75 Options the Minnesota Twins Could Trade For

[Ted Schwerzler]

The Minnesota Twins enter the second half trailing the Cleveland Guardians by a single game in the AL Central standings. They have led the division most of the way, and are still the favorite to finish on top. Doing so will require some reinforcements, and the sport should have plenty of sellers.

 

Image courtesy of © Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

Adding additional wild card teams was something Rob Manfred chose to do in part with the hopes that competition would be enhanced. The trade deadline falls on August 1st, 2023, and as teams barrel towards that date, they’ll need to figure out what side of the fence they stand on.

Rocco Baldelli’s Minnesota Twins should be buyers, and below you can find each assumed selling team with what they may have to offer.

Detroit Tigers - Eduardo Rodriguez, Michael Lorenzen, Matthew Boyd, Jose Cisnero
There’s not a lot to like despite the Tigers being a team slightly outperforming expectations. They aren’t moving on from young stars like Riley Greene or Tarik Skubal, and Spencer Torkelson isn’t being pieced out for nothing. A.J. Hinch doesn’t have a ton of productive veterans on his roster, and it seems that the trio of Rodriguez, Lorenzen, and Boyd could be the most likely. The former could command a good haul having pitched very well this season. He does have an opt-out after the year, and that could impact what the return is. Neither Lorenzen or Boyd have been very good, but could entice someone looking for a cheap piece to acquire and give them a shot with new scenery. Will Vest is a nice relief arm, but he’s under team control through 2027 and paying up for a reliever with a short track record doesn’t seem ideal. Cisnero could be an intriguing late inning arm for Detroit to move.

Chicago White Sox - Yasmani Grandal, Yoan Moncada, Tim Anderson, Dylan Cease, Lucas Giolito, Lance Lynn, Joe Kelly, Kendall Graveman, Liam Hendriks, Keynan Middleton, Reynaldo Lopez
Just how much the White Sox want to blow this thing up with Pedro Grifol having similar results to Tony La Russa remains to be seen. Grandal and Moncada are probably two of the easiest veteran bats to move, and while Anderson is someone they need to deal, his value has never been lower. The pitching side, however, presents plenty of options. Cease still is under team control and would command a haul, but that could help to spark a rebuild. Both Giolito and Lynn should be relatively straightforward coming to the end of their deals, and the former still is a reliable starter. Chicago paid handsomely for their bullpen and getting relief there could be big. Kelly has been fine, and although Graveman’s secondary numbers are scary, he has been a high-leverage pitcher for a while. Moving Hendriks this season, and considering he’s currently on the IL, may be tough but they could get some value before he walks at the end of the year. With Chicago being open for business, basically anyone in their pen could be had, so we see Middleton and Lopez show up here.

 

 

Cleveland Guardians - Shane Bieber, Aaron Civale

 

I struggle to believe the Guardians would sell as they lead the AL Central at the All-Star Break. Maybe they fall off by the end of the month, but it continues to look as though the division is a two-team race. Still, Bieber represents an interesting piece given the depth that the Guardians have. Terry Francona could see an influx of other talent in exchange for Bieber, and the rotation wouldn't necessarily miss a beat without him. Civale's inclusion is somewhat similar to Bieber. His numbers are better than he has actually pitched, but cashing in on him because of it isn't a bad idea. How the front office handles this will be fascinating.

Kansas City Royals - Scott Barlow, Amir Garrett
This is one of the worst teams in baseball for a reason, and they just don’t have much talent. The youth is still looking to catch on, and they aren’t trading Bobby Witt Jr. anyways. The Royals signed Aroldis Chapman for the sole reason of flipping him, and they accomplished that by sending him to the Texas Rangers. Scott Barlow or Amir Garrett could have value to competing clubs. The former has better underlying numbers than his ERA would suggest, and the latter is dealing with the exact opposite.

