Which of the Defending Champions' Available Pitchers Could Twins Trade For?

[Cody Pirkl]

With the Twins likely to look for more pitching depth at this year’s trade deadline, the defending world champs seem like a great match. What arms could the Texas Rangers have to offer, in whom the Twins may be interested?

Image courtesy of © Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

The Twins should certainly beef up their bullpen, and adding an impact starting pitcher could also be possible under the right circumstances. The Texas Rangers have options for either need, and they do appear to be in sell mode. Who would be the most impactful arms the teams could swap?

David Robertson
Robertson continues to resist any ill effects of aging, as he’s posting an ERA right around 3.00 at 39 years old. His strikeout rate is his best since 2017. His walk rate is his best since 2015. He’s limiting homers at his best rate since 2013. Robertson is having a remarkable season, and any team acquiring him would get a decorated, high-leverage option for the stretch run.

Of course, Robertson’s performance will result in an inflated price tag, even with the right-hander set to become a free agent this offseason. It’s hard to say what types of players the Rangers would be looking for in return. They themselves notably acquired closer Aroldis Chapman at last year’s deadline for Cole Ragans, who is now one of the best starting pitchers in the AL Central. Does it cost the Twins one of their emerging arms dominating Double-A, such as Andrew Morris or Cory Lewis? It will likely be a bidding war for Robertson’s services, and the Twins may have to decide how much they’re willing to give up for an impact addition to the bullpen.

Kirby Yates
Yates is a decorated veteran in his own right, though most of his success before 2024 came as far back as 2019 with the Padres. Now 37 years old, Yates is striking out nearly 36% of opposing hitters and has yet to allow a homer, through 31 innings. His 0.86 ERA may not be sustainable, but all of his peripherals tell the story of a dominant reliever who can round out a shutdown bullpen.

Yates likely won’t come cheaply, per se, but his struggles before this season should make him more affordable than Robertson. With Yates similarly set to become a free agent, perhaps this is a situation where the Twins can dangle a controllable bat with no path to MLB, such as Yunior Severino. Yates would be a trustworthy setup-caliber reliever in the same tier as Jorge Alcalá, if not slightly ahead of him in the pecking order.

Nathan Eovaldi
Eovaldi’s name hasn’t been directly stated as a possibility to be traded. Still, with the Rangers set to deal so many other pitchers, including starters such as Andrew Heaney, it’s fair to suspect they’d be willing to listen. Eovaldi continues to strike out about a batter per inning, with limited walks and homers. Even at age 34, his fastball sits just under 96 mph.

In addition to potentially shoring up the regular-season rotation, Eovaldi has been a versatile force during the postseason. In almost 80 innings pitched, Eovaldi holds a 3.05 career ERA in the playoffs. He’s developed a reputation as a big game pitcher in October, pitching out of the rotation and the bullpen en route to two World Series rings.

The question with Eovaldi will be the price. His contract includes a vesting player option if he throws a combined 300 innings between 2023 and 2024. After throwing 144 innings last season and 87 so far in 2024, reaching that mark is still possible.

The uncertainty of 2025 for Eovaldi makes pricing a trade almost impossible, without context that the Twins will undoubtedly do some research on. Does Eovaldi want to test the market again, even if his $20-million player option kicks in? Does Twins ownership want to risk adding that much payroll in 2025 to a team they may be looking to shed even more from? 

Max Scherzer
Set to be arguably the best rental pitcher on the market, Scherzer will likely be headed to a new team for the second trade deadline in a row, despite plenty of question marks in his age-39 season.

Scherzer began the season on the IL with a nerve issue in his shoulder and neck, and hasn’t looked like the first-ballot Hall of Famer he is in his brief time back. A 92.6-mph average on the fastball is the lowest mark of his career, as is his 17.7% strikeout rate. Scherzer appears to be in the twilight of his career, but it’s hard to say a contender has no space for him.

