Twins Trade for Michael Tonkin, Place Max Kepler on Injured List

The Minnesota Twins are going through it, right now. They’ve started the season with a 3-5 record, have two games left vs the Los Angeles Dodgers over the next couple days and they continue to lose important pieces of their roster even faster than they are losing games.

On Tuesday, that trend continued when Max Kepler was placed on injured reserve with a right knee contusion, after he fouled a ball off of said knee, not yesterday or the day before, but on Opening Day (nearly two weeks ago) — definitely not because of his 1-for-20 start, though.

Minnesota Twins acquire Michael Tonkin, place Max Kepler on IL

Just prior to the announcement on Kepler’s IL designation, Derek Falvey swung a trade with the New York Mets, acquiring a familiar bullpen arm, RHP Michael Tonkin, in exchange for cash.

The #MNTwins have reunited with old friend Michael Tonkin, who last pitched for them from 2013-17. Acquired him in a trade with the Mets after they’d DFA’d him a few years ago.

Max Kepler to the IL with the right knee contusion after the foul off his knee on Opening Day.

— Do-Hyoung Park (@dohyoungpark) April 9, 2024

You know the Twins are getting desperate when they are sending out cash, in order to bring in some reinforcements in the bullpen. We’re talking about the same ownership group that forced the front office to cut $35 million from payroll this season. That’s going really well, by the way.

Related: Minnesota Twins Call Up Jose Miranda in Hopes He Can Add Life to Lineup

Tonkin got off to a weird start this season for the Mets. He’s thrown 4 innings and allowed two earned runs on six hits (4.50 ERA). That’s not ideal, but it’s a line that a pitcher can certainly recover from. A deeper look, however, shows that Tonkin has allowed EIGHT runs, in total, during his four innings of service; six of them were unearned.