3 Right-Handed Bats Minnesota Twins Should Target at MLB Trade Deadline

[Sampson5]

3 hours ago, IndianaTwin said:

To clarify, we should give someone a modest prospect in order to get a rental right-handed bat?

While a lot of folks on TD suggest we trade Jeffers for a modest prospect?

it seems like it would be easier to just keep Jeffers. 

Shouldn't trade Jeffers unless it's for a starter close to mlb ready who you could have start a few times in St Paul then immediately call up to the mlb or trading him for a mlb arm . Trading him for a prospect who's years away really makes no sense unless they fold between now and the deadline and are forced to sell . Honestly if it was me id extend Jeffers and trade caratini 

[LA Vikes Fan]

I think the concept that we should trade for right-handed bat is a good one and Lane Thomas is not a bad idea as a 4th outfielder/platoon mate for Larnach. Gleybor Torres leaves me cold, Taylor Ward is decent but expensive for what he brings, and Christian Walker, Lars Nootbar (love that name), and Michael Massey can't hit left-handed pitching very well. It would be fun to have a guy named Lars Nootbar playing in Minnesota though. I mean, where else should he play?

I think if don't trade for an outfielder like Thomas, the idea of trading for a 1B or 2B makes a lot of sense to me. I watched Royce Lewis run home with the lead run yesterday and one thing is pretty damn clear, he is not fully recovered from his knee surgeries. He runs like a 40-year-old man carrying a refrigerator uphill. I've had a torn ACL and I will tell you that it takes long as two years or even more to get back to where ever it is you're going to get to and that is nowhere near as good as where you started. It also messes with your balance for a while and doesn't give you a lot of confidence in planting your legs, all of which might help explain how much trouble he's having at the plate. Football players can come back faster because it's a different type of movement. All of this means to me that having three guys that can play 1B and 2B that you can move around would be a great thing to have and I think improve the team against left-handers if you got the right one.

I've looked and frankly though there's only two possibilities, our old friend Luis Arraez and Anthony Volpe. Arraez is actually hitting 313/.336/.443 (.779) against lefties this year which is almost as good as his OPS against right-handers (about 815). He ain't cheap and he's probably gone after this year but he would help us in the short term. I would be up for if we can get him for a top 20 – 30 prospect type. Volpe is interesting in that is really not hitting great against anybody with a .657 OPS against lefties and a .666 OPS against righties but he is a good fielder and we can have a much improved defense with him at second and Clemens at first. He also gives us another shortstop if Kriedler's bat completely falls off the table, which looks like might be happening. Once again, depends on the cost. Maybe we can get him for a 15 – 30 prospect or thrown in as an addition in the trade to the Yankees of Jeffers for one other high-end pitching prospects. If we can, he might be worth it. Other than that, though, the pickings are pretty slim.

So I like the concept but it's hard to find anyone that really fits other than Lane Thomas or maybe Luis Arraez. All comes down to cost and this is an additional move, it does not stop the necessary move for pitching. My fantasy is we trade Jeffers and Roden or one of our AAA OFs other than Jenkins to Seattle for Emerson Hancock and Jose Ferrer or Gabe Speier.  We get a mid rotation starter and a 7th or 8th inning reliever, they get a starting catcher to help for the rest of this season with Raleigh injured and really not performing well at all (.573 OPS), plus a fully controllable prospect with upside like Emma, GG, or Mendez. Both have a chance to win their division or make the playoffs as a wildcard this year and both teams get immediate help and guys they can keep for a while. I would then add to that a trade of a 15-30 prospect for Luke Weaver and a similar prospect for Luis Arraez. 

[Andy MacPhail]

Twins are top in offense in the AL. A bat is not a priority, an arm is. We've been at the bottom of that category all season.

[Greglw3]

1 hour ago, bean5302 said:

I think Lewis will continue to make adjustments to improve his results and improve his swing path. Either you can be critical of his low batting average or you can criticize swing adjustments to attempt to produce more line drives which will increase his batting average.

Lewis' body is changing. He's healthy, his leg strength is returning. His speed is returning. This will allow him to make approach and swing changes that can take advantage of it. Since re-joining the team, he's been an above average hitter at the plate, and there's reason to believe there's more in the tank.

I hope you’re right, they really need him. I’d much rather him take an approach like Keaschall. I had seen improvement but there’s been a decided dip recently. I’m a Twins fan, first and foremost, so I want all their players to do well.

 

[Greglw3]

2 hours ago, HarmonK03 said:

What has changed in the front office, you still have all the same personnel.  The only change is Falvey is gone.  And Zoll has been a key Falvey confidante for the last 5 years at least.  Why would you expect a change in philosophy now.

