Minnesota Twins agree to terms with right-handed reliever Josh Staumont on a 1-year deal

Published 3:27 pm Wednesday, December 27, 2023

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MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins agreed to terms with right-handed reliever Josh Staumont on a one-year contract on Wednesday, the team’s first major league free agency move of the offseason.

Staumont, 30, pitched five seasons for the Kansas City Royals, saving eight games with a 4.01 ERA. The hard-throwing righty has 191 strikeouts in 168 1/3 innings.

He had a 5.40 ERA in 21 games for Kansas City last season before landing on the injured list on June 7 and missing the rest of the season. He later underwent surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome.

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It’s the first major league addition for Minnesota, which won the American League Central last season and advanced to the Division Series. The team signed right-hander A.J. Alexy and utility man Niko Goodrum, both former major leaguers, to minor league deals.

Meanwhile, the Twins have seen right-handed starters Sonny Gray — who was second in the Cy Young voting to Gerrit Cole — Kenta Maeda and Tyler Mahle sign contracts elsewhere this offseason. Gray agreed to a three-year contract with the St. Louis Cardinals, Mahle signed with World Series champion Texas and Maeda moved to division rival Detroit.

Right-handed reliever Emilio Pagan also elected for free agency and agreed to a two-year deal with Cincinnati.