Derek Shelton has since been named the hiring manager, and one key spot needing to be fixed on the dirt is first base. Last season Jonah Bride tried his hand there at times while primarily playing the hot corner. Ultimately he was sent to Triple-A and never came back.

A free agent following the season, Bride now has found a new home.

Jonah Bride signs deal with Texas Rangers

Veteran infielder Jonah Bride started the season with the Miami Marlins. After an early run on injuries, the Minnesota Twins traded for him to bolster the infield. He contributed in multiple different spots, but will play 2026 in Texas.

Infielder Jonah Bride and the Texas Rangers are in agreement on a minor league contract with an invitation to major league camp, a source tells ESPN. Bride, 29, is reunited with new Rangers manager Skip Schumaker, for whom he had his best big league season in 2024 with Miami.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) November 26, 2025

Last season Bride played in 33 games for the Twins. He batted a dismal .208/.275/.236, but got extended run with injuries to Brooks Lee and Royce Lewis. He started 16 games at the hot corner, and also played in five at first base.

Unceremoniously, Bride also pitched in four games when things got out of hand. The veteran worked six innings and gave up 10 runs on 14 hits while generating a pair of strikeouts. After going to Triple-A St. Paul, Bride slashed .281/.423/.453 with nine doubles and five home runs.

Jonah Bride, Knuckleballs. pic.twitter.com/BmsO86yWo4

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 12, 2025

In 2024 Bride slashed .276/.357/.461 across 71 games for the Miami Marlins. Skip Schumaker was his manager that season. Schumaker has since taken over the same title for the Rangers after replacing Bruce Bochy. While the deal is of the minor league variety with Texas, Schumaker and Bride are both hoping they can find the magic of 2024 once again.

Texas has opportunities on the dirt after just trading infielder Marcus Semien to the New York Mets for outfielder Brandon Nimmo.

Ober himself has suggested he has been working through different physical ailments. Despite the results suggesting the plan wasn’t working, the Twins tried to make mechanical tweaks between starts.

The club is now 40-45 and the pitcher has been a pin cushion for opposing offenses. Finally sensibility has won out and something is going to change.

Bailey Ober headed to Minnesota Twins injured list

Earlier this month Bailey Ober revealed he was dealing with both knee and hip discomfort. He hoped that it wouldn’t result in a trip to the injured list, but the results have all but necessitated that.

The Twins are also placing RHP Bailey Ober on the 15-day injured list with a left hip impingement. LHP Kody Funderburk has been recalled to replace him. Not sure yet who takes Ober’s start Friday vs. Rays.

— Phil Miller (@MillerStrib) July 2, 2025

Now finally sent to the injured list to end his suffering, Bailey Ober owns a 5.28 ERA (5.29 FIP) for the Twins. It’s the worst mark of his career and is coupled with a career-low 7.2 K/9.

Ober made five starts in June, again, despite dealing with multiple maladies. Those resulted in truly horrendous numbers. Across 30.0 innings he allowed 30 runs, 14 home runs, and posted a 24/8 K/BB. The stretches of competence were so minimal you needed to squint in order to see them.

It’s unfortunate for a guy that the Minnesota Twins needed to take another step forward this year. Derek Falvey banked on a top three of Pablo Lopez, Joe Ryan, and Ober. Even before getting blasted the last month Ober had just a 3.48 ERA and looked more like a fourth or fifth starter than a two or three.

Now with Lopez, Zebby Matthews, and Ober all on the injured list Rocco Baldelli must pray for rain. Joe Ryan has been exceptional and will warrant individual award consideration. David Festa and Simeon Woods Richardson have been shaky. Chris Paddack has turned back into a pumpkin.

Kody Funderburk is back in the interim, but he’s not a starter. He has allowed 10 runs on 18 hits across 12 major league innings this year. He has a 1.69 ERA in 21 1/3 innings at Triple-A.

Related: Surprise: MLB Trade Deadline Buyers Targeting MN Twins Pitchers

Where the Twins turn for their next starter remains to be seen. It could be Travis Adams, but he hasn’t been great since returning to Triple-A, and pitched on Tuesday. Both Cory Lewis and Marco Raya have struggled this season, and Andrew Morris is currently on the Triple-A injured list.

