Twins claim pitcher Cole Irvin off waivers from Baltimore

CLEVELAND – Though he’ll be on the roster for only the final 12 games of the season, the Minnesota Twins added a veteran pitcher Monday, an indication of how unsteady their pitching has been for the past several weeks.

The Twins claimed Cole Irvin, a 30-year-old left-hander, off waivers. He was designated for assignment by the Baltimore Orioles last week, and he will join his new team, the fourth of his career, Tuesday. Irvin opened the 2024 season in the Orioles’ rotation and made 14 starts through June. At one point in April and May, he reeled off 22 consecutive scoreless innings.

But he has mostly spent the past 11 weeks in the bullpen, with far less effectiveness. His 7.71 ERA in that role made him expendable when the Orioles needed a roster spot last week. The Twins, though, own a 4.76 team ERA in September, which ranks 27th in the majors, so they saw an opportunity to reduce the workload on their young staff as they battle for a playoff spot.

It’s even possible he could get a start or two to give their three rookie starters a breather.

“We were thinking: How do we lengthen out what we already have?” said Derek Falvey, the Twins’ president of baseball operations. “He could be your prototypical swingman who can pitch out of the bullpen. We don’t have a left-handed starter in the mix right now either. He just adds another guy that we think can help.”

Irvin, who will only cost the Twins about $150,000 of his $2 million salary, won’t be eligible for the postseason, but he could be a part of next year’s pitching staff, Falvey said.

“Our view is to get to know him a little bit, get to know what he’s trying to do. And our pitching guys already have some ideas about ways where he could be a little bit more like he was early in the year,” Falvey said. “Hopefully we can identify some things that he can do well for us that complement what we always have.”

For Twins manager Rocco Baldelli, adding Irvin, who has also pitched for Philadelphia and Oakland, gives him another lefthander on a staff that has carried only one, Caleb Thielbar, since Steven Okert was released a month ago. The Twins will also finish the season with the fewest games started by a left-hander in their history; Okert’s one start, as an opener for David Festa against the Phillies in July, is the Twins’ only one, and it lasted only four batters.

“Any team can find ways to use left-handed arms. There are many pockets every game where you can use them,” Baldelli said. “But it’s not a vital thing. It’s not always a necessity, but I think we can find ways to use this guy, effective ways.”

The Twins designated Class AAA right-hander Randy Dobnak for assignment in order to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Irvin, who owns a 6-5 record and 4.86 ERA this year. When Irvin joins the Twins on Tuesday, they must remove a pitcher from their active roster to make room.

Correa back in lineup

Carlos Correa’s return to action after two months off lasted only four innings Saturday, because of Cincinnati’s lopsided victory, but the shortstop said he feels great. He was in the lineup Monday night and said he’s more confident than ever that he can contribute to the team, even with the lingering effects of plantar fasciitis.

“After my first back-to-back, we can start assessing how it’s going to play out, but I’m very positive after Game One,” Correa said. “I’m going to push as much as I can, and I’m going to do everything I can to help our team win.”

Baldelli said he’s not certain when he will use Correa in consecutive games — “We have to see how he’s doing after every one,” the manager said — but it could be during this four-game series.

Correa might also get some time as the designated hitter, Falvey aded, depending on how his right foot reacts to all the activity.

“It’s plantar fasciitis. It hasn’t gone away,” Falvey said. “He’ll have some downtime. We’ll build him up as thoughtfully as we can. Hopefully we’re going to get some version of him building back up that’s ultimately a key piece for us.”

Correa said he was grateful to the Class A pitchers who pitched to him for several days last week to help him get ready.

“They looked really good. They threw strikes and understood the assignment and tried to throw as many strikes as possible,” Correa said. “Sometimes [young pitchers] just want to impress people and not give you anything to hit, but these kids were really good.”

He showed his gratitude, too.

“You have to take care of them,” said Correa, the Twins’ highest-paid player. “You make sure they go get a nice steak or something.”

____