Twins 2026 Trade Deadline Needs: Ranking Minnesota's Biggest Priorities

[Cody Christie]

Image courtesy of © Jordan Johnson-Imagn Images

The MLB trade deadline is only a few weeks away, and the Twins once again find themselves walking the line between buying and selling. Minnesota remains in the thick of the American League Wild Card race despite battling injuries across nearly every area of the roster, making this year's deadline more about targeted additions than blockbuster moves.

If the Twins continue to hover around playoff position, adding the right pieces could be enough to extend meaningful baseball into September. They don't need to overhaul the roster, but there are clearly areas where reinforcements would have the biggest impact. Here's how the Twins' roster needs rank heading toward the deadline.

3. Bats

Of the three major areas on the roster, adding offense feels like the least likely scenario. In fact, there's a better chance Minnesota subtracts from this group than adds to it. Ryan Jeffers and Josh Bell are both free agents, making each a logical trade candidate if the front office believes it can replace their production internally while improving another area of the roster.

That isn't without risk. Veteran production carries value during a playoff chase, and replacing experienced hitters with unproven players always introduces some uncertainty. This is similar to what small-market teams do at the trade deadline as they balance buying and selling. Still, the organization has positioned itself well for exactly this scenario.

The Twins lead the American League in runs scored, despite several core hitters enduring lengthy slumps during the first half. That's an encouraging sign, because even more offensive help could be arriving from within.

Walker Jenkins has done everything necessary to put himself on the doorstep of the major leagues at Triple-A St. Paul. Alan Roden, acquired at last year's trade deadline, has looked like a quality depth option since returning from injury. Meanwhile, Matt Wallner appears to have rediscovered his swing after being sent to Triple-A, earning International League Player of the Month honors for June. Not every contender can point to that kind of offensive depth waiting in the wings (though, of course, Byron Buxton's injury has already forced Roden to join the active roster). 

2. Starting Pitching

The Twins have managed to survive a wave of rotation injuries, but asking them to continue doing so for another two months feels optimistic.

Connor Prielipp has been impressive at times, but the organization will almost certainly have to monitor his workload as he approaches an innings limit during the second half. At the same time, Minnesota has already lost a trio of pitchers for the year, including Pablo López, David Festa, and Mick Abel. This has forced the coaching staff to piece together stretches of the schedule with regular bullpen games.

Bailey Ober is expected back soon, which should stabilize the rotation, but one healthy return doesn't erase the lack of depth behind the current starters. Kendry Rojas and John Klein are already on the 40-man roster, but both have primarily been used in long relief, rather than traditional starting roles. Ryan Gallagher, another pitcher acquired at last year's deadline, has intriguing upside at Triple-A but needs to demonstrate more consistency before earning a promotion. He's also not yet on the 40-man roster.

One dependable veteran starter could dramatically change the outlook for Minnesota's rotation. It would reduce the strain on younger arms, lessen the need for bullpen games, and provide valuable stability over the season's final two months.

1. Bullpen

The bullpen has been Minnesota's biggest need for nearly a full calendar year. That reality became even more painful when Jhoan Duran and Louis Varland were both selected as first-time All-Stars in 2026. Either one would be anchoring the back end of the Twins' bullpen right now, had they remained in the organization. Instead, Minnesota entered the season already searching for reliable late-inning depth, before injuries created an even bigger problem. Anthony Banda had settled into the primary setup role after a difficult April, posting a sparkling 1.00 ERA over 20 appearances since May 10. Just as he found his groove, a significant lat strain knocked him out for multiple months, leaving another major hole in the bullpen.

Cole Sands has also been unavailable for most of the season after suffering a mild right forearm strain in early May. He has appeared in only 12 games this year. He's now out on a rehab assignment and could be back in the majors almost right away, but there's no guarantee that he'll be the best version of himself when he returns—and the team needs that version of him, or something even better.

Even before those injuries, the bullpen lacked enough trustworthy options behind the late-inning arms. Now, the group could benefit from reinforcements from both the right and left sides. The encouraging part is that relief pitching is often the easiest area to address at the trade deadline. Contending teams routinely shuffle bullpen pieces, and quality relievers can usually be acquired without paying the premium attached to starting pitchers.