Randy Dobnak could be recalled to eat innings, but he has been going through it of late too. No matter who it is, the reality is that the Minnesota Twins depth is now gone and there is no good option. Any option though, is better than continuing to expose Ober in the fashion he was over the last month.

No one wanted MN Twins Jonah Bride

Over the weekend the Minnesota Twins designated Jonah Bride for assignment. That move paved the way for Royce Lewis to return following his latest stint on the injured list.

IF Jonah Bride, DFA’d on Sunday, has cleared waivers and been assigned outright to Class AAA St. Paul.

— Phil Miller (@MillerStrib) July 2, 2025

It’s not exactly shocking no one wanted a veteran journeyman infielder with a .170/.248/.188 slash line. If anything, the most surprising part of Bride’s existence with the Twins was just how long the held on.

Minnesota kept Bride on the roster for over 70 days and paid him more than $300,000 despite providing next to no value. He was more known for pitching in blowouts than any of his positional contributions.

Bride passed through waivers without any other team willing to give him the major league minimum. He also is sticking in the organization, and it’s likely we haven’t seen the last of him on the Minnesota Twins roster. It’s the result of roster failure that keeps on popping up.

Now four games under .500 at 40-44, they have an off day before visiting the Miami Marlins. Although the NL East foe has just a 37-45 record this season, they have won seven-straight and 8-of-their-last ten.

Minnesota is also making the trip to Florida with one less player after Jonah Bride was left on the tarmac in Detroit. Royce Lewis seems destined to take his ticket as well.

Jonah Bride DFA’d by Minnesota Twins

In mid-April the Minnesota Twins struggled to field a healthy roster of infielders. With options waning they made a trade with the Miami Marlins for Jonah Bride. Now a little more than a month later, he’s sent back to the waiver wire.

#MNTwins DFA’d Jonah Bride. Would appear Royce Lewis will join them Tuesday.

— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) June 30, 2025

The Marlins DFA’d Bride after just 12 games in which he went 4-for-45. Minnesota hoped he could provide a spark after batting .276/.357/.461 across 71 games last season. Unfortunately he flopped and will be better remembered for his pitching appearances with the Twins.

Through 32 games Bride tallied a .214/.282/.243 slash line with 23 strikeouts and six walks. He had just two extra-base hits (both doubles) and served little purpose in the utility role he was cast for.

He pitched for the first time in his career during a blowout loss, and then wound up as a punchline making three more appearances. Across six innings he gave up 14 hits and 10 runs while striking out two. Had he been pitching to himself, he may have been able to stick on the roster longer.

Royce Lewis returning for MN Twins?

A corresponding move was not made following the DFA of Jonah Bride. It doesn’t take much to believe it will be Minnesota Twins third baseman Royce Lewis assuming the roster spot.

Minnesota’s starter at the hot corner suffered a second hamstring strain on June 13. He began a rehab assignment two weeks later with St. Paul that started on June 27. Now three games in, after going 0-for-8, he’s headed back to the big leagues.

Royce Lewis was rocking the Ghostly Gangsters uniform for the @StPaulSaints tonight as he began his rehab assignment. pic.twitter.com/ZOTVABay6j

— Ted (@tlschwerz) June 28, 2025

The production with St. Paul isn’t positive, but he played seven innings at third base on Sunday after appearing in two as the designated hitter. Minnesota is hoping they get the guy who had a .393/.485/.571 slash line over his last nine games before the injury.

Lewis has had two stops and starts now this season. He owns just a .202/.282/.303 line with a pair of home runs across 30 big league games. It hasn’t been pretty, and he won’t be the answer to the Minnesota Twins pitching problems. It’s plausible that he helps the lineup though, and Rocco Baldelli will take anything for a team struggling to stay afloat.

This week alone, they lost outfielder Matt Wallner, shortstop Carlos Correa and utility man Willi Castro. Thankfully, we saw Correa return in relief defensive duties on Wednesday, but the return status of the other two are more concerning.