Seattle Mariners - Eugenio Suarez, Teoscar Hernandez, Mike Ford, Paul Sewald, Justin Topa
It’s not a guarantee that the Mariners sell, but they’re very clearly behind both the Rangers and Astros. Julio Rodriguez is staying put, and so too should Luis Castillo, but there are some options here. Suarez has seen the power production dip significantly, but he’s still been a valuable player and hits right-handed. Hernandez isn’t the 2021 version of himself, but he too is a right-handed power bat and can play the outfield. For has seen success in brief action during his first season with Seattle, so maybe they attempt to cash in there. Sewald is the gem of the bullpen there, and he isn’t a free agent until after next season. Topa has more team control, but much less of a track record.

Los Angeles Angels - Shohei Ohtani, Brandon Drury, Hunter Renfroe, Gio Urshela, Chris Devenski, Matt Moore
What the Angels should and will do couldn’t likely be further apart, but sitting on Ohtani as they miss the playoffs without Mike Trout only to benefit from a Qualifying Offer would be ugly. He’d command a ridiculous trade return, and it may be the only chance an organization unwilling to pay him $600 million gets a chance to roster him. Both Drury and Renfroe have been decent in their first season with the Angels. The former is on the books in 2024 while the latter is a free agent. Urshela came over from Minnesota and has been a consistent contact hitter with no power. Devenski isn’t the same arm he was during his early Astros days, but the stuff is usable. Los Angeles paid Moore almost $8 million this offseason, and although the results aren’t quite what he did for the Rangers in 2022, he’d still be a big boost to a bullpen.

Oakland Athletics - Jace Peterson, Ramon Laureano, Brent Rooker, Paul Blackburn
Similar to the Royals, there just is so little to like here. It’s a no-brainer for the Athletics to cash in on Rooker, but he’s cooled mightily since the hot start. Laureano has been dangled as a name they’d move for some time now, and it’s hard to imagine that stance has changed. Peterson is on a paltry two-year deal and is more a utility option than anything else, but Oakland is always in the business of clearing money. It’s too bad Trevor May, Sam Moll, and Austin Pruitt haven’t presented more reasons for a team to covet their services as relief help. Blackburn doesn't represent an exciting piece, but he's a solid veteran option that comes with team control.

New York Mets - Tommy Pham, Mark Canha, Max Scherzer, David Robertson, Brooks Raley, Adam Ottavino
The Mets being in this position is not something Steve Cohen wanted to see by any stretch. Unfortunately the money spent hasn’t translated to wins, and they already moved Eduardo Escobar to the Angels. Pham and Canha are having fine seasons and both represent a veteran presence that could be moved. I’m not sure they want to deal Scherzer, even with his opt-out after 2023, but he would command plenty even with the decreased numbers. Relief options are available in New York, and to what extent a team may be intrigued should come in across the board.

Washington Nationals - Jeimer Candelario, Ildemaro Vargas, Patrick Corbin, Carl Edwards Jr., Kyle Finnegan
The Nationals aren’t a very good team, and they’re relatively young, so the options they have to offer pieces aren’t aplenty. Candelario is a career utility type that is seeing somewhat of a power breakout, while Vargas remains a guy who can play all over the diamond operating at replacement level. You could do better than Corbin for a starting arm, but you could do worse as well. Both Edardwars Jr. and Finnegan have been fine out of the pen, but neither has inspiring secondary numbers or strikeout totals.

Chicago Cubs - Cody Bellinger, Yan Gomes, Mike Tauchman, Patrick Wisdom, Marcus Stroman, Drew Smyly, Mark Leiter Jr., Michael Fulmer
Taking a chance on Bellinger, the Cubs paid up for one year of his services and they should look to cash in. He could be flipped somewhere during his resurgence, and Chicago will get nice pieces back in return. They haven’t come to a long-term agreement with Stroman, and that makes it more than likely he is on the move. Gomes and Tauchman are veterans that are performing just fine and could be backup options for a competitor, while Wisdom has shown more than he has in 2023. Leiter Jr. is one of the few relief options Chicago could look to part with, and while Smyly shouldn’t take much to acquire, he could probably be had as well. A reunion with Fulmer could be in the cards as he did pitch for the Twins last year. The numbers aren't as good, but the familiarity is there.

