Veteran left-hander Andrew Chafin signs minor-league deal with Twins as NRI

The Minnesota Twins added veteran left‑hander Andrew Chafin on Feb. 14, signing him to a minor‑league contract and bringing him to big‑league camp as a non‑roster invitee, a move that creates low‑cost depth and immediate left‑handed matchup options in Fort Myers. Darren Wolfson of SKOR North reported that Chafin would earn $2,000,000 if he makes the active roster, with up to $1,250,000 in bonuses and incentives; TwinsDaily and other outlets described the deal as non‑guaranteed and a competitive spring audition.

Chafin, 35, comes off a 2025 season in which MLB.com’s Matthew Leach reported a 2.41 ERA in 33 2/3 innings, with 36 strikeouts and 19 walks, and that he held left‑handed hitters to a .136 average. Sources differ on appearance totals: Roundtable Sports wrote that Chafin appeared in 42 total contests in 2025, while TwinsDaily noted he made 26 appearances with the Washington Nationals before being dealt to the Los Angeles Angels at the trade deadline; neither source provides a single team‑by‑team game log that links the 26 and 42 figures definitively.

Across a long big‑league résumé, MLB.com lists Chafin with a 3.35 career ERA, 20 saves and 643 games over what MLB.com calls a 12‑year big‑league career, while Roundtable Sports framed 2026 as what would be his 13th year in professional baseball. That veteran profile is precisely why Minnesota views him as a depth option who can be counted on for left‑on‑left matchups and situational work.

Not every indicator is pristine. MLB Trade Rumors flagged persistent control concerns and noted Chafin’s strikeout rate slipped from a 28.5% mark in 2024, a downturn that front offices will weigh when evaluating his spring performance. TwinsDaily also summarized Chafin’s recent offseason pattern: he signed a non‑guaranteed deal with the Detroit Tigers last February, opted out in late April, landed with the Nationals and was later traded to the Angels.

The club context is crowded. Minnesota already added Taylor Rogers in free agency, acquired Anthony Banda via trade, and retains lefty Kody Funderburk on the 40‑man roster; MLB Trade Rumors and Roundtable noted Eric Orze among recent bullpen additions. With Chafin in camp, the Twins could have multiple left‑hand options competing for high‑leverage innings; Roundtable suggested a closer‑by‑committee remains possible, and MLB.com reported that right‑hander Jackson Kowar was traded to the Baltimore Orioles for cash after Minnesota acquired Banda, a ripple tied to bullpen roster churn.

Minnesota’s front office framed the move as part of continued bullpen reshaping and adding experienced relief depth as camp opens in Fort Myers, and Roundtable suggested that a strong spring could make Chafin a midseason trade candidate for contenders seeking a veteran lefty. On the personal side, Chafin told MLB.com’s Matthew Leach, “It’s a process that I’ve gone through before. I understand the logistics of it. It was a little bit of, I guess a blindside, I wasn’t expecting that. But going into it and then finding an opportunity elsewhere, it’s been great. It’s been a whirlwind of a day, or a week really. but those guys were amazing. They helped me grow as a player. They do amazing things over there and I have nothing but great things about what they do as an organization and individually as a person.”

Fan reaction in the Roundtable/MLBTR comment thread ran lively, with 38 responses including lines such as “This guy gets no respect” and “He is awesome. Lives in his RV and rocks the stache!” Chafin will report to Twins big‑league camp as a non‑roster invitee and must earn a guaranteed spot against a crowded left‑handed relief group if he hopes to trigger the reported $2 million roster payday.