The 2025 Minnesota Twins Need to Trade for a Big Bat. What Assets Could They Deal?

[LA Vikes Fan]

5 hours ago, Major League Ready said:

The only way to get a meaningful player is to trade away very good prospects.  Doing so for this team is a good way to insure continued mediocrity.  What I always notice about the many articles on this topic is that no examples are ever given of teams (low revenue teams) that have built success through trading prospects for short-term assets?  If anyone bothers to look at the impact of players acquired as prospects, there are many examples.  Most of the Cleveland teams were built by acquiring prospects.  The Twins got Duran, Ryan on deadline deals.  What did those trades do for Arizona and Tampa?  There are many more examples and the biggest part that is overlooked is that Duran / Ryan or the Cleveland players is that that they impact the team for 6+ years.

This is why I advocate for the Twins to do little at the deadline this year. Deadline deals are great for a team that is one or two pieces away from true contention. This Twins team is not that team. A deadline deal could also be great when a team has a real surplus of quality young MLB players at a position with good prospects who play that same position. That ain't the Twins either. 

The one thing that might make sense would be to trade prospects for a younger cost controllable starting pitcher like say Edwin Cabrera of Miami. Even then, I wouldn't give up a top 5-7 prospect, maybe 2 in the 10-25 range or 1 in the top 12 and one in the 25-30 range. Probably not enough to get it done.    

By the way, I also wouldn't trade Paddack. You won't get enough for him to make any difference and it sends the white flag message to a team still on the fringes of contention. Bad look for your existing players and really bad look for the fan base. The psychological damage isn't worth the likely paltry return.  

[LA Vikes Fan]

1 hour ago, LambchoP said:

They are not a playoff team this year. They should hold on to our prospects and get what they can for expiring contracts. Guys like Bader, Castro, France and Vasquez. Recoup something for these guys rather than lose them for nothing in the off-season.

I'd be ok with trading France and/or Vasquez if you could get anything for them and we had a ready to go replacement just looking for an opportunity. Neither of those 2 will get us much of anything and we don't have a replacement for either. Bader and Castro are guys we should try to re-sign. They bring at least some value and the struggles of Keirsy, Miranda, Julien, et al. tell us we don't have nay ready replacement for either.

[nicksaviking]

1 hour ago, AKTwinsFan said:

We should have obliged Jax and gave him a shot at starter. We still could but Baldelli doesn't think winning. 

Right, Baldelli doesn't care about winning because he's OK with getting fired?

Jax as a starter is a terrible idea. His stuff isn't going to get guys out dropping 4 MPH off of his velocity. And prior to this year, the Twins rotation has probably been the the healthiest group of pitchers in the league going back a decade now. Depth is fine, but blowing up your bullpen to do it would have been foolish for this franchise.

[nicksaviking]

1 hour ago, AKTwinsFan said:

We should have obliged Jax and gave him a shot at starter. We still could but Baldelli doesn't think winning. 

Right, Baldelli doesn't care about winning because he's OK with getting fired?

Jax as a starter is a terrible idea. His stuff isn't going to get guys out dropping 4 MPH off of his velocity. And prior to this year, the Twins rotation has probably been the the healthiest group of pitchers in the league going back a decade now. Depth is fine, but blowing up your bullpen to do it would have been foolish for this franchise.

[NYCTK]

1 hour ago, nicksaviking said:

Right, Baldelli doesn't care about winning because he's OK with getting fired?

Jax as a starter is a terrible idea. His stuff isn't going to get guys out dropping 4 MPH off of his velocity. And prior to this year, the Twins rotation has probably been the the healthiest group of pitchers in the league going back a decade now. Depth is fine, but blowing up your bullpen to do it would have been foolish for this franchise.

I'm with him. Not even entertaining the idea was a huge failure as a baseball organization. Griffin Jax could very well be 4x as valuable as a SP, and the arguments against it are incredibly weak. They already have SP depth? Lot of good that did, huh. Blow up the bullpen? Wasting resources in a bullpen is a losing strategy, and the bullpen would be fine without him. What if he's bad? Darn, go back to the bullpen. 

The fighting against an objectively good idea is just baffling to me, and just reeks of a loser, risk averse organization. 

[Rod Carews Birthday]

It looks like it's the start of the silly season that pre-dates the trade deadline.  Some people on TD think that the team is just about there and acquiring a big bat (or two!) would put us over the top.  Problem A is that those guys have to be available, and problem B is that you have to be willing to put together a trade package that you are willing to live with and that they will take.  Every team's fan base always overestimates the potential of their prospects, because prospects are all about hopes and dreams of the future. Twins fans are no different and are all about trades until they see the price. Those people are right.  It could possibly work, if we are willing to pay the price, which we aren't because there are too many sacred cows among the prospects.

