The Twins Should Make A Last Minute Swap With The Mets

[Cody Pirkl]

Image courtesy of © Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

 

The Mets and Twins might as well be playing different sports when it comes to their level of investment in the product on the field. That said, both teams could use some roster upgrades and could match up on a deal. Should the Twins look to deal starting pitching for a young position player?

 

The Twins are currently expected to wind up with a win total somewhere in the low to mid-70s range, according to several projection systems and betting outlets. It’s not difficult to see why, as the team remains largely unchanged at its core after their disastrous finish to 2025. With spring training approaching, the team should be looking for upside to try to outperform expectations, and the Mets have a pair of young players the Twins should target.

 

The Mets have utilized their deep pockets this offseason to bring in Jorge Polanco, who is expected to take over first base duties, as well as Bo Bichette, who is expected to switch to third base. They also parted with a young, borderline top-100 pitching prospect to acquire Freddy Peralta, who is currently on a one-year deal. As a result, a pair of young hitters in Brett Baty and Mark Vientos have been displaced, and their stock of young, near-MLB pitching has taken a bit of a hit. The Twins and Mets should look to help each other.

 

 

Mark Vientos

Vientos is the less intriguing of the pair of young Mets hitters the Twins should target, but he isn’t without intriguing traits, and will undoubtedly be the most affordable in trade. He looked to have broken out in 2024 when he slashed .266/.322/.516 while slugging 27 homers in just 111 games. He fell flat out of the gate in 2025, posting a .640 OPS in the first half, but quietly rebounded with a .778 OPS to finish the year.

Vientos can play third base, though he’s been a liability there so far in his career by all accounts. He’s been around neutral defensively at first base in a limited sample, making 1B/DH a stronger possibility long term.

The fit isn’t obvious for 2026, but that is a result of the Twins' head-scratching roster build, rather than Vientos’ abilities. His performance against left-handed pitching will likely far surpass any other options the Twins currently have in the 1B/DH slot, and his power would only rival that of Matt Wallner’s on the current roster. Vientos has the kind of offensive upside that makes him worth gambling on, and he's more than capable of making the positional fit moot. Because of his defensive limitations and current fit on the Mets, he would likely fetch the lower end of the Twins' current rotation depth, perhaps in the Kendry Rojas or Andrew Morris range. Even if it took a bit more, Vientos is team-controlled through 2029.

 

Brett Baty

It’s possible Baty’s breakout 2025 was enough for the Mets to take him off the table completely, but the Twins would be wise to at least find out. Baty is a former top prospect who, despite swinging left-handed, is exactly the kind of profile the Twins should look to acquire. His .748 OPS in 2026 was solid, as his quality of contact jumped significantly and he posted a slash line 11% better than league average according to wRC+. His offense is strong enough for him to play every day, but his defensive versatility can also make him viable in a utility role.

 

Unlike Vientos, Baty was a solid defender at third base. He also posted a positive Defensive Runs Saved at second base, and is capable of playing first. He would be strong injury insurance for Royce Lewis , with the kind of upside to completely take over the position long term, should injuries or performance continue to be a problem. He’s also strong insurance for Luke Keaschall , who has an injury history of his own and could potentially see more time in the outfield in 2026.

 

The Mets may be convinced that Baty is a budding star after his breakout 2026, but it’s hard not to notice that he currently has no place in their Opening Day lineup. If they’re interested in swapping him out for what they see as similar value in rotation depth, the Twins would be a good fit. Several names, such as Mick Abel and Zebby Matthews, are unlikely to make the roster in the Minnesota rotation on Opening Day. Parting with MLB-ready rotation options may seem like a risk, but it may be worth taking to try to raise the lineup’s ceiling to another level.

 

The Twins have no shortage of rotation options under control for years to come, and it’s far more likely that if the team struggles in 2026, it’s due to offensive performance rather than starting pitching. A late offseason pivot to transfer some of that starting pitching depth into legitimate lineup help may be a wise choice to help the offense.

