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Twins Pitching Crisis: Abel, Festa Out for 2026 Season
20 Jul
Summary
- Mick Abel and David Festa unlikely to pitch again in 2026 due to injuries.
- Trade talks intensify as Twins target external pitching reinforcements.
- Twins trail AL Central leaders and wild-card spots, needing help.
The Minnesota Twins face a significant pitching shortage as Mick Abel and David Festa are not expected to pitch again in the 2026 season. Abel underwent elbow surgery on July 1 and faces a lengthy recovery, while Festa's shoulder issues have resurfaced with potential thoracic outlet syndrome recurrence.
With the August 3 trade deadline approaching, General Manager Jeremy Zoll indicated that trade talks are intensifying. The team is actively seeking reinforcements to bolster its pitching staff as they aim for a postseason berth.
The Twins recently dropped two out of three games against the Chicago Cubs, impacting their standing in both the AL Central and the wild-card race. They now trail the first-place Chicago White Sox by four games and are two games behind Boston in the wild-card standings.
Despite the current challenges, the Twins are scheduled to start Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober, and Taj Bradley during their upcoming series against the Cleveland Guardians. Positive news also surrounds Byron Buxton, who is nearing a potential return this week. Additionally, Connor Prielipp and Cole Sands are progressing in their rehabilitation efforts at the minor league level.
