Minnesota Twins 2025 Trade Deadline Primer

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

Just now, NYCTK said:

This is something I see often here, and it should be the opposite. Players don't age into becoming a better fielder. They're typically the best they will be when they come up. The rare exception is a player that is quite literally learning a completely new position, but that's not really the case with a SS playing 2B.  

This was most when it was an excuse used by Austin Martin supporters in the OF, a position that was in no way new to him. 

Good defensive baseball players don't have any real issues when moving from SS to 2B. It happens literally all the time with very little learning curve. 4 games? Sure, give some leniency. He's at 40 games now? And he still isn't very good? I'm over the excuses, he's just not great.

He's better than him, but it's not really any less eye rolling than when people were optimistic that Julien was improving his glovework at 2B last season. I'm not giving up on Lee, but I am giving up on him as a defensively sound player. 

These excuses are just so exhausting man. 

So Brian Dozier,  who started as a SS,  switched to 2nd base,  where he was initially considered a liability became a gold glove award winner in 2017 at age 30 completely obliterates your premise.   Less than 1/2 season at 2nd base please,  let Lee have the offseason if 2nd base is going to be where he lands next year.   Corey Koskie went from below average defensively to one of the best.   Jeffers has continued to improve every year defensively with some big jumps early in his career.  

[NYCTK]

5 minutes ago, Hawkeye Bean Counter said:

Less than 1/2 season at 2nd base please,  let Lee have the offseason if 2nd base is going to be where he lands next year. 

Why wasn't he working on 2B this last offseason? 

In fact, I guarantee you he already was. So, he's been working on his defense, presumably, for a while and his results have been meh. 

He can be a -5 run 2B. That's fine. I'm more ok with that than I am Wallner and Larnach lumbering around in the OF. 

[saviking]

Great write up! Youbcan trade anyone but Duran and I'd be fine. Youbcould trade everyone but Duran and I'd still be fine 

[tony&rodney]

1 hour ago, tarheeltwinsfan said:

Throw Tonkin into any trade proposals. He's had his chances.

He will be at Target Field, in uniform, tonight.

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

28 minutes ago, NYCTK said:

Why wasn't he working on 2B this last offseason? 

In fact, I guarantee you he already was. So, he's been working on his defense, presumably, for a while and his results have been meh. 

He can be a -5 run 2B. That's fine. I'm more ok with that than I am Wallner and Larnach lumbering around in the OF. 

He played 2nd 11 games last year.   In the minor leagues during his entire tenure 4 games. So yes you have a valid question why they haven't played him more at 2nd in the minors if that is where they were going to play him.  More than anything,  he has been willing to play where ever he has been needed.  That seems like a positive more than a negative.   You have a negative opinion of him,  Fine that is your choice,  it doesn't mean he can't get better,  and you completely ignored the Dozier comp.  

[In My La Z boy]

3 hours ago, FlyingFinn said:

Most everyone knew we would be "stuck" with Correa's contract by the end of his deal, meaning he was no longer putting up #'s to support it. I certainly didn't think it would this soon. He has slowed noticeably in the field and turned into a singles hitter who can't hit in the clutch.

The relevance to this topic - no way you can tear everything down because you can't get rid of Correa. Therefore, can't trade Ryan because he's hard to replace. You can trade Duran and get assets that will help you in 2026 though. The Twins are good at developing and finding bullpen guys. And sell any pending free agent. If we really want them for next year, they will be available in a few months.

Retool for 2026 and at least have a faster team on the field.

We'll see if Falvey solves your dilemma by doing a blockbuster. You want Joe Ryan? You are taking Correa, AND we still want 2 top 100's. I'd bet the Yankees do it! In your face 😜 Now we can rebuild!

[TerwilligerBuntsOne]

1. Find a taker for the rentals. They are gone one way of another.

2. Trade either Duran/Jax. Also Stewart, to a much lesser degree. If this team is in selling mode (literally!), then a strong back end of the bullpen is a luxury. Listen when some contender is willing to overpay for a late inning reliever. 