Pittsburgh Pirates - Andrew McCutchen, Connor Joe, Carlos Santana, David Bednar, Rich Hill
For a while it looked as though David Shelton’s squad was going to compete but they have since come back to earth. McCutchen going home was a fun story this offseason, and he’s been great, but moving him to a competitor is something they need to do. He can re-sign and retire a Pirate down the line. Both Joe and Sanatana are veterans that are holding their own. Neither has been spectacular, but they could have value to a team looking for a slight bump. The Pirates didn’t trade Bednar last year, and doing so this year seems unlikely as well. However, he’s one of the better relief arms in baseball and under team control. If they don’t view him in the same development window as their next wave, he’d net them a nice return. Hill isn’t pitching great this season, and he’s at the end of his career, but he’d make a nice fifth arm for a team.

St. Louis Cardinals - Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado, Paul DeJong, Jack Flaherty, Jordan Montgomery, Steven Matz, Jordan Hicks
One of the most shocking teams to be sellers in that they were supposed to compete, the Cardinals have plenty of top tier talent to move. Both of their superstar talents on offense could be pieced out, and Goldschmidt would entire plenty of teams. Arenado is younger with more years left on his contract, but it would depend on how they view his career intersecting with their next wave. DeJong has been cast aside previously and is having a fine season, it could be time for St. Louis to flip him for something. It makes sense that Flaherty would be moved as an impending free agent, and he has pitched better of late. Montgomery is also a free agent in 2024, and while Matz was just recently signed to a four-year deal, it hasn’t worked and they could look to get out from the contract. It's been an up and down career for Hicks, but he's a free agent next year and striking out everyone. That type of flamethrower in the bullpen will entice someone.

San Diego Padres - Blake Snell, Michael Wacha, Seth Lugo, Josh Hader, Tim Hill
Another big spender this offseason, it makes more sense for the Padres to deal pitching than hitting. Maybe they don’t sign Juan Soto to an extension, but they should run it back with him next year. Their other bats are either young, or have recently been extended. Snell, Wacha, Lugo, and Hader will all be free agents this offseason, and flipping a couple of them could help to restock the farm system. Snell would be the biggest get and has looked good this year, but Lugo is right there, and Hader remains one of the game’s best closers. Hill has a shiny ERA but doesn’t have much room for error and the underlying numbers are ugly.

Colorado Rockies - Randal Grichuk, Brent Suter, Brad Hand, Daniel Bard, C.J. Cron
Rarely having a straightforward plan, it’s hard to guess what the Rockies may be up to. Grichuk is a veteran in the final year of his deal, and while he’s been fine, his power has been non-existent despite playing in elevation. Suter is having a nice year during his first in Colorado, and while Hand’s ERA is not good, some of his secondary numbers suggest he could be fine elsewhere. Bard is not pitching near as well as he did a season ago, but it seems certain he’ll be moved and an acquiring organization could look to get him back trending in that direction. Cron is in the final year of his deal, and while he's having a down year, sending him anywhere makes sense for Colorado.

There will always be more names than those listed here, but this is a good outline of what team’s should be sellers at the deadline and some of what they’ll have to offer. For a Twins team needing more than a couple of pieces, they should be expected to be plenty active.

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[terrydactyls]

Nonsense.  The Twins should give up on the idea that, if only they can sneak into the playoffs, a miracle might happen.  They thought that last year, made several deadline trades that accomplished nothing, and in the process blew up the prospect list.  So, let's do it again and hope it works this time.  Nonsense.  This team is multiple players away from being a World Series contender.  Put every player that doesn't fit in the 2024 plan up for adoption by any other team, see what offers come in (if any), and make all the trades you can that might upgrade the 2024 Twins.

[chpettit19]

Gio Urshela has a fractured pelvis and is out for the season. He's a free agent after the year. If the Twins trade for him they better hope he's a great coach.

[IndianaTwin]

Matthew Boyd is also on the 60-day IL. I think he’s done for the year. 

[TwinkieFan4life]

6 minutes ago, IndianaTwin said:

Matthew Boyd is also on the 60-day IL. I think he’s done for the year. 

