Twins Acquire Tommy Nance From Blue Jays to Reinforce Bullpen

The Twins acquired veteran right-hander Tommy Nance from Toronto for minor league infielder Ryan Sprock, adding a tested arm to a bullpen that has struggled badly in 2026. The deal also gives the Blue Jays a 21-year-old prospect with strong on-base numbers as both clubs begin shaping their trade-deadline plans.

How Events Unfolded

Multiple reports on Friday, July 10, said Minnesota sent Sprock to Toronto for Nance. The reported Blue Jays-Twins trade gives Minnesota a 35-year-old reliever who posted a 3.82 ERA, a 1.273 WHIP, 34 strikeouts and 13 walks over 33 innings this season.

Nance had appeared in 32 games for Toronto, going 1-2. Across five major league seasons, Nance has a 4.25 ERA in 144 appearances.

Minnesota's motive is straightforward. One report said the Twins' bullpen ranked last among all 30 MLB teams with a 5.28 ERA. The club was also described as one game behind the final American League Wild Card place and two games back in the AL Central, putting a premium on immediate relief help rather than a longer-term rebuild.

Toronto received Sprock, an eighth-round selection in the 2025 MLB Draft. TSN reported that he was batting .297 with five home runs, 38 RBIs and an .855 OPS over 67 games, while another report listed a .306/.436/.441 slash line and noted his recent promotion from Single-A Fort Myers to High-A Cedar Rapids.

Digging Deeper

Nance's surface numbers explain why Minnesota acted, but his underlying profile adds detail. He carried a 24.5% strikeout rate, a 9.4% walk rate and a .230 opponent batting average through 33 innings. His 36.4% chase rate ranked in the 95th percentile, according to one report, meaning hitters frequently swung at pitches outside the strike zone.

He also posted a 35.9% hard-hit rate and a 46.7% ground-ball rate. The concern is command. A 9.4% walk rate can create traffic, and his reported expected ERA of 4.37 was higher than his actual mark.

The move follows another bullpen addition by Minnesota, right-hander Woo-Suk Go from Detroit. Nance cannot repair a last-place bullpen alone, but adding multiple relievers spreads innings and gives the club more matchup choices.

What People Are Saying

Reports consistently framed the transaction as a win-now move for Minnesota. CBS Sports wrote that Nance would help bolster the bullpen after his solid first half, while NBC Sports described him as bullpen help for a club in the playoff race.

There is also a second layer involving Toronto. The Blue Jays were reported at 44-49 with three games remaining before the All-Star break, and the trade raised questions about whether they could become sellers. At the same time, Toronto has greater bullpen depth as injured players return, making Nance more movable than some higher-profile players.

No official role for Nance was specified in the supplied reports. His recent work with Toronto was primarily in relief, and Minnesota will need to clear a spot on its 26-man roster before adding him.

Putting It in Perspective

For the Twins, the trade is less about acquiring a star than improving the weakest part of a contender's roster. A bullpen ERA of 5.28 means Minnesota relievers had allowed more earned runs per nine innings than any other club's relief group, according to the cited report. Even a modest improvement could matter in a race separated by one or two games.

For Toronto, Sprock offers a younger asset with plate discipline. His 50 walks against 33 strikeouts, as reported by TSN, show an ability to reach base without relying only on batting average. He remains in the lower minors, so the return is aimed more at future value than immediate major league production.

The trade also changes expectations around Minnesota's deadline. By adding Nance before the break, the Twins signaled that their current standing is close enough to justify reinforcement.

Looking Ahead

Nance is expected to join a Minnesota bullpen that must create a roster opening for him. The Twins' next decisions will show whether this is a targeted fix or the beginning of a broader deadline push before August 3.

Toronto, meanwhile, will continue evaluating whether to add, sell or hold. The deal gives Toronto a prospect while freeing a relief spot as its bullpen gets healthier.