3. Listen on guys like Larnach or Wallner. Redundant and replaceable. 

On a side note, the new owners and possibly new front office folks need to seriously assess where this team is headed in the next few years.

If we seem destined for a rebuild, then at some point don't they have to look at moving the starters like Ryan/Pablo/Ober? Each of them are in the 29-30 years old range with team control.

Might be more of an off-season thing given the injuries and a question of who makes the decisions. 

Does Ryan's value get much higher than this after he turns 30 with less team control? For a team seemingly going nowhere, at some point cashing in on those values might have to be considered.

[Vanimal46]

After this Passan bomb, Duran is without question the top reliever available for trade. 

[1985Fan]

The only trades Falvey should be allowed to make are minor trades; i.e. selling expiring veteran contracts. Falvey and Baldelli are on borrowed time and can’t be allowed to make major decisions. Sell the veterans and call up the young guys to let them play. That will allow for evaluation and off-season plans.

If the new owners are going to go rebuild, Lopez, not Ryan should be on the trading block. 

[mike8791]

Nick, nice article as far as it goes, but why not an assessment of what are the top needs the Twins should try to fill in order to compete in  the next 2 years?  We all agree they have a number of desirable trade candidates so this trade deadline should be a great time to act.  

Pretty obvious biggest needs are a !B/DH with 30HR/100rbi potential and a second string catcher with strong upside potential.  With a strong farm system, the Dodgers appear to be an ideal trade partner.  Two of their top prospects, DePaula and Rushing, would be a nice package, but difficult to attain.  While I would rather see Jax traded, I think Duran would be needed as a centerpiece, with guys like Bader or Castro, and perhaps Vazquez, Lee and/or Larnach needed to sweeten the package.  I would love to expand the package by giving up Paddack for Dustin May,  By packaging our top trade prospects, not including Ryan, we can conceivably add two players who could be expected to contribute to the starting lineup in 2026.

If LA is not willing to give up such talent, then Philly, Seattle, Yanks or possibly the Astros would be worth some serious discussion.  I have little faith in Falvey(particularly after last year's deadline dud) but at this point, with a failed 7 year regime staring him in the face and a disinterested ownership, perhaps he'll grow a set and actually pull off a much needed bold move to help right the floundering ship.  Too late for this year but us diehards need some reason to believe in the years to come.

 

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

The leverage Falvey has with Jax and Duran just went up with the Clase news.  The odds 1 is traded went up (along with the potential value) and now there is a legit possibility both get traded if 2 teams are desperate enough.   

[dxpavelka]

Jeffers?

[BaseballDad]

The one trade that could make a real difference for this team is trading Rocco for a bag of balls and a chocolate shake (ask for a 'large', but accept a 'small').  Perhaps we throw in Falvey who proved his insanity by extending Rocco earlier this season.  Does Rocco have 'pictures'?

Anyone who watches the Twins play uninspired baseball day after day has to agree that we have a serious problem at the top of the food chain.  I wish that the Twins played with half the effort and energy of the Nationals this past weekend.  Did the Nationals have more to play for than the Twins?  I think not!

Seriously, we do need to send a signal to the players and move some who are showing their limitations and lack of effort for all the world to see, but if we keep proven stiffs like Rocco and Falvey protected, we will end up with a similar product and just new faces on the field.

[Patzky]

3 hours ago, cjm0926 said:

As much as I hate to say it, I think it would be wise to trade one of Duran/Jax, with a heavy preference towards Jax. He has proven he may never be a "closer," but is one hell of a setup man. Fortunately for us, we have Varland and Stewart who could also step into that setup role. Therefore I propose trading Jax to Seattle for Harry Ford and Tyler Locklear. Not quite the two top-100 prospects such as the original ask, but you are getting two legit prospects that are major league ready, at the Twins 2 biggest positions of need. 

RP Emmanuel Clase has been placed on non-disciplinary paid leave as part of MLB's sports-betting investigation. 