Matt Wallner facing lengthy absence for Minnesota Twins

Matt Wallner was in the MN Twins dugout on Wednesday, but he shouldn’t be expected back in the lineup for a while. Local insider Darren “Doogie” Wolfson provided an update on Thursday’s episode of the The Mackey & Judd Show (SKOR North). Minnesota officially placed Wallner on the injured list Thursday.

“I should mention Matt Wallner, it’s going to be a bit. This is not a ten day injury. This is much beyond ten days, the hamstring.”

Darren Wolfson – Skor North

#MNTwins Matt Wallner left tonight’s game with a leg injury. He hurt himself legging out a single in the first inning pic.twitter.com/6T2leEm0IT

— Mike Kurland (@Mike_Kurland) April 15, 2025

The Twins acquired infielder Jonah Bride from the Miami Marlins. He is taking Matt Wallner’s roster spot. Bride doesn’t help in the outfield though, and even if he did, he isn’t making up for Wallner’s team-leading 0.6 fWAR.

Through 18 games Matt Wallner owns a .263/.373/.474 slash line. He has five doubles, a league-leading two triples, and a home run. Minnesota will be forced to lean heavily on Trevor Larnach, Harrison Bader, and DaShawn Keirsey Jr. in his absence.

Brock Stewart making rehab progress for MN Twins

Brock Stewart started his rehab assignment earlier this week with the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels. He too was dealing with a hamstring injury, that first popped up during spring training. He was able to pitch in back-to-back games this week, something that was considered a major hurdle in his progress to return to a big league mound.

Brock Stewart appeared on consecutive days at Single-A Fort Myers, which was the big hurdle he needed to show the #MNTwins. He faced five batters. He struck out five batters. pic.twitter.com/2sU4rwKLJV

— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) April 17, 2025

If there is something of a concern regarding Stewart, it’s that his velocity wasn’t quite there. He threw 95 mph in his first outing and that dropped during his second. That’s a pretty noticeable drop from his 97 mph average the past two seasons.

Stewart has had a myriad of arm issues, but his stuff has continued to play. A decrease in velocity this time around could alter his effectiveness. It’s likely he sees his rehab progress to Triple-A St. Paul soon, where there will be additional data.

The Twins would love to have the same Stewart that turned in a 0.65 ERA across 27 2/3 innings during the 2023 season. He gave up just two runs that year and struck out 39 batters. That performance would slot him in high-leverage opportunities with Griffin Jax and Jhoan Duran.

Pablo Lopez could be back to Twins soon

Don’t forget about Minnesota Twins ace, Pablo Lopez, who’s been on the injured list with a hamstring strain since April 11 (retroactive to April 9). He is progressing through the rehab process and will be on the mound this week for a rehab assignment of his own. He has to be on the injured list for 15 days.

#MNTwins injury updates:

Pablo López (hamstring) is scheduled to make a rehab start Saturday with Triple-A St. Paul.

Royce Lewis (hamstring) is expected to do some light baserunning today.

Michael Tonkin (shoulder) is scheduled for a rehab outing Friday with Low-A Fort Myers.

— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) April 17, 2025

Des Moines, Iowa is roughly a 3.5 hour drive for Pablo Lopez. That’s where he will don a Saints jersey, and pitch at Triple-A for the first time since 2021. He owns a 1.62 ERA (3.25 FIP) across 16 2/3 innings this year for Minnesota.

The Opening Day starter is looking for a bounce back year, after posting a 4.08 ERA (3.65 FIP) in 2024. Lopez has taken three turns through the rotation, but was lifted after just 4 2/3 innings in Kansas City on April 8 due to his hamstring strain.

David Festa has taken over the starting rotation spot in Lopez’s absence. The former top prospect has allowed just one run (unearned) in nine innings. He also has a 10/2 K/BB. It remains to be seen how Minnesota will slot Lopez back into the rotation, when he is eligible to return.

Related: Minnesota Twins Calling Up Top Pitching Prospect

Thus far, Chris Paddack and his 9.49 ERA (6.66 FIP) across 12 1/3 innings could be the odd man out. Simeon Woods Richardson has a 4.30 ERA (3.83 FIP) in 14 2/3 innings, and it’d be tough to send him back after he’s been in the big leagues for most of the past year.