I think Falvey was the real problem and ultimately the real GM over Thad Levine and Jeremy Zoll. The whole organization is functioning better since they cleaned house and handed the reigns to Shelton, Zoll, Sizemore, Latroy Hawkins. That is obvious in a thousand ways to me - Shelton far batter manager and culture setter than Baldelli and Zoll much better than Falvey. 

Let’s give Zoll credit for Yoendrys Gómez, Tommy Nance and Jack Anderson. They have helped. Anderson and Nance were huge in a super critical game yesterday. Zoll went and got both.

[1985Fan]

I’d like to see a SP or two added. If they are buyers and not sellers. That would push Prielipp (necessary to manage his innings limit), and Matthews to the BP. That would make the BP better and fortify the rotation for the stretch run. Hancock would be great and add depth to rotation next year. Otherwise a veteran innings eater to be 5th starter that wouldn’t cost much. If they pay Gausman’s full salary for the rest of the year, that would keep the prospect cost down. Maybe he is a possibility… 

[HarmonK03]

1 minute ago, Greglw3 said:

I think Falvey was the real problem and ultimately the real GM over Thad Levine and Jeremy Zoll. The whole organization is functioning better since they cleaned house and handed the reigns to Shelton, Zoll, Sizemore, Latroy Hawkins. That is obvious in a thousand ways to me - Shelton far batter manager and culture setter than Baldelli and Zoll much better than Falvey. 

Let’s give Zoll credit for Yoendrys Gómez, Tommy Nance and Jack Anderson. They have helped. Anderson and Nance were huge in a super critical game yesterday. Zoll went and got both.

I don't understand your comment.  Falvey was the President of Baseball Operations, Levine was the GM until 24 when Zoll was promoted to GM to replace him.  So Falvey has always had total responsibility.  But Zoll has been very instrumental in the personnel moves since before he was promoted to GM.  This is per Falvey when he promoted Zoll.  

There has been no cleaning house for the baseball operations off field staff.  Falvey has been removed but the same staff is still advising and supporting Zoll.  Shelton fields the lineup based on the players given to him.  How much does he makes suggestions to Zoll, no one knows.  But his focus is on the field not on St. Paul or Wichita.

Zoll has hit on Gomez that was a good pickup but he also has churned thru multiple others that did not.  I like the potential of Anderson but I am not ready to hand him a high leverage role based on two outings.  He is the type I wish they would target more, younger, maybe got caught up a little bit on the options game similar to Gomez.

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

24 minutes ago, Greglw3 said:

I think Falvey was the real problem and ultimately the real GM over Thad Levine and Jeremy Zoll. The whole organization is functioning better since they cleaned house and handed the reigns to Shelton, Zoll, Sizemore, Latroy Hawkins. That is obvious in a thousand ways to me - Shelton far batter manager and culture setter than Baldelli and Zoll much better than Falvey. 

Let’s give Zoll credit for Yoendrys Gómez, Tommy Nance and Jack Anderson. They have helped. Anderson and Nance were huge in a super critical game yesterday. Zoll went and got both.

Falvey effectively set up the team this year.   Hired Shelton,  was the reason for the trade sell off and theory that you can rebuild a bullpen.  Which is the reason why we have Bradley.   

Zoll is much more of a rubber stamp than Falvey which is part of the reason why Falvey left he wanted more autonomy and realistic expectations than Zoll.  Zoll took the position because it was a step up - but he has done very little in the position.   

As to the bullpen this is entirely Falveys philosophy that you can build a bullpen by rolling through DFA's - its not like they players wouldn't have been available if Falvey was here and we would have avoided them.    If you want to give credit you should give it to Latroy Hawkins.  Its still not a good to great bullpen but its becoming a functional bullpen and still needs some pieces.      

[Trov]

We lead the AL in runs scored, but we need to trade for more offense?  I am not saying adding a possible RH hitter could help in a short series if loaded with lefty starters, but if we are looking to add to the team, adding pitching is where we need to spend. 

[Mike Sixel]

3 hours ago, LA Vikes Fan said:

I think the concept that we should trade for right-handed bat is a good one and Lane Thomas is not a bad idea as a 4th outfielder/platoon mate for Larnach. Gleybor Torres leaves me cold, Taylor Ward is decent but expensive for what he brings, and Christian Walker, Lars Nootbar (love that name), and Michael Massey can't hit left-handed pitching very well. It would be fun to have a guy named Lars Nootbar playing in Minnesota though. I mean, where else should he play?