 

The pool grows smaller 

[Patzky]

33 minutes ago, TerwilligerBuntsOne said:

1. Find a taker for the rentals. They are gone one way of another.

2. Trade either Duran/Jax. Also Stewart, to a much lesser degree. If this team is in selling mode (literally!), then a strong back end of the bullpen is a luxury. Listen when some contender is willing to overpay for a late inning reliever. 

 

Twins could conceivably roll with a six person rotation when Ober and Pablo return, or shift Paddack to RP to finish out the year if he's not gone as well. 

[Dman]

3 hours ago, tarheeltwinsfan said:

I would trade Duran to Seattle for Harry Ford, the fifth ranked catcher in the minors, who is 22 and in AAA and is blocked by Raleigh who is "all world" at  catcher. 

I tend to agree.  It would take more than just Ford, but I think if he was the headliner in the deal Minnesota could work it out.  He meets a lot of what I think the FO has requested for a deal to get done.  He is a top 100 prospect rated 49 right now. He has been young at every level and hit well with good plate discipline at every level. The Twins haven't had a top 100 catcher in the system since Joe Mauer so that would be a nice get and he is a system need.  You would be trading something of value and getting something of value back.

I think Seattle is one of the few teams that might be able to pry Duran from the Twins.  If they threw in Sloan I could see them adding Coulombe or Bader or Castro.  Whoever they like best to get the deal over the line.  That would meet Minnesota's 2 top 100 prospects request and net them their future catcher and a young arm for the future.  Seattle gets two elite arms for the playoff run. I don't know if Seattle would do it, but I think that would interest the Twins.

If they use Ford to get Suarez I'd say the deal is off and I think Seattle should focus on getting Suarez.  Big bats in the playoffs are difference makers in tight games.  I think there are other ways for them to deal with the pen, but man their pen would be pretty unstoppable with Duran in it.  I t would be really difficult for other teams to bust through their top three arms ala the KC Royals. Also they would have Duran for the next two years and Suarez likely gone after this year.

[Vanimal46]

1 hour ago, tony&rodney said:

He will be at Target Field, in uniform, tonight.

Oh god I thought you were kidding. Tonkin is really coming up to replace Adams 

[Mike Sixel]

12 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

Oh god I thought you were kidding. Tonkin is really coming up to replace Adams 

Gotta stick with awful veterans. The Twins way.

[Nick Nelson]

4 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

Good synopsis Nick.

Wonder why you did not include Wallner, Lee, and Ober?

The Twins need talent. They must think outside the box.

Personally I don't see selling low on guys with multi-year control to be a viable path, and I don't think it will be considered. Lee and Ober are probably untradeable at this moment.

[Wedman13]

1 hour ago, TerwilligerBuntsOne said:

1. Find a taker for the rentals. They are gone one way of another.

2. Trade either Duran/Jax. Also Stewart, to a much lesser degree. If this team is in selling mode (literally!), then a strong back end of the bullpen is a luxury. Listen when some contender is willing to overpay for a late inning reliever. 

3. Listen on guys like Larnach or Wallner. Redundant and replaceable. 

On a side note, the new owners and possibly new front office folks need to seriously assess where this team is headed in the next few years.

If we seem destined for a rebuild, then at some point don't they have to look at moving the starters like Ryan/Pablo/Ober? Each of them are in the 29-30 years old range with team control.

Might be more of an off-season thing given the injuries and a question of who makes the decisions. 

Does Ryan's value get much higher than this after he turns 30 with less team control? For a team seemingly going nowhere, at some point cashing in on those values might have to be considered.

I'm not saying you must trade, but Joe Ryan's trade value (and Duran/Jax) literally goes down every minute from here.  They are at the tops of their game, and their window of control gets shorter and shorter.

its great they are playing awesome, but the team is going nowhere.  Its all for no meaning.  The longer it goes, the less the return will be. 

