Why Another Twins Trade Deadline Selloff Doesn’t Make Sense

[tony&rodney]

8 hours ago, ashbury said:

 

Both these positions could be true.  I could see both teams turning thumbs down at this trade deadline.

Boston is pretty happy with their pitching, so they do not make this trade in my opinion. Yes, the Red Sox like Ryan and tried to pry him away a year ago from the Twins. So thumbs down from Boston. 

The Twins don't need to get another learning on the job starting pitcher at the expense of losing their top starter. Minnesota might listen if Boston includes Franklin Arias but we already have said that the Red Sox are not looking for pitching. In a straight trade, the Twins don't even think for two seconds before saying "No".

Two things are true in this case.

Further, the Twins will need to be enticed with an offer they cannot refuse, which I'm guessing would need to include a top ten prospect and that seems unlikely from the viewpoint of the other side. I will be surprised if Ryan is traded.

[HarmonK03]

33 minutes ago, TL said:

It would be a (great) problem to have if they could stay healthy, but Buck, E-Rod and Jenkins - your ideal starting 3 - have certainly shown injuries may follow them throughout their careers. I imagine there are enough at bats for Keaschall, Roden and one of Martin/Gonzalez/Mendez with injuries, DH, and other rest for the starters. 

I think we’ve all been very happy with Larnach’s bat this year, but with his expected ‘27 salary and sub par defense he looks like a guy who will be gone whether at trade deadline or the offseason. 

I get what you are saying about injuries.  Buck has been mostly healthy the last two years.  That is what you have a forth outfielder for.  As for ERod, some of his injuries have come from dumb plays like diving into first base, can he get smarter as he gets experience you have to hope so. And Jenkins is only 21, I think it is too early to say he will be injury prone for his career.  And he seems to have had a lot of soft tissue injuries, the team needs to help him find a training regimen to minimize these.  And he is not someone that should be on a straight platoon.  So the point still remains they can't go into 2027 with six outfielders in St. Paul.  They still will need to make some moves.

[tony&rodney]

8 hours ago, KirbyDome89 said:

The "anything can happen," mentality is what has kept this team locked into mediocrity or worse for the last few years. 

The mediocrity is more related to a failure to act on potential obvious transactions and a set of directives that pushed defense down to a minimum in importance. Changes have been made and more are coming. The team is slowly improving in incremental steps. A simple look at the Opening Day defense versus now is pretty drastic.

It isn't certain how the team can take a big step but perhaps a couple of prospects stepping into regular positions in August may be a thing. A big trade is also possible. While there is no such thing as too much depth within an organization, it might work to move a couple of the Twins prospects in the #4-10 rankings if the right player is available.

It seems like we are itching for the team to leap in a direction, which may not happen. The next 16 games will give us and the organization a clue to where the Twins are headed. A team picked to finish at the bottom of their division and the American League has created enough excitement that we are paying attention.

[BrokenCompass]

Get rid of Jeffers. He's as good as he'll ever be, Twins have two other decent catchers on the roster and plenty in the farm system. 

[Mike Sixel]

32 minutes ago, TL said:

That’s not accurate. Nobody is saying to not trade players if you’re BAD. But if you have a real chance to make the playoffs, especially after the last two years, you take it. And making a run may also lead to an increase in payroll next year - which will have a bigger benefit on winning than the prospect value you’d likely get for Jeffers and definitely for Bell.

Ryan will still be a valuable chip in the offseason regardless. 

The argument that a playoff run is more valuable than a prospect might be true. That's why I think they don't sell.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

2 hours ago, Major League Ready said:

Winning organization trade their best players at the deadline and in the off-season when they are not good in that given year.  What did St. Louis do this last off-season.  The brewers have 13 players on pace to have more than 1.5 WAR.  Seven were drafted and six were acquired as prospects. 

We are neither good nor bad so what do you do?  Let's just keep in mind that we would not even have Ryan or Duran had they followed your doctrine.  Let's keep in mind that Jeffers would make us a little better in a year when we are mediocre.  He could return a player that contributes for 6-7 years.

Jeffers can help us win the pennant today. But only if he plays for the Twins.  I do see your points and they are reasonable. However I want the Twins to play for today. Tomorrow never arrives. It's always a day away. 