Usually the Twins trade for the pitchers first then put them on the IL for the year.  

[Walser]

5 hours ago, terrydactyls said:

Nonsense.  The Twins should give up on the idea that, if only they can sneak into the playoffs, a miracle might happen.  They thought that last year, made several deadline trades that accomplished nothing, and in the process blew up the prospect list.  So, let's do it again and hope it works this time.  Nonsense.  This team is multiple players away from being a World Series contender.  Put every player that doesn't fit in the 2024 plan up for adoption by any other team, see what offers come in (if any), and make all the trades you can that might upgrade the 2024 Twins.

The '87 team was multiple players away from being World Series contenders too. 

[Cory Engelhardt]

2 hours ago, Walser said:

The '87 team was multiple players away from being World Series contenders too. 

This post would have been perfect in February 1988 had the internet been around 

[CRF]

Well, hot damn...let's just trade for everybody on that list!

[terrydactyls]

3 hours ago, Walser said:

The '87 team was multiple players away from being World Series contenders too. 

And a miracle happened.  Highly unlikely to happen twice.

[Cory Engelhardt]

21 minutes ago, terrydactyls said:

And a miracle happened.  Highly unlikely to happen twice.

Did we quit after the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?!?!

[Cory Engelhardt]

5 minutes ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

Did we quit after the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?!?!

Actually, good point about the 87 team. They had -20 run differential for the year, and they only added Don Baylor at the deadline. He was good, but not Goldschmidt good. Maybe the same thing can happen again :)

[USAFChief]

 Not a particularly well researched or informative article.

 

[TwinkieFan4life]

4 hours ago, Walser said:

The '87 team was multiple players away from being World Series contenders too. 

Looking at the Twins lineup in 87, I think Greg Gagne would be our best hitter this year.  Obviously, we don't have a Pucket, Hrbek, Gaetti, or even a Brunansky on this team.

These Twins have better pitching, but I don't know if we have a single starter I would take over Viola or Blyleven to start a postseason game.

I'm not sure I see many parallels between the two teams.

[chinmusic]

3 hours ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

This post would have been perfect in February 1988 had the internet been around 

How sardonic thou art🙂

[TNtwins85]

12 hours ago, terrydactyls said:

Nonsense.  The Twins should give up on the idea that, if only they can sneak into the playoffs, a miracle might happen.  They thought that last year, made several deadline trades that accomplished nothing, and in the process blew up the prospect list.  So, let's do it again and hope it works this time.  Nonsense.  This team is multiple players away from being a World Series contender.  Put every player that doesn't fit in the 2024 plan up for adoption by any other team, see what offers come in (if any), and make all the trades you can that might upgrade the 2024 Twins.

Are we just gonna constantly wait for prospects? I get what you’re saying but when you have an elite pitching staff that’s what carry’s you in the playoffs. Trust me I get it. This isn’t close to a juggernaut team. If we had 2 more elite hitters in this lineup then that would be another story. But where are we getting those pieces at as far as prospect returns that will be ready next year? How do we get those returns? Who in this organization are we trading to become a monster team next year? This isn’t MLB The Show or OOTP where you just trade everybody for anybody. There’s so much more that goes into a team than what you see on TV. I’d love to build the ‘98 Yankees but we don’t have the capital in the majors or minors to even come close. So we blow it up and wait 5 years to MAYBE have a juggernaut team? I get it I really do. It’s so very frustrating to watch this team but this is such a sad and tired reductionist statement that gets said here too much. How about we stop beating this dead horse. Throw it in the hole, sprinkle some dirt and say some words. After that let’s come up with some constructive ways to improve this year and not waste this pitching staff.

[John Belinski]

Twins have to add a good hitter if they want to go to the playoffs.  They do not need to add a star player just one that can hit maybe .275 and there should be no problem finding a player that can do that.

