The Twins claimed infielder Ryan Kreidler off waivers from Pittsburgh on Wednesday.
Kreidler, 27, played for Detroit in each of the past four seasons before he was claimed off waivers by the Pirates in August. He finished the season with Class AAA Indianapolis and was designated for assignment this week.
In 89 games over four seasons with Detroit, Kreidler hit .138 with two home runs. He played shortstop, third base and second base, with a couple of appearances in the outfield. He was a fourth-round pick in 2019 out of UCLA.
Salary dump confirmed
Pitcher Matt Mikulski, whom the Twins got from Houston in the Carlos Correa trade, was released.
The 26-year-old lefthander pitched in six games at Class A Cedar Rapids after the July 31 deal and had an 8.44 ERA in 5⅓ innings.
The Twins, who made the trade to dump most of Correa’s remaining salary, are paying $33 million of his remaining $108 million contract, which runs through 2028.
Punto in the mix
Nick Punto, a gritty infielder who played seven of his major league seasons with the Twins, was to interview for the managerial job.
The 47-year-old Punto was infield coach for the San Diego Padres this season. He played for the Twins from 2004 to 2010 as part of a group that Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen dubbed “the piranhas.”
