5 Under-the-Radar Pitching Targets for Minnesota Twins at MLB Trade Deadline

[Cody Christie]

Image courtesy of © Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Twins have spent much of the 2026 season trying to survive one of baseball's least effective bullpens. Injuries and inconsistency have put added pressure on a club that has remained in the American League Wild Card race. Jeremy Zoll doesn't need to overhaul the bullpen with blockbuster acquisitions, but standing pat isn't a realistic option, either. Minnesota needs multiple relievers if it hopes to play meaningful games in September and October.

One intriguing wrinkle is already inside the organization. Connor Prielipp and Zebby Matthews both have the type of electric stuff that could immediately play up in relief. A move to the bullpen would shorten games and potentially solve multiple late-inning problems. The challenge, of course, is replacing their innings in the rotation. If the Twins decide to shift one (or both) into relief, they'll need to acquire another starting pitcher capable of handling meaningful starts down the stretch.

That combination of needs opens the door to several under-the-radar trade candidates who could improve Minnesota without requiring the type of prospect package attached to the biggest names on the market.

RHP Foster Griffin
Diamond Centric’s Trade Candidate Rank: 21

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With seven pitches and good enough command of the mix to limit walks, Griffin has been a revelation for the upstart Nationals, akin to when Erick Fedde first came back from Asia for the 2024 White Sox. Teams will take an interest in him, as they did with Fedde, but they're likely to remain circumspect; Fedde (and some other pitchers of a similar echelon who came back to quick success after stints in either NPB or the KBO) crashed hard to Earth once the league got a longer look. Griffin's arsenal is deep, but he doesn't throw hard or miss a ton of bats. He's a free agent at season's end, though, and the contract he signed is extremely affordable. If Washington believes they can pursue their flickering chances in the NL Wild Card race just as well without him, they might be persuaded to deal him, and there are several teams for whom he'd be an upgrade at the back end of the rotation over the final two months. He might even make a profitable transition to the bullpen in October.

 

For the Twins, Griffin's versatility is what makes him particularly intriguing. Minnesota doesn't necessarily need an ace if it intends to move Prielipp or Matthews into relief. It simply needs someone capable of taking the ball every fifth day and keeping the team in games. Griffin could stabilize the back end of the rotation, while providing another option to shift into relief during a postseason series. His ability to throw strikes and keep hitters off balance also aligns well with the Twins' pitching philosophy, which has long emphasized command and pitch mix over pure velocity.

LHP Steven Okert

Diamond Centric’s Trade Candidate Rank: 24

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We're on Year Two of Okert being a dominant lefty setup man, now. With no end in sight. The southpaw has become an expert at upsetting hitters' timing, with a fastball-slider combination that makes him death on fellow lefties but also handles righties well enough to be a high-leverage arm. He's a free agent at the end of the season, but with good numbers across a substantial sample and a low salary, he should fetch the Astros a strong return—assuming they're far enough out on the fringes of the Wild Card hunt by the deadline to elect to move him.

Twins fans will be familiar with Okert from his time with the club in 2024, but he's a different pitcher. Minnesota has lacked a dependable late-inning left-handed option throughout much of the season, making Okert an ideal fit. Anthony Banda’s recent season-ending injury has only heightened that need. Okert’s ability to retire both left-handed and right-handed hitters would give manager Derek Shelton significantly more flexibility than simply using him as a matchup specialist. Minnesota has often leaned heavily on right-handed relievers in leverage situations, and adding a proven veteran like Okert would immediately diversify the bullpen while bringing postseason experience to a relief corps that desperately needs stability.

LHP Trevor Rogers

Diamond Centric’s Trade Candidate Rank: 33

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In half a season (all the healthy starts he could cobble together) last year, Rogers ran a sub-2.00 ERA and collected down-ballot AL Cy Young Award votes. That set expectations sky-high for 2026, but he started the campaign with a heinous stretch of struggles, interrupted by a stint on the injured list due to illness. He's looked much, much better since the start of June. The guy who stymied the league last season—the low-slot slinger with a plus changeup and deception aplenty in a deep mix—is still in there, even if he's unlikely to go on another run quite as dazzling. Any team interested in landing him will probably have to offer Baltimore more than they think it's worth to slap the qualifying offer on him and collect a draft pick if he leaves via free agency.

Rogers might be the most interesting name on this list, because he addresses multiple needs at once. If Minnesota wants to convert Prielipp into a reliever to protect his innings, Rogers could slide directly into the rotation. His changeup-heavy approach would offer a different look than the Twins' current starters, and Target Field has historically been a favorable environment for pitchers who rely on deception and limiting hard contact. There is certainly risk attached to his uneven 2026 season, but the upside of adding another quality starter could be worth the gamble if Baltimore is willing to listen.

