The Minnesota Twins bolstered their bullpen ahead of the trade deadline by acquiring left-handed reliever A.J. Minter from the New York Mets in a deal completed Friday. In exchange, the Mets received minor league infielders Bruin Agbayani and Billy Amick.

Minter, 29, has battled injuries but has demonstrated effectiveness when healthy. After signing a two-year, $22 million contract with the Mets in 2025, Minter made his season debut on May 26 following a prolonged absence of more than a year from major league play. He logged 23 innings with a 2.35 earned run average (ERA), tallying 20 strikeouts and issuing only two walks before his 2025 season was cut short by a left lat muscle injury that required surgery. Similarly, Minter’s 2024 campaign with the Atlanta Braves was curtailed by a torn labrum in his left hip. When fully recovered, he has been regarded as one of the most effective late-inning left-handed pitchers in baseball.

The Twins sent two prospects to New York in return. Bruin Agbayani, 19, is a middle infielder who has appeared in 10 games for the Low Class A Fort Myers team this season, batting .268. He is the son of former Mets fan favorite Benny Agbayani and was a sixth-round draft pick in 2025 out of Hawaii. His development has been slowed by injuries.

Billy Amick, 23, primarily plays first and third base. He was selected in the second round of the 2024 draft and has spent this season with the Double-A Wichita team. Amick has appeared in 86 games, hitting .217 with 23 home runs.

The Twins, dealing with a thin bullpen, are banking on Minter’s return to form to provide late-inning left-handed relief as they approach the crucial final weeks of the season. Meanwhile, the Mets add two young infield prospects to their system as they continue to build for the future.