Could Twins Land the Best Defensive Center Fielder in MLB Via Trade This Winter?

[Matthew Trueblood]

Next season, the Minnesota Twins need a better alternative to Byron Buxton than they had in their outfield in 2024. Could the answer to those problems lie right down I-94?

Image courtesy of © Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images

When the Fielding Bible Awards were announced earlier this month, the center field honoree was Rockies outfielder Brenton Doyle. Toronto Blue Jays center fielder Daulton Varsho also claimed a prise, as the Multi-Position Fielding Bible Award winner. That made sense; Doyle and Varsho are marvelous, multi-talented players who stood out from the field both statistically and in a scouting sense. However, if you watched the Milwaukee Brewers in one of the roughly half of their games in which Blake Perkins patrolled center field, you might have balked a bit.

The switch-hitting Perkins, 28, has played parts of the last two seasons for the Brewers, after signing with them as a minor-league free agent after the 2022 season. He's only batted .234/.318/.337 across 602 plate appearances, which would make him underqualified for everyday inclusion in the lineup. However, he's cobbled together that significant a share of playing time because almost no one in baseball can match his combination of athleticism, efficiency, and IQ in center field, inning for inning. He was worth 9 Defensive Runs Saved in fewer than 1,000 innings in center field, including some clutch plays that were worth more than that style of valuation can capture.

Firstly, unlike Byron Buxton, Perkins has exquisite feel for the wall. When he goes back on the ball, he does it with a mixture of confidence and control, gliding toward the wall, jumping off one foot, and changing the angle of his body to minimize the risks both of having the ball jarred out of his glove and getting injured in a collision.

It's relatively easy to make such plays at one's home park, where the dimensions and the flight of fly balls are familiar. Perkins, however, often took his homer-robbing show on the road in 2024. Even when a ball was hit to a particularly idiosyncratic place, he seemed to have charted his course and to make small adjustments with ease and grace.

Perkins also charges balls in front of him (even surefire hits) exceptionally aggressively, though. He racked up seven outfield assists in relatively modest playing time in 2024, but the biggest of them by far was this kill of a runner trying to score the tying run in the ninth inning of a game in the first half.

These are just a few examples, but they capture what Perkins can do—including things even Buxton can't, at this stage, and which all the team's secondary options and alternatives to Buxton failed to do in 2024. He covers ground effortlessly, has a strong arm, and makes plays even when they require last-second changes of direction or orientation of the body. He's situationally aware and has a nose for the out an opponent isn't anticipating.

Perkins's offensive game is also slightly more dynamic than his overall numbers suggest. He's a good bunter and a great baserunner, and although he doesn't lift the ball consistently enough to generate big power numbers, he has the ability to cut it loose and hit the ball a long way. All of this makes him an invaluable role player, but the Brewers have a crowded outfield picture, with Jackson Chourio, Christian Yelich, Sal Frelick, and Garrett Mitchell also on board, and a couple of top prospects knocking on the door.

Milwaukee needs help in the starting rotation, and the Twins need to shed some salary to give themselves more financial flexibility in building a 2025 winner. Could the two Upper Midwest neighbors find a fit on a trade?

Perkins is still not yet eligible for arbitration, so he'd be cheaper and more controllable than previous acquisitions in the same vein, Michael A. Taylor and Manuel Margot. That would make him more expensive to acquire, in terms of talent, but again, the Twins need to offload some money, anyway. They could spin either Joe Ryan or Bailey Ober to Milwaukee for Perkins and a prospect, in a move somewhat reminiscent of the Jorge Polanco trade last winter—though grander in scale and better calibrated to their needs. It would have to be Perkins and a somewhat valuable secondary piece, for a player like Ryan or Ober, but keeping in mind that Perkins would fill a crucial immediate need and be controllable for up to five years, as well as costing less than Ryan or Ober, it wouldn't need to be such a good prospect as to cause the Brewers to walk away.

Though he did stay on the field much better in 2024 than in previous years, Buxton only proved that he is no longer the defensive ace he once was. It's too soon to ask him to permanently move to a corner, but he could do so in a part-time capacity this year, in addition to spending time as the designated hitter. That would best serve the team in terms of winning the games he plays, as well as keeping him healthy enough to play more games—as long as they bring in a player who can adequately sub for him in center on a regular basis. Surveying their options throughout baseball, the best one available might be right next door.

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[RpR]

Give them Lewis and Martin or Lewis and Jeffers.

[PatPfund]

NO. NO. NO. We send one of our top three starting pitchers to Milwaukee for a no-hit defensive backup CF? A player Milwaukee signed as a minor league free agent? I get the site needs content, but any GM who did this should be fired immediately. (We need another SP far more than we need somebody else's Keirsey. We already have one.)