If the Twins ultimately decide to make only one significant addition before the deadline, it should be a reliever capable of handling meaningful outs in the seventh, eighth, or ninth. Improving the bullpen would not only strengthen the relief corps, but also protect a rotation that has already absorbed more than its share of injuries.

Minnesota's offense has carried the club through stretches of the first half, giving the front office the flexibility to focus almost exclusively on pitching before the deadline. A veteran starter would provide welcome stability, but the bullpen remains the clear priority. Between injuries, a lack of dependable depth, and the increased workload created by bullpen games, the Twins need more reliable relief options if they're serious about staying in the postseason race.

A couple of smart, targeted pitching additions could be enough to support an offense that has already proven capable of carrying its share of the load. If the Twins remain in contention over the next few weeks, that's exactly the type of deadline approach fans should expect.

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Do you agree with the rankings? What would be a perfect trade deadline for the Twins? Leave a comment and start the discussion.

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[Cory Engelhardt]

Bullpen, if they truly are going to try, needs at least 2 dependable additions prior to August 3, and maybe even 3.

I'd LOVE another starter. If Ober looks good in his return tomorrow AND Mick Abel can reasonably be counted on to come back prior to August 3, then this is maybe less of a need. But I'd love the idea of adding a guy who can go 6 on the regular.

With bats, you didn't mention Kaelen Culpepper. Just throwing that out. I do not know if adding a bat is a need right now, but I suppose you always have to listen. But I do think trading Larnach makes all the sense in the world regardless. I also don't know how much longer Josh Bell can hit like he has, but he has looked good in the dh spot for a while now.

[weitz41]

I'm in on taking a calculated shot at a WC or the division. 2 BP arms and some underperforming starter would be as far as I'd go.

Jeffers, I'd try to extend. If that's a no go like Berrios was, I'd move him. No point in losing him to free agency for zip. I've seen the Yankees stuff about Jeffers. If that happens I don't see them parting with any BP arms on the 26-man roster. They are trying to get to the WS. SO, you have to pick from the 40 man and minors. There's a few that fit the Twins needs.

Larnach...I actually was for keeping him in the offseason. My reasoning was if the kids can't beat him out, hold till the trade deadline. Now it's a few weeks away. The Twins will need to find the right team to do a trade that helps this season and beyond. I'm looking at the Astros as the best target. Same as the Yankees. But they have a few minor league arms that might fill a BP spot.

Now the tricky part, The Twins have way too many outfielders looking for a spot in the majors. If they are trying to win now and build for 2027+ they have to decide who has a future in Minesota...Jenkins is off limits. But after that who? Something has to give. I'll just point to the Giants as my choice to help the BP and another starter. I'm going to lose a few here...Tyler Mahle or Robbie Ray would fill the starter to save inning on the young arms. They have a few MLB BP arms I could see them parting with.

[killercarewoliva]

44 minutes ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

Bullpen, if they truly are going to try, needs at least 2 dependable additions prior to August 3, and maybe even 3.

I'd LOVE another starter. If Ober looks good in his return tomorrow AND Mick Abel can reasonably be counted on to come back prior to August 3, then this is maybe less of a need. But I'd love the idea of adding a guy who can go 6 on the regular.

With bats, you didn't mention Kaelen Culpepper. Just throwing that out. I do not know if adding a bat is a need right now, but I suppose you always have to listen. But I do think trading Larnach makes all the sense in the world regardless. I also don't know how much longer Josh Bell can hit like he has, but he has looked good in the dh spot for a while now.

Abel I loved to see but he is probably out for the rest of the season..

 

[Cory Engelhardt]

3 minutes ago, killercarewoliva said:

Abel I loved to see but he is probably out for the rest of the season..

 

You are probably right. Just saying, if he can be pitching again soon then a starter isn't as big a need. But really, time is running out and I can't see a way he is back in the majors before the end of the month regardless.

 

 

[tony&rodney]

#3 - bullpen. 

#2 - bullpen.

#1 - bullpen.

I'm not sure what teams are willing to give up a good relief pitcher. Maybe San Diego or Pittsburgh. Perhaps Wallner returns something useful or Jeffers a bigger piece.

