Tom Pohlad Can Walk the Walk at the MLB Trade Deadline with a Frontline Starter

[Cody Christie]

Image courtesy of Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images

When Tom Pohlad recently addressed the media, he knew fans wanted more than another promise about the future. After years of declining payrolls, dwindling attendance, and frustration over the organization's direction, words alone weren't going to restore confidence.

Now comes the opportunity to turn those words into action. The Twins are in playoff contention even after last year's deadline reshaped the organization. Despite multiple major injuries, the starting rotation has been a surprise. Joe Ryan has emerged as the staff ace, Taj Bradley has given Minnesota another impact arm at the top of the rotation, and the club has remained in the postseason conversation despite carrying one of baseball's leanest payrolls.

The next step isn't another bargain addition. It's making the type of bold investment Pohlad himself described.

"We might have a magical year this year," Pohlad said, "but a $100 million payroll is not going to get the job done trying to accomplish the kinds of things we want to accomplish. We’ve got to be competitive consistently. That's the baseline. And then we’ve got to be willing to make investments and make bold moves that allow us to be successful in the playoffs."

Those comments landed well because they acknowledged what many fans have believed for years. Competing consistently requires more than hoping every young player develops or every value signing outperforms expectations. It requires spending.

The Payroll Says One Thing. The Deadline Can Say Another.

Minnesota’s $105 million payroll is down $60 million from 2023 and $30 million from last season. It’s clear that the Twins haven't yet shown fans the investment Pohlad discussed. He admitted as much while explaining the organization's long-term vision.

"Early on, I may have made comments like 'we've got to build a business that can support more investment on the field,'" Pohlad said. "Well, to build that business, we've got to win. And to win, we've got to put a better product on the field. There does need to be an upfront investment made."

It's a straightforward concept. The Twins need to win to bring fans back to Target Field. To win, they need a better roster. Building that roster requires investing before the revenue fully returns. In other words, they've got to spend money to make money. Trading for a frontline starter would be the clearest signal yet that those comments weren't simply talking points.

One More Ace Could Change Everything

Ryan and Bradley give Minnesota an excellent foundation. The problem is October baseball isn't won with two starters. Adding another legitimate frontline arm could be the difference between qualifying for the postseason and watching from home. If the Twins reach October, having Ryan, Bradley, and another established starter lined up for a best-of-three Wild Card Series dramatically changes their chances.

It also provides valuable protection over the final two months of the regular season, limiting the strain on a young pitching staff while improving every game started by the rest of the rotation. The Twins also possess something they haven't always had at previous deadlines: a farm system capable of supporting a significant trade without emptying the cupboard.

If Pohlad wants to demonstrate his commitment to making bold moves, the market offers several intriguing possibilities.

Reid Detmers Offers Present Value and Future Stability

Detmers may represent the best combination of upside and long-term value available. Diamond Centric currently ranks him fourth on the top trade candidates list, the third best pitcher behind Tarik Skubal and Joe Ryan. Skubal and Ryan might not be traded, making Detmers the top available target.  

After spending time in the bullpen, the left-hander has rediscovered himself as an effective starter by mixing speeds exceptionally well rather than overpowering hitters. His diverse pitch mix has made him one of the more difficult starters to square up, and his two remaining years of team control would make him more than a rental.

Acquiring Detmers wouldn't simply strengthen this year's rotation, it could give Minnesota another foundational starter alongside Ryan and Bradley for multiple seasons.

 

Kevin Gausman Brings Proven October Experience

Gausman doesn't have to throw 98 mph to dominate. When his splitter is working, he's one of baseball's most dependable veterans, consistently generating strikeouts while attacking the strike zone. His postseason experience only adds to his value for a contender. Diamond Centric has him ranked as the seventh-best trade target and fourth-best pitcher. 

His contract is significant ($23 million), but Toronto could absorb part of the remaining salary to maximize its return. For a Twins team with payroll flexibility, taking on money rather than surrendering additional prospects could be an attractive path.

 

Freddy Peralta Could Be a Cost-Effective Upgrade

Peralta's overall numbers may not jump off the page this season, but his underlying track record makes him one of the more intriguing deadline arms. He is currently ranked as Diamond Centric’s eighth-best trade deadline target. 

He has spent years proving he can handle a playoff-caliber workload while flashing ace-level stuff on any given night. His affordable contract ($8 million) also makes him especially appealing for a team looking to add impact without dramatically increasing long-term payroll commitments. If he reaches the market, he'll likely have no shortage of suitors.

 

A Familiar Reunion with Sonny Gray

Twins fans hardly need an introduction to Sonny Gray. The veteran continues to thrive by relying on command, sequencing, and one of baseball's deepest pitch arsenals rather than overpowering velocity. His competitive edge and postseason experience would fit seamlessly back into Minnesota's clubhouse.