[Rod Carews Birthday]

Wow!  NO.  I can't fathom giving up much for a light hitting, good fielding backup outfielder.  Certainly not a starting pitcher.  I would send Randy Dobnak, but that's about it. 

[rv78]

When you said Milwaukee needed starting pitching and the Twins wanted to shed some salary I first thought of Paddack. No way I trade Ryan or Ober for Perkins and some other player. Paddack would make a whole lot more sense.

[DocBauer]

I'm not a Godfather fan, but I'm struck with the line from movie #3 with the quote, "they suck me back in". The warning sign was "trade" and I kinda skipped over that part just to read the article and see some amazing hilights. 

And then I read the rest and saw a trade proposal ideas and just shook my head. Matthew, I generally love your posts. But this is absolutely cannon fodder. No insult to Perkins, but with the OF depth the Brewers are working with, potentially, he's closer to a DFA or a trade for a lower level prospect than he is a trade for Ryan or Ober!

While the Twins have been drastically negligent, IMO, for delaying opportunity for a #4 drafted prospect in Keirsey, that the current FO drafted, for a ML opportunity, he's a year younger than Perkins, and has a better MILB quad slash line as a hitter. 

Why in hell wouldn't the Twins FINALLY, let Keirsey prove himself next season on a limited payroll team as a backup option with good defense, speed, and some pop potential? He's a year younger than Perkins, and has better MILB numbers. 

The ONLY thing he has above Keirsey is opportunity.  And that's a FO mistake. 

With a limited budget, you want to add a CF option that's probably close to the defensive value of a MILB player already on hand with a better MILB offensive track record already on hand? 

I guess you just needed to get paid for making an OP that people responded to. And I'm sorry to be that direct as its not my nature. But this just makes ZERO sense.

[RpR]

Perkins can field like a young Billy Hamilton and hits better than Lee or Martin, make a trade.

[USAFChief]

Wow. 

Might be the all time worst trade proposal* in TD history.

 

*non Brian Duensing category 

 

[olerud]

Where do they come up with this stuff???? Hmmmn, how bout NO!

[Jocko87]

I like the player type as a target bit what the heck kinda bougie Whole Foods are you shopping in?

He could be had for a decent 20 year old prospect.

Tis the silly season.

[bean5302]

Massive overpay for Perkins who is honestly just a defensive replacement guy. Buxton's availability requires a starting caliber player who can cover CF. The best option from the Brewers would be Garrett Mitchell, but Mitchell is a lefty. Even then, I wouldn't be willing to trade Ober or Ryan as part of that deal.

[Guest]

Wut?

[dxpavelka]

Perkins might cost less than Ryan or Ober but unless he can pitch at a top three rotation guy I'm not all that interested.  And since he's an OF that seems unlikely.

[Parfigliano]

7 hours ago, RpR said:

Give them Lewis and Martin or Lewis and Jeffers.

Here's N idea someone that RBI

[nowheresville]

Trade a playoff caliber starter for a backup center fielder. JFC. 

Thanks for the reminder of why I so rarely visit Twins Daily anymore. Just garbage takes and click bait. That it's coming from a more senior writer like Trueblood makes it extra embarrassing.

[Doctor Gast]

9 hours ago, DocBauer said:

I'm not a Godfather fan, but I'm struck with the line from movie #3 with the quote, "they suck me back in". The warning sign was "trade" and I kinda skipped over that part just to read the article and see some amazing hilights. 

And then I read the rest and saw a trade proposal ideas and just shook my head. Matthew, I generally love your posts. But this is absolutely cannon fodder. No insult to Perkins, but with the OF depth the Brewers are working with, potentially, he's closer to a DFA or a trade for a lower level prospect than he is a trade for Ryan or Ober!

While the Twins have been drastically negligent, IMO, for delaying opportunity for a #4 drafted prospect in Keirsey, that the current FO drafted, for a ML opportunity, he's a year younger than Perkins, and has a better MILB quad slash line as a hitter. 

Why in hell wouldn't the Twins FINALLY, let Keirsey prove himself next season on a limited payroll team as a backup option with good defense, speed, and some pop potential? He's a year younger than Perkins, and has better MILB numbers. 

The ONLY thing he has above Keirsey is opportunity.  And that's a FO mistake. 

With a limited budget, you want to add a CF option that's probably close to the defensive value of a MILB player already on hand with a better MILB offensive track record already on hand? 

I guess you just needed to get paid for making an OP that people responded to. And I'm sorry to be that direct as its not my nature. But this just makes ZERO sense.