RHP Kevin Ginkel

Diamond Centric’s Trade Candidate Rank: 42

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Last season was such a disaster for Ginkel that it's hard not to worry he'll get hurt or go to pieces again. Yet, that campaign is very much the exception in a half-decade career of sturdy and impressive middle relief work. It's a standard 95-and-a-slider right-handed reliever package, but few hurlers tunnel their heater and an old-fashioned, tight slider as well as Ginkel does, while still achieving good velocity separation. Arizona is in limbo as a possible buyer or seller, but should they tip toward the latter, Ginkel will be in very high demand. He was one of the key arms in the Diamondbacks' run to the 2023 World Series, so his mettle has been October-tested, too.

Ginkel checks nearly every box the Twins should value at the deadline. He has experience pitching in high-leverage situations, misses bats with two quality pitches, and has shown he can perform under postseason pressure. Minnesota's bullpen has struggled to consistently bridge games to the ninth inning, and Ginkel could immediately slot into the seventh or eighth inning. If the Twins are serious about making a playoff push, adding a reliever with October experience could pay dividends well beyond the regular season.

LHP JoJo Romero

Diamond Centric’s Trade Candidate Rank: 53

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The numbers this season aren't as pretty as last year's, but Romero is one of the toughest lefty relievers likely to be traded before the deadline. He has an exceptionally heavy sinker-sweeper combination, flavored with a changeup that he sprinkles in against righties. In the right role, he can be a ground-ball machine and a diffuser of dangerous jams. That kind of relief weapon can make a huge difference during playoff games, which makes players like Romero disproportionately valuable each July.

Romero would give Minnesota something it has lacked all season: a legitimate ground-ball specialist capable of escaping inherited-runner situations. Too often, the Twins have watched rallies snowball because their bullpen couldn't induce weak contact when it mattered most. Romero's ability to generate ground balls would pair nicely with Minnesota's improved infield defense in recent weeks after shifting players to new defensive homes. Even if his surface numbers aren't as dominant as they were a year ago, his underlying skill set fits exactly what the Twins should be seeking.

The Right Mix Matters More Than the Biggest Name

The Twins don't necessarily need to win the trade deadline headlines to transform their pitching staff. Adding a starter like Griffin or Rogers could create the flexibility to unleash Prielipp or Matthews in relief, where their premium stuff could have an even greater impact during a playoff race. Pairing that move with one or two experienced bullpen arms like Okert, Ginkel, or Romero would dramatically deepen a relief corps that has too often been the club's biggest weakness.

Championship contenders are rarely built with one splashy acquisition. More often, they're assembled through several smart, complementary moves. If Jeremy Zoll can identify the right combination of these under-the-radar arms, the Twins could quietly turn one of baseball's weakest bullpens into a legitimate strength before October arrives.

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Which player(s) from this group should the Twins target? Leave a comment and start the discussion. 

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[TCanWins]

There's a lot to say about the bullpen's struggles, but the AL's highest scoring team has hit the breaks on runs scored. Injecting an experienced hitter would help cut down the number of runners left on base and could be the difference in those close games.

[FlyingFinn]

More like "off the radar" with the current losing streak.

[DJL44]

There may be some decent pitching squeezed off of the rosters of playoff teams. The Twins have been pretty effective at jumping the line for first dibs.

[um_stevenel]

9 minutes ago, FlyingFinn said:

More like "off the radar" with the current losing streak.

Came here to say, the buying ship is leaving the harbor right now, and accelerating quickly. 

[gmwannabe]

I think a package of Rodriguez, Tait, Hill, and a 10-15 prospect will be required to aquire a good starting pitcher with a couple of years of control. I would target Reid Detmers as well.

[Coach JT]

It’s right in front of our face and the Twins won’t recognize. Jeffers as Larnach both could be replaced by Jenkins and current catching tandem and also retool bullpen and a few more prospects and still contend . Jeffers will get some able bodies and Larnach a couple prospects. Make the deal Zoll . 

[thelanges5]

12 days until the deadline and the Twins aren’t playing like buyers right now. It’s been said numerous times by numerous TD users, but I hope they don’t mortgage the future for 2026. This is not a deep playoff run, championship roster. 

[TopGunn#22]

I agree Coach JT.  This current losing streak is hopefully putting a damper on the "contending" momentum and injecting a dose of reality in the Twins approach.  They should both BUY and SELL.  Jeffers and Larnach should be moved.  Bell and Rogers should be moved. Wallner should be if anyone will take him.  And if an OF prospect not named Jenkins is needed to sweeten a deal to get a better player back in return, give it strong thought.

But the biggest question remains...wither Joe Ryan?  

Can he be convinced to sign a rich extension?  If there is ANY interest it needs to be pursued with vigor.  But if it appears hopeless to convince Joe to sign an extension, then strong consideration must be given to trading him for the right kind of package.

Joe Ryan is either part of the Twins future or not.  If he's not, then real value must be acquired in return. Trades should be made with an eye toward immediate help, but even more to add talent for 2027 and beyond.