MINNEAPOLIS — Anthony Banda was traded from the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Minnesota Twins in February 2026 in exchange for international bonus pool money. Banda, a 32-year-old left-handed reliever, joined the Twins ahead of the 2026 season after spending the previous two years with the Dodgers.
During his two seasons with the Dodgers from 2024 to 2025, Banda compiled an 8-3 record with a 3.14 ERA across 119 appearances. He struck out nearly one batter per inning and appeared in four of the five World Series games against the New York Yankees in 2024 without allowing a run.
Through May 31, 2026, Banda had made 28 appearances for the Twins, posting a 5.40 ERA. According to Statcast, his fastball averaged 94.2 mph during that span. Right-handed batters recorded four hits against his fastball, while left-handed batters notched two hits off his slider, which generated a 41.5 percent whiff rate against same-handed hitters.
Banda has one year of arbitration eligibility remaining and cannot be optioned to the minors without first clearing waivers. His addition was part of the Twins’ effort to bolster their bullpen as they contended for a playoff spot. Through the end of May 2026, Minnesota held a 27-33 record and sat two games behind the Toronto Blue Jays for the final American League Wild Card berth.
Jeremy Zoll serves as the general manager of the Minnesota Twins. The 2026 MLB trade deadline is scheduled for August 3, giving the Twins additional time to evaluate Banda’s role as they assess their postseason chances.