On the other hand, some people on TD think that this team is terrible and that it just needs to be blown up.  The players are bad. The manager should be fired. The front office needs to go as well.  The hyperbole is so over the top that it's hard to take it seriously, even if there is a grain of truth in some of it.  AAAAAND where does that leave you after blowing it all up?  A truly terrible team with a brand new (meaning inexperienced) manager and front office guys who are willing to take a job with a confused organization. That works if you are fine with being terrible for a period (100+ loss terrible) followed by -- if we're pretty lucky -- another potential shot at the playoffs, etc. with a new batch of players.  The problem is that those players may not work out to be any better than the old ones, and the cycle starts over.  

For me, I think that the mostly stand pat approach is the best answer. Trade for someone who could help around the fringes and/or trade someone who you think is replaceable. That's not exciting, but no matter who we trade for, if the injured guys and ineffective guys aren't producing, this team isn't very good.  AND, if they are producing and healthy, the second half could be pretty good.  YMMV

 

[DocBauer]

Going to begin by echoing some early comments that what the team really needs is Correa and Wallner to get hit again, and the return of Lewis and Keaschall in July. That changes a lot of the complexion of the offense. Getting Matthews back relatively soon....fingers crossed...adds to the rotation depth/options as well.

3 points:

1] It appears myself, and others, may have been wrong about Keirsey as a potentially "decent" hitter. He provides defense and speed off the bench, and there's usefulness there. Now, to be fair, he hasn't had much of anything close to regular playing time, but he sure hasn't seized any of the opportunities afforded him.

MAYBE Clemens is on a slump and will break out of it and be a solid/decent contributor again. Bride was actually pretty good in 2024. But what blows me away is having injuries, and a struggling offense, and they are rostering 3 complete non factors on the bench, 2 of which never play more than a couple innings a week, and one who HAS made contributions but remains a question mark.

Meanwhile, there's virtually nobody at AAA to save the day. Martin and Rodriguez are out with injuries, and both Miranda and Julien haven't done anything to warrant a promotion.

Who IS producing at AAA? Gasper, who you thought enough of to trade for, and McCusker and Eeles, who you thought enough of to sign and develop, who have crushed at every level since.

There's a good chance Gasper is just a AAAA player and that's all. But he's only had 39 PA with the Twins. McCusker might also just be a AAAA quality player. He certainly has limitations. But he gets 6 PA before being sent down. 6! Eeles is literally getting his legs under him, and so far in SSS hasn't shown the pop he did previously. So maybe he's still a ways away from possibly contributing, to be fair.

But MAYBE Gasper can hit a little and get OB a little. MAYBE McCusker only hits .220 with a bunch of K's, but also stokes some doubles and parks a few HR. At least they MIGHT contribute. What are Keirsey and Bride doing on the roster other than getting splinters and a couple AB a week? With an offense stuck in neutral, why not TRY something different, and hope for some hot streaks? 

For the upteenth time, what do you have to lose? Just STOP obsessing about depth! Your depth pieces aren't doing anything to help the offense or helping to win games.

2] The Twins could still use a BAT regardless of what position. SOMEONE who could deepen the lineup and produce. IDK who, and don't care what position, you figure that part out. But is there a rental you can grab for a cheap, lower level prospect or two? If so, make the deal, help your offense.

3] You DON'T trade ANYONE listed in the OP unless you are getting someone who is controllable for AT LEAST another year, if not two. While this FO hasn't always succeeded in trades, the Cruz, Petty, and Arraez moves have been excellent. 

EXTRA: I have no problem making trades of talent for talent. It's part of baseball, and part of having prospects to trade. But the LIFEBLOOD of a mid market team is developing your own talent. Not every prospect makes it. But the more talent you have, the greater your chances of finding those that DO make it increase.

I'd rather stick with what we have and get ready for 2026 and beyond unless there's a "cheap" BAT add to be had. I'd ONLY trade any top prospects if we get a talented, young, controllable player. But who's trading a player like that??

This isn't a BAD team. It's a team with injuries and underperformance from the talent on hand. I'd grab a BAT on the cheap if available. Otherwise, sorry to say, I'd trust in what we have, and coming back, for a solid/strong 2nd half, and see what happens.

But I'd ALSO take a gamble or two on the options I've listed. Again, what do you have to lose? 

