Rumor: Twins Talking With Nationals About Relievers, Right-Handed Outfield Help

[Brock Beauchamp]

Darren Wolfson tweeted that the Twins have spoken with the Nationals and that Washington has been scouting AAA St Paul.

The Nationals are not only obvious sellers but they have enticing trade targets for the Twins. Washington has the typical stable of decent right-handed relievers that sellers have ready to trade at every deadline but more interestingly, they have Lane Thomas, an arbitration-eligible right-handed outfielder.

Thomas will not be eligible for free agency until after the 2025 season so his price will be considerably more than another rental target like Hunter Renfroe, Teoscar Hernandez, or Andrew McCutchen. Thomas is paid only $2.2 million this season and is having a something of a breakout, posting a 130 OPS+.

More ideally, his 1.016 OPS against left-handed pitching is exactly what this Twins lineup needs right now.

View full rumor

[gman]

I wonder who Washington would be looking at. Williamson & Prato maybe? There is not much on the St Paul pitching side doing well right now, maybe Winder or Headrick. I think the Twins will hang unto Varland pretty tight.

The other side beside Lane, who has mostly played right field this year, Garrett, a righthander, has hit lefties to a 881 ops. On the pitching side Harvey or Finnegan?

[Brett]

Lane Thomas would be fun, but what’s the price? Might it be something on the level of Wallner and SWR? What are their needs?

[Vanimal46]

1 minute ago, gman said:

I wonder who Washington would be looking at. Williamson & Prato maybe? There is not much on the St Paul pitching side doing well right now, maybe Winder or Headrick. I think the Twins will hang unto Varland pretty tight.

The other side beside Lane, who has mostly played right field this year, Garrett, a righthander, has hit lefties to a 881 ops. On the pitching side Harvey or Finnegan?

I was wondering about that as well. Celestino may be on their list too. Besides that, not too many position players are in St. Paul and fits their rebuild timeline. 

[MGX]

Lane Thomas would be a great addition. Like everyone else just wonder about the cost.

On the reliever side the pitcher I'd want is Hunter Harvey, but he's currently on the IL so don't think that's it. The other effective pitchers they have all seem to have walk issues, which the Twins tend to shy away from.

[JD-TWINS]

45 minutes ago, Brett said:

Lane Thomas would be fun, but what’s the price? Might it be something on the level of Wallner and SWR? What are their needs?

Doesn’t seem with Wallner’s relative success in ‘23 that it makes sense moving him for a corner OF. (btw - just hit his 3rd HR of the Seattle series) …..maybe Larnach & SW & ???Miranda - Celestino are always available, with major league experience.

Lane Thomas seems solid!

Does anybody pay attention to the fact that Teoscar is leading the league in strikeouts? We do not need more of that!!!

Brad Hand - Michael Fulmer are veteran experienced guys for a stretch run …….not sure about the particulars on guys with Washington?

[JD-TWINS]

58 minutes ago, Brett said:

Lane Thomas would be fun, but what’s the price? Might it be something on the level of Wallner and SWR? What are their needs?

Lane Thomas for SWR - Winder - Celestino…..is that enough?

The more I see our club in the 2nd half, the more I think we need 3 upgrades in the Pen & we’ll be fine!!! No outfield add. Watching the Mariner/Twins game this afternoon…,,,,,BTW Vazquez has contributed in every game played for last 4 or 5…..that helps!

After a trade, Lane Thomas makes the play-off roster for sure…….Wallner-Castro-Kepler as well

Lewis/Farmer - CC - Julien/Polanco - Kirilloff/Solano

Vazquez/Jeffers

No room for Gallo - Taylor - Buxton on playoff roster. 2 of them - maybe 3 of them could play through September on expanded roster.

Maybe need to sacrifice Solano for Taylor?

No back-up CF or no back-up 1B? I guess Farmer could play 1B in a pinch. Either way Buxton seems out in October. Hard to imagine. Gallo too!

To me, the obvious move to create enough roster space in October is to trade Polanco by the deadline or after the deadline to someone wanting him for future & depth.

Take Thomas out of the mix and it’s still a roster dilemma!

