The Twins have traded infielder Edouard Julien and right-hander Pierson Ohl to the Rockies, in keeping with bulletins from each golf equipment. Minor league right-hander Jace Kaminska and money issues are going to the Twins. The Rockies freed up two 40-man spots earlier at present by buying and selling Angel Chivilli to the Yankees and designating Yanquiel Fernández for project. Ohl was already off the 40-man as a result of he was designated for project final week. Buying and selling Julien drops Minnesota’s depend to 39, as Kaminska doesn’t require a spot.
Julien, 27 in April, has proven flashes of potential with a three-true-outcomes method. His greatest exhibiting was in his rookie season with the Twins in 2023. He struck out in 31.4% of his 408 plate appearances but additionally drew walks at an enormous 15.7% clip and hit 16 house runs. Even with all of the punchouts, his .263/.381/.459 batting line led to a 134 wRC+, indicating he was 34% higher than league common.
Most of that injury got here with the platoon benefit, as he had an terrible .196/.229/.217 line towards lefties, but it surely was nonetheless sufficient for him to end seventh in American League Rookie of the 12 months voting and encourage a troubadour.
He hasn’t been at that stage since then, nonetheless. He has taken 509 plate appearances over the previous two seasons with simply 11 house runs. His 10.8% stroll charge continues to be above common however not otherworldly, whereas his strikeout charge stayed excessive at 32%. That led to a mixed line of .208/.299/.324 and a 79 wRC+ for that span. Julien has expertise at second and first base however isn’t a very robust defender at both place, which made the declining offense extra problematic.
As he struggled, the Twins typically despatched him to the minors. He nonetheless hit properly down there, with a .261/.406/.440 line and 125 wRC+ in Triple-A over the previous two years, however he exhausted his choice seasons within the course of. That was going to place him on the fringes of the roster going ahead. The Twins signed Josh Bell to play first base and appear seemingly to present Luke Keaschall run at second. They’ve Austin Martin, Eric Wagaman and Tristan Grey additionally within the combine.
Julien’s path to enjoying time in Colorado is significantly better. The Rockies don’t actually have a transparent choice for first base or second base. At first, waiver declare Troy Johnston is one choice however he has simply 44 video games of huge league expertise and might nonetheless be optioned to the minors. The Rockies simply obtained T.J. Rumfield within the Chivilli commerce at present however he nonetheless doesn’t have a roster spot or any main league expertise.
Since Julien isn’t a standout defender, he could be a greater match at first. But when the Rockies are keen to play him on the keystone, there’s not a lot in the way in which. The Rockies most likely wish to give some enjoying time to Adael Amador however he has a .176/.242/.250 line in his profession to this point and might nonetheless be optioned to the minors. Ryan Ritter is in a considerably comparable state of affairs. Willi Castro can bounce round to different positions.
Julien might play each positions, along with his enjoying time at every decided by which different gamers on the roster are wholesome and producing. He might be managed for 4 full seasons, so the Rockies may preserve him round if he bounces again to his 2023 kind.
It additionally shouldn’t be a shock if Julien finally ends up traded once more earlier than these 4 years are up. Colorado has misplaced no less than 101 video games three years working, together with an terrible 43-119 season in 2025. That led to an organizational overhaul, with Paul DePodesta taking on as the brand new entrance workplace chief. Presumably, the membership’s determination makers aren’t anticipating a return to rivalry within the quick time period.
However it does seem that they see worth in shopping for low from the fringes of different rosters. Earlier this winter, the Rockies acquired Jake McCarthy from the Diamondbacks. Like Julien, he has some main league success however is coming off a down yr. Since he’s out of choices, the Snakes had been going to have a troublesome time maintaining him on the roster. The Rockies acquired him and his three remaining years of management. Since it is going to be troublesome for Colorado to be good once more in that window, the obvious hope is that McCarthy bounces again and might be traded after he has rebuilt some worth. Julien is managed for another season than McCarthy however the conditions are considerably analogous.
As for Ohl, 26, he’s in a special boat. He solely made his main league debut final yr and has simply 30 massive league innings underneath his belt with a 5.10 earned run common. He might be managed for six full seasons and likewise has a full slate of choices, so he might be saved within the minors or shuttled up and down pretty frequently.
He doesn’t throw particularly onerous, averaging round 92 miles per hour along with his four-seamer final yr, however he has the intriguing mixture of possessing robust management of a various arsenal. He principally threw his four-seamer and changeup final yr but additionally combined in a cutter, sinker, curveball and even dabbled with a knuckleball. He tossed 71 1/3 innings throughout a number of ranges of the farm final yr, making six begins and 18 aid appearances, with a 2.40 ERA, 30.3% strikeout charge and three.9% stroll charge.
The Rockies want pitching greater than another group. Their collective 5.99 ERA was simply the worst within the majors final yr. Since Ohl has expertise beginning and relieving, and likewise has choices, he can transfer round primarily based on the membership’s wants. The Rockies presumably wish to give begins to younger pitchers like Chase Dollander, McCade Brown and Carson Palmquist however Ohl can step up if these guys battle or want extra time within the minors. He may additionally eat some innings out of the bullpen or be stashed within the minors as depth.
Whereas these are intriguing pickups for the Rockies, the Twins most likely really feel they’re principally giving up guys who had been getting squeezed out in any case. As talked about, Ohl was already designated for project, whereas Julien is out of choices.
In return, they’re getting a bit of money and a few non-roster depth. Kaminska, 24, was a tenth-round decide of the Rockies in 2023. He hasn’t featured on high prospect lists however had good numbers a few years in the past. In 2024, he tossed 87 1/3 innings at Single-A with a 2.78 ERA, 29.5% strikeout charge and three.4% stroll charge. He required Tommy John surgical procedure in March of 2025 and missed your complete season. The Twins will attempt to get him again on observe at any time when he’s wholesome. He will likely be eligible for the Rule 5 draft in December of 2026 if not added to the 40-man roster.
Picture courtesy of Ken Blaze, Nick Wosika, Gary A. Vasquez, Imagn Photos