A very creative trade. Ryan & Ober aren't shed salary bait & MIL isn't a team where you look to shed salary. I agree the main difference between Perkins & Keirsey is opportunity & it'd be a greater shame to leave Keirsey out to dry again. Keirsey can give you just as much value if given the chance for free w/o giving up anyone of value. You don't trade a front-line SP for a CF sub. You have been reading too many Jim Bowman articles. Maybe the Polanco trade looks better on paper but both are bad trades & add nothing to what we already have.

[CRF]

Let's just make some more stuff up...plenty of time before next season.

[TwinsDr2021]

Giving Randball a run for his money.

[gman]

Some articles need to come with a warning label.

[Otaknam]

“They could spin either Joe Ryan or Bailey Ober to Milwaukee for Perkins and a prospect”. Ridiculous comment! The Twins have three solid starters in Ober, Ryan and Lopez. After them everyone is unproven. And you want to trade a starting pitcher for a backup outfielder who is all defense no hit? Pitching and defense is the name of the game. Keep the proven pitching and find a backup outfielder. DaShawn Keirsey comes to mind, by all accounts an excellent defensive outfielder with great speed and good offensive numbers in the minors.

[TopGunn#22]

One of the interesting things I noted in Matthew's article that I thought about when the Gold Glove nominees were released was "where was Byron Buxton in the announcement?"  He finally played 100 games, and I was sure that would be enough to qualify him, but he was nowhere to be found.

This doesn't mean Buxton isn't still a "good" CF.  It just means he more Vada Pinson than Willie Mays or Curt Flood.  

But Yeah Matthew, you just don't trade All Star caliber pitchers for 5th OF types.  I also thought of Paddack right away but dismissed that unless we were paying $7 million of his salary.  The Brewers don't take on salary.  It's true that the Brewers need SP but I also agree that giving Keirsey a chance makes much more sense.  He profiles as a potentially much better hitter and his glove is also solid.  The advantage Perkins has is that he's a RH hitter.

But if I'm looking for a RH hitting OF for next year, I'm trying to clear some payroll (Paddack, Vasquez, Kepler, Farmer, Santana) and seeing if I could scrape enough cash together to sign Tyler O'Neil who had a good year for the Red Sox but is a FA.  

Where Perkins sits in the Brewer pecking order (5th OF at best) a trade of a minor leaguer should be enough to get him.  But in the end, I'd rather give Keirsey a chance.  The kid has done well at AAA two years in a row.  He deserves a shot.  

[terrydactyls]

6 hours ago, Parfigliano said:

Here's N idea someone that RBI

Please communicate in English.

[old nurse]

Now the suggestion was a SP for the outfielder and a prospect. If you really like Quero as a catcher the proposed deal is close to making sense for the Twins if the pitcher traded is Ryan Ober should cost at least 2 prospects if not three.

[DJL44]

The Twins need another outfielder who can play defense. Buxton will only play 80-110 games. The flip side is Buxton is going to play 80-110 games which makes the guy you obtain a part-time player. You don't trade a starting pitcher for a part-time player. Michael A Taylor will sign for league minimum if you really want an all-glove backup CF.

[LambchoP]

We can probably get the production we'd get from Perkins from Keirsey. He can play all three OF positions well too. Why the heck would we trade one of our best pitchers for a backup OF who can't hit? I think some combo of Keirsey, Castro, Martin and maybe Mccusker can more than adequately cover the backup OF positions at least until Rodriguez, Rosario and Jenkins are ready. I'm more worried about first base and pitching depth. A starting pitcher and a lefty reliever to be specific.

[LA Vikes Fan]

I got to the end of hte article assuming that the proposed trade would be Paddack to Milwaukee for Perkins and a decent prospect. You know, a combination Salary dump/ bench upgrade. Sending Ryan or Ober is frankly ridiculous. Now, Paddack? Maybe...

[chpettit19]

Holy smokes. Trueblood is one of the better writers around here, but Ryan or Ober for Perkins and "a somewhat valuable secondary piece?" We are officially off the rails. 

[Morland]

You want to send our 2nd or 3rd starter for a, at best, 4th outfielder and a prospect? What have you been smoking?

 

[RpR]

18 hours ago, USAFChief said:

Wow. 

Might be the all time worst trade proposal* in TD history.

 

*non Brian Duensing category 

 

Trading a pitcher, absolutely.

[Maybe Next Year]

I mean no disrespect, however this is one poorly thought out article. This sounds like making a trade for the sake of making a trade. Do you really think trading a starting pitcher like Ryan or Ober for a 26 year old ballplayer who hasn’t been able to spend a full year in the majors for the past 3 years makes any sense? I grant you neither Ryan or Ober are Cy Young candidates but they are solid #2-3 starters. How do you intend to replace either of them? This trade makes ZERO sense.