The Twins claimed Tonkin off waivers from the Yankees on Tuesday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Tonkin will begin his third stint with the Twins and second this season, after he made one appearance for Minnesota back in April before being booted from the 40-man roster. The right-hander had allowed eight runs over his final 7.2 innings with the Yankees but pitched well for them overall with a 3.37 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 57:21 K:BB in 56 innings. He'll be used in middle relief by Minnesota.
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Yankees' Michael Tonkin: Booted off 40-man roster
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The Yankees designated Tonkin for assignment Sunday.
For the fourth time this season, Tonkin has now been removed from an organization's 40-man roster, after the Mets (twice) and Twins previously designated him for assignment. The Yankees claimed Tonkin off waivers from the Mets in April, and he had generally pitched well during his time in The Bronx, logging a 3.37 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 57:21 K:BB in 56 innings. However, with the Yankees in need of a fresh relief arm for Sunday's series finale with the Rockies, Tonkin ended up being the odd man out to make room on the roster for Phil Bickford, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Given his strong body of work out of the New York bullpen, Tonkin stands a good chance of being claimed off waivers by another team.
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Yankees' Michael Tonkin: Secures three-inning save
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Tonkin allowed two hits and struck out two without walking a batter over three innings to earn the save in Wednesday's 10-2 win over the White Sox.
The Yankees pulled ahead in the seventh inning and then rallied for more in the eighth, so Tonkin stayed in the game and ended up with his second save of the year. This was just his second scoreless appearance in nine outings since the All-Star break. He's added one hold this season while rarely featuring in high-leverage spots. Tonkin has a 3.21 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 63:22 K:BB over 61.2 innings between the Yankees, Mets and Twins in 2024.
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Yankees' Michael Tonkin: Earns first save
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Tonkin earned a save against the Royals on Monday, walking one and striking out two in a scoreless ninth inning.
Tonkin was called upon to protect a 4-2 lead in the ninth inning and worked around a walk to secure his first save of the season and second of his career. Usual closer Clay Holmes pitched three times in the past four days, so it was a rare appearance in the role for Tonkin. He now owns a 2.45 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 30:11 K:BB ratio in 29.1 combined innings pitched for the Twins, Mets and Yankees in 2024.
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Yankees' Michael Tonkin: Claimed by Yankees
Rotowire
The Yankees claimed Tonkin off waivers from the Mets on Thursday.
After being DFA'd for the third time this month Monday, Tonkin will now move from Queens to the Bronx and nab a spot on a 40-man roster. The 34-year-old right-hander has allowed six earned runs across nine innings between the Twins and Mets this season and will likely be limited to low-leverage situations with the Yankees. McKinley Moore was designated for assignment in a corresponding move.
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Mets' Michael Tonkin: Exits 40-man roster again
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The Mets designated Tonkin for assignment Monday.
It's the third time this month that Tonkin has been DFA'd and the second time the move has been made by the Mets. The veteran reliever could clear waivers and would have the option to elect free agency.
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Mets' Michael Tonkin: Returns to New York
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The Mets claimed Tonkin off waivers from the Twins on Wednesday, Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News reports.
Tonkin doesn't have any minor-league options remaining, so he'll be added to the Mets' 26-man active roster and will presumably join the big club for the start of its series three-game series in Los Angeles versus the Dodgers this weekend. New York designated lefty Tyler Jay for assignment to clear room on the 40-man roster for Tonkin, who has allowed four earned runs on eight hits and three walks over six innings across his four relief appearances this season between the Twins and an earlier stint with the Mets.
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Twins' Michael Tonkin: Designated for assignment
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Tonkin was designated for assignment Saturday. He gave up two runs on two hits and two walks while striking out five over two innings in Friday's loss to Detroit.
Tonkin was traded to the Twins from the Mets for cash Tuesday as a way to fill in the bottom of the Minnesota bullpen. His reward for throwing two innings was for the Twins to jettison him for another reliever. Tonkin may chose to accept an outright assignment if he's not claimed off waivers as the Twins will likely need him again this season.
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Twins' Michael Tonkin: Traded to Minnesota
Rotowire
Tonkin was acquired by the Twins from the Mets on Tuesday in exchange for cash considerations.