We can’t let Gleeman slip that note in about Royce Lewis go unnoticed either. At roughly four weeks into his projected timeline, he should be about halfway through his recovery.

Michael Tonkin working back for Minnesota Twins too

Like Stewart and Lopez, Michael Tonkin is set to begin a rehab assignment of his own at Single-A, this week. He has been out longer than Stewart and last pitched in spring training on February 28th. Tonkin gave up four runs on six during Grapefruit League play. He also struck out three and walked two.

Michael Tonkin is set to start a rehab assignment tomorrow at Fort Myers. Brock Stewart began his earlier this week. #MNTwins

— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) April 17, 2025

Last season the Twins brought Michael Tonkin back for the first time since 2017. He started the year with the Mets, was designated for assignment, and claimed by Minnesota. After the MN Twins DFA’d him, it wasn’t until a late summer move by the Yankees that he was again claimed off waivers.

For Minnesota Tonkin posted a 3.86 ERA across 16 1/3 innings. He has seen a career resurgence after resurfacing with the Braves during the 2023 season. The Twins are back in action on Friday against the Braves. Atlanta welcomes Minnesota to town off to a bad start of their own. Expected to contend for the NL East title, they are just 5-13 this season.

They also grabbed a victory on Tuesday night, but it cost them Carlos Correa and Matt Wallner. The former played in the late innings on Wednesday, but the latter is headed to the injured list. Because this franchise can never have nice things, and because every win this year seems to have a price, their matinee victory on Wednesday afternoon cost them Willi Castro.

Infielder Jonah Bride joins Minnesota Twins

After Castro suffered an oblique injury, the Minnesota Twins found themselves seriously up against it for replacements. Rather than promote a prospect who isn’t quite ready, Minnesota opted to trade for veteran infielder Jonah Bride.

We have made a trade with the Miami Marlins where we have received INF Jonah Bride in exchange for cash considerations.

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) April 16, 2025

So far this season, Bride has played in just 12 games for the Miami Marlins. He owns a .100/.200/.100 slash line with no extra-base hits and a 15/5 K/BB. Last season he was substantially better however, and posted a .276/.357/.461 slash line across 71 games.

It sure seems like the Minnesota Twins are hoping to see Bride replicate his 2024 production more than his 2025 start. Across 181 career major league games he has never seen time at shortstop, but has spent 63 games at the hot corner. Presumably, that means Brooks Lee would slide to help at shortstop if Castro is going to miss a substantial amount of time.

Jonah Bride's first Home Run of the season! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/FS0QwxfDHP

— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) July 31, 2024

Minnesota is ultimately running out of options on the 40-man roster. The only healthy outfielder that could replace Wallner is prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez. He has played just 19 games at the Triple-A level, and not to mention has an extensive injury history. On the dirt, it’s only Jose Miranda. He was just demoted, and then hit the injured list thanks to an injury suffered at Target (the store, not the field).

It makes complete sense for the Twins to acquire someone like Bride in the interim. Of course, the bar isn’t very high, but he has shown an ability to provide competitive at bats in a limited sample. That’s about all Rocco Baldelli can ask for at this point, and injuries remain a significant narrative early this season.

Health and victories must be focus for MN Twins

The past two games the Minnesota Twins have traded victories for additional players succumbing to injury. It’s great that they took the series at home against the New York Mets, but they can’t continue to bleed players in the process.

Oblique injuries are difficult to project, and the nature of soft tissue issues can keep a player on the shelf for a substantial amount of time. Hopefully Castro didn’t suffer something more serious, but he was pinch hit for by Mickey Gasper in a critical situation. That is telling in and of itself.

Related: Minnesota Twins Injured List Gains an Outfielder + Willi Castro Update

Minnesota has an off day on Thursday before a weekend series in Atlanta. They return home for three-game series against the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Angels immediately after. If they can stack wins, Baldelli’s team may be right back it in. The war of attrition must stop though.