-20 with a walk and six strikeouts. Kepler had a prolonged slump during the 2023 season as well, struggling badly in May and for most of June before catching fire late that month. He closed out the season hitting .297/.368/.545 with 17 home runs in his final 326 plate appearances. That torrid run erased any doubt that might’ve been rising regarding his $10MM club option for the 2024 season.
With Kepler on the shelf, the Twins can go with fellow lefty swingers Matt Wallner and Alex Kirilloff in the outfield corners — presumably with Wallner in right field. Right-handed-hitting Manuel Margot will work into the mix against lefty starters, and the Twins could also mix in utility players Willi Castro and Austin Martin.
Good to see the gulf between these two teams has been bridged.
I like yours better.
Ah-ha, at least you were a worthy opponent!
I’m glad they were able to achieve a Tonkin resolution.
Back where you belong…38 Special
Welcome home, my sweet prince
Time for the Tonkin Truck !
You know MLB is struggling for pitching when you trade for a guy with a 5.78 xFIP. Yikes!
Old York
What was the sample size? 4 ip, where in one game v Detroit the Mets booted the ball all over the place and it cost him getting out of an inning with 0 runs.
I assume for cash considerations, not yet mentioned in the article. Any more to come bets?
No bets, that seems to be the only option. I would like if someone would tell us exactly what the “cash considerations” )(as opposed to just plain cash) are. I’m hoping the Mets get some international or draft pool money. They don’t need the actual cash.
I’ve been traded again?!?! Why am I always the last to know?
Michael Tonkin, brother-in-law to former Twin, Jason Kubel
Great news for the Tigers! They lit him up in the Mets series, and they now have a four game series against the Twins.
Based on limited roster spots and the CBA rights of the player the NYM had to make a hasty decision to DFA him, keeping others
Likely they would have preferred to see what his results were after 20 innings at least.
Called it!
Tonkin is good for eating innings in garbage time, thats about it
The way the Tigers light him up in the Mets series that led to his DFA I don’t think he wants to face them 18 more times this season.. really the only offense the Tigers had this season
@Action Dan
Did you watch the game? I doubt it, 10th inning a runner on 2nd
Groundout: 1B-P; S. Torkelson to 3B 1 out
Canha Hit By Pitch 1st and 3rd
Colt Keith Reached on E4 (Ground Ball); S. Torkelson Scores/unER; P. Meadows to 2B; C. Keith to 1B
Joey Wendle booted it. It was a routine play, but not for Wendle. Should have been 2 out, instead it’s 1 out and the runner scores.
Then Single to P (Ground Ball to Front of Home); P. Meadows to 3B; C. Keith to 2B
Unlucky it came off Tonkin’s glove-that’s baseball
Then sac fly to centre that should be 3 out but it isn’t thanks to Wendle’s horrid error.
Next hitter hits a home run. Useless defence when Tonkin relies on gb outs or fly outs. If the outs were made he may have conceded 1 run and that’s it. In extra innings with a runner already on you can’t be booting balls. Then he gets DFA’D. Totally disgraceful from the Mets hanging it on Tonkin.
Tonkin was so valuable for the Braves last year. He threw the 4th most innings on the team. Glad he is away from a place like the Mets. Winans a former met will go against his old team tonight.
I am glad the Twins acquired him. Tonkin is away from a woeful organization in the Mets. Tonkin was given 3 games and pitched 4 innings, and in one outing v Detroit, the Mets booted the ball all over the place and cost him getting out of an inning.
I’d think the Kepler IL stint would be the bigger headline for this story.
Thank you twins. Mets owe you one