One outside shot would be to offer Dasan Hill for Sonny Gray. Gray pushes Rojas to pen duty. 

I'm holding off until the end of the month unless a really good deal falls in my lap if I am the Twins.

[LA Vikes Fan]

I agree with the bullpen as the biggest need but trading for a starting pitcher would kill 2 birds with one stone. We need BP help, but it's expensive for unreliable guys and unpredictable results. Plus, our surplus is quality OFs that are worth more than a BP pitcher unless we're getting a dependable closer. I think we can vastly improve the bullpen if we trade for a Starting Pitcher and move Prielipp into the BP along with Ober replacing Paredes who also goes to the BP. Why Preilipp? Because his innings have to be managed coming off injury and he'll be shut down before the end of the season. Moving him to the BP gets him through the season and gives us a valuable BP arm, even a late inning arm. The Dodgers have done this a bunch of times with Sasaki, Maeda, Stripling, Sheehan, even Glasnow. We did it successfully a couple of years ago with The Sheriff. The Angels appear willing to trade controllable starting pitching for young, controllable quality hitting.  

With that in mind, here's my proposal:

Emma for Reid Detmers or Jose Soriano of the Angels. Alternatively, Emma and either Wallner or Ross for Detmers (or Soriano) and Sam Bachman or Kirby Yates. 

Why Emma? Because he's worth a lot, like a quality SP with 2.5 years of control left like Soriano or Detmers, and we have a glut of LH hitting OFs. I realize that Emma is out of options after this year, has been hurt a lot and hasn't seen the MLB field yet, so his value is down a little and we might have to sweeten the pot just to get Detmers or Soriano . We are going to have to keep or DFA Emma next season and we haven't even had the chance to see if he can hit MLB pitching. He's also fallen behind Jenkins, Roden, and probably Mendez in the LH hitting OF hierarchy for the reasons his value is a little down. Conversely, the Angels need hitters bad, can be patient while he develops, and Soriano's and Detmers 2.5 year controllable timeline ends before they are likely to be relevant while our guys 6 year clock hasn't even started yet. I l think it's a win/win short and medium term for us, longer term for them. What do you think? 

[Brandon]

49 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

#3 - bullpen. 

#2 - bullpen.

#1 - bullpen.

I'm not sure what teams are willing to give up a good relief pitcher. Maybe San Diego or Pittsburgh. Perhaps Wallner returns something useful or Jeffers a bigger piece.

One outside shot would be to offer Dasan Hill for Sonny Gray. Gray pushes Rojas to pen duty. 

I'm holding off until the end of the month unless a really good deal falls in my lap if I am the Twins.

I had pitching, pitching and more pitching. 

Offense is good.  Upgrade in RF maybe or SS/ IF but there are options ready in AAA.

[DJL44]

Buying or selling, they will be shopping Wallner.

[Colbeh]

I like the Rays as a trade partner this year.

Let them and the Yanks get in a bit of a trading war for Jeffers, but let the Rays win (Boo Yanks). They need a catcher and an OFer, so we could look to include Larnach to sweeten the deal.

Rays have a couple pitchers close to the show. Brody Hopkins has talent but has 64 walks in 67 innings. <.200 BAA, doesnt give up much homers and is a elite SO guy. Forret is a little lower on the rankings but is similar to Hopkins but without the walk issues. Either could be a good option to get their feet wet in the majors either as a BP arm or the 5th starter when Prielipp needs to cut down the innings.

Im also slightly in favor of trading Emma as well, his injury history is concerning as a Twins fan and if another team ask for him then id like to get a solid pitcher with atleast 1.5-2.5 years of control.

[Riverbrian]

My favorite band of all time is Led Zeppelin. 

If I had to make a list of the best Rock bands of all time. 

Led Zeppelin would be #1 and my #2 would have to be the sixth best because Led Zeppelin gets the first 5 slots. 

The Twins Led Zeppelin would be the bullpen. 

If anyone understands what I meant by that. 

The follow up question would be... how did I manage to compare the brilliance of Led Zeppelin to our not as brilliant 2026 bullpen and do it correctly. 

