Roster Crunched But Needing Upgrades, Twins Could Shop These Names This Week

[Ted Schwerzler]

Adding talent at the MLB trade deadline is well and good. It's crucial that a contending team needing to finish strongly in order to establish playoff position be an active buyer. For the Minnesota Twins, though, this season's deadline additions will have to come with some 40-man roster pruning.

 

Image courtesy of © Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

As things stand, Rocco Baldelli’s club is in the thick of an AL Central race. They are seeking an opportunity to repeat as division champions, and while the Cleveland Guardians' schedule gets tough down the stretch, the Twins need reinforcements to track them down.

The lineup is in a good place for the Twins, and it should only get better as Minnesota gets healthier. Royce Lewis and José Miranda will return this weekend, and Carlos Correa could be fairly close behind them. With a couple of additional options at Triple-A, there is little reason or room to add a bat. Pitching is a different story, though. They do need more depth on that side of the roster, but finding room for that upgrade is difficult.

Derek Falvey has a full 40-man roster, and more than a handful of big-leaguers are on the injured list. Justin Topa will eventually need to come off the 60-day injured list, and players like Kyle Farmer or Alex Kirilloff could get healthy and become options, as well. Wherever possible, then, the Twins have to look for ways to trade players at the back end of their current 40-man roster over the next six days. Here is a list of theoretical candidates.

Matt Wallner
A rumored trade candidate for weeks while he mashed on the farm, Wallner going now would be a more difficult sell. He has returned to the big-league lineup and been an asset. With Max Kepler's free agency looming and Wallner's bat hot, a trade of the young slugger feels unlikely, but teams will certainly be asking about him.

Alex Kirilloff
Currently on the injured list with a back issue, Kirilloff doesn't have much of a future with the Twins. The relationship between both sides here can’t be in a great place, and a change of scenery could be beneficial for everyone involved. The value isn’t going to be substantial, but freeing up the roster spot would be valuable, in itself.

Yunior Severino
After showing enough high-minors thump to earn a roster spot last season, Severino was abysmal to start the year. He has since turned it around, and owns an .806 OPS on the season for Triple-A St. Paul. There's big power potential here, if he can hit enough to get to it. Severino is a first baseman, and not great with the glove. There isn’t room for him with the Twins at that position this season, and he could be passed over next year, as well. With significant team control left, though, and at just 24 years old, he could appeal widely to sellers looking to rebuild their offense.

Josh Winder
Previously debuting as a starter two years ago, and then working out of the bullpen last year, Winder's career has been a mixed bag. He was hurt to start the season, and he hasn’t been great at any level. His value isn’t going to be high, but he could be a throw-in, based on team control and future projection.

Ronny Henriquez
Acquired in the Mitch Garver trade with Texas, Henriquez made it back to the big leagues after a tough Triple-A season last year. He’s been solid for the Saints in 2024, but has been shuttled back and forth as relief depth. If there’s a better relief acquisition to be made at the deadline, and especially one with future control, then sending Henriquez out (even if it be a simple DFA) would make sense.

Matt Canterino
There are few players with better stuff to dream on in the organization than Canterino. It all remains a dream, though, because health has continued to escape him. If Canterino isn’t sent packing (his value would likely be nonexistent), then continuing to hold him on the 40-man only gets more difficult.

Kyle Farmer
Since the demotion of Edouard Julien earlier this year, Farmer has been better against lefties. Providing veteran leadership and hitting southpaws is what he is on the roster for. Moving someone from the 26-man in the midst of a playoff run is always tricky business. This would save the Twins some money, though, and that’s something they’ve been looking to do all year. He could go the other way in a trade that sees the team take on a player with a significant contract, to ease both roster and money math.

What 40-man options do you see the Twins dangling in trade talks?

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[Mike Sixel]

Utter insanity to deal Wallner. Deal Kepler if anyone....from the 40 man.....but the others in this list have little value and are throw ins.

[Gamblerssoftball]

Are there any teams looking for a veteran presence in the infield? I've been a Farmer fan, but now is the time to move him. Even if it's just for roster space. He could help a young team a lot. A good LHRP in return would be ideal. 

[tarheeltwinsfan]

Trade Julien. I have given up on his becoming an average ML 2nd baseman. 

[Dman]

For 40 man players I have Kyle Farmer, Josh Winder, Ronnie Henriquez.  For top 30 prospects I have Gabriel Gonzalez, Tanner Schobel, Ben Ross, Andrew Cossetti, Darren Bowen.  I doubt we can get much for any of those players, but those are all assets I am fine trading for a rental player. 