[gunnarthor]

Just looking at a few articles out there, Rizzo is calling him an all-star (great posturing) but his babip is pretty high and, realistically, he's going to regress. I wonder if the Nats can get a top 100 prospect for him. If that's what they are holding onto, I don't think we should do it. And our resistance to playing Wallner probably hasn't gone unnoticed around the league. Not sure who the Nats would want to focus on.

[chpettit19]

Lane Thomas would be a really nice piece to add, but if he's going to cost in accordance with his current production instead of his previous, and likely more realistic performance, I'm not sure I'd be willing to make that deal. Harvey and Finnegan are ok relievers, but nothing I'd be willing to give up much of anything for. Certainly worth talking with the Nats, but not sure I'm willing to give up much at all for the pieces they have available.

[clone52]

2 hours ago, JD-TWINS said:

Lane Thomas for SWR - Winder - Celestino…..is that enough?

The more I see our club in the 2nd half, the more I think we need 3 upgrades in the Pen & we’ll be fine!!! No outfield add. Watching the Mariner/Twins game this afternoon…,,,,,BTW Vazquez has contributed in every game played for last 4 or 5…..that helps!

After a trade, Lane Thomas makes the play-off roster for sure…….Wallner-Castro-Kepler as well

Lewis/Farmer - CC - Julien/Polanco - Kirilloff/Solano

Vazquez/Jeffers

No room for Gallo - Taylor - Buxton on playoff roster. 2 of them - maybe 3 of them could play through September on expanded roster.

Maybe need to sacrifice Solano for Taylor?

No back-up CF or no back-up 1B? I guess Farmer could play 1B in a pinch. Either way Buxton seems out in October. Hard to imagine. Gallo too!

To me, the obvious move to create enough roster space in October is to trade Polanco by the deadline or after the deadline to someone wanting him for future & depth.

Take Thomas out of the mix and it’s still a roster dilemma!

Interesting.  More than likely, someone will be hurt, so it'll work itself out.  If Buxton isn't hurt, they won't leave him off.  Granted, I'm assuming he's this bad of a hitter the rest of the year.

I think Taylor probably makes it, just for late inning defense.

I think Julien or Polanco could also play 1B.

Maybe Farmer is left off.  Might depend on matchups.  If they face a team with a bunch of LHP, that might change thing.

[TNtwins85]

2 hours ago, Bigfork Twins Guy said:

Makes sense to trade a LH OF for a RH OF.  Either Wallner or Larnach since there is no way that they entertain taking Gallo even if we paid the remainder of his salary and Kepler only has one more year and is older.  I suspect Washington is looking for youth to rebuild around.  I'd be OK with SWR but not Varland.

I would trade Wallner and Larnach along with any other prospects not named Lee just to not have to watch Gallo strike out every 30 AB’s this year.

[Parfigliano]

4 hours ago, JD-TWINS said:

Lane Thomas for SWR - Winder - Celestino…..is that enough?

The more I see our club in the 2nd half, the more I think we need 3 upgrades in the Pen & we’ll be fine!!! No outfield add. Watching the Mariner/Twins game this afternoon…,,,,,BTW Vazquez has contributed in every game played for last 4 or 5…..that helps!

After a trade, Lane Thomas makes the play-off roster for sure…….Wallner-Castro-Kepler as well

Lewis/Farmer - CC - Julien/Polanco - Kirilloff/Solano

Vazquez/Jeffers

No room for Gallo - Taylor - Buxton on playoff roster. 2 of them - maybe 3 of them could play through September on expanded roster.

Maybe need to sacrifice Solano for Taylor?

No back-up CF or no back-up 1B? I guess Farmer could play 1B in a pinch. Either way Buxton seems out in October. Hard to imagine. Gallo too!

To me, the obvious move to create enough roster space in October is to trade Polanco by the deadline or after the deadline to someone wanting him for future & depth.

Take Thomas out of the mix and it’s still a roster dilemma!

I'd love to see it but I dont see Buxton being "out".

[jorgenswest]

Lane Thomas has an xWOBA a little lower than Kepler and Gallo. He is an extreme buy high with a BABIP much higher than his career norm. His xSLG would rank 14th on the Twins. His hard hit and barrels rate is almost an extract match to Farmer. I trust those statcast numbers to predict the rest of the season better than the slash stats. The Nationals would be wise to sell in spite of his years of control. I hope the Twins stay away.