I think if don't trade for an outfielder like Thomas, the idea of trading for a 1B or 2B makes a lot of sense to me. I watched Royce Lewis run home with the lead run yesterday and one thing is pretty damn clear, he is not fully recovered from his knee surgeries. He runs like a 40-year-old man carrying a refrigerator uphill. I've had a torn ACL and I will tell you that it takes long as two years or even more to get back to where ever it is you're going to get to and that is nowhere near as good as where you started. It also messes with your balance for a while and doesn't give you a lot of confidence in planting your legs, all of which might help explain how much trouble he's having at the plate. Football players can come back faster because it's a different type of movement. All of this means to me that having three guys that can play 1B and 2B that you can move around would be a great thing to have and I think improve the team against left-handers if you got the right one.

I've looked and frankly though there's only two possibilities, our old friend Luis Arraez and Anthony Volpe. Arraez is actually hitting 313/.336/.443 (.779) against lefties this year which is almost as good as his OPS against right-handers (about 815). He ain't cheap and he's probably gone after this year but he would help us in the short term. I would be up for if we can get him for a top 20 – 30 prospect type. Volpe is interesting in that is really not hitting great against anybody with a .657 OPS against lefties and a .666 OPS against righties but he is a good fielder and we can have a much improved defense with him at second and Clemens at first. He also gives us another shortstop if Kriedler's bat completely falls off the table, which looks like might be happening. Once again, depends on the cost. Maybe we can get him for a 15 – 30 prospect or thrown in as an addition in the trade to the Yankees of Jeffers for one other high-end pitching prospects. If we can, he might be worth it. Other than that, though, the pickings are pretty slim.

So I like the concept but it's hard to find anyone that really fits other than Lane Thomas or maybe Luis Arraez. All comes down to cost and this is an additional move, it does not stop the necessary move for pitching. My fantasy is we trade Jeffers and Roden or one of our AAA OFs other than Jenkins to Seattle for Emerson Hancock and Jose Ferrer or Gabe Speier.  We get a mid rotation starter and a 7th or 8th inning reliever, they get a starting catcher to help for the rest of this season with Raleigh injured and really not performing well at all (.573 OPS), plus a fully controllable prospect with upside like Emma, GG, or Mendez. Both have a chance to win their division or make the playoffs as a wildcard this year and both teams get immediate help and guys they can keep for a while. I would then add to that a trade of a 15-30 prospect for Luke Weaver and a similar prospect for Luis Arraez. 

Volpe is a terrible fielder.

Who are people getting rid of to add these mediocre players, who aren't difference makers? 

[Mike Sixel]

2 hours ago, Greglw3 said:

I think Falvey was the real problem and ultimately the real GM over Thad Levine and Jeremy Zoll. The whole organization is functioning better since they cleaned house and handed the reigns to Shelton, Zoll, Sizemore, Latroy Hawkins. That is obvious in a thousand ways to me - Shelton far batter manager and culture setter than Baldelli and Zoll much better than Falvey. 

Let’s give Zoll credit for Yoendrys Gómez, Tommy Nance and Jack Anderson. They have helped. Anderson and Nance were huge in a super critical game yesterday. Zoll went and got both.

Nearly every player in the organization was brought in by falvey...... And he's the problem? 

It's the owners, and their budget cuts. I don't understand how this is difficult?

[ashbury]

6 hours ago, Twins GFP said:

The Twins have scored the most runs in the AL this year

The Twins are tied for 5th most runs in the AL in July.  There are cracks in this unstoppable offensive juggernaut and it's not crazy talk to try to shore it up.

Run prevention still is an issue.  They are 9th fewest in the AL in runs given up so far in July.

There is room for improvement in both areas.

[weitz41]

What the Twins actually need is a starter (Emerson Hancock) a 7-8 inning BP arm (A.J Minter) and Isidor's Bane (Lord of the Rings ref) or instead on the one ring...A dump truck full of good luck.

Thomas would be a nice add though.

[Linus]

I would rather have Keaschall get those at bats. He would be close in production and the experience valuable for his development. 

[HarmonK03]

4 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

Nearly every player in the organization was brought in by falvey...... And he's the problem? 

It's the owners, and their budget cuts. I don't understand how this is difficult?

Falvey didn't manage the resources given to him well.  He invested nothing in the bullpen this offseason when he had some payroll available to do so.  Yes the payroll cuts two years were poorly executed but how can Milwaukee have the best record in the major leagues with a below average payroll.  Falvey deserves plenty of blame for this poorly constructed roster as well.

[Greglw3]

4 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

Nearly every player in the organization was brought in by falvey...... And he's the problem? 