I don't think getting Kikuchi or an average to below average arm is really worth losing an asset over, but I am far more pessimistic than most when it comes to buying at the deadline.  If that is all they are aiming for I would just as soon use Festa, Varland and maybe Matthews.  I doubt they do all that much worse than an older tired arm.  

If they aren't interested in spending the money then they should just stand pat IMO.  They have bodies they can throw at whatever depth issues they might encounter. None of those options are elite options but given how these deals have worked out for the Twins in the past it will probably get them a similar result.

[Mike Sixel]

6 minutes ago, tarheeltwinsfan said:

Trade Julien. I have given up on his becoming an average ML 2nd baseman. 

Why would you trade him at his all time low value? Unless you are blown away, I don't get this.

[Patzky]

25 minutes ago, Gamblerssoftball said:

Are there any teams looking for a veteran presence in the infield? I've been a Farmer fan, but now is the time to move him. Even if it's just for roster space. He could help a young team a lot. A good LHRP in return would be ideal. 

Florida won't pay him but KC or LA might.

[dougd]

Looks like Twins may have some money coming their way:

The Athletic has learned that Major League Baseball and the Players Association have agreed to alter the collective bargaining agreement so that the league can use its portion of competitive-balance-tax proceeds to give teams losing TV money up to $15 million each — with an estimated limit of $75 million in those payments leaguewide.

[Shaitan]

Teams make deadline deals to get better. Why would they want the Twins' castaways?

The majority of this list are just fringe 37-40th roster spots, not prized "assets." If moved, they'll be DFAed or traded for considerations.

[Doctor Gast]

I doubt that the Twins could give Farmer away. Kiriloff is a great hitter, when he's healthy, it'd be a shame to give him away in a trade. Just try to keep him healthy like Lewis.

Severino, Hendriquz or Winder could be a throw-in for a Gonzales trade. This is a seller's market so it wouldn't be a bad idea to move some from our expiring contracts like Margot. We should get something for Margot even if it's just a low lotto ticket to create a spot & give more playing time to more deserving young players.

[tony&rodney]

Serious question. What player(s) in the Twins organization would you trade knowing that you are giving up a really good athlete in order to acquire someone that could make a difference for the Twins from now until the end of the year?

Put it another way - What player in the Twins organization do you ask about when Falvey inquires about a potentially key player for the Twins for the next two plus months?

[Jocko87]

13 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

Serious question. What player(s) in the Twins organization would you trade knowing that you are giving up a really good athlete in order to acquire someone that could make a difference for the Twins from now until the end of the year?

Put it another way - What player in the Twins organization do you ask about when Falvey inquires about a potentially key player for the Twins for the next two plus months?

Shush. no talks of trading good assets! 

This is a key point in all the trade retrospectives that we don't remember, the other team has to see value. 

I'm not asking for Lee or Jenkins, mostly because I know its a non starter or costs me one of my best assets.  I'm not asking about Raya, I just don't see it.

I'm asking hard on Zebby, but if the price is low I get suspicious.  E-Rod and Festa are interesting but also very expensive.

As an opposing GM, I'd probably make a push for Keashall and Schobel.  Having done my research on the Twins I know the infield is very crowded and they just drafted more.  They look like ball players at a minimum.

I'd also get with my hitting staff and see if we thought we could buy low on Julien or Kirilloff.

As the Twins GM, I'd like to have someone call on Raya and I would be completely comfortable if he had a nice career.  I like Keashall a lot, but they are selling from the middle infield group by design.  I'd rather see Schobel go but could live with either.

I'll be happy to see our outgoing players be successful elsewhere, it's good to be known as a good place to shop.  Gotta give to get.

[Mike Sixel]

4 minutes ago, Jocko87 said:

Shush. no talks of trading good assets! 

This is a key point in all the trade retrospectives that we don't remember, the other team has to see value. 

I'm not asking for Lee or Jenkins, mostly because I know its a non starter or costs me one of my best assets.  I'm not asking about Raya, I just don't see it.

I'm asking hard on Zebby, but if the price is low I get suspicious.  E-Rod and Festa are interesting but also very expensive.

As an opposing GM, I'd probably make a push for Keashall and Schobel.  Having done my research on the Twins I know the infield is very crowded and they just drafted more.  They look like ball players at a minimum.

I'd also get with my hitting staff and see if we thought we could buy low on Julien or Kirilloff.