Diamond Centric has Gray as the ninth best trade target, but Boston’s recent hot streak has the team back in playoff contention. Still, Gray already proved during his previous stint that he can anchor the Twins' rotation. A reunion would provide both familiarity and reliability for a team trying to make another October run.

 

Time to Match the Message

Tom Pohlad deserves some credit for saying what many fans wanted to hear. He acknowledged that the Twins can't expect stronger attendance or increased revenue without first improving the product on the field. He admitted that investment has to come before the financial rewards.

Now comes the harder part. Trading for a frontline starter would represent more than a baseball move. It would show fans that ownership intends to follow through on its new philosophy.

The Twins have the payroll room. They have the prospect capital. They have a competitive core already in place. Now they simply need ownership to walk the walk.

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Which player(s) should the Twins target? Does Minnesota need another frontline starter? Leave a comment and start the discussion.

 

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[CRF]

Could be a very interesting couple weeks...or it could be a big nothing burger. We'll see. 

[Coach Wheels]

There is zero chance that Twins ownership spends $23-$26 million on a starting pitcher at the deadline. They've piece mealed this roster together all year and made to .500. Minimal additions are possible, major losses are more likely.

[Peter]

Despite yesterday’s terrible loss-Pohlad will get starting pitcher-I still think twins are going to win central division!!! 

[DJL44]

4 minutes ago, Coach Wheels said:

There is zero chance that Twins ownership spends $23-$26 million on a starting pitcher at the deadline. They've piece mealed this roster together all year and made to .500. Minimal additions are possible, major losses are more likely.

There isn’t a starter who will cost that much. Only 1/3 of the season remains so a $24M salary player only costs $8M. That’s the best part of trading for high salary veteran rental players.

[SarasotaBill]

If the Twins follow this strategy then they’re shooting themselves in the foot.

There 8 teams chasing the last two wildcard slots.

With the CBA expiring after this season and their top prospects coming up the next two years it would be stupid to be buyers this year.

Sell your surplus (Larnach and Bell) and your pending free agent (Jeffers).

[HrbieFan]

It isn't about the salary for me, it is the assets. I would be fine giving up a combo of Tait, Culpepper and E-Rod. Definitely not Jenkins, Houston, or any minor league pitching. 

[thelanges5]

Like the concept but too expensive (trade capital wise) for my liking. 

[tony&rodney]

Would it be nice to add Detmers or Gray? Sure.

Finish the post by making some suggestions for potential transactions.

[DJL44]

I think “make good trades” needs to be the strategy. If what they get is worth more than they give up, and it helps make the 40-man roster better, make the deal. They could sell Jeffers for high end prospects and buy Gausman or Robbie Ray for prospects they like less. 
 

The 40-man roster has too many outfielders and catchers and not enough pitching. Time to fix that.

[Linus]

17 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

Would it be nice to add Detmers or Gray? Sure.

Finish the post by making some suggestions for potential transactions.

This. The whole idea is pointless without some reasonable estimate of the cost. 

[TL]

16 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

I think “make good trades” needs to be the strategy. If what they get is worth more than they give up, and it helps make the 40-man roster better, make the deal. They could sell Jeffers for high end prospects and buy Gausman or Robbie Ray for prospects they like less. 
 

The 40-man roster has too many outfielders and catchers and not enough pitching. Time to fix that.

Getting a controllable front line starter would be perfect, depending on the price of course. Good idea if we can trade Jeffers and/or Larnach for prospects and then flip some prospects not named Culpepper, Houston, Jenkins, Lackey for him. For a rental it would have to only be B level prospects.

[Whitey333]

Fantasy land.  Why would the Twins want to get rentals like Gray. Gausman etc for two months?  Even paying just the prorated price of an incoming expensive contract doesn't fit this organization.  They may make a mi or addition or two but I dont see them going crazy.  I can understand if they trade Jeffers.  We will see what happens but IMO I wouldn't expect any big splashes.

[Vanimal46]

42 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

Would it be nice to add Detmers or Gray? Sure.

Finish the post by making some suggestions for potential transactions.

Just spit balling here… Detmers with team control through 2029 will need to be headlined by either Tait or Emma Rodriguez. Then another top 10 prospect (Hill or Quick), and other filler (CJ Culpepper, Raya, or maybe they’re interested in one of Austin Martin or Wallner) 

Im not sure Detmers has the real upside to justify the cost. If Baltimore wants to deal expiring contract Trevor Rogers I’m more interested in that path. 

[palmspringstwinsfan]

The only logical things to do are to trade Larnach and Jeffers for immediate pitching help if you can get it. Then you have to hope that Jenkins is ready and Caratini/Jackson wasn’t an illusion. 

