The Minnesota Twins have bolstered their starting pitching depth by signing right-hander to a minor league deal on Monday.
McCaughan, 28, was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 12th round of the 2017 MLB Draft and debuted in the majors in 2021. Last February, he was traded to the Miami Marlins for cash considerations and went on to pitch a career-high 42 innings in the majors last season, splitting time between the Marlins and the Cleveland Guardians.
Who is Darren McCaughan, and what can he offer the Twins?
While McCaughan doesn’t project as a high-upside arm, his major league track record includes a 6.43 ERA over 56 innings, with a 15.3% strikeout rate and an 8.4% walk rate (per Baseball Savant). His main vulnerability is allowing home runs, surrendering 2.09 homers per nine innings in the majors.
At the Triple-A level, McCaughan has shown slightly better numbers, with a 21.7% strikeout rate, a 6.4% walk rate, and 1.6 homers allowed per nine innings, though his low-90s fastball limits his ceiling.
Last season, McCaughan struggled across Miami and Cleveland’s Triple-A affiliates, compiling a 5-4 record with a 4.73 ERA, 92 strikeouts, 30 walks, and 13 homers in 85.2 innings pitched.
What is the state of the Minnesota Twins starting pitchers after McCaughan’s signing?
The good news is that McCaughan is likely to be used more as a minor league depth piece rather than a major league option. The Twins’ starting rotation for the season opener is expected to feature Pablo López, Joe Ryan, and Bailey Ober, with David Festa, Simeon Woods Richardson, Zebby Matthews, and Rule 5 pick Eiberson Castellano competing for two spots.
Chris Paddack remains on the roster but is rumored to be a trade candidate as the Twins look to shed salary. Louie Varland could also provide depth despite a tough 2024 season, where he posted a 7.61 ERA in 49.2 major league innings.
The Twins may add a veteran pitcher in the near future to create more competition within their pitching staff, but McCaughan doesn’t appear to be part of that plan. Instead, he may serve as a stopgap while younger prospects like Marco Raya, Andrew Morris, and Charlee Soto continue to develop.
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