As the Twins GM, I'd like to have someone call on Raya and I would be completely comfortable if he had a nice career.  I like Keashall a lot, but they are selling from the middle infield group by design.  I'd rather see Schobel go but could live with either.

I'll be happy to see our outgoing players be successful elsewhere, it's good to be known as a good place to shop.  Gotta give to get.

Keaschell is probably an OF now......

[Jocko87]

1 minute ago, Mike Sixel said:

Keaschell is probably an OF now......

Hoping for that, he has a path there.  If that's more of the Twins plan, the cost goes up internally.  That would indicate they like him a lot.

He's been playing more second base lately though, but that's what I would do until the deadline as well.

[tony&rodney]

What can the Twins get with Keaschall or Zebby?

[chpettit19]

13 minutes ago, Jocko87 said:

Hoping for that, he has a path there.  If that's more of the Twins plan, the cost goes up internally.  That would indicate they like him a lot.

He's been playing more second base lately though, but that's what I would do until the deadline as well.

He's been playing 1B, actually. He's only started at 2B once this month. And only played there 8 times in 27 June games. He's been at 1B and DH the last couple weeks, with 1 start at 2B, and 3 in CF this month.

[Marcos]

You know… I just don’t get these comments and nonsense articles. The Twins really don’t have much to trade at all. I know that hurts to take. But it is. B. Lee would have been great to dangle, but since he has absolutely sucked, that’s no deal . I tried not to laugh so ridiculously hard about Julien as being trade bait. Do we promote that he has an excellent eye for a third strike call? The only dangle the twins have is Rodriguez. Please don’t even think of Walter! I said this on threads before R. Lewis even lit it up that he is untouchable! Same with Jenkins. Anyways,… we are talking about THE MINNESOTA TWINS! No organization in baseball knows how to pinch a coin harder than a Pohlad. C’est la vie

[Mike Sixel]

18 minutes ago, Marcos said:

You know… I just don’t get these comments and nonsense articles. The Twins really don’t have much to trade at all. I know that hurts to take. But it is. B. Lee would have been great to dangle, but since he has absolutely sucked, that’s no deal . I tried not to laugh so ridiculously hard about Julien as being trade bait. Do we promote that he has an excellent eye for a third strike call? The only dangle the twins have is Rodriguez. Please don’t even think of Walter! I said this on threads before R. Lewis even lit it up that he is untouchable! Same with Jenkins. Anyways,… we are talking about THE MINNESOTA TWINS! No organization in baseball knows how to pinch a coin harder than a Pohlad. C’est la vie

Twins have more top 100 prospects than any other team. They have a lot of 40+ value players. They have a ton of assets to move, just not the ones in this article. 

[ashbury]

34 minutes ago, Marcos said:

B. Lee would have been great to dangle, but since he has absolutely sucked, that’s no deal .

Lee would bring back a haul in trade. His major league stats would be a blip to any FO, especially given the rapid learning curve he's demonstrated at every level in the minors.  We'd be chumps to trade Lee for anything other than blue-chip starting pitching with lots of years of control.

15 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

They have a ton of assets to move, just not the ones in this article. 

Came here to say that last part.  The article is about whom to move if the Twins do pull off a deadline deal, i.e. who has some trade value while freeing up a 40-man spot.  My vote would be Severino - a team with pitching to spare probably has needs on offense (otherwise wouldn't they be in the playoff hunt?), and maybe one of them sees the guy as a productive bat even if he's limited to DH.  Maybe Henriquez has a tiny bit of trade value and could play the 2024 Brian Duensing "sweetener" role for every imagined trade.

But now of course we're discussing every imaginable trade. 😀

[Jocko87]

35 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

He's been playing 1B, actually. He's only started at 2B once this month. And only played there 8 times in 27 June games. He's been at 1B and DH the last couple weeks, with 1 start at 2B, and 3 in CF this month.

Shoot, I flipped the chart.  Was looking at April. 🤣

[adjacent]

I agree with many that the ones mentioned in this article are not really good trade bait. If we think that Wallner and/or Larnach are good enough to be our corner outfielders, then Kepler could be a rental for someone else. He is on an expiring contract and it does not look that they are going to re-sign him

[Joe A. Preusser]

I love me some Walner, but you have to give nice to get nice.  We have plenty of guys who can play outfield for us.  If Walner is what it takes to bring back significant pitching (at low cost) then I'm in the "ok, fine" category.  

However.  I would much rather kick in some of our wonderful minor league depth to get said transaction done.  We have a really nice surplus of minor league talent available.  