[Milwaukee-Jeff]

This year is a weird one, especially for the AL Central. The White Sox have improved (when you're on the bottom, no place to go but up) and everyone else is mediocre, including the Twins.

Still, the Twins have outperformed what most people expected. The trade deadline selloff last year was demoralizing for fans so most expectations coming into '26 were justifiably low.

Will Tait and Abel (from the Phillies for Duran) become regulars, even stars? Same with Rojas and Roden (from the Jays for Varland and France). Would the 2026 Twins be better if Duran and Varland will still around? We'll never know.

I would keep Ryan until at least the offseason. IF the Twins manage to sneak into the playoffs, it would be a morale boost for the players and the fans.

I assume that some of the prospects now in AAA will get a call up this season. That might be further cause for optimism. Fans want to see the likes of Jenkins, Culpepper, Rodriguez, Gonzalez and possibly Houston.

Baseball is a business. If Tom Pohlad wants to make money, he needs to invest in some FA talent to make/keep the team competetive. The only was to put people back in the seats if for the management to show commitment to winning,

[Jeff K]

Do NOT trade Ryan.  Contend, don't contend, leave him on the team.  They can trade in the off-season or try to extend.

Do try to trade Jeffers IF you can get a reliever that can help the team.  Doesn't have to be an 8th or 9th inning guy, but a good depth piece.

Do trade either larnach or Bell.  The team needs flexibility and two DH's doesn't cut it.  Either (Larnach especially) or Bell should be able to bring a solid relief pitcher.  It's time to find out about Walker Jenkins.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

14 hours ago, LyleCole said:

Again, this is a mediocre team, not a real competitive team.

Regardless, the underlying reason to me is that the ownership of the Twins will never budget the roster to be competitive.  If they intend on signing Ryan Jeffers to a market rate contract, then keep him.  But if they are not willing to pay him $20 million a season then get the best offer for him.   ANd if they willing to pay Joe Ryan $30+ million, the same.   And if they have that standard, why keep Byron Buxton if we can find a good trade candidate for him.  Either do it all one way, or the other.  

I understand your points. However I say keep the major league roster and play today like your hair is on fire. 

[tarheeltwinsfan]

6 minutes ago, Milwaukee-Jeff said:

This year is a weird one, especially for the AL Central. The White Sox have improved (when you're on the bottom, no place to go but up) and everyone else is mediocre, including the Twins.

Still, the Twins have outperformed what most people expected. The trade deadline selloff last year was demoralizing for fans so most expectations coming into '26 were justifiably low.

Will Tait and Abel (from the Phillies for Duran) become regulars, even stars? Same with Rojas and Roden (from the Jays for Varland and France). Would the 2026 Twins be better if Duran and Varland will still around? We'll never know.

I would keep Ryan until at least the offseason. IF the Twins manage to sneak into the playoffs, it would be a morale boost for the players and the fans.

I assume that some of the prospects now in AAA will get a call up this season. That might be further cause for optimism. Fans want to see the likes of Jenkins, Culpepper, Rodriguez, Gonzalez and possibly Houston.

Baseball is a business. If Tom Pohlad wants to make money, he needs to invest in some FA talent to make/keep the team competetive. The only was to put people back in the seats if for the management to show commitment to winning,

The Savanah Bananas are a baseball business.  The Minnesota Twins need to be about winning by playing baseball as it is meant to be played...with everything on the line every day. 

[Linus]

14 minutes ago, tarheeltwinsfan said:

Jeffers can help us win the pennant today. But only if he plays for the Twins.  I do see your points and they are reasonable. However I want the Twins to play for today. Tomorrow never arrives. It's always a day away. 

This club is not winning the pennant. By far, the most likely outcome is they don’t make the playoffs. So by all means less pass up a golden opportunity to be able to win the pennant in 2028. 

[jorgenswest]

The Twins don’t need to be buyers or sellers. They need to be opportunists. Every player has value to this team. No one should be traded for whatever they can get.

Any player should be traded if a team offers significantly beyond that value. I would trade both Jeffers and Caratini if those deals were overpays. I would trade Ryan if an offer is presented that is beyond his significant value to this team. Bell has value as they compete for a wild card spot but he also has the lowest return bar to me. I think there is value in giving Wallner one last chance to show he is the hitter we have seen in previous seasons. He is the closest to that the best they can get bar.