Traded MN Twins Pitcher Hits First Time Free Agency

At the trade deadline the Minnesota Twins traded nearly half of their roster. The Pohlads mandated a selloff with the team in the tank, and Rocco Baldelli’s group finished 70-92. The manager has been fired and Derek Shelton has been brought in to lead the team.

Chris Paddack was an impending free agent and he was never going to be back for Minnesota. The Twins paired him with Randy Dobnak in order to dump the remaining commitments of his contract. Detroit took the bait, and now Dobnak is a free agent.

Randy Dobnak enters free agency

After an impressive rookie season, which included a postseason start at Yankees Stadium, Randy Dobnak took the ball ten times in 2020. Minnesota rewarded him with a five-year contract, and the $9.25 million deal had multiple team options as well.

Detroit Tigers beat writer Evan Petzold has reported that the team declined Dobnak’s 2026 option. That triggers a $1 million buyout, and immediately allows him to become a free agent. Had Detroit picked up the option, it would have cost them $6 million in 2026.

Dobnak signed with the Twins out of the United Shore League. He played college baseball for the now-defunct school Alderson-Broaddus. To suggest that he made it to the pros against all odds would be putting it lightly.

After just over two years at the minor league level, Dobnak was up in the big leagues. Once a former Uber driver, the Pennsylvania native posted a 1.59 ERA across his first 28 1/3 big league innings.

Randy Dobnak, Nasty Slider. 😨 pic.twitter.com/P6jdQANsCx

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 25, 2021

Unfortunately Dobnak’s career took a downward turn after he ruptured pulley ligaments in the middle finger on his throwing hand. It greatly impacted how he could grip the ball, and his results fell off. Things came full-circle for Dobnak when he returned to the big leagues down the stretch in 2024. He also made the 2025 Minnesota Twins Opening Day roster.

It remains to be seen what the future holds for Dobnak. He is just 30 years old and posted a 3.79 ERA across 38 innings at Triple-A Toledo in the Tigers system. Another sizable payday is not likely, but a minor league deal with a spring training invite, or a trip overseas, could definitely be in the cards.

Among feel good stories across baseball, Dobnak’s is one of the best in recent memory.