My most bestest wish is to use our minor league capitol to bring in a young, good, cost controlled started who we can make in to an ELITE, young, cost controlled starter.  Cash in the chips, it's time. 

[Joe A. Preusser]

Julien is going to be a very good MLBer.  Don't be fooled by the struggles. Even some of the greats had struggles.  Hello Torii, Morneau, et al.  His floor is everyday player, his ceiling is ALL-STAR.  If you trade him, you better get what he's worth in return.

[Mike Sixel]

23 minutes ago, Joe A. Preusser said:

I love me some Walner, but you have to give nice to get nice.  We have plenty of guys who can play outfield for us.  If Walner is what it takes to bring back significant pitching (at low cost) then I'm in the "ok, fine" category.  

However.  I would much rather kick in some of our wonderful minor league depth to get said transaction done.  We have a really nice surplus of minor league talent available.  

My most bestest wish is to use our minor league capitol to bring in a young, good, cost controlled started who we can make in to an ELITE, young, cost controlled starter.  Cash in the chips, it's time. 

Wallner is their best hitting OF, you didn't trade that. It just weakens your team. They have three prospects in the top 120 that are pitchers, I can't see them dealing for a controllable pitcher, while giving up a controllable hitter. 

[Colbeh]

I've always been a huge Kiriloff fan (along with every other twins player) but trading him right now seems like a mistake. 

I also don't want to see the anti-falvey comments a year or two from now when he gets healthy and consistent and starts mashing like he's supposed to.

Unless he's a legit trade asset for a pitcher with control then hold on to him and give one last shot next year.

[Rosterman]

The Twins have Kepler because of free agency. Might get a decent prospect.

Is any team looking for a player like Margot or Farmer? If so, move them out for minor league depth.

I would trade Kirilloff, Julien and Winder to the A's for their lefty starter and a left bullpen arm.

I doubt anyone would want Thielbar or Okert, sadly.

I would listen if anyone comes calling or Santana. Yes, Severino could be part of package, including another prospect or two, for a decent pitcher, like someone the Blue Jays are dangling. (Include someone like Raya, who dosn't seem to be pitching any more than 3-4 innings still). Also, anyone else on the potential 40-man protection list or futrue minor league free agent come fall. 

[mrcharlie]

3 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

Serious question. What player(s) in the Twins organization would you trade knowing that you are giving up a really good athlete in order to acquire someone that could make a difference for the Twins from now until the end of the year?

Put it another way - What player in the Twins organization do you ask about when Falvey inquires about a potentially key player for the Twins for the next two plus months?

ask about zebby first off.  I would counter offer Soto and kirilloff given we are pursuing a solid left handed starter.

[jkcarew]

Kirilloff: “The relationship between both sides here can’t be in a great place…”

 

Huh?? Why? Absolutely no basis for this comment beyond pure random speculation…right?

[Mark G]

9 hours ago, Dman said:

For 40 man players I have Kyle Farmer, Josh Winder, Ronnie Henriquez.  For top 30 prospects I have Gabriel Gonzalez, Tanner Schobel, Ben Ross, Andrew Cossetti, Darren Bowen.  I doubt we can get much for any of those players, but those are all assets I am fine trading for a rental player. 

I don't think getting Kikuchi or an average to below average arm is really worth losing an asset over, but I am far more pessimistic than most when it comes to buying at the deadline.  If that is all they are aiming for I would just as soon use Festa, Varland and maybe Matthews.  I doubt they do all that much worse than an older tired arm.  

If they aren't interested in spending the money then they should just stand pat IMO.  They have bodies they can throw at whatever depth issues they might encounter. None of those options are elite options but given how these deals have worked out for the Twins in the past it will probably get them a similar result.

Not only do I tend to agree across the board, but I truly believe we will stand pat.  The FO believes we are in a window to win that extends beyond this season, and won't move low cost controlled players or truly promising prospects for rentals.  And we don't have any room to take on a higher end contract, which is what we would have to do if we did deal for a high end pitcher.  

Having said all of that, I wouldn't be totally shocked if we sell a part or two to give 40 man flexibility down the road.  Or even DFA one or two, for the same reason.  I just don't see us adding, as that would cost, in either talent or money and we don't want to pay either way.    

But don't stop speculating; some of us still love to dream.  🫠

[Eris]

The challenge with this years trade deadline is that approximately 20-22 teams are playoff contenders. It is definitely a sellers market and impact players will cost a premium. Of the players mentioned only Wallner would return an impact player.