Because players move around like chess pieces with Major League Baseball, there’s a whole host of players with Twins ties that could win a World Series ring. Jose Urena is guaranteed to do so having played for both teams. Richard Lovelady may grab one, but he’s got a guaranteed home to start 2026 regardless.

Twins connections now vying for a World Series ring:

Blue Jays –
Louie Varland
Ty France
Jeff Hoffman
Jose Berrios
Isaiah Kiner-Falefa
Jose Ureña
Richard Lovelady
Alan Roden
George Springer

Dodgers-
Ben Rortvedt
Eddie Rosario
James Outman
Noah Davis
Brock Stewart
Jose Ureña

— Ted (@tlschwerz) October 21, 2025

New York Mets sign Richard Lovelady to MLB contract

After pitching a pair of games for the Toronto Blue Jays this season, Richard Lovelady was claimed by the Minnesota Twins. He never pitched at the big league level, but posted a 1.31 ERA at Triple-A St. Paul. After being waived by Minnesota, Lovelady landed with the Mets, and that’s where he’ll begin 2026 as well.

We have made the following roster move. pic.twitter.com/WjAexpP4o3

— New York Mets (@Mets) October 23, 2025

Despite the 1.31 ERA at Triple-A, and a bullpen constantly in flux, Derek Falvey never felt the need to promote Lovelady to the Minnesota Twins and see what he would look like in the bullpen. Across 10 innings for the Mets, Lovelady owned a 6.30 ERA (6.74 FIP), and carried a 9/4 K/BB.

Ultimately he was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse where he posted a 2.08 ERA in 17 1/3 innings. Lovelady gets a big league contract with the Mets, and will compete for a major league bullpen spot to start next season.

The 30-year-old is out of options, so barring language in his contract that make it a two-way deal, he would need to pass through waivers in order to play at Triple-A for New York. Should the Toronto Blue Jays win the World Series, Lovelady will get a ring. That’s not a bad outcome after pitching just 1 2/3 innings for the AL East team to start the year.

The Minnesota Twins must figure out how they will rebuild their bullpen this offseason after trading five of their top relievers at the deadline.

Unfortunately, early injuries to some of the bullpen’s most reliable middle relievers, combined with some unlikely poor performances from guys like Griffin Jax, have put a damper on Rocco Baldelli’s high bullpen aspirations to start the 2025 season.

Entering tonight’s game vs the Kansas City Royals, the Twins are a disappointing 3-7 to start the year. Their starting rotation owns the worst ERA in baseball and they’ve already cycled through multiple relievers to try and makeup for the innings.

Richard Lovelady signs with MN Twins and heads to St. Paul

The MN Twins have some internal depth to help fill innings, including a lefty, Danny Coulombe, who they signed as a free agent in the offseason. But after the Toronto Blue Jays waived LHP Richard Lovelady, the Twins saw an opportunity to strengthen their lefty depth, after the 29-year-old out of Kennesaw State was waived by the Blue Jays after just 1 2/3 innings. After he signed, the Twins assigned Lovelady to Triple A St. Paul

#MNTwins Sign Left-Hand Pitcher Richard Lovelady, Assign Him To St. Paul

Story: https://t.co/JVWpU6jCzs pic.twitter.com/UOLVFPPT5D

— St. Paul Saints (@StPaulSaints) April 9, 2025

Richard Lovelady has pitched in six big league seasons and spent time with the Chicago Cubs and Tampa Bay Rays during 2024. Last season Lovelady made 35 appearances and tallied 34 1/3 innings of major league action. He posted a 4.46 ERA (3.92 FIP) with 26 strikeouts and 11 walks.

The southpaw was successful against left-handed batters and allowed just a .634 OPS. That was 100 points lower than the .737 OPS give up to right-handed batters. He has never spent an entire year at the big league level and his 34+ innings last year were a career high.

Related: Minnesota Twins Upgrade Brooks Lee’s Rehab Assignment

It’s unlikely he surpasses that tally with the Twins this season, but he probably slots in ahead of Kody Funderburk and Anthony Misiewicz, as lefty options for Minnesota, should they need to make a call up in that area.

Richard Lovelady live ABs are electric ⚡️check out the full length video on YouTube! pic.twitter.com/kgRWIrSqE2

— Driveline Baseball (@DrivelineBB) February 28, 2025

Lovelady owns a 2.56 career ERA in the minors, across 232 innings. At Triple-A he has posted a 2.88 ERA in 137 2/3 innings. His 9.9 K/9 at the highest farm level hasn’t really translated to the big leagues, but it’s clear he has stuff that can work.

The Saints are home this week for a six-game series against the Omaha Storm Chasers. Lovelady is a former 10th round pick by the Royals organization, of which Omaha represents the Triple-A team.

Minnesota Twins bullpen seeking consistency

The Twins bullpen couldn’t be further from a league-best unit at this point. Griffin Jax blew a save against the Houston Astros on Sunday. Jorge Alcala has been mediocre while being the target of multiple comebackers. They have also swapped out long-relief arms multiple times.

It’s not a guarantee that Lovelady winds up factoring into the equation, but he certainly gives the organization another arm to look at. Middle relief has been taxed for the Twins. Louie Varland wasn’t a guaranteed reliever through Grapefruit League action, but has been used a league-high six times in just ten games.

Baldelli needs plenty of things to work better than they have for the Minnesota Twins thus far. If they are going to turn things around though, the relief corps must be better as well.