Twins Sign Former All-Star Cut Loose By Padres
The move comes just days after San Diego released him, capping a short and rocky stint with the Padres.
A Career That's Fallen A Long Way
Marquez, 31, was once a legit workhorse.
From 2017 to 2022 with the Colorado Rockies, he logged 975.1 innings, the sixth-most in all of baseball over that stretch, and made at least 29 starts in five different seasons. His best year came in 2018, when he posted a 3.77 ERA with 230 strikeouts across 196 innings while making all 33 of his scheduled starts.
New St. Paul Saints pitcher German Marquez has an out clause of August 25th and another in September, if not called up by the #MNTwins. Padres let go the 2021 N.L. All-Star last week. Twins had some interest in him going back to last offseason. pic.twitter.com/RHGyT5t9kT
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) August 13, 2026
The last several years have told a different story. Tommy John surgery wiped out most of his 2023 and 2024 seasons, and he returned to a full workload with Colorado last year, making 26 starts but posting a rough 6.70 ERA.
San Diego took a flier on him over the winter, signing him to a one-year deal worth $1.75 million guaranteed, but the results didn't turn around.
He was designated for assignment on August 5 after posting a 5.26 ERA across 13 appearances, including 10 starts, with a 10.2 percent walk rate well above average and a 15.7 percent strikeout rate well below it.
San Diego officially released him August 8.
Minnesota Is Taking The Chance
The signing gives the Twins rotation depth at Triple-A rather than an immediate big league addition, with Marquez expected to work out of St. Paul for now.
Marquez is eligible to pitch for the Twins in the postseason regardless of whether he's added to the major league roster before the end of the regular season, giving Minnesota the option to activate him later in the year if he shows anything in the minors and the Twins find themselves in a playoff push.
NEWS
— SleeperTwins (@SleeperMLBTwins) August 13, 2026
The #MNTwins are signing veteran RHP Germán Márquez to a minor league contract
The 31-year-old has a 5.26 ERA this season in 53 innings, making 10 starts with the Padres pic.twitter.com/N8LiCmgwqC
For a pitcher with a track record this extensive, even a rough recent stretch leaves enough name recognition and swing-and-miss history to be worth a zero-risk look.
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