[insagt1]

The Nats organization right now does not have stellar pitching, with not much in the pipeline for the forseeable future. At AAA Rochester, just about every pitcher has an ERA of 5.00 or over. Any gem on the big club is probably not available. I'd go fishing in different waters.

[dxpavelka]

9 hours ago, JD-TWINS said:

Doesn’t seem with Wallner’s relative success in ‘23 that it makes sense moving him for a corner OF. (btw - just hit his 3rd HR of the Seattle series) …..maybe Larnach & SW & ???Miranda - Celestino are always available, with major league experience.

Lane Thomas seems solid!

Does anybody pay attention to the fact that Teoscar is leading the league in strikeouts? We do not need more of that!!!

Brad Hand - Michael Fulmer are veteran experienced guys for a stretch run …….not sure about the particulars on guys with Washington?

There you go.  If Teoscar is leading the league in strikeouts and NOT playing for us that's a problem that needs to get fixed.  We can't expect Joey Gallo to set the league team strikeout record by himself.....

[Doctor Wu]

17 hours ago, JD-TWINS said:

Lane Thomas for SWR - Winder - Celestino…..is that enough?

The more I see our club in the 2nd half, the more I think we need 3 upgrades in the Pen & we’ll be fine!!! No outfield add. Watching the Mariner/Twins game this afternoon…,,,,,BTW Vazquez has contributed in every game played for last 4 or 5…..that helps!

After a trade, Lane Thomas makes the play-off roster for sure…….Wallner-Castro-Kepler as well

Lewis/Farmer - CC - Julien/Polanco - Kirilloff/Solano

Vazquez/Jeffers

No room for Gallo - Taylor - Buxton on playoff roster. 2 of them - maybe 3 of them could play through September on expanded roster.

Maybe need to sacrifice Solano for Taylor?

No back-up CF or no back-up 1B? I guess Farmer could play 1B in a pinch. Either way Buxton seems out in October. Hard to imagine. Gallo too!

To me, the obvious move to create enough roster space in October is to trade Polanco by the deadline or after the deadline to someone wanting him for future & depth.

Take Thomas out of the mix and it’s still a roster dilemma!

I think both Taylor and Solano have value to our club. Gallo, not so much. Kepler is looking like a keeper all of a sudden, so Gallo is about the only one I would dump at this point. 

[mikelink45]

I am not concerned about losing players like Celestino, Miranda, Gallo (Pay them to take him), SWR, Sands, Winder, Larnach, Kepler, Stevenson... but we are probably overrating Lane and I fear we will do what we did with Lopez last year and buy into a strong start only to get a bad finish. 

[old nurse]

Who is in St Paul that has not been in MLB.

Funderburk

Prato

Bechtold

Carmargo

Helman

Williams

 

If they take a fixer upper

SWR

Miranda

Martin

 

One out of the first group, one out of the second and lower minor lottery tickets, likely to be pitchers.. I would also suspect it would take 2 of the first list, especially if they can offload one of their underperforming corner outfielders.

[2wins87]

17 hours ago, Bigfork Twins Guy said:

Makes sense to trade a LH OF for a RH OF.  Either Wallner or Larnach since there is no way that they entertain taking Gallo even if we paid the remainder of his salary and Kepler only has one more year and is older.  I suspect Washington is looking for youth to rebuild around.  I'd be OK with SWR but not Varland.

Yeah the nationals have no need for Gallo or Kepler, but it's hard to see how the Twins would add another corner bat without moving one of them some other way.  Buxton will have to be re-activated for tomorrow's game (I think the transaction actually has to happen today technically) and Larnach will be sent down.  If Polanco is also activated this weekend as expected, and neither Gallo or Kepler is moved, it's hard to see how Wallner doesn't lose his mlb roster spot.

Personally, I would be taking the best offer on Joey Gallo ASAP.  I'm very comfortable with Wallner being able to at the very least replicate Gallo's production, with Larnach as a decent enough backup.  I could also see a three team trade developing with either Gallo or Kepler involved.  I'm asking for a lot for Wallner, but definitely listening to offers for Larnach.

[LA Vikes Fan]

Lane Thomas could be a good get depending on who we have to trade and I would love to see them target Kyle Finnegan for the bullpen. To get a pcakage like that takes something like Larnach, Varland, and Winder according to BTV. Finnegan alone costs Larnach plus someone like SWR. Both a little rich for my blood. 