[LA Vikes Fan]

The soft sell is starting. The Athletic is reporting that the Twins are trading Paddack to Detroit for a yet unnamed minor league player. 

[TheLeviathan]

I just want to feel like this Front Office cares about winning.  Be bold.  

Being a Twins fan has meant being subjected to a constant, unrelenting dogma of timidness.

 

[Vanimal46]

12 minutes ago, LA VIkes Fan said:

The soft sell is starting. The Athletic is reporting that the Twins are trading Paddack to Detroit for a yet unnamed minor league player. 

Fitting end to that trade tree. No one won that deal. San Diego got a half year of frustration with Rogers before shipping him at the deadline. And Brent Rooker that they let go just like us. For 4 years of replacement level performance from Paddack and a 2 year roller coaster from Pagan. 

[tarheeltwinsfan]

3 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

He will be at Target Field, in uniform, tonight.

Is Tonkin ushering tonight? 

[DocBauer]

A good write up, Nick. Thanks for the work.

I think you're selling Castro short in your OP. He might have the highest "bring back" as he offers so much to whatever team makes a move for him. While not having a great season, Paddack is throwing about average for a 5th SP this season, and he's going to be cheap at only about $2.5M still due. I can see someone needing some back of the rotation help to try to win every game possible down the finish, and he offers some help, potentially, in the pen come playoff time.

What I would DO? Try for the best offers from all 6 of the impending FA, though I doubt France has little value/interest from anyone. Vazquez might be a cheap fit for Boston since even his poor offense is better than what they currently have.

What would I NOT DO? With questions about who is going to own the team in a few months, and who might be running the FO, and a POSSIBLE increase in payroll from a new ownership, I would wait for the offseason to move any controllable player. Let's have the offseason to reflect on the direction of the team, a reflection on the entire system, including MILB, and then look for changes and opportunities. The value of Duran and Jax and others are not going to down. And there could be more opportunities for trades as more/all teams look to build their teams for 2026.

What does this team need? (I'm just not going to get in to a debate about the FO and Rocco, etc).

1] The team NEEDS a shakeup. No more status quo. And they need to focus on DIRECTION, which I feel has been lost since the end of 2023. Hiw much of that is the FO miscalculation, or ownership handcuffing I don't know. (I do know I'd like to see the current FO have an offseason where the handcuffs are mostly off).

2] There are some quality players having bad seasons. There are some very good prospects actually really close to helping, but there have been disappointments and injuries that are clouding 2026 at the moment. Waiting a couple months gives more perspective, and more time for a better, deeper depth examination. Again, that doesn't mean changes aren't needed, and that you can just bet on everyone being healthy and suddenly improved and ready to go. It's more time to dig deeper.

3] What does the 2026 team seem to NEED based on 2025 and the loss of the impending FA? 

A] Unless there is a position change coming, they need a 1B who can produce AT LEAST league average results, if not better. The fact is, 1B just isn't the big power, high OPS position it used to be. That doesn't mean the team can't find room for HUGE improvement here compared to 2025 and most previous seasons.

B] Another BAT. I'm not even talking an ALL STAR player. But a corner OF, or a DH, just a really solid, productive BAT. It's fine to be a believer in Wallner...as I am...or HOPE Rodriguez suddenly stays healthy and jumps up and grabs a job. But wish in 1 hand and c**p in the other and see which one gets filled first. What in the world would we possibly do if we suddenly had too many hitters available? (Massive sarcasm).

C] They need a 4th OF with both Bader and Castro gone. Rodriguez and Gonzalez are not going to be 4th OF. (Gonzalez can't play CF to begin with). They still need another Taylor, Bader, or better versions of Lew Ford, or Jake Cave. 

D] They are going to need BP help with Coulombe gone and very possibly 1 of Jax or Duran. Unless they pull of a last minute, short extension for Coulombe I'd make him a priority re-sign as he's done very well as a Twin, but is also VERY GOOD in his 5-6th inning role. But the 2026 Twins need an even better option for the 7-8th innings. That also helps mitigate the loss of 1 of Jax or Duran.