 

[terrydactyls]

34 minutes ago, TNtwins85 said:

Are we just gonna constantly wait for prospects? I get what you’re saying but when you have an elite pitching staff that’s what carry’s you in the playoffs. Trust me I get it. This isn’t close to a juggernaut team. If we had 2 more elite hitters in this lineup then that would be another story. But where are we getting those pieces at as far as prospect returns that will be ready next year? How do we get those returns? Who in this organization are we trading to become a monster team next year? This isn’t MLB The Show or OOTP where you just trade everybody for anybody. There’s so much more that goes into a team than what you see on TV. I’d love to build the ‘98 Yankees but we don’t have the capital in the majors or minors to even come close. So we blow it up and wait 5 years to MAYBE have a juggernaut team? I get it I really do. It’s so very frustrating to watch this team but this is such a sad and tired reductionist statement that gets said here too much. How about we stop beating this dead horse. Throw it in the hole, sprinkle some dirt and say some words. After that let’s come up with some constructive ways to improve this year and not waste this pitching staff.

I cannot think of any constructive move that can salvage 2022 (and I'm not being snarky).  You mentioned that the Twins need two elite hitters.  That would be great.  But what non-contender has even one that they would be willing to trade?  And if you could find these two unicorns, what do the Twins have to offer in trade?  Ergo (my high school Latin finally gets used), make every Twin available for trade, see what offers are made, haggle a little, and then decide whether or not to complete the trade.

[Shobae]

37 minutes ago, TNtwins85 said:

Are we just gonna constantly wait for prospects? I get what you’re saying but when you have an elite pitching staff that’s what carry’s you in the playoffs. Trust me I get it. This isn’t close to a juggernaut team. If we had 2 more elite hitters in this lineup then that would be another story. But where are we getting those pieces at as far as prospect returns that will be ready next year? How do we get those returns? Who in this organization are we trading to become a monster team next year? This isn’t MLB The Show or OOTP where you just trade everybody for anybody. There’s so much more that goes into a team than what you see on TV. I’d love to build the ‘98 Yankees but we don’t have the capital in the majors or minors to even come close. So we blow it up and wait 5 years to MAYBE have a juggernaut team? I get it I really do. It’s so very frustrating to watch this team but this is such a sad and tired reductionist statement that gets said here too much. How about we stop beating this dead horse. Throw it in the hole, sprinkle some dirt and say some words. After that let’s come up with some constructive ways to improve this year and not waste this pitching staff.

I agree with some of this, you're certainly right that blowing this up is not the play but I think waiting for prospects is probably the road forward here. I think folks really need to ask themselves if they'd be ok with another 2022 type deadline, where we're watching Steer and Cano be valuable pieces for contenders while the twins have gotten nothing for them. Because any time you make a trade there is also a chance you're going to get fleeced.
Personally, I would try and bring in maybe one or two bullpen rentals and maybe a guy who can hit lefties. This team really isn't worth much more. Since this line up cannot be fixed at the deadline, not with how conservative this FO is. If the line up is going to be good they A need to be more consistent, B need Buxton and Correa to hit and C need to find a solution to their lack of corner OF production internally.
I think the twins need to keep all their promising young guys in place who will be useful in the next 1-3 years, unless they swap them for an area of bigger need. (ala the arreaz-lopez trade)

[terrydactyls]

10 minutes ago, John Belinski said:

Twins have to add a good hitter if they want to go to the playoffs.  They do not need to add a star player just one that can hit maybe .275 and there should be no problem finding a player that can do that.

 

I just did a quick look at MLB.com for players hitting .275 or higher.  I found less than 15 regulars that are on teams that I think will be sellers.  Four are 2B, one is DH only, and two were young players who are not likely to be traded.  That leaves between six and eight players who might be available in a trade.  What do the Twins have in assets to go up against the other 15 or 16 buyers in a bidding war?  

[Major League Ready]

8 hours ago, Walser said:

The '87 team was multiple players away from being World Series contenders too. 

Not sure where you are going with this.  How was the 87 a team cast into contention by deadline additions?  The only additions I can come up with are Joe Niekro who was acquired in early June and produced a modest 1.7 WAR and Don Baylor who produced .4 WAR for the entire season.  Baylor was acquired for a player to be named later that ended up being Enrique Rios who never made it out of A ball.   It would appear the 87 Twins are an example of winning the WS while making only minor (very low cost) additions at the deadline.