[tony&rodney]

10 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

Just spit balling here… Detmers with team control through 2029 will need to be headlined by either Tait or Emma Rodriguez. Then another top 10 prospect (Hill or Quick), and other filler (CJ Culpepper, Raya, or maybe they’re interested in one of Austin Martin or Wallner) 

Im not sure Detmers has the real upside to justify the cost. If Baltimore wants to deal expiring contract Trevor Rogers I’m more interested in that path. 

If the Twins get into these gamble type trade scenarios, in reverse to last year, it would be something and  interesting.

Reid Detmers would likely cost Tait, Rodriguez, and maybe C J Culpepper. I would do that trade.

I don't think Baltimore will give up by the trade deadline, but it is worth the call to ask.

[tony&rodney]

The Twins have to be pleased that the club is hanging around .500 and mostly competitive. The best guesses were for a 72-73 win season and enough went wrong (Lopez out for the year) that certainly 100 losses was not a crazy basement.

Now, the front office has to think carefully about how they proceed. We cannot really know how Tom Pohlad factors into the equation. My best guess is that TP is supportive and willing to add salary if that is what baseball management determines as the best course of action. The ball is in Zoll's hands.

The coaching staff have done a good job of shifting players to positions where they can make the most optimal contributions but we can watch and see that the club still needs a bit of a boost,  both with pitching (especially the bullpen) and position play. Kaelen Culpepper and Walker Jenkins may be potential help but their delay due to injuries pushes any contributions from them past the trade deadline, so tough to gage what they can add to the team.

It all mixes to make any moves, whether adding or subtracting, quite difficult to project. I believe the opportunity to add is present but it does involve risk. I'm willing to support some gambles.

[Parfigliano]

33 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

If the Twins get into these gamble type trade scenarios, in reverse to last year, it would be something and  interesting.

Reid Detmers would likely cost Tait, Rodriguez, and maybe C J Culpepper. I would do that trade.

I don't think Baltimore will give up by the trade deadline, but it is worth the call to ask.

I would not do that trade.

[Nshore]

The eerie part of all this is that Tom Pohlad looks almost exactly like my brother - whose name is Tom.  There's something very strange going on here.

[LA Vikes Fan]

I like the idea here but like many wonder about the cost. I’ll throw out three scenarios and wait  for the raft of sh&! I get in return. Before I do that,, I’m going to put anyone on the table in the right trade except Jenkins. With the emergence of Houston, Culpepper could be traded. Same for Tait with the draft of Lackey.. So here are the scenarios.

1- Trade for front line starter with 2 plus  years of control. I’m willing to give up two top 15 prospects and another at the top 30. My trade is Emma, Kendry Rojas, and Ben Ross for Reid Detmers. If they will throw in Sam Bachman or Kirby Yates, I will add another prospect in the 20–30 rage like Diaw or Amick. Best way to go.

2- Trade two mid top 30 prospects for a rental starter. Here, two of Ryan Gallagher, Sam Armstrong, Amick, or Diaw, for Robbie Ray. Kevin Gausman only gets one of the two, plus a guy not in the top 30 in A or A+ ball. 
 

3- Trade one good prospect in the top 15 plus one near the back end of the top 30 for a solid, middle of the rotation guy or erratic, but younger starter each with multi year control. Here, I trade Henry Mendez or Gallagher and Amick, Armstrong, or Ross for Jose Soriano.

By the way, I would also be willing to trade a top 10-30 prospect for Luke Weaver for the bullpen. Two if they’re 18-30.

Attack away.

 

[twinstalker]

2 hours ago, Peter said:

Despite yesterday’s terrible loss-Pohlad will get starting pitcher-I still think twins are going to win central division!!! 

This feels like trolling.

[MMBoys93]

Trading for a rental starter when they’re a game under .500 and then letting Ryan and Jeffers walk while not extending anyone would be a major misplay.

Buying at the deadline has to be backed up with commitment to spend and that’s not something I see happening 

[twinstalker]

49 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

If the Twins get into these gamble type trade scenarios, in reverse to last year, it would be something and  interesting.

Reid Detmers would likely cost Tait, Rodriguez, and maybe C J Culpepper. I would do that trade.

I don't think Baltimore will give up by the trade deadline, but it is worth the call to ask.

 

15 minutes ago, Parfigliano said:

I would not do that trade.

There is no world where I'd be afraid to give up Tait, Rodriguez, and CJ Culpepper.  You'd, of course, want to take care of multiple needs, like a reliever as well as a starter.  I'm not sure Detmers is the man.  He's given up 5 ERs in 3 of his last 5 starts.  And his overall track record isn't great.  I could see him turn into a pumpkins.  But the idea of sliding overrated prospects and CJC past someone is a fun one.  My guess is that no team (maybe except the Angels) is bad enough to think EmRod will be anything.

Why are we talking Sonny Gray when Boston is ahead of us?