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Do you agree? Where would you draw the line at acquiring Vientos and Baty?

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[arby58]

I know the Mets plan to play Polanco at 1B - where he has a total of 1 inning played in his entire MLB career. Considering he will be 33 in July and has had his share of injury issues, I wouldn't be trading Viento if I were the Mets. Baty is interesting, but the other side of the equation - what would it take in terms of Twins pitching to get hin - is left unanswered.

[Otaknam]

No to trading Mick Abel. His potential as a number 1 or 2 starter is too important to give up on, considering that the Twins don’t have a true number one starter, like a Verlander type pitcher. If Abel throws consistent strikes he has that upside, and he’s major league ready. 

[NYCTK]

Mets aren't really a fit at all. They have plenty of major league pitching depth and an actual pitching pipeline that has a lot of good arms in the high minors.

They were a fit when Joe Ryan was being discussed, being someone in the front of the rotation instead of the back. 

That being said, the Mets might trade Vientos for very little in return. A good RP-bound arm with many options, like Festa or even Morris. I just don't think the Twins would pay enough for Baty, which I think Stearns would require a real prospect, like Houston AND Festa. 

[rdehring]

Not interested in either of these guys.  As the most recent Pohlad said, Go big or go home.  Or something like that.  So if you are doing any trades, trade Ryan and/or Jeffers for a big return.  A HUGE return, including a couple guys already doing better in MLB at positions of need.  That along with a couple great prospects who are very close.

[JD-TWINS]

In what world does Ryan Jeffers get a HUGE return? He’s a slightly below average defender and above average at the plate, for a Catcher. He’s under control for ‘26 only. Not sure how that works into TWINS getting real benefit?

I guess maybe you were saying J Ryan as a single trade piece?

Jeffers and Ryan ……. sure…….. for Duran and a solid reliever or young arm from Boston…….just a thought. Trades are mostly abstract thoughts from the Fan’s perspective with no real idea of what may be possible or considered, IMO.

i.e. …… The Polanco trade got Team DeSclafani - Topa - some low level pitcher & GONZALEZ. Topa has been better than letting Jorge just walk - Gonzalez looks, today, like he could be in the OF mix for next few years.

Jeffers “could” bring that type of return but I don’t think this mix of guys is of any interest to Team v. selling Jeffers at the deadline with a Team in the mix & with a real/desperate need.

The Team’s payroll is currently so low that I don’t see value in not keeping Ryan in ‘26 & potentially to at least the deadline in ‘27, and paying him. 

[OregonTwinsFan]

I don't think either of those Mets players are worth trading young starters for. What the Twins really need is someone who can play SS.

[sweetmusicviola16]

Abel is my  first choice for being in the OD rotation. Why trade Duran if you aren't going to utilize the piece that you got in return? And any talk of transitioning him into relief? No. More time at AAA? No. 

5 days now until reporting for ST and this team is still very much a mess. I guess we'll wait and see if the next 6 weeks can clear any of this up or not. 

[Brandon]

I guess your looking for someone to play 1B long term and I think we already have him in Wallner.  Or Gonzalez.  Move someone in from the OF.  We have 3 strong OF bats and a strong SS bat and a strong SS defender.  .  I think these guys just need time   

 

I like the trade proposals so if you want to make a trade, I'm fine with that 

[LA Vikes Fan]

I like both ideas, although I agree with other posters that it's hard to see the Mets being interested given their existing pitching depth. Having said that, the description makes it seem like Baty and Vientos play the same basic positions - 3B, 1B, and DH. One of those is now occupied long term on the Mets with Bichette moving to 3B. It almost seems like they should choose between the two and trade one. The obvious one to trade would be Vientos.  

I would give up Morris, Rojas, or even one of them plus a 20-30 prospect for Vientos. If the price was Matthews or Festa, I would expect a Mets pitching prospect in the 15-20 range or an established 7th or 8th inning reliever to come back with Vientos. To me, Abel and Prielipp are off the table. 