[gman]

The Twins need to make room on their roster first, whether they trade for a veteran or bring up guys from the minors.  For teams that are sellers, I seriously doubt anyone would be buying a trade for Gallo or Kepler. There are more players the Twins could trade, but I think anyone else currently on the roster is more valuable. I think the Twins can limp into the playoffs without doing a lot, but it would be better if they can make some progress for next years team too. Which may be backwards, but maybe they can sell their way into the playoffs.

 

[ashbury]

52 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

Don Baylor who produced .4 WAR for the entire season.

He had a memorable impact in the post-season.  Tie-breaker RBI in the first game against Detroit just about pays for itself.  Then there's Game 6 in the World Series.  That's small sample size and no one will claim it was a certainty before it happened.  But it worked out fantastically and I'm glad we got him.

I like to pretend 1988 didn't happen for him, and he capped off a fine career with that performance at the end of '87.

[TNtwins85]

2 hours ago, terrydactyls said:

I cannot think of any constructive move that can salvage 2022 (and I'm not being snarky).  You mentioned that the Twins need two elite hitters.  That would be great.  But what non-contender has even one that they would be willing to trade?  And if you could find these two unicorns, what do the Twins have to offer in trade?  Ergo (my high school Latin finally gets used), make every Twin available for trade, see what offers are made, haggle a little, and then decide whether or not to complete the trade.

So trade our pitchers for prospects? Trade Kiriloff, Kepler, Solano, Castro, and Jeffers for prospects and hope in 2-3 years? Those guys and our pitchers are all I see that anybody would give us anything for. I might be for that if we won 50% of those trades over the long term. Gotta sell that plan to the season ticket holders though.

[terrydactyls]

11 minutes ago, TNtwins85 said:

So trade our pitchers for prospects? Trade Kiriloff, Kepler, Solano, Castro, and Jeffers for prospects and hope in 2-3 years? Those guys and our pitchers are all I see that anybody would give us anything for. I might be for that if we won 50% of those trades over the long term. Gotta sell that plan to the season ticket holders though.

I'll add once again - complete the trade only if the return is better than what you lose.  Sellers are in the driver's seat at the deadline.  

[TNtwins85]

2 hours ago, Shobae said:

I agree with some of this, you're certainly right that blowing this up is not the play but I think waiting for prospects is probably the road forward here. I think folks really need to ask themselves if they'd be ok with another 2022 type deadline, where we're watching Steer and Cano be valuable pieces for contenders while the twins have gotten nothing for them. Because any time you make a trade there is also a chance you're going to get fleeced.
Personally, I would try and bring in maybe one or two bullpen rentals and maybe a guy who can hit lefties. This team really isn't worth much more. Since this line up cannot be fixed at the deadline, not with how conservative this FO is. If the line up is going to be good they A need to be more consistent, B need Buxton and Correa to hit and C need to find a solution to their lack of corner OF production internally.
I think the twins need to keep all their promising young guys in place who will be useful in the next 1-3 years, unless they swap them for an area of bigger need. (ala the arreaz-lopez trade)

They weren’t very conservative last year which is why I think they keep preaching the mantra of waiting for these guys to get hot and don’t say they’re gonna be making changes. I think they’re kinda keeping they’re hand hidden a little bit and if we’re still in this spot at the deadline we see some minor moves for a bat or two. Maybe a bullpen piece. If we’re not in it and they fall flat on they’re face come august I think they’ll trade Gray and any other future FA’s after this year. That’s it though I believe. They’re not rebuilding and they’re not trading any pitchers other than Gray. 

[TNtwins85]

4 minutes ago, terrydactyls said:

I'll add once again - complete the trade only if the return is better than what you lose.  Sellers are in the driver's seat at the deadline.  

