We can all argue about how good this year's team is and whether we should buy or sell. I think the ceiling is about 85-86 wins, getting a wildcard or winning the division if Chicago and Cleveland tank, winning one playoff series, and then being quickly shown the door. I think the floor is 72 – 75 wins if we make no moves, have some injuries, and the pitching completely falls apart.

I want to make the moves that get us the best chance to hit the ceiling scenario without hamstringing us in the short or medium term. I think it's possible if you make the following three trades and I think all of them can be done. I ran all them through Baseball Trade Values, if you believe in that site, and all said they were either fair trades or a minor overpay by the Twins so I don't think any of them are fantasy, pie-in-the-sky stuff. Here they are:

Trade 1 – Twins trade with Seattle

Twins get: Emerson Hancock and Jose Ferrer (or Gabe Speier)

Mariners get: Ryan Jeffers and either Emma, GG, or Mendez.

Good trade for both teams. Mariners get the right-handed bat they need at a position of need for this season when they have a real chance to win a crappy division and the pitching to make noise in the playoffs. Cal Raleigh has a .573 OPS trying to play through a strained oblique. He can either go to the bench or be a DH, but is still be around next year when he isn't hurt. They also get an outfielder that might help them this year but really can help them long-term who is completely controllable. Twins get mid rotation starting pitcher with 4 arbitration years left, plus either a 26-year-old (Ferrer) or 31-year-old (Speier) LH reliever who is performing well this year and has at least two years of control after this year. Twins put Hancock in the rotation, move Prielipp or Matthews to the bullpen, and that with the added reliever upgrades the pitching immensely. Even better, you've done it by trading a guy won't be here next year with the only real pain being the trade of a high-end prospect at a position where we have several high-end prospects.

Trade 2 – Twins trade with the Mets

Twins get – Luke Weaver.

Mets get – Ryan Gallagher, James Ellwanger. Khadim Diaw, or Yasser Mercedes, but only one.

The Twins get a solid right-handed reliever who is having a very good year and who they can keep for $12M next year. Mets get a good but not elite prospect and can decide whether it's more important to get pitching or hitting. Another good deal for both sides. By the way, BTV says trading Gallagher or Ellwanger is a minor overpay with Diaw or Mercedes a pretty even swap for Weaver.

Trade 3 - Twins trade with Giants

Twins get - Luis Arraez

Giants get - Ryan Gallagher or James Ellwanger.

I stole this idea from the article today about trading for an OF or 2B that can help us against left-handed pitching. I think he's right that Lane Thomas also would be a good choice. I like Arraez more since he can play 2B or 1B, and I think Royce Lewis is still another season away from regaining his form after the injuries. Both Arraez and Thomas hit left-handed pitching well. If we go after Lane Thomas instead, I would trade someone like Yasser Mercedes, not Gallagher or Ellwanger. 

So there it is. If the Twins make these trades you give up Ryan Jeffers and basically three top 20 prospects, one top 10-12 OF (or top 5 if it's Emma), a 13-20 guy, and a 20-30 guy. We get back a controllable #3 or #4 starter, a controllable good but not elite left-handed reliever, a good but not elite right-handed reliever that we have in 2026 and 2027, and a bat that helps us against left-handed pitching. I think all of these moves are worth the cost as I projected and all would help this year's team. All but the last also help the 2027 team have a better chance of getting to that 85-90 win level.

What do you think? What trades would you like to see made overall at the deadline as an overall strategy?