The Minnesota Twins are just one series into their 2025 season.

Unfortunately, they lost all three games of their opening series in St. Louis vs the Cardinals, over the weekend. Now, Rocco Baldelli & Co enter their series vs the White Sox this week as one of only four winless teams remaining in the big leagues.

Getaway day on Sunday vs Cards was particularly ugly.

Bailey Ober was rocked, thanks to his stuff being diminished by a flu-type sickness that had him on an IV receiving fluids Sunday morning. He lasted just 2 2/3 innings, allowing eight runs on 8 hits, 3 walks and just 3 strikeouts.

Randy Dobnak was then summoned to bail out the bullpen.

After two more innings (mid-5th), the game was delayed by rain. Surprisingly, when it resumed 58 minutes later, Dobnak was back on the mound. He finished the game, then was immediately informed he was being DFA’d, following the game.

Darren McCaughan joins Minnesota Twins in Chicago

With Dobnak’s roster spot now open, the Twins are turning to 29-year-old veteran tweener MLB RHP, Darren McCaughan — who signed in Minnesota this offseason — and can fill the same type of long-reliever role as the bearded righty he is replacing.

Darren McCaughan allowed five runs on ten hits during six Grapefruit League innings this spring. He did post a solid 7/1 K/BB, however.

McCaughan has thrown 56 major league innings during the course of his MLB career. Last season, he pitched 42 total innings (6.21 ERA, 6.12 FIP) between the Miami Marlins and Cleveland Guardians.

Expectations shouldn’t be high for McCaughan as he has allowed 45 runs (40 earned) during his big league tenure. Last year McCaughan worked as a started at Triple-A and owned a 4.73 ERA across 85 2/3 innings.

Despite just a 6.4 K/9 at the major league level, he struck out 92 in the minors last year.

The arsenal for McCaughan is limited.

He throws his fastball at 89.4 mph and just under 20% of the time. His sinker sits roughly the same speed, and he turns to that 31% of the time. He pairs those two with a slider and changeup.

McCaughan was a 12th round pick during the 2017 MLB Draft by the Seattle Mariners. He reached the majors with them in 2021, but didn’t pitch at the highest level in 2022.

Why are the Minnesota Twins shuffling the bullpen?

The move to McCaughan is about length.

He can play the same role that Dobnak did and provides a fresh arm. Unlike Dobnak, McCaughan isn’t as surefire of a bet to stay in the organization once he is optioned.

He has no remaining minor league options available, and will need to clear waivers in order to eventually return to Triple-A.

That move is likely to come whenever Brock Stewart or Michael Tonkin are healthy. Minnesota is hoping that one or both of that pair are ready to rock in the next week or so.

Someone like Scott Blewett would be a better bullpen option from a stuff standpoint, but the Twins don’t want to lose him. Blewett too is out of options, and he would likely be claimed if sent through waivers.

Rather than waste him early in the season for a role that could last a week, McCaughan becomes an expendable resource.

It’s also likely that McCaughan passes through waivers unclaimed given his track record, and the Twins could keep their roster flexibility.

Minnesota kicks off a three-game series against the White Sox on Monday before their home opener against Houston on Thursday.