It's the owners, and their budget cuts. I don't understand how this is difficult?

Sean Johnson....The Falvey era was a failed era where after 2019, the organization had a losing record and was poorly run. That’s why they cleaned house.

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

Just sign Kyle Garlick and call it a day.

[HarmonK03]

1 minute ago, Greglw3 said:

Sean Johnson....The Falvey era was a failed era where after 2019, the organization had a losing record and was poorly run. That’s why they cleaned house.

But they didn't clean house off the field.  Only Falvey is gone, his top lieutenant is now in charge with the same staff advising and assisting him that was there for Falvey.  We have some improvements on the field with Shelton but he can still only play who he is given.

[ashbury]

31 minutes ago, Twins_Fan_in_NJ said:

Just sign Kyle Garlick and call it a day.

I don't like the smell of that one.

/ I slay me

[DocBauer]

1] As to Arraez, you all know he's a LH bat right? Even if he's doing better THIS YEAR against LHP, he's been poor his whole career against said pitchers. And considering Clemens is a better defender, and also having his best year ever against LHP, where is the improvement? 

2] It's a RIDICULOUS PROBLEM that a team that has Buxton, Lewis, and Jeffers as veteran RH hitters, the young, but talented Keaschall, and Martin, who has proved he's MUCH better against LHP, and a couple of  switch hitters who shouldn't STINK against LHP, at least in theory, that the Twins are seemingly incompetent against LHP. And, of course, there are other RH batters available as well.

It's like a damn CURSE. How can so many quality RH hitters be so damn bad against LHP? I'm only teasing that we need Tom Kelly back to throw batting practice. BUT, when the season started, they saw a TON of LHP and they did much better than they've done sense. So maybe a pitching machine isn't the solvent. Maybe, honestly, they need an additional coach who can throw LH to throw and spin to keep them sharp?

I mean, it's just CRAZY the whole offense just goes dead against a LHP. 

I honestly have no answer. 

And IDK that ONE additional RH bat really makes a difference unless it was Cruz quality, or similar. I lnow it sounds trite, but what the Twins need is for the RH bats currently on the team to just figure what the hell is going on and do better. Easier said than done, of course.

NO PRESSURE, LOL, BUT if K-Pepper was ready in a couple of weeks to come up and take over SS...Kreidler moving to his best role as a Super Utility player...he MIGHT provide a spark. Hitting is sometimes contagious. 

But IF the Twins traded for a BAT, of the 3 options presented in the OP, I'd be in favor of Thomas I guess. But is he really an upgrade over Martin, who has shown some life again while returning to a platoon only player?

The cost to acquire him might be cheap, but even inexpensive, I don't see him as an improvement over Martin in a platoon role.

Again, it sounds silly and trite, but the Twins really need the current RH batters to SOMEHOW figure out why they've been so out of whack when facing LHP.

Unless they trade for a CRUZ-like RH bat, I just don't see any team improvement from the options listed.

[DocBauer]

Man, I am so over the ying and yang of sell, buy, or do a little of both, that ALL I CARE ABOUT is getting to the trade deadline at .500. From there it's up to Zoll and TP to make a decision. I just want to see a team above .500 and building towards 2027. IMO, personally, I care about next season and beyond. Making the playoffs is WONDERFUL and I'm rooting for it to happen. It's a hell of a lot more fun than watching OTHER teams in the playoffs. 

I think the concept of adding a RH bat is about 3rd or 4th on the list of additions. I don't have a problem of trading lower level prospects for a couple of solid RP. Do I have to remind everyone again that we traded for Dyson and Romo in 2019 for marginal prospects?

MAYBE the cost for rentals have changed since then. But has it changed so much that we have to pay more than a couple 15-30 range prospects that we can't acquire a couple RP, or maybe ONE solid RP and a 4th-5th SP on an expiring deal that ALSO helps the BP for someone like Prielipp to finish the season in the bullpen.

And let's not forget that Romo was so good we resigned him back again. Rentals don't have to remain rentals.

Hancock from Seattle was brought up. Probably because @chpettit19had brought him up in a different thread. But that's probably an offseason deal for some of the young Twins hitters. 

But it would be amazing if Seattle ended up looking forward to 2027 and would sell Hancock now for some young, talented bats like Mendez and Gonzalez, etc. 

I still think that looks more like an offseason deal. But I'm really intrigued by this idea.

