Twins Can Upgrade Rotation and Bullpen With One Trade Deadline Move

[Historyking88]

A: The Twins aren’t making the playoffs so there is no point in trading top prospects for a starter. 
B: They need bullpen help more than anything. 
C: Prielipp is a starter until he proves otherwise.
D: The only starter they could probably afford is Foster Griffin who is just a rental. 

[DataNerd]

2 hours ago, darin617 said:

With Zebby I still view him as a starter. I don't know any of the advanced metrics but is there one pitch that he is getting beat up all the time? I'm curious if they took a pitch away that he's struggling with if that would help? I remember one of his better games this year he was successful when he dialed back the speed on his pitches and it helped.

Fastball gets hit hard and doesn't miss many bats.  Changeup has been awful.  Slider/Curveball both miss bats, when hitters chase, but when they don't and he gets behind in the count or in full counts he doesn't have a pitch he can throw in the zone.

Reason a move to the bullpen is appealing is that his fastball at 97-98 would be a good pitch to pound the zone and then get Ks with the breaking stuff.

[nicksaviking]

I'm all for moving the odd men out of the rotation to the bullpen, but if it's done in August, that pitcher is unlikely to successfully transition to the role this season. It's not a move that pays off overnight. It's typically a season long journey that should have been started in spring training.

[terrydactyls]

Get rid of potential MLB players (Rodriguez, Rojas, Gonzales, etc) all for the possible opportunity to be eliminated quickly from the playoffs.  Great idea.  Trade Jeffers, Larnach, Bell, Ryan (if he won't agree to an extension), Martin, and Keaschall for high potential prospects.  My only caveat to trading all of the above is that the value of the return is significant.  Then bring up the prospects and start planning for 2027.  And bring me another beer.  The third inning is underway.  🥶

[mikelink45]

Have you seen Bradley and Ryan's last games?

[Brandon]

SP Clay Holmes with the Meta is also available so we should check his availability.  

[Eris]

“Too often, strong starts have unraveled late because the bullpen simply has not been able to protect leads with any consistency.”

While I agree that the bullpen is bad. The Twins are 8th in MLB with the fewest blown saves (with 12 BS).  The Dodgers have 11 BS. This suggests to me that the real problem is with the starting pitching losing games early. 
 

https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/major-league?pos=all&lg=all&qual=y&type=0&season=2026&month=0&season1=2026&ind=0&stats=rel&team=0%2Cts&sortcol=12&sortdir=asc&pagenum=1

[DJL44]

15 hours ago, um_stevenel said:

Not only that, but I think it would be unwise to try. I’m even worried that shifting to the bullpen and going max velocity for an inning at a time if he gets past 120 innings will be risky this year. If he hits that many total innings as a starter, I hope they call the season a great success for him and leave it at that. Don’t even worry about getting a few more innings from him or trying to keep using him in the playoffs. 

Prielipp needs to pitch to get better at pitching. If they shut him down they stunt his development for another season.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

I would like to see Zebby join the bullpen, regardless of whether another starter is acquired. He has a history of allowing minimal walks. Walking the first batter by a reliever is agonizing to me. Demoralizing, ridiculous, and downright  #@&*8#@** @%$* to the max.