The Detroit Tigers bolstered their pitching rotation by acquiring starting pitcher Chris Paddack from the Minnesota Twins in a three-player trade on March 4, 2024. This move comes as the Tigers contend with injuries that have left them searching for depth in their rotation. The team announced that right-hander Reese Olson will miss the remainder of the regular season due to a strained shoulder, a setback he suffered during a recent bullpen session.
In the trade, the Tigers sent catcher Enrique Jimenez, who ranked as their 14th-best prospect in Major League Baseball’s (MLB) preseason rankings, to the Twins. Along with Paddack, the Twins also included depth right-hander Randy Dobnak in the deal. Dobnak has been assigned to Triple-A Toledo following the trade.
Paddack, 29, has had a challenging season, posting a record of 3-9 with a 4.95 ERA over 21 starts for Minnesota. He has recorded 27 walks and 83 strikeouts across 111 innings, with opponents hitting .266 against him. Since being acquired by the Twins from San Diego just before the 2022 season, Paddack has faced a series of injuries, including a second torn UCL that required Tommy John surgery. He made a return for the 2023 postseason in a relief role and resumed a starting position in a turbulent 2024 campaign.
The Tigers face the Twins seven more times this season, including a three-game series in Detroit next week, where Paddack is expected to pitch against his former team. The Tigers have struggled to fill the void left by Jackson Jobe, their top prospect and the third overall pick in the 2021 draft, who also underwent Tommy John surgery in late May.
Throughout the season, Keider Montero has attempted to fill the fifth starter role but has averaged fewer than five innings per appearance, adding pressure to an already taxed bullpen. Rookie Troy Melton, who was slated to make his second career start on Monday, is now expected to transition into a long-relief role as the Tigers maintain their lead in the AL Central.
The addition of Jimenez provides the Twins with much-needed catching depth. The 19-year-old prospect showcased his potential with a .779 OPS and 32 RBIs in 48 games for Detroit’s rookie league team. Jimenez was signed out of Venezuela in 2023, and his development is seen as a positive move for the Twins’ organizational depth.
Dobnak, 30, is earning $3 million this season but has spent most of 2025 with Triple-A St. Paul, a continuation of his journey since signing a five-year major league contract with the Twins in 2021, which guaranteed him $9.25 million. He made the opening day roster but has only seen limited action at the major league level, with a career ERA of 4.86 over 140.2 innings since his debut in 2019.
The Tigers’ management hopes that Paddack’s experience and talent will help stabilize their rotation as they push for a playoff spot in the competitive AL Central.