 

[ashbury]

2 hours ago, SarasotaBill said:

If the Twins follow this strategy then they’re shooting themselves in the foot.

There 8 teams chasing the last two wildcard slots.

With the CBA expiring after this season and their top prospects coming up the next two years it would be stupid to be buyers this year.

Sell your surplus (Larnach and Bell) and your pending free agent (Jeffers).

The surplus is greater than you may think.  Currently there are 10 outfielders on the 40-man roster, and space is possibly needed for Jenkins.  Larnach is part of that glut, but so are several guys like Kyler Fedko, Gabriel Gonzalez, Alan Roden, and Hendry Mendez who may or may not even fit into the Twins' long  terms plans.  It wouldn't be "mortgaging the future" if any of these names go in a package to obtain a good rental arm.  You could end up losing some of these outfielders for nothing if something isn't done.

[Fatbat]

As much as anyone, I want a deep playoff run but this is not the season for it. Bring up the kids and live thru the ups and downs. If they catch fire like Evan Carter did a few years back, we will still have an entertaining post season and it wont cost us a dime of prospect capital. 
Sell something to get more pitching depth but don’t give away future assets. 

[GNess]

What about Robbie Ray?

He is stlll an effective SP - close enough by results to the four cited. I don't think the asking price would be too high and there is no contractual commitment beyond this season.

For the younger Twins to experience a real fight for a playoff spot would have some value in their development. Ray could help this effort.

[DataNerd]

42 minutes ago, LA Vikes Fan said:

I like the idea here but like many wonder about the cost. I’ll throw out three scenarios and wait  for the raft of sh&! I get in return. Before I do that,, I’m going to put anyone on the table in the right trade except Jenkins. With the emergence of Houston, Culpepper could be traded. Same for Tait with the draft of Lackey.. So here are the scenarios.

1- Trade for front line starter with 2 plus  years of control. I’m willing to give up two top 15 prospects and another at the top 30. My trade is Emma, Kendry Rojas, and Ben Ross for Reid Detmers. If they will throw in Sam Bachman or Kirby Yates, I will add another prospect in the 20–30 rage like Diaw or Amick. Best way to go.

2- Trade two mid top 30 prospects for a rental starter. Here, two of Ryan Gallagher, Sam Armstrong, Amick, or Diaw, for Robbie Ray. Kevin Gausman only gets one of the two, plus a guy not in the top 30 in A or A+ ball. 
 

3- Trade one good prospect in the top 15 plus one near the back end of the top 30 for a solid, middle of the rotation guy or erratic, but younger starter each with multi year control. Here, I trade Henry Mendez or Gallagher and Amick, Armstrong, or Ross for Jose Soriano.

By the way, I would also be willing to trade a top 10-30 prospect for Luke Weaver for the bullpen. Two if they’re 18-30.

Attack away.

 

I don't think either of those trades with the Angels is even close to what it would cost.  Soriano has been a slightly above average pitcher and has 2 more years of control and you aren't even offering a top 100 guy.  Detmers probably can't be done without giving up Jenkins or Culpepper+borderline T100 guy.

[Mike Sixel]

2 hours ago, HrbieFan said:

It isn't about the salary for me, it is the assets. I would be fine giving up a combo of Tait, Culpepper and E-Rod. Definitely not Jenkins, Houston, or any minor league pitching. 

You'd give up two top fifty to seventy prospects and a borderline top hundred guy? Glad you aren't the GM. 

[DataNerd]

A rental SP makes more sense than one with control.  Ryan/Bradley are under control, for next year, same with Zebby/Ober/Prielipp (question being if they are good enough to start), and we get Abel/Pablo back from injury.  Trading major assets to attempt a playoff run when you are 49-50 with a 32% chance to make the playoffs (FanGraphs) because the owner wants to make a splash is the type of thing that stupid orgs do.  If we can't afford to pay for players, we definitely can't afford to be stupid.

[old nurse]

35 minutes ago, twinstalker said:

 

There is no world where I'd be afraid to give up Tait, Rodriguez, and CJ Culpepper.  You'd, of course, want to take care of multiple needs, like a reliever as well as a starter.  I'm not sure Detmers is the man.  He's given up 5 ERs in 3 of his last 5 starts.  And his overall track record isn't great.  I could see him turn into a pumpkins.  But the idea of sliding overrated prospects and CJC past someone is a fun one.  My guess is that no team (maybe except the Angels) is bad enough to think EmRod will be anything.

Why are we talking Sonny Gray when Boston is ahead of us?

 

This organization doesn’t do much for trading for experienced talent.  Except for the very elite player, most of what is traded for in terms of prospects turn into bench players fill a need, or relief pitchers.  The Twins have done a great job of plucking future all stars off other teams. What they haven’t done is trade for that piece that puts them in a position to go over the top.  Shannon Stewart may have been the last impact player they traded for.