The Minnesota Twins strengthened their bullpen by signing veteran right-handers Liam Hendriks and Julian Merryweather to minor league contracts while acquiring left-hander Anthony Banda from the Los Angeles Dodgers. The moves add experienced arms to a pitching staff that has been rebuilding after several seasons of inconsistency.

Banda, 32, posted a 3.18 ERA in 71 games last season for the World Series champion Dodgers, becoming one of just 12 left-handers in MLB with a sub-3.15 ERA and sub-.215 opponent batting average over the past two seasons. Hendriks, 37, brings 114 saves and a 2.26 ERA from his four-year stretch with Oakland and Chicago, though injuries have limited him to only 19 appearances over the last three seasons.

Hendriks' comeback story adds emotional weight to the signing. After battling Stage 4 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma following the 2022 season, he returned to pitch briefly for Boston last year after a 680-day absence. The Twins made room for Banda by designating Jackson Kowar for assignment, continuing their offseason reshaping of the pitching staff.