We need bullpen! Arms... Plural

 

 

 

 

[chpettit19]

1 hour ago, LA Vikes Fan said:

I agree with the bullpen as the biggest need but trading for a starting pitcher would kill 2 birds with one stone. We need BP help, but it's expensive for unreliable guys and unpredictable results. Plus, our surplus is quality OFs that are worth more than a BP pitcher unless we're getting a dependable closer. I think we can vastly improve the bullpen if we trade for a Starting Pitcher and move Prielipp into the BP along with Ober replacing Paredes who also goes to the BP. Why Preilipp? Because his innings have to be managed coming off injury and he'll be shut down before the end of the season. Moving him to the BP gets him through the season and gives us a valuable BP arm, even a late inning arm. The Dodgers have done this a bunch of times with Sasaki, Maeda, Stripling, Sheehan, even Glasnow. We did it successfully a couple of years ago with The Sheriff. The Angels appear willing to trade controllable starting pitching for young, controllable quality hitting.  

With that in mind, here's my proposal:

Emma for Reid Detmers or Jose Soriano of the Angels. Alternatively, Emma and either Wallner or Ross for Detmers (or Soriano) and Sam Bachman or Kirby Yates. 

Why Emma? Because he's worth a lot, like a quality SP with 2.5 years of control left like Soriano or Detmers, and we have a glut of LH hitting OFs. I realize that Emma is out of options after this year, has been hurt a lot and hasn't seen the MLB field yet, so his value is down a little and we might have to sweeten the pot just to get Detmers or Soriano . We are going to have to keep or DFA Emma next season and we haven't even had the chance to see if he can hit MLB pitching. He's also fallen behind Jenkins, Roden, and probably Mendez in the LH hitting OF hierarchy for the reasons his value is a little down. Conversely, the Angels need hitters bad, can be patient while he develops, and Soriano's and Detmers 2.5 year controllable timeline ends before they are likely to be relevant while our guys 6 year clock hasn't even started yet. I l think it's a win/win short and medium term for us, longer term for them. What do you think? 

You're going to have to give up significantly more than just Emma to get a quality SP with 2.5 years of control left. Like Culpepper, Tait, Quick, or Houston. Somebody in or close to the top 100ish prospects.

I don't have a problem trading Emma, but he's not valuable enough to front a package for the type of arm you're talking about. If he can bring back Soriano or Detmers, they should be doing that deal tonight. And Wallner isn't really worth anything meaningful. He's in AAA at the age of 28. Doesn't fit a rebuilding team's timeline and win now teams aren't going to give anything up to see if he can figure out how to hit MLB pitching again immediately.

[tony&rodney]

54 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

You're going to have to give up significantly more than just Emma to get a quality SP with 2.5 years of control left. Like Culpepper, Tait, Quick, or Houston. Somebody in or close to the top 100ish prospects.

I don't have a problem trading Emma, but he's not valuable enough to front a package for the type of arm you're talking about. If he can bring back Soriano or Detmers, they should be doing that deal tonight. And Wallner isn't really worth anything meaningful. He's in AAA at the age of 28. Doesn't fit a rebuilding team's timeline and win now teams aren't going to give anything up to see if he can figure out how to hit MLB pitching again immediately.

Detmers or Soriano will cost a couple of top prospects for sure. As much as these two are good pitchers, I'm not sure they are a need or what the Twins should be looking at right now. 

What do people think about a reboot of the Sonny Gray trade? This time is would be Dasan Hill or Charlee Soto going to Boston. What would it take to acquire Gray?

[Brandon]

The pitching available this deadline is going to be deep.  Skuball and Gray and Chapman and the two Angels pitchers, KC could make some trades.  There should be plenty of starting pitchers to choose from.  But we really need bullpen. Skuball with Ryan and Taj make for a great playoff rotation and we just need to pick up a few arms... Let's go we have the top ranked offense.  

[DocBauer]

I think moving Larnach can open a spot for someone like Roden...if he PROVES he's as good as he appears to be...and bring something back. But he's only going to bring back someone's 4th or 5th pen arm, unless you want to settle for a prospect. But maybe someone else's 4th or 5th arm is a young Varland?

