Reviewing 5 Top Twins Prospects the Team May Be Willing to Trade

[Cody Christie]

The Twins' front office has been vocal about the team being buyers with the looming trade deadline. Let's review the club's top prospects to see which young players might be included in a deal.

Image courtesy of Ed Bailey, Wichita Wind Surge (Photo of Marco Raya)

On most national lists, Brooks Lee and Walker Jenkins are the organization's top two prospects, with Emmanuel Rodriguez not far behind. Royce Lewis only recently graduated from prospect status, or he'd also rank near the top of the list. It seems unlikely for the Twins to include any of these young players in a deal unless they are making a blockbuster trade. Jenkins isn't allowed to be traded this soon after the team drafted him. Outside of those players, here's a look at other top Twins prospects that might find themselves in other organizations by the week’s end. 

Marco Raya, RHP
TD Prospect Rank: 4
Raya is arguably the team's top pitching prospect, and he's pitched well up to this point in his professional career. In 2023, he began the season in Cedar Rapids and posted a 2.94 ERA with a 0.92 WHIP and 10.4 K/9. He was over three years younger than the average age of the competition in the Midwest League, making his performance even more impressive. Minnesota continued to be aggressive with him and pushed him to Double-A. In four starts (12 IP), he has allowed 11 earned runs with a 1.33 WHIP. The Twins have been very careful with Raya's innings, and he might only be traded if the team acquires one of the top available trade pieces. 

Matt Wallner, OF
TD Prospect Rank: 5
Wallner destroyed Triple-A pitching in 2023 (.927 OPS) after being the team's Minor League Player of the Year last season. Minnesota kept him in St. Paul even though the club's offense struggled, and he continued to perform well. He's made his way back to the big leagues, but the club has a plethora of left-handed hitting corner outfield options. Minnesota has been fielding calls about their lefties, and it is likely for one of them to be traded from the group that includes Wallner, Trevor Larnach, Joey Gallo, and Max Kepler. 

David Festa, RHP
TD Prospect Rank: 7
Festa was the organization's representative during the 2023 MLB Futures Game after a tremendous 2022 season. Last year, he posted a 2.43 ERA with a 1.09 WHIP and 9.4 K/9 in 103 2/3 innings. In 2023, the Twins sent him to Double-A, and he allowed 37 earned runs over 64 2/3 innings. He is giving up too much contact this season, which is hurting him, but he's posted increased strikeout totals (11.7 K/9). Festa is the type of player this front office might trade since they drafted him late (13th round) and improved his stock over the last three seasons. 

Austin Martin, IF/OF
TD Prospect Rank: 8
Martin is a very intriguing name for the Twins to consider trading. His stock has dropped since the Twins acquired him as part of the Jose Berrios trade, but other teams might continue to see value in his skillset. An elbow injury has limited his 2023 season, and he posted a .576 OPS with the Saints in 18 games. Teams interested in him will want a long look at his medicals before making a deal, so it isn't likely for him to be traded before the deadline. 

Tanner Schobel, IF
TD Prospect Rank: 10 
The Twins thought highly of Schobel and drafted him in the second round of the 2022 MLB Draft. During his professional debut, he hit .237/.353/.298 (.651) with five extra-base hits and a 26-to-19 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Minnesota bumped him up to High-A to begin 2023, and his bat responded. In 77 games, he posted an .859 OPS with ten doubles, one triple, and 14 home runs. He's been a threat on the base paths by going 9-for-10 in stolen base attempts. The Twins promoted him to Double-A earlier in July, so he's getting closer to the big leagues. The Twins might want to include him in a deal similar to last year when the team traded Spencer Steer and Christian Encarnacion-Strand after seeing their stock rise. 

Will the Twins trade any prospects currently ranking in Twins Daily's top 10? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. 

View full article

[Brandon]

This article is pretty accurate.  I agree the Twins won’t trade their top prospects.  This could be an interesting trade deadline or a big nothing burger.  We will know soon one way or the other.  

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

Other than Festa who may be a sell high candidater - Raya is unlikely as has potential to be #2/#3 pitcher and with health concerns likely wouldn't get the return.  The medicals and poor performance would be hindering Martin as well.  Likely won't make any big splash anyway,  so no prospects in the top 10 are likely traded.  

[mikelink45]

The last two - Martin and Schobel are the only ones that make sense.  We will be losing Gray, have no idea what Paddock will be, may lose Maeda - we need the pitchers.  Since Sands and Winder have flopped that position is open for them too.  I would be disappointed if we trade Wallner.  He is what they hoped Gallo would be.  

