The Minnesota Twins have added two former Brewers in free agency, beginning last week with catcher Victor Caratini on a two-year, $14 million deal. They followed up by signing his one-time battery mate, southpaw Taylor Rogers, for one year and $2 million, ESPN reported late Friday. The agreement also reunites Rogers with the franchise where he spent his first six seasons, from 2016-21. In year 10, Rogers still has a power arm and ample swing-and-miss in the tank.
Rogers re-joins Twins after 4-year hiatus
Caratini and Rogers spent only a few months as Brewers teammates in 2022, when the latter arrived midseason from San Diego in exchange for Milwaukee closer Josh Hader. While Caratini remained in town for the 2023 season, Rogers departed immediately for San Francisco after a disastrous Brewers stint.
Including his final year with the Twins, he bounced between six teams in his last five seasons. For Caratini, who began his career with the Cubs, Minnesota marks his fifth franchise since 2020.
For the second time in his career, Rogers changed jerseys before the trade deadline last season, hopping from the Reds to the Cubs. He struggled in Chicago but finished the year with a 3.38 ERA in 50.2 innings, striking out 53 while walking 23.
Rogers had a similarly rough time following his trade to the Brewers in ’22, posting a 5.48 ERA in 23 innings despite setting down 36 on strikes. He blew three saves in six tries after converting 28 of 35 for the Padres prior to the trade. He did not register a save in two attempts last season.
In 541.1 IP, Rogers owns a 3.34 career ERA, a strikeout rate of 10.4 per nine, and 83 saves. His best season came as Minnesota’s closer in 2019, when he recorded 30 saves with a 2.61 ERA and a lethal 8.2 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Impressively for a reliever, he posted back-to-back seasons with a 2-plus WAR from 2018-19 (2.2 and 2.5, respectively).
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