Tigers acquire Paddack from division rival Twins to plug rotation hole from Olson's injury
Tigers Bolster Rotation, Acquire Paddack from Twins
Detroit Makes Move as Olson Joins Injured List
MINNEAPOLIS - The Detroit Tigers, currently atop the AL Central, have strengthened their starting rotation by acquiring right-hander Chris Paddack from division rivals, the Minnesota Twins.
The trade comes as the Tigers face another injury setback. Right-hander Reese Olson will miss the remainder of the season with a strained shoulder sustained during his most recent bullpen session, adding to the absence of right-hander Jackson Jobe.
Tigers Acquire Paddack for Jimenez and Dobnak
In exchange for Paddack and depth pitcher Randy Dobnak, the Twins received catcher Enrique Jimenez, ranked as the Tigers' 14th-best prospect by MLB prior to the season. Dobnak has been assigned to Triple-A Toledo.
Paddack is set to make his debut with the Tigers on Wednesday against Arizona.
Paddack's Recent Performance and History
The 29-year-old Paddack boasts a 3-9 record and a 4.95 ERA across 21 starts for the Twins this season. He has struck out 83 batters while walking 27, with opponents batting .266 against him. Acquired by Minnesota in a trade with San Diego just before the start of the 2022 season, Paddack faced setbacks due to injuries, including a torn UCL requiring Tommy John surgery. He returned for the 2023 postseason as a reliever and rejoined the rotation this year in a season marked by ups and downs.
Familiar Foe for Tigers' New Acquisition
Paddack will have an early opportunity to face his former team. The Tigers and Twins are scheduled for seven more encounters this season, including a three-game series in Detroit next week.
Tigers Seek Stability in Rotation
The Tigers have struggled to find consistent success with their fifth starter since Jobe underwent Tommy John surgery in late May. Keider Montero filled the role but has averaged fewer than five innings per appearance, placing extra strain on the bullpen. Rookie Troy Melton, initially slated for his second career start, is expected to transition into a long-relief role for Detroit, who hold an eight-game lead over Cleveland entering the week.
Twins Bolster Catching Depth
The 19-year-old Jimenez, who boasts a .779 OPS with 32 RBIs in 48 games for Detroit's rookie league club, will provide added catching depth to the Twins organization, which has been lacking it.
Dobnak's Role with the Tigers
The 30-year-old Dobnak, earning $3 million this season, has spent most of 2025 at Triple-A St. Paul, similar to his experience since signing a five-year major league contract with the Twins in 2021 worth $9.25 million. He briefly made the opening day roster and appeared once in relief before being sent down. Dobnak carries a 4.86 ERA across 140 2/3 career innings since his debut with the Twins in 2019.