[TwinsDr2021]

10 hours ago, DocBauer said:

There's a good chance Gasper is just a AAAA player and that's all. But he's only had 39 PA with the Twins. McCusker might also just be a AAAA quality player. He certainly has limitations. But he gets 6 PA before being sent down. 6! Eeles is literally getting his legs under him, and so far in SSS hasn't shown the pop he did previously. So maybe he's still a ways away from possibly contributing, to be fair.

Honest question, Who are you sitting to get this guys more playing time?  

Since June 1st 

Castro - .357/.419/.589/1.009

Buxton - .302/.426/.581/1.007

Lewis - .367/.457/.533/.990

Lee - .373/.396/.588/.984

France - .283/.338/.383/.722

Larnach - .250/.302/.417/.719

Jeffers - .237/.356/.342/.698

Bader ..171/.0=255/.366/.621

Wallner - .130/.216/.348/.564

Clemens - .107/265/.214/.479

Correa - .196/.241/.255/.496

Vazquez - .103/.212/.241/.454

 

You can't win with Wallner and CC being this bad, and to be honest Wallner has been worse then the numbers say because most of terrible SLG number comes from 2 homers that were hit in games they last by 10+ plus runs. But you can't these two either, right? 

Is giving more at bats to other mediocre players a real solution or just hope somebody gets hot? 

 

 

 

[Rufus]

On 6/18/2025 at 12:11 AM, Vanimal46 said:

If that’s the case, that’s exactly what the Twins should be. I would accept the next Fernando Tatis Jr for Paddack 

I thought Paddack would be gone by the deadline,  With the injuries to the rotation, that may be tough now..  Paddack also seems to be the  leader in what seems to be a dead uninspired dugout.  He seems to be the only one keeping any life going in it.  

[nicksaviking]

23 hours ago, NYCTK said:

I'm with him. Not even entertaining the idea was a huge failure as a baseball organization. Griffin Jax could very well be 4x as valuable as a SP, and the arguments against it are incredibly weak. They already have SP depth? Lot of good that did, huh. Blow up the bullpen? Wasting resources in a bullpen is a losing strategy, and the bullpen would be fine without him. What if he's bad? Darn, go back to the bullpen. 

The fighting against an objectively good idea is just baffling to me, and just reeks of a loser, risk averse organization. 

Jax threw 91-92 MPH as a starter. He couldn't strikeout anyone in the minors and had a measly 6.2 K/9 in collage. At Air Force. Pitching against weak Mountain West baseball teams. His stuff plays up because of the velocity increase. I have no interest in seeing him turn into a pitch to contact Terry Ryan special that has no business being in a 2025 MLB rotation, then watching him complain his way out of town when the team asks him to convert back to the pen.

Keep him where he is. Far greater chance of disaster than reward.

[NYCTK]

25 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

Jax threw 91-92 MPH as a starter. He couldn't strikeout anyone in the minors and had a measly 6.2 K/9 in collage. At Air Force. Pitching against weak Mountain West baseball teams. His stuff plays up because of the velocity increase. I have no interest in seeing him turn into a pitch to contact Terry Ryan special that has no business being in a 2025 MLB rotation, then watching him complain his way out of town when the team asks him to convert back to the pen.

Keep him where he is. Far greater chance of disaster than reward.

And we all know that baseball adage: No one ever develops, no one ever learns anything, as it was ten years ago so shall it be tomorrow. 

[DocBauer]

5 hours ago, TwinsDr2021 said:

Honest question, Who are you sitting to get this guys more playing time?  

Since June 1st 

Castro - .357/.419/.589/1.009

Buxton - .302/.426/.581/1.007

Lewis - .367/.457/.533/.990

Lee - .373/.396/.588/.984

France - .283/.338/.383/.722

Larnach - .250/.302/.417/.719

Jeffers - .237/.356/.342/.698

Bader ..171/.0=255/.366/.621

Wallner - .130/.216/.348/.564

Clemens - .107/265/.214/.479

Correa - .196/.241/.255/.496

Vazquez - .103/.212/.241/.454

 

You can't win with Wallner and CC being this bad, and to be honest Wallner has been worse then the numbers say because most of terrible SLG number comes from 2 homers that were hit in games they last by 10+ plus runs. But you can't these two either, right? 

Is giving more at bats to other mediocre players a real solution or just hope somebody gets hot? 

 

 

 

It's a fair question that doesn't necessarily have an easy answer. I'm referencing opportunities in general. 

For instance, Lewis is out now. Buxton missed time with his concussion. Wallner was out for quite a while. Can Bride not hit? Or does he not hit because he doesn't play? If he can't hit, then why is he rostered?

So when the offense is struggling, when guys are out, I just don't understand not giving players in your own system a shot when they're doing well at AAA.

Totally agree that the team doesn't win if Correa, Wallner, and others don't produce.