[JD-TWINS]

Larnach or Wallner, pick one, they both have upside & deficiencies. Wallner seems to carry more power but less chance to cut strikeouts. Not by much though on the strikeouts.

Larnach - Miranda - Martin - Scoebel - Headrick - Moran - Winder - SS prospects down into A ball - etc.…….. I’d trade any 3 of these guys together for a solid reliever with some control over a couple years.

Headrick may be the guy I’m looking for but we don’t know because the organization thinks we need to keep him stretched out, where he may never throw an MLB inking the rest of the year - crazy!

[Dman]

The Twins don't have a particularly strong system to trade from and the team itself isn't really a player or two away from being an elite team.  I mean they just got swept by the Royals.  If I were them I would sell where it makes sense or make deals to make them stronger in 2024 but 2023 looks like they will be lucky to stay around .500.  I wouldn't make moves that jeopardize any elite talent they might have on the farm especially on rentals.

 

[Patzky]

1 hour ago, Brandon said:

This article is pretty accurate.  I agree the Twins won’t trade their top prospects.  This could be an interesting trade deadline or a big nothing burger.  We will know soon one way or the other.  

The Rays just traded one of their top prospects to Cleveland in exchange for SP Civale. Win now.

[Twinsoholic]

I would think that Severino would be one of the top 5 prospects on the list. He has been ripping apart AA pitching as Jeremy notes in a recent article. 

[Devilsadvocate]

1 hour ago, Twinsoholic said:

I would think that Severino would be one of the top 5 prospects on the list. He has been ripping apart AA pitching as Jeremy notes in a recent article. 

Believe he's also Rule 5 eligible after the season as well

[tony&rodney]

The only trades that will help the Twins are big splashes and that seems unlikely. They may be content to roll with the guys they had in the system from the beginning of the year.

[weitz41]

other than dealing a few borderline 40-man players for 2023 Why part with anyone with years of control?. The Twins should be looking at platoon bats and BP help. Any of those shouldn't cost that much unless there's years of control attached. wasted ammo after that..

[Rik19753]

5 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

The last two - Martin and Schobel are the only ones that make sense.  We will be losing Gray, have no idea what Paddock will be, may lose Maeda - we need the pitchers.  Since Sands and Winder have flopped that position is open for them too.  I would be disappointed if we trade Wallner.  He is what they hoped Gallo would be.  

Have Sands and Winder really got their chances though? Sands still hasn't topped 50 innings in the majors and his stuff looks legit. He's posted some excellent numbers in AAA this year and is still only 25. Winder was a serviceable starter only a year ago in his rookie season. They haven't been world-beaters, but I think it's much too early to say they "flopped". 

[tony&rodney]

2 minutes ago, Rik19753 said:

Have Sands and Winder really got their chances though? Sands still hasn't topped 50 innings in the majors and his stuff looks legit. He's posted some excellent numbers in AAA this year and is still only 25. Winder was a serviceable starter only a year ago in his rookie season. They haven't been world-beaters, but I think it's much too early to say they "flopped". 

I can agree with this, although I must also admit that neither has been impressive. Trade Gray, Maeda, and others to try to get someone potentially useful. Of course, there may not be a market for either/any of the Twins right now.

[mikelink45]

42 minutes ago, Rik19753 said:

Have Sands and Winder really got their chances though? Sands still hasn't topped 50 innings in the majors and his stuff looks legit. He's posted some excellent numbers in AAA this year and is still only 25. Winder was a serviceable starter only a year ago in his rookie season. They haven't been world-beaters, but I think it's much too early to say they "flopped". 

Unless the Twins change their use and they light up the mound, I have no other word for their performance. 

[DJL44]

2 hours ago, Devilsadvocate said:

Believe he's also Rule 5 eligible after the season as well

That full list includes Severino, Camargo, Chris Williams, Bechtold, Prato, Martin, Laweryson, Funderburk, Kiersey, Salas, Hidalgo and Regi Grace. That's the group they're selling hard.

[Karbo]

Looks like Cleveland is willing to coast the rest of the year after trading Civale. Can't see much sense in trading any top prospects for rentals this year. Even if they make the playoffs I don't see them going far. Probably time to look to the future, when they can shed some of the dead weight like Gallo and hopefully get Buxton back in the field.

[Doctor Gast]

For what we need, I wouldn't trade any of those above. The trade I'd like to see is to find a contending team that that needs a veteran LH bat & dump Gallo for RH bat that can rip lefties. Maybe a Festa for a decent high leverage RP to take the pressure off of Duran. But I expect another nothing burger.

[JD-TWINS]

Don’t think Twins can afford to trade anymore pitching away.

Scobel - Wallner - Larnach - Miranda - Martin can all be up for grabs for the right relief arm.