I agree. It’s a great year to be a seller for sure. Gotta really have faith in your scouting department to evaluate the guys to go for and even then the most sure prospects are not slam dunks in the end. I’m not sure the FO is willing to put their jobs on the line at this point and pin everything on next year when you have this pitching staff. Also, second half of the year may not be pretty for this pitching staff when a lot of these guys have never thrown that many innings. I think they should plan on next year but that’s putting a lot of faith on next year is all I’m saying, and I don’t see Falvine doing that.  

[Hashim]

6 hours ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

Actually, good point about the 87 team. They had -20 run differential for the year, and they only added Don Baylor at the deadline. He was good, but not Goldschmidt good. Maybe the same thing can happen again :)

Great point. I can’t remember the last time we tried to trade for an impact veteran bat addition. Shannon Stewart is the last one I can remember and he was great. We should trade for more veterans that have playoff experience. Give me Arenado and Goldschmidt. They’d turn us into a top 5/10 offense. 

[Nashvilletwin]

 My fellow TDers, the entire trade deadline discussion is moot.  It presumes we a) have sufficient assets to trade for b) a player or two who can really move the dial.

Here is the sad truth: other than Gray, we do not have a single tradable asset that would bring back a true dial mover. Even a package of players who might be considered to be traded would not bring back much.

Who are the other candidates:

Lewis, Lee, ERod, or Jenkins - not gonna happen.

Wallner, Larnach, Julien - they can’t even beat out Kepler, Gallo, Farmer, Castro or Solano according to our FO; how much could they bring back?

Kepler, Gallo, Polanco, Vasquez - poor play, injury and/or contract.

Correa, Buxton - we could only wish.

Jeffers, Kiriloff - our core part of our next young core.

All other Twins position players or prospects - not enough value in any of them.

Ryan, Lopez, Ober - the core staff for many years to come.

Maeda - not very good and injury risk.

Winder, Varland - critical 2023 depth, decent option value going forward, but not a lot of standalone value.

Festa, Raya, Soto - possible, if we were “one player away”, but we aren’t, so not yet.

All the rest of our pitchers except Jax and Stewart - no value.

Let’s just take the FO’s comments at face value - this will (thankfully) be a boring trade deadline.  We are not good enough to go all in by trading our top prospects and we aren’t deep enough in true prospects or performing major leaguers to make any significant moves. 

 

 

[Elite Benchwarmer]

I'd go all in for Bellinger.  Adding an athletic, power-hitting centerfielder would make a huge difference this year.  They could also really use a quality bullpen addition.

Would the Cubs go for Larnach or Wallner plus maybe our 3rd/4th best pitching prospect? 

Admittedly I'm a Twins optimist, but I think with this pitching staff they can have an impact in the post-season.

[terrydactyls]

10 minutes ago, Nashvilletwin said:

 My fellow TDers, the entire trade deadline discussion is moot.  It presumes we a) have sufficient assets to trade for b) a player or two who can really move the dial.

Here is the sad truth: other than Gray, we do not have a single tradable asset that would bring back a true dial mover. Even a package of players who might be considered to be traded would not bring back much.

Who are the other candidates:

Lewis, Lee, ERod, or Jenkins - not gonna happen.

Wallner, Larnach, Julien - they can’t even beat out Kepler, Gallo, Farmer, Castro or Solano according to our FO; how much could they bring back?

Kepler, Gallo, Polanco, Vasquez - poor play, injury and/or contract.

Correa, Buxton - we could only wish.

Jeffers, Kiriloff - our core part of our next young core.

All other Twins position players or prospects - not enough value in any of them.

Ryan, Lopez, Ober - the core staff for many years to come.

Maeda - not very good and injury risk.

Winder, Varland - critical 2023 depth, decent option value going forward.

Festa, Raya, Soto - possible, if we were “one player away”, but we aren’t, so not yet.

All the rest of our pitchers except Jax and Stewart - no value.

Let’s just take the FO’s comments at face value - this will (thankfully) be a boring trade deadline.  We are not good enough to go all in by trading our top prospects and we aren’t deep enough in true prospects or performing major leaguers to make any significant moves. 

 

 

True Dat!