The Twins have signed left-hander Caleb Baragar to a minor league contract. The move was announced by Minnesota’s Triple-A team in St. Paul.
Baragar makes his return to affiliated ball. The 30-year-old had spent this year in the independent Atlantic League as a member of the Lancaster Stormers. Baragar tossed 16 innings over three starts, allowing seven runs (four earned) with an impressive 18:5 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Twins evaluators were sufficiently intrigued to give him a non-roster look.
An Indiana product, Baragar pitched in the majors for the Giants between 2020-21. Working out of the bullpen, he turned in a 2.78 ERA across 45 1/3 innings. Pedestrian strikeout and walk rates nevertheless led San Francisco to designate him for assignment in Spring Training 2022. Baragar was claimed off waivers by the Diamondbacks but was outrighted off Arizona’s roster a couple weeks later. He has struggled at the Triple-A level in the last two years and hasn’t gotten to the majors since his DFA.
Baragar surrendered a 5.51 ERA in 47 1/3 frames with Arizona’s Triple-A team two seasons ago. Things weren’t any better last year after he signed a minor league deal with the Guardians. Baragar was rocked for 6.54 earned runs per nine in 23 appearances. He managed a solid 27.9% strikeout percentage but issued far too many walks, handing out free passes at an 18.4% clip. Cleveland released him in early August.
He’ll try to get back to the majors with the Guards’ competitors in the AL Central. While Baragar had been starting in the Atlantic League, he has pitched in relief for the past four years while in affiliated ball. Minnesota has Caleb Thielbar, Kody Funderburk and Steven Okert as southpaws in the MLB bullpen. They’re light on experienced options beyond that trio in the high minors.