He's more replaceable than Bell is. Bell brings back a prospect. Just promoting a prospect to fill his roster spot doesn't help this season.

Jeffers brings back the most, if traded. But again, what are you expecting back? A team looking to keep winning and have a chance for the playoffs, much less a potential WS appearance, PROBABLY doesn't have anything to offer other than a couple really good prospects, or again, maybe a #4-5 RP that is Varland junior. And that might be fine for 2027 and beyond with Caratini and Jackson as at least competent replacements. 

I'm not saying the Twins CAN'T get a solid RP with talent, and upside, and control who might help this season, but it might be difficult. Again, what playoff contender wants to weaken their bullpen to acquire a necessary bat? Well, as stated, maybe they have a 4th or 5th arm with potential they are willing to move. But that's cutting a very thin slice of opportunity. 

But a couple decent arms that might contribute in 2027 is NOT out of the equation. 

A BAT isn't going to happen in trade without moving prospects.

A SP that can eat some innings similar to Keuchal a couple years ago might be acquired for next to nothing. SOMEWHERE there is a veteran SP on a lonely team without playoff hopes that would love to have even a decent prospect for someone to eat the rest of his 2026 salary. That could help the Twins eat up innings, and help conserve Prielipp, who MIGHT finish the season in the BP just to monitor his IP.

But the bullpen is probably not going to be addressed for THIS SEASON by trading Larnach, or Jeffers, unless we get a nice surprise. THOSE potential trades would be for prospects that might be CLOSE but probably not on a current roster. 

That doesn't mean trading them would be a mistake. They might bring back help for 2027.

But if the Twins really want to add to the bullpen, you need to look back to 2019 when they traded a handful of decent, but not TOP prospects to acquire Romo and Dyson. 

Let's forget the fact that Dyson was hiding and injury and turned out to be a bad human being. On paper, he was a good rental on the cheap. Romo turned out to be a cheap addition to help and was good enough to bring back. 

Look, I know it's been 7yrs, but Romo cost the Twins 1B Lewin Diaz, a power bat on the upswing at the time. That would be the equivalent today of Sabato. 

Dyson cost OF Jaylin Davis, also on the upswing, and a couple of low A MILB prospects. Today, that would probably be Rosario and a flier or 2 from the FCL.

Romo was a great acquisition. Dyson could have been.

The Twins just aren't going to get immediate bullpen help from trades of Larnach and Jeffers. Or Bell, who I don't think they will move. But they might get future help.

BUT they have the choice to get veteran rentals, eating what's left on their contracts, that they can choose to resign, or younger arms that have control. But it's going to cost prospects. Or maybe there's a few cheaper but solid options similar to Romo and Dyson out there.

I'm not crazy about rentals unless they come cheap. I don't want to wreck the MILB system for a rental at this point. But what if a Rosario and a solid A prospect could bring back a Varland junior from a sub .500 team looking for younger talent? Who knows, maybe Fedko is better than paying a veteran another couple $M guaranteed next year for the Angels or some team.

My whole point is, BULLPEN is what's needed. But the best way to find arms for NOW is to trade prospects to get them from teams that don't figure in to any playoff structure for 2026. 

The question is are you looking for rentals? Or someone you have control of for a couple of years? The cost changes depending. And how much are you willing to pay for either avenue? 

Again, like Romo, you might just get someone cheap that you can resign again. But to add to the pen for THIS SEASON, what you're really looking for is non contending teams looking for some prospects. The veterans the Twins might move are going to bring in prospects for 2027 and beyond.

[DataNerd]

Trying to fit a MLB for MLB trade for Jeffers/Larnach is tough because the teams trading for them want to win now.  I would probably move them for prospects (trying to get at least 1 who is a low upside AAA arm who can get called up), then make separate moves to get a couple bullpen arms.

[soyouresayingtheresachance]

My main target would be Aroldis Chapman. Hes signed through next season and would be the shutdown closer we need. Im not sure what it would take, but IMO, he would be the best place to start. BP guys can be volatile, but he has a proven track record of success. 

Then Gomez and Morris can handle the 7th and 8th. Just need another reliable arm or 2 and you have a much improved BP