[NYCTK]

1 hour ago, LA Vikes Fan said:

One of those is now occupied long term on the Mets with Bichette moving to 3B.

Bichette has an opt out after one season. But otherwise agree and Mets fans agree. Vientos seems like he has no role on the squad but if he somewhere like Minnesota he could get a lot of playing time and hit 30 HR. It'd be with terrible defense and frustrating at bats though. 

Would have been a good move instead of signing Josh Bell. But with Bell can't see the Twins wanting him now. 

 

 

[Blyleven2011]

9 hours ago, OregonTwinsFan said:

I don't think either of those Mets players are worth trading young starters for. What the Twins really need is someone who can play SS.

What the twins need besides a shortstop is players with better defense and can make contact and hit to all fields and in the clutch would be a plus too ...

[Doctor Wu]

17 hours ago, sweetmusicviola16 said:

5 days now until reporting for ST and this team is still very much a mess.

Sadly, that is a very accurate statement. Something's gotta happen soon, or so we keep hoping. 

[TopGunn#22]

Either player would be a decent addition to the current Twins roster.  I like the power potential of Vientos and if I could get him for Andrew Morris I'd do it.  Vientos can play 3B in a pinch for a short period of time, but in an extended period his defensive short comings would emerge and be a detriment.  But that RH power is a plus.

But guys like Abel and Matthews I want to hang on to.  Would Andrew Morris be sufficiently interesting to the Mets to give up Vientos?  NYCTK is our Mets expert.  I would need his input.  He makes a great point that a deal like this would have made far more sense had the Twins not signed Bell.  

[Coach Wheels]

23 hours ago, OregonTwinsFan said:

I don't think either of those Mets players are worth trading young starters for. What the Twins really need is someone who can play SS.

Agree with this thought. This story sounds more like, "How do the Mets get better by making a trade with the Twins"?

[twinstalker]

Wow.  You obviously don't understand the upside of Zebby.  And for a mediocre to average hitter.

If Zebby doesn't work out, then thems the breaks, but to give up all your high level (Lopez, Ryan, Ober?) or potential high level pitching (Zebby) in the next year or so makes zero sense.

[NYCTK]

2 hours ago, TopGunn#22 said:

Either player would be a decent addition to the current Twins roster.  I like the power potential of Vientos and if I could get him for Andrew Morris I'd do it.  Vientos can play 3B in a pinch for a short period of time, but in an extended period his defensive short comings would emerge and be a detriment.  But that RH power is a plus.

But guys like Abel and Matthews I want to hang on to.  Would Andrew Morris be sufficiently interesting to the Mets to give up Vientos?  NYCTK is our Mets expert.  I would need his input.  He makes a great point that a deal like this would have made far more sense had the Twins not signed Bell.  

Obviously impossible to predict Stearns thoughts. But Mets fans are kind of done with Vientos. It's a pretty crowded roster right now and he can't really play anywhere. He needs to be just fully committed to 1B and prove passable there. 

But because he's slow as hell and bad on defense, his value is so much lower than you would expect for someone capable of a 30 HR season. But he should be on a team with fewer expectations so he can get full time play and try to recapture his swagger from 2024. 

I think Mets fans would be with a return of someone like Morris, and like someone else suggested, some low level prospect with no hype around them but a bit of hope. Mets pitching scouting has been exceptional these last couple years so could see them identifying some arm they like. 

Baty is a different story. Mets fans like him and his defense is adequate to good at both 2nd and 3rd, and many think they will get him reps in LF to insure against a Carson Benge rookie flop. His versatility is a big boon and fans have grown to like him quite a lot. I think the front office feels the same about both players. 

[TopGunn#22]

Thanks for the insight NYCTK !!  I'm not sure THIS is the move the Twins will make but I just have a feeling they aren't done.  Even with the limitations of Vientos, adding a RH bat with power like that would be interesting with a Travis Adams straight up swap.  But the Josh Bell signing kind of messed this type of move up.