The Mets are still paying most of Scherzer’s contract, and an acquiring team would only be on the hook for a prorated share of $12.5 million. The bidding could explode if he shows a glimpse of his dominant self in the next few starts. It’s fair to wonder how much the Twins should give up for a pitcher who carries so much injury and performance risk, but it’s easy to argue that they should be involved in the bidding process.

Are there any other Texas Rangers the Twins should have an eye on as the team begins to lean toward selling? What do you think of Heaney or Michael Lorenzen as alternatives to the above? Are all of these older arms too much of an injury risk? Let us know below!

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[laloesch]

no thanks to all of them.

[Doctor Gast]

I'm willing to trade away Gonzales who IMO has topped out as far as trade value & will be trending downhill & he has no path to our MLB team. He should bring someone interesting, All these bring some risk & a steep price tag. I really don't think we need a RHRP even if it's a Robertson or a Yates. Eovaldi & Scherzer's post-season experience is tempting. I think Scherzer has a no-trade clause that I believe he'll use against any MN offers.

[NYCTK]

Guy I kinda want is Lorenzen. Still disappointed we didn't sign him in the off-season and our complete lack of SP depth still terrifies me. SWR has been great but is also already approaching his previous high workload. What's our plan if he hits a wall? Or Paddack for that matter? Festa isn't ready and Varland doesn't have it. Boushley? Dobnak?

[Patzky]

Still think a Fedde rental would be more doable than anything here financially and logically. We will get a look today weather permitting. Guess letting Maeda go was the right move after all..

 

The Orioles will be all over these Texas guys anyways and they're the sexy pick..

[tony&rodney]

Robertson would be a nice addition but I don't believe the Rangers are selling. They have a solid nucleus of position players with a decent chance that their starting pitching will improve. Their September schedule looks favorable.

A team will need to overpay to pry away one of the players discussed.

[Trov]

Texas is not selling in my opinion.  They are 5.5 out of their division race and 7 out of wild card.  They just won a WS last year and have a team built to win in playoffs.  They may even buy at the deadline if anything.  They spent a ton of money last few years to keep winning not selling and rebuilding.  Even the guys that are FA at end of year they are not likely to trade away unless it is for MLB ready talent now or very soon. 

[CCHOF5yearstoolate]

Eovaldi is the only name that really intrigues me. Robertson would be a good addition to the pen, and maybe he could be had for a couple of flier prospects like the Marlins traded for him last year. 

[DJL44]

Texas is expecting to add Mahle and deGrom to the rotation soon so they have the ability to deal away a starting pitcher or two without affecting their rotation depth. I think they will be motivated to dump $15M worth of salary and get under the luxury tax threshold. I think Scherzer, Lorenzen and Robertson will be gone at the deadline. They would still have Eovaldi, deGrom, Mahle, Gray, Heaney and Dunning for the rotation.

[CRF]

Maybe we can get Mahle back? The guy was just awesome in a Twins uni!🤪

[jimbo92107]

I'd be tempted to get Scherzer just to mentor Louie Varland in AAA. The similarities in mechanics are close enough, maybe Max could give Louie a few key tips...

[LambchoP]

Would be great to get Eovaldi, especially if the rangers agree to eat some of his salary. Robertson would be a nice upgrade to our bullpen, but I think we need a lefty more than righties. Theilbar has looked better lately, but I've got little to no trust in Funderburk or Okert in close games.

[LA Vikes Fan]

Two targets interest me, depending on the price. IF we actually could get Kirby Yates for a "blocked prospect like Severino, I would do that in a heartbeat. Severino is very unlikely to ever be seen in a Twins uniform barring a whole bunch of injuries. He is exactly the type of player we should be looking to deal. Keirsey may fall into that same category unfortunately, although I would like to see him get a shot with the Twins. I just don't see how that can happen this year with Buxton, Kepler, Larnach, Margot, Martin, and now Wallner ahead of him, not to mention Castro who may need an OF spot next year as Lee and Miranda squeeze him out of the IF. Keirsey deserves his shot this year or next and I just don't see him getting that with the Twins unless Larnach or Wallner is traded., Frankly, he would be a perfect trade candidate to a weaker team like the Marlins for BP help. 

