Minnesota Twins & Pittsburgh Pirates Complete Trade
Lawrence was designated for assignment by Pittsburgh last Friday and joins a Twins roster dealing with injuries to Bailey Ober, diagnosed Monday with a mild flexor strain that will sideline him from throwing for ten to fourteen days, and Kendry Rojas, who is also unavailable.
Because Lawrence is out of minor league options, he joins the active roster immediately.
We have traded RHP Justin Lawrence to Minnesota for cash considerations.
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) June 2, 2026
The acquisition is the latest in a long line of bullpen dart throws for a Minnesota relief corps that ranks 25th in ERA and 29th in strikeout rate, per Franco.
Lawrence, 31, spent the first four seasons of his big league career with the Colorado Rockies, appeared in 69 games in 2023 with a 3.72 ERA and 11 saves, and posted one of the most remarkable turnaround seasons in recent Pittsburgh relief history last year, allowing just one earned run in 17.2 innings for a 0.51 ERA.
We have made the following roster moves: pic.twitter.com/xoit8g3DZk
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) June 2, 2026
That 2025 performance was the specific reason Minnesota made the call.
The Twins hope the 0.51 ERA version is still in there.
He averages 96 mph with his fastball and carries a wipeout sweeper that generated a 41.3 percent whiff rate in 2026, one of the better chase pitches available on any waiver wire.
The command has been the problem this year with twelve walks in 22 innings alongside a 5.32 ERA, but his stuff grades well enough that Minnesota views him as a legitimate low-risk, high-reward candidate for a bullpen that badly needs functional arms.
Photo Credit: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images
