FlyingFinn’s 2025 Trade Deadline Blueprint: FlyingFinn's get ready for a speedier, better 2026 team

[FlyingFinn]

Twins need a catcher for next year. You have to give up someone great to get him. I'm trading Duran for Kyle Teel.

Vazquez traded for an A ball player. France also traded for an A ball player.

Castro goes to the Yankees for Brock Selvidge, a LHP.

Larnach. Brooks Lee and Marco Raya to the Astros for Brice Mathews (we have to get more foot speed and Lewis, Correa, Lee in the infield won't do it). This also clears the way for Jenkins or Rodriguez to start with the Twins out of spring training in 2026, whoever is ready.

Bader to the Padres for Romeo Sanabria, a 1B.

Paddack to the Cards for Ixan Henderson, a LHP.

The 2026 position players will be Jeffers/Teel, 1B still a question, Mathews, Correa, Lewis, Jenkins/Rodriguez, Buxton, Wallner, Keaschall, Martin. PItchers mostly the same, fitting in Prielipp and Andrew Morris.

• C: Ryan Jeffers ($4.70M)
• 1B: Aaron Sabato ($0.80M)
• 2B: Edouard Julien ($0.80M)
• 3B: Royce Lewis ($2.30M)
• SS: Carlos Correa ($36.00M)
• LF: Austin Martin ($0.80M)
• CF: Byron Buxton ($15.00M)
• RF: Matt Wallner ($0.80M)
• DH: Carson McCusker ($0.80M)
• 4th OF: Kody Clemens ($0.80M)
• Utility: Luke Keaschall ($0.80M)
• Utility: Mickey Gasper ($0.80M)
• Backup C: Kyle Teel ($.80M)
• NA: Dead Money Here ($0.00M)
• SP1: David Festa ($0.80M)
• SP2: Joe Ryan ($3.80M)
• SP3: Bailey Ober ($4.30M)
• SP4: Pablo Lopez ($21.50M)
• SP5: Simeon Woods Richardson ($0.80M)
• RP: Travis Adams ($0.80M)
• RP: Brock Stewart ($0.80M)
• RP: Griffin Jax ($2.60M)
• RP: Kody Funderburk ($0.80M)
• RP: Cole Sands ($0.80M)
• RP: Justin Topa ($1.30M)
• RP: Louie Varland ($0.80M)
• RP: Zebby Matthews ($0.80M)
• NA: Dead Money Here ($4.00M)

Payroll is 24.76% under budget

[Mike Sixel]

Where is Matthews in your list of players? He has to be a starter given that over pay for him.  Julien at second, not Matthews or Keaschell?

Overall, pretty good stuff, but that seems like a lot for Matthews.

[whosafraidofluigirussolo]

From the scouting report on MLB dot com for Matthews, he seems not a great deal more valuable than Lee. Faster (which, yes, the Twins could use) and probably higher offensive ceiling, but less established floor and defensive value a push at best. The three-player package feels like a lot. 
 

Why would the White Sox want two years of team control of Durán?

[chpettit19]

Not sure why Chicago would do the Duran for Teel deal. 6 years of Teel is far more valuable to a rebuilding team than 2.5 years of a closer. Unless they think they can spin Duran into more than Teel. In which case I'd prefer the Twins spin him into more than Teel.

I'm not a huge Larnach, Lee, or Raya guy, but all 3 for Matthews is WAY too much. The Twins already have Kaelen Culpepper. Don't need to trade 3 guys for the faster, worse hitting version. I'm good trading all 3 of those guys, but that isn't the return I'd want.

Do like the idea of moving a bunch of the expiring deals and getting the team faster, just don't think your 2 big deals are the right deals.

[FlyingFinn]

On 7/11/2025 at 4:29 PM, chpettit19 said:

Not sure why Chicago would do the Duran for Teel deal. 6 years of Teel is far more valuable to a rebuilding team than 2.5 years of a closer. Unless they think they can spin Duran into more than Teel. In which case I'd prefer the Twins spin him into more than Teel.

 

On 7/11/2025 at 4:04 PM, whosafraidofluigirussolo said:

Why would the White Sox want two years of team control of Durán?

Agreed. Somehow, I was thinking he was with the "Red" Sox. Anyway, I would trade Duran for a high level catching prospect. But, yes, the White Sox wouldn't do that trade.