Twins sign veteran reliever Josh Staumont to one-year deal

The Twins made their first roster addition of the offseason Wednesday, signing righthanded reliever Josh Staumont to a one-year contract.

Staumont, a second-round draft pick of the Royals in 2015, is a five-year major league veteran who was not offered a contract for next season by Kansas City. The righthander's 2023 season was cut short by surgery to correct thoracic outlet syndrome, and Staumont did not pitch after June 5.

The injury was blamed for Staumont's sudden lack of success after a strong start to the season last spring. Staumont gave up only two runs over his first 10 appearances and his ERA on May 23, after 16 outings, stood at 2.93. But his fastball velocity dropped — he averaged 95.6 miles per hour for the season, down 2.5 mph from his career best in 2020 — and Staumont gave up seven runs over his final 4⅔ innings before being shut down and placed on the 60-day injured list.

When healthy, Staumont has been a reasonably effective setup reliever, though walks have been a persistent problem. In 168⅓ career innings for the Royals, the 30-year-old Staumont has walked 95 hitters while striking out 191. But he owns a career 0.90 ERA in 19 innings against the Twins, and has never allowed a run, in 10⅓ career innings, at Target Field.

The righthander has been particularly effective outside Kansas City, posting a 4.92 ERA at Kauffman Stadium but a 2.97 mark on the road. Righthanders have hit only .203 against him during his career.

Terms of Staumont's contract were not immediately released.

Staumont is the first major league addition to the roster this offseason. The Twins last week also acquired — or re-acquired — another righthanded reliever in A.J. Alexy, signing him to a minor league contract. The Twins traded for Alexy from Washington on Jan. 10, only to designate him for assignment when they signed outfielder Michael A. Taylor less than three weeks later. The White Sox claimed Alexy on waivers.

Alexy, 25, pitched in nine games with Texas in 2021 and '22. He had a rough 2023, going 0-3 with a 12.00 ERA in 16 appearances with Class AAA Charlotte before the White Sox released him and then posting an 11.81 ERA in six appearances with Southern Maryland of the independent Atlantic League.