One MLB Insider Identified Royce Lewis As an Under-the-Radar Trade Candidate

[Cody Christie]

As the August 3 trade deadline approaches, front offices across baseball are beginning to shape their strategies. The biggest headlines are expected to revolve around established stars and frontline starting pitchers. Names such as Tarik Skubal, Freddy Peralta, Robbie Ray, and Joe Ryan could dominate conversations if their teams decide to sell, while clubs around the league continue monitoring the situations involving players like Jarren Duran, Aroldis Chapman, Sonny Gray, Rafael Devers, Willy Adames, and Matt Chapman.

Yet every deadline produces a handful of unexpected moves involving players who were never viewed as obvious trade candidates. According to The Athletic's Jim Bowden, Royce Lewis could fit that description this summer.

Bowden recently included Lewis among his list of 10 under-the-radar trade candidates, citing both his talent and the growing market for impact infielders around the league. While Lewis has spent much of his career battling injuries, he remains an intriguing player because of his age, athleticism, positional versatility, and offensive upside.

"The only question is: Can he stay healthy?" Bowden wrote. "He's healthy now, and several contending teams are looking to upgrade at third base and he can also play first base, so he may get moved."

The timing of the speculation is notable because Lewis has looked much more like himself in recent weeks. After opening the season with a disappointing .163/.261/.279 (.540) slash line and three home runs across his first 31 games, Lewis was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul in a move that felt unthinkable just a year earlier. Instead of sulking, the former No. 1 overall pick responded exactly how the Twins hoped he would.

Lewis crushed eight home runs in just 13 games with the Saints before earning a return trip to Minnesota. Since being recalled on June 6, he has looked rejuvenated at the plate, producing the type of impact contact that once made him one of baseball's top prospects. In 15 games, he has an .873 OPS with four homers and three doubles.

The improvements have extended beyond the batter's box. Minnesota has shifted Lewis primarily to first base, where he has appeared in all but one game since returning to the majors. The organization has paired him with Twins Hall of Famer Justin Morneau in an effort to accelerate his development at the position, and the early returns have been encouraging.

That positional change can be viewed from multiple angles. On one hand, it may represent the Twins searching for a long-term defensive home that allows Lewis to remain healthy while keeping his bat in the lineup. First base could provide stability as the organization continues developing its next wave of infield talent. On the other hand, rival executives may wonder whether the Twins are also attempting to maximize Lewis's value before the deadline.

During Lewis's stint in Triple-A, Brooks Lee settled in at third base while top prospect Kaelen Culpepper continued progressing toward the major leagues. Luke Keaschall remains part of the organization's future plans despite some defensive growing pains, giving Minnesota multiple young infield pieces around which to build.

If the Twins remain firmly in contention, moving Lewis would be difficult to justify. A healthy and productive Lewis still possesses the type of talent capable of changing a lineup and impacting a postseason race.

If Minnesota falls further behind, however, the front office could face difficult decisions. Last year's deadline demonstrated a willingness to make unexpected moves, and Lewis would undoubtedly attract interest from clubs searching for controllable upside. He remains under team control through the 2028 season, making him appealing to both contenders and teams planning beyond this year.

For now, Lewis is impacting the Twins, but there could be an element of "freezer burn" with Lewis that makes the front office consider moving on with other younger options ready to take his place.

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[Brock Beauchamp]

I see Jim Bowden is at it again. I mean, he's not 100% wrong on this, but he's still Jim Bowden.

[Twins GFP]

1 hour ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

I see Jim Bowden is at it again. I mean, he's not 100% wrong on this, but he's still Jim Bowden.

You beat me to the punch...