The right-hander was designated for assignment by the Mets on Friday and will now make his way to the Twin Cities. Tonkin made three appearances for New York this season and allowed two earned runs with a 3:1 K:BB over four innings.
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Mets' Michael Tonkin: Designated for assignment
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Tonkin was designated for assignment by the Mets on Friday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
The transaction frees up a spot on the 26-man and 40-man rosters for Julio Teheran. Tonkin allowed eight runs (two earned) over four innings covering three relief appearances with the Mets. There would seem to be a good chance the 34-year-old passes through waivers unclaimed.
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Mets' Michael Tonkin: Stuck with loss Monday
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Tonkin (0-1) took the loss Monday as the Mets were downed 5-0 in 10 innings by the Tigers, getting charged with five unearned runs on only two hits in an inning of relief. He didn't walk or strike out a batter.
After nine scoreless innings, the 10th was a disaster for the Mets, as a hit-by-pitch on Mark Canha and a Joey Wendle fielding error contributed to the meltdown. Tonkin has yet to give up an earned run in three innings to begin the season while posting a 2:1 K:BB, but his lower-leverage role limits his fantasy appeal even in NL-only formats.
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Mets' Michael Tonkin: Makes Opening day bullpen
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Tonkin will begin the season on the Mets' 26-man roster, Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News reports.
With Sean Reid-Foley (shoulder) landing on the injured list, the Mets were able to find room for both Tonkin and Yohan Ramirez in the bullpen. Tonkin saw his first big-league action since 2017 last season with Atlanta, posting a 4.28 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 75:23 K:BB over 80 innings and winning seven games. The 34-year-old righty is expected to fill a long-relief role in New York.
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Mets' Michael Tonkin: Fighting for last bullpen spot
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Tonkin has a 0.00 ERA through 5.1 Grapefruit League innings with a 6:2 K:BB, but he isn't guaranteed a spot in the Mets' Opening Day bullpen, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.
The 34-year-old right-hander revived his career with Atlanta in 2023 as a long reliever, and he signed a $1 million split contract with New York in December. Tonkin's primary competition for the final spot in the Mets' bullpen is Yohan Ramirez, but both pitchers could make the initial roster if Sean Reid-Foley (arm) has to begin the year on IL. Phil Bickford and Shintaro Fujinami are also in the mix for the final two spots, but the latter has minor-league options remaining and the former hasn't been as impressive in camp.
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Mets' Michael Tonkin: Signs with Mets
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Tonkin signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Mets on Tuesday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
The 2023 campaign marked Tonkin's return to the majors after six seasons, and he logged a 4.28 ERA and 1.09 WHIP with a 75:23 K:BB across 80 innings. The 34-year-old righty will likely operate as a multi-inning reliever in a Mets bullpen that struggled to find consistent success last season.
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Michael Tonkin: Becomes free agent
Rotowire
Tonkin was non-tendered by Atlanta on Friday, MLB.com reports.
Tonkin, who turns 34 on Sunday, posted a 4.28 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 80 innings of relief for Atlanta in 2023, so he should have no problem finding a job in the majors with another club for 2024.
Tonkin will be on Atlanta's roster for the NLDS versus the Phillies, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
The 33-year-old right-hander essentially won out over Kyle Wright for the primary long relief gig. Tonkin struggled down the stretch in the regular season, but he was a bullpen workhorse for the NL East champs over the course of the year while logging 80 innings across 45 appearances.
Tonkin picked up the save in Thursday's 8-3 win over the Rockies. He allowed a hit and a walk while striking out six over 3.1 scoreless innings.
Tonkin was dominant in relief Thursday to earn his first career save. He now sports a 3.21 ERA with a 0.95 WHIP and a 28:7 K:BB through 33.2 innings this season. While the 33-year-old Tonkin won't see any ninth-inning usage, he could work his way into a higher-leverage role with Atlanta while Jesse Chavez (lower leg) is on the IL.
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Braves' Michael Tonkin: Activated from injured list
Rotowire
Atlanta activated Tonkin (neck) from the 15-day injured list Thursday.
Tonkin is back to fill a multi-inning bullpen role for the current NL East leaders after needing a couple weeks off due to a neck injury. Roddery Munoz was sent out in a corresponding roster move.