The other guy is Michael Lorenzen. Could be a good #3 or #4 starter for the rest of the year. The Twins have been incredibly lucky not to have any significant injuries in the starting rotation. That probably is not going to last for the rest of the season. Moreover, I think the wheels are going to come off at some point for either Paddack or SWR, or even both, since they just haven't pitched the kind of innings in the last couple years that suggest they can take the ball every fifth day for the next 2 1/2 months. SWR can go to AAA or Paddack to the BP to create a rotation spot if we don't have an injury. 

Both Lorenzen and Yates have affordable $4.5 million contracts for the season, so the Twins would only be on the hook for 2 to 2.1 million depending on when they were acquired. Both would be good gets at that kind of price IMHO.

 

[dex8425]

I would love Lorenzen, Jon Gray or Scherzer. I don't think adding a pen arm is going to be worth it. 

[CRF]

I'd be really surprised if Tx decides to sell off some of their pitchers/players. That team isn't far off a playoff spot and they're still loaded with talent. They also have a HOF manager who knows his way around the block. They could crush the 2nd half and blow right by everyone else in that div. If for some reason they want to dump pitchers, I'd be most interested in Yates, Robertson, or Lorenzen. We should've signed Lorenzen when we had the chance anyway. 

[JD-TWINS]

My assumption is that when Mahle - deGrom come back they don’t have room in their 26-man for all the bodies and the guys currently on the staff are not guys with remaining options. They have $$$ or they wouldn’t have all the salaries they already carry. Therefore, trading Eovaldi isn’t an option for remainder of this year nor for next, as I’m sure that they hope he’ll opt in!

Obviously, they could cut some lower Pen guys or maybe there are options with the Pen? Seems to me that Lorenzen makes most sense for Twins both prospect capital and $$ wise. They’ll have to pay 1/3 of his salary ($1.5M) and won’t need to give up anything too significant - but there may be some competition for his services. Lorenzen is essentially a polished Louie Varland. He started in Pen with Cincinnati and worked his way out over 3-4 years. He’s about a 4.00 ERA guy that’s pretty durable. He could be a Pen weapon in October and could give the Team 7 of 9 good starts over last 2 months.

Texas will remain thinking they are just a 6 game win streak away from competing for their Division crown. They could still win that Division with their talent!

[JD-TWINS]

Sounds like Stewart should be back on roster by 7/31……Topa has thrown in bullpen and my assumption is (with good knee) they should be able to evaluate him and he could be (if effective stuff) back by 8/10…..,that’s another month of getting ready to go……reasonable?

If Stewart looks good and Topa is progressing and checking boxes, I don’t see any moves for relief help! ……..Varland and Paddack coming by mid to late September as well.

Again, a Lorenzen type may help push/pull the starting group through September.

[Patzky]

On 7/10/2024 at 8:29 AM, laloesch said:

no thanks to all of them.

I've seen enough local guys. We don't need to shop in NY or Texas. Fedde, Flaherty, guys who can beat the Guardians. Shop local keep it in the Central!

[Vanimal46]

A little over a week later, the Rangers are 7 games out of a wild card spot, 5 games back in their division. Houston and Seattle are likely to be big buyers at the deadline. I don’t think the Rangers catch either one of them, and should sell…

The Twins need a bulldog starter that’s been there, done that in the playoffs. Nathan Eovaldi is that bulldog. 

Playoff resume:

17 games, 12 starts, 9-3 record, 3.05 ERA in nearly 80 IP. 

He would need around 70 more IP in the regular season to hit the $20 million vesting option in 2025. Not sure if he gets there. Top of the head math, he’s owed around $9 million the rest of the year. That’s the hurdle, which could be overcome.