Even unknowing if they will have a job a few months from now, the FO philosophy of Falvey and company has always been about the health and the future of the team, never blowing things up. I expect that to continue. And 6 impending FA to possibly be traded AREN'T going to bring back TOP prospects. But what MIGHT they bring back for NOW, and 2026?

A] Is there a decent 1B or 4th OF currently on a team needing Castro, Bader, Coulombe, or Paddack that is either blocked or somewhat superfluous? Is there someone sitting mostly on the bench or in AAA that needs to be freed for opportunity? THAT'S a target!

B] Is there a AAA or AA arm that has suddenly lost luster and has slipped down a prospect list? Instead of being a top 7, he's now 12th? Maybe he's got 2 1/2 good pitches. Maybe he can't maintain velocity. Maybe he's OK twice through the rotation and gets destroyed the 3rd time. THAT'S who I'd be targeting as a potential arm in a trade right now.

Bader, Castro, Coulombe, and Paddack offer at least SOME opportunity to make an addition or two that makes sense. The market will tell us. POTENTIALLY, the Twins might pick up 2 of the "what they need to add" for possible help now and 2026. Personally, I'd rather those options than A prospects who MIGHT turn out one day. The system is deep enough with prospects that we don't need more fliers. Unless the market is crazy poor...which I don't expect...it's up to the FO to TRY and get 1 or 2 of the options I've mentioned to potentially add to 2026. 

 

[DocBauer]

1 hour ago, Wedman13 said:

I'm not saying you must trade, but Joe Ryan's trade value (and Duran/Jax) literally goes down every minute from here.  They are at the tops of their game, and their window of control gets shorter and shorter.

its great they are playing awesome, but the team is going nowhere.  Its all for no meaning.  The longer it goes, the less the return will be. 

All teams in MLB know how good Ryan, Duran, and Jax are. All 3 of them are controlled through 2027 with limited financial deals. 

It's POSSIBLE their value goes down somewhat because lost the last 2 months of 2025 and the playoffs. It's also possible their value is as good, or even rises, as teams get ready to build their rosters for 2026.

It's a chess game always.

But if the Twins decide to move any of those arms, you'll still see a long line of bidders.

[P Meyer]

I'm not the most savvy in terms of value of prospects to big leaguers. Would Duren to the Mariners for Ford and Locklear be decent value deal? Both are close to the big league and at positions of limited prospect depth for the Twins.

[Jeff K]

2 hours ago, Patzky said:

Twins could conceivably roll with a six person rotation when Ober and Pablo return, or shift Paddack to RP to finish out the year if he's not gone as well. 

Paddack and dobnak traded to the Tigers

 

[Doctor Gast]

Some here think that if we get some high prospects, we can go to the World Series. Many high prospects don't make it to the MLB, The number decreases for those who make it yet don't stick. The number decrease yet more those who stick & are below average, decreases more for those who are mediocre, decrease more those who are above average, more those who are All-stars & more yet those who are superstars. Angels had 2 superstars & never made it to the postseason. CWS put together a whole bunch of young talents together (I think in '21) that some thought were WS-bound. That lasted one year & then went into the crapper. 

It takes a lot more than talent to make it to the WS. It takes a core with chemistry & luck. We are stuck with Correa, good or bad, We have to make the best of it & try to build off the core we have, IMO, it's our best shot. I rather have MLB-ready impact players than lotto tickets, no matter how high they are. Even with our expiring contracts that are in demand, I'd prefer to package up for MLB players that can contribute now.  

[SteveLV]

Is there any chance in heck the Twins can swing a deal to include Correa with one of our valuable assets in a package deal to a deep-pocket team?  Correa HAS to have negative value at this point, but he is a gamer in the playoffs and might want to get out of Minnesota, especially if a re-build is on the agenda.....He would have to waive his no-trade clause, but might like NYC.

We need a starting SS on a contending team to have an unfortunate injury in the next 48 hours....