[chpettit19]

8 hours ago, DocBauer said:

Man, I am so over the ying and yang of sell, buy, or do a little of both, that ALL I CARE ABOUT is getting to the trade deadline at .500. From there it's up to Zoll and TP to make a decision. I just want to see a team above .500 and building towards 2027. IMO, personally, I care about next season and beyond. Making the playoffs is WONDERFUL and I'm rooting for it to happen. It's a hell of a lot more fun than watching OTHER teams in the playoffs. 

I think the concept of adding a RH bat is about 3rd or 4th on the list of additions. I don't have a problem of trading lower level prospects for a couple of solid RP. Do I have to remind everyone again that we traded for Dyson and Romo in 2019 for marginal prospects?

MAYBE the cost for rentals have changed since then. But has it changed so much that we have to pay more than a couple 15-30 range prospects that we can't acquire a couple RP, or maybe ONE solid RP and a 4th-5th SP on an expiring deal that ALSO helps the BP for someone like Prielipp to finish the season in the bullpen.

And let's not forget that Romo was so good we resigned him back again. Rentals don't have to remain rentals.

Hancock from Seattle was brought up. Probably because @chpettit19had brought him up in a different thread. But that's probably an offseason deal for some of the young Twins hitters. 

But it would be amazing if Seattle ended up looking forward to 2027 and would sell Hancock now for some young, talented bats like Mendez and Gonzalez, etc. 

I still think that looks more like an offseason deal. But I'm really intrigued by this idea.

FYI, the Hancock rumors are definitely focused on the deadline. Not saying that means he'll be traded, but they aren't looking for young hitters, they're looking for a right handed bat to plug into their lineup today. They have 6 MLB starters and 2 elite pitching prospects. The reports are they're willing to trade Castillo or Hancock for offense. Hancock would bring back significantly more than Castillo, so that's the rumor people are focusing on. 

They're reported to have interest in Steer from Cinci. If that's the case, Jeffers should pretty easily trump him in terms of an offensive piece. With Steer obviously being able to stand in more defensive spots even though he doesn't play them particularly well. The Mariners aren't looking forward to 2027 when it comes to Hancock, they're looking to make an MLB for MLB trade to get them to the top of their division in 2026. Or at least that's what the reporting is.

[twinfan]

This article clearly says why it would be dumb to trade Jeffers who is decent against lefties. Buxton is a great player but has not done very well in the clutch recently from what I have seen. Lee has had a very good season. We lead the league in runs scored despite not knowing how to advance runners from 2nd to 3rd with no outs.

So where is the problem vs lefties? Do we have a minor leaguer or two who can hit in the clutch against lefties? Should we play Larnach more against lefties as he seems to be able to hit them decently?

I have always agreed to get Arraez who can hit anybody. I would not trade for Torres who is older and injury prone. I also wouldn't trade withing the division. Ward seems like a good possibility but I'd trade an outfielder for him as we have too many now.

And I wouldn't worry about the 28% bull. Look at the teams this year alone who have won (even in the World Cup games) at low percentages. 3 straight wins vs the White Sox or Cleveland could boost that to 55+ percent.

[jkcarew]

I don’t mind if the Twins traded from their glut of outfield prospects to obtain a good controllable bullpen arm or right-handed outfield bat…but that’s about it. They need to be net sellers.

[jkcarew]

I don’t know if they need ANOTHER right-handed bat as much as they need Buxton, Lewis, Keaschall, and one or two of the switch-hitters to start hitting lefties better…which they should be able to do.

[Cory Engelhardt]

3 minutes ago, jkcarew said:

I don’t know if they need ANOTHER right-handed bat as much as they need Buxton, Lewis, Keaschall, and one or two of the switch-hitters to start hitting lefties better…which they should be able to do.

If they are adding a bat it should be a true middle of the order type and not a bench/platoon type

[wesnewy]

IMO the Twins need to act like the Rays and do some kind of hybrid buy/sell like where we sell off some of the surplus of LH OFers we have and try to buy in on controllable SP/BP arms. 

[soyouresayingtheresachance]

This is exactly why you keep Jeffers and trade Caratini. Then you dont need to trade for a rental bat. Jeffers is better than all those listed. 

[Geno48]

Lewis an above average hitter??? At .218???   Not?   Trade bait!

[Twins GFP]

On 7/24/2026 at 3:37 PM, ashbury said:

The Twins are tied for 5th most runs in the AL in July.  There are cracks in this unstoppable offensive juggernaut and it's not crazy talk to try to shore it up.

Run prevention still is an issue.  They are 9th fewest in the AL in runs given up so far in July.

There is room for improvement in both areas.

Read the whole quote.

I never said there wasn't room from improvement, I said the lineup was not the top priority. SP is up and down, the bullpen has been shambles all year. The focus should be there first.