I would trade Larnach, SWR, and either Headrick or Winder for those two or maybe Thomas plus Jordon Weems. Willing to add in another lower level pitcher other than Festa or Raya to get Thomas and Finnegan. Don't forget, Gallo, MAT and maybe Kepler are all gone next year so we need OFs, although I suspect Kepler will be retained. Thomas makes a lot of sense and Finnegan or Weems could be the bridge we need to Duran this year. Both Finnegan and Weems have multiple years of control left as well.  I just would want to hang on to Varland, Festa, and Raya. 

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

Am I the only person who cringes whenever a fly ball is hit to Wallner?

[dxpavelka]

49 minutes ago, 2wins87 said:

Yeah the nationals have no need for Gallo or Kepler, but it's hard to see how the Twins would add another corner bat without moving one of them some other way.  Buxton will have to be re-activated for tomorrow's game (I think the transaction actually has to happen today technically) and Larnach will be sent down.  If Polanco is also activated this weekend as expected, and neither Gallo or Kepler is moved, it's hard to see how Wallner doesn't lose his mlb roster spot.

Personally, I would be taking the best offer on Joey Gallo ASAP.  I'm very comfortable with Wallner being able to at the very least replicate Gallo's production, with Larnach as a decent enough backup.  I could also see a three team trade developing with either Gallo or Kepler involved.  I'm asking for a lot for Wallner, but definitely listening to offers for Larnach.

If you think the bag of donuts we'd get offered for Gallo would help us I'd do it.  However, it MIGHT be fun to see him break the team strikeout record...

[2wins87]

22 minutes ago, dxpavelka said:

If you think the bag of donuts we'd get offered for Gallo would help us I'd do it.  However, it MIGHT be fun to see him break the team strikeout record...

The value of trading Gallo would be in opening the roster spot, not any additional help at the mlb level this year.  I could see him bringing back a minor league relief prospect, the quality depending on how much salary they eat. 

But there are teams that would be interested in Gallo.  Basically any team that is looking at Bellinger (other than the Yankees) would probably consider Gallo as a fall back.  These comments from the Astro's GM definitely make it sound like Gallo could fit the bill.

[twinfan]

How about getting Canderario to solve third base? Let's see if we can put a package together for both.

And let's give Ryan a rest of 6-7 days to get back to his first half success.

 

[nicksaviking]

I guess I don't get all the Lane Thomas hype. He's hit well most of this year, but for his career, he's really average, yet I see people talking about giving up Wallner for him? Wallner already looks like he could be the better player, yet Thomas would be getting the short end of whomever he's platooning with. I'm not giving up anything of use for a platoon guy who's starting twice a week.

And for anyone thinking his early 2023 season is an omen of things to come and not an outlier of an otherwise nondescript career, his OPS is back below .700 this month; it already looks like he's reverting to his career norms.

[RpR]

1 hour ago, Twins_Fan_in_NJ said:

Am I the only person who cringes whenever a fly ball is hit to Wallner?

NO.

[Mike Sixel]

3 minutes ago, twinfan said:

How about getting Canderario to solve third base? Let's see if we can put a package together for both.

And let's give Ryan a rest of 6-7 days to get back to his first half success.

 

Lewis and Polanco will play 3B.....they aren't trading for a 3B. They clearly see those two as this year's 3B going forward. 

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

2 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Lewis and Polanco will play 3B.....they aren't trading for a 3B. They clearly see those two as this year's 3B going forward. 

Not to mention, I think Candelario will wind up being a reasonably hot commodity over the next couple of days and one that the Twins would be foolish to overpay for.

[clone52]

16 hours ago, jorgenswest said:

Lane Thomas has an xWOBA a little lower than Kepler and Gallo. He is an extreme buy high with a BABIP much higher than his career norm. His xSLG would rank 14th on the Twins. His hard hit and barrels rate is almost an extract match to Farmer. I trust those statcast numbers to predict the rest of the season better than the slash stats. The Nationals would be wise to sell in spite of his years of control. I hope the Twins stay away.

What are his statcast numbers against lefties?

[jorgenswest]

2 hours ago, clone52 said:

What are his statcast numbers against lefties?

His BABIP against lefties this year is .411. Last year it was .279 against lefties.