Former Top Prospect Taj Bradley Dealing For Twins - Is It Real?

Acquired from the Rays, Bradley has had two successful starts to open 2026, but contact management issues persist.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 11:22am

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Taj Bradley, a former top pitching prospect for the Tampa Bay Rays, was traded to the Minnesota Twins in 2025. Despite strong surface-level numbers in his first two starts of the 2026 season, a deeper dive into his underlying stats suggests Bradley is still struggling with contact management issues that have plagued him in the past.

Why it matters

Bradley was once considered one of the Rays' top pitching prospects, but his inability to limit hard contact has prevented him from fully tapping into his potential at the major league level. The Twins are hoping a change of scenery can help Bradley take the next step, but his early 2026 performance indicates he may still have work to do to become a consistently effective starting pitcher.

The details

In his first two starts of the 2026 season, Bradley has posted a 0.87 ERA with a 12/4 K/BB ratio in 10.1 innings. However, his advanced metrics tell a different story - his FIP is 2.02, his xFIP is 3.59, and his 'Tru' ERA- is 106, indicating he has been slightly below league average. The culprit appears to be Bradley's continued struggles with contact management, as he has allowed a high 40% line drive rate and has been plagued by loud contact, with average exit velocities well above league average across all batted ball types.

  • Bradley was acquired by the Twins from the Rays in 2025.
  • Bradley has made two starts to open the 2026 MLB season.

The players

Taj Bradley

A former top pitching prospect for the Tampa Bay Rays who was traded to the Minnesota Twins in 2025.

Griffin Jax

A reliever the Twins traded to the Rays in exchange for Bradley in 2025.

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What they’re saying

“Bradley has been exceedingly fortunate in his first two starts. Still, he's at least an average major league starting pitcher, which is plenty valuable.”

— Tony Blengino, Author

What’s next

Bradley will look to build on his early success and address his underlying contact management issues in his upcoming starts for the Twins.

The takeaway

Despite his strong surface-level numbers, Taj Bradley's early 2026 performance suggests he still has work to do to become a consistently effective starting pitcher at the major league level. The Twins are hoping a change of scenery can help him unlock his potential, but his long-standing contact management issues may continue to hold him back.