You’re not a GM. You Shouldn’t Want to Trade Ryan Jeffers.

[Greggory Masterson]

Image courtesy of Yannick Peterhans/NorthJersey.com - USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

The Twins are two games out of a playoff spot and three and a half games out of a very winnable AL Central championship. There are 60 or so games to go this season. The team came in with low expectations, and there has been a very sour taste in many fans’ mouths since this time last year, when the Twins traded away 40% of their active roster in what was the largest trade deadline sell off in sports history.

And yet, we’ve got people hoping the team will, nay, begging, the Twins to trade away good players.

The title says Ryan Jeffers, and I’ll use him as a reference, but this can be applied to other players as well, such as Joe Ryan.

Ryan Jeffers is an impending free agent in the midst of a career year, albeit set back by a broken hamate bone that he appears to be recovering from nicely. The Twins are in a playoff race with the trade deadline coming up, and many fans are fixated on the idea of trading one of the team’s top three players so as to avoid “losing him for nothing” in free agency (assuming they don’t offer him the qualifying offer, which I am in favor of).

Now sure, you could say that’s the smart, calculating, cold-blooded, intellectual thing for the team to do, but I have a question:

Why should that matter to you?

What is the point of being a fan if you’re not hoping that your team does well this year? Following the Twins’ four-game skid from Saturday to Tuesday this week, many fans were almost gleeful that the team could “stop pretending to be a contender” and “wouldn’t be fooled into holding on to their assets.” That is, frankly, a pretty miserable way to be a fan.

I’m guilty of it myself from time to time, but here’s the deal: I’m not a GM, and neither are you. It’s not your job to hope that the team trades away its good pieces to pick up some lottery tickets, rather than having the privilege of watching meaningful baseball with playoff implications. It’s not your job to hope the team gets worse. It’s not your job to pray for a tanking season.

Sure, it’s better on your emotions to just check out and not care about wins or losses. But hey, maybe that’s a sign you should check out.

This isn’t a Twins-only thing. Fans everywhere are plagued by this strange habit of watching their favorite team as if they were a decision-maker. Rooting for transactions has replaced rooting for wins. We forget why we actually enjoy watching sports, or, in this case, the Twins. It should be fun to watch the games. Even if they’re bad.

If you read that last bit and heard me say “You should clap like a seal and accept mediocrity and shut up and buy a ticket,” then I’ll say you’re hearing someone else’s voice, not mine. If you’re not enjoying the product, go ahead and check out. Take a day, week, month, year, whatever, off. If the Twins are just a time filler between the end of Wild season and the beginning of Vikings season, be as casual as you want.

But if you are locked in, the last thing you should be doing is begging the team to get worse or duck out of a potential playoff run, even if it’s not the most likely outcome. That’s what makes sports fun. It’s the journey. If it’s only the destination for you, you’re going to spend your whole sports life angry and/or looking ahead to the next season, only to look ahead to the following one as soon as it starts.

Now, you might be saying, “But Gregg, I care about winning championships. This isn’t a championship team. They might as well cash in now and start building a team that can finally win a championship. It’s been 35 years and Minnesota sports are cursed and remember Gary Anderson?”

Sports don’t only matter when your favorite team wins a championship. If the only reason you watch sports is to feel like a vicarious winner, and any season that your team doesn’t win a championship is a waste of time, try to sneak onto your son’s tee ball roster and win the city championship. Or maybe buy a copy of Madden and turn all your ratings up to 99. You’ll get your winning that way.

Enjoy watching the game. Enjoy watching the team. Enjoy the storylines. Live and die with every win or loss. Otherwise, what’s the point of watching? You can’t sim to next season in real life. If Ryan Jeffers is trade it, so be it. But that shouldn't be your hope. Do you remember how miserable it was watching games last August and September?

The Twins are probably not going to make the playoffs this season. If you’re honest with yourself, you probably know that to be true. But stripping the team for parts—especially parts that are far from guaranteed contributors at some nebulous future time—kneecaps their chances. They kneecap your chances of having entertaining Twins baseball to watch over the next two or three months. Shouldn’t that be worth more to you than a 20-year-old pitcher that MLB Pipeline ranks as the Twins’ new #8 prospect?

I really hope it is.

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[bryceboylehoban]

I agree with quite a bit of this, but maybe for different reasons. I’m not so concerned about awful baseball for 50 games if they trade some studs. The next wave of young talent will be here soon. And I think supplementing that with a few more solid-to-great prospects or even current mlb players with control is worth watching bad baseball for a couple months. 

But what I am concerned about is the Twins attempting to do some half-assed buy/sell that I’ve seen some people pushing for. The idea of trading your best hitter (when he’s been on the field) and then also buying some relievers and maybe a back end arm is kind of crazy to me. If you’re going to sell, just sell. And if you’re going to buy, just buy. 

The margins for this team are thin. They need every hand on deck if they are going to make a miracle run to the playoffs. 

[TL]

If the Twins trade Jeffers and are still trying to compete for a playoff spot, then they’ll need to go and get two RH bats at the deadline, not one. And Jeffers is better than any they could trade for and plays an up the middle position. Keep him unless they are out of it. 

The idea that we are delaying our window by not trading away guys is suspect. Winning breeds winning, so may as well start that habit now. Hoping it happens with a new set of team leaders next year could just as easily set them back again. 

[offensive_loons_fan]

I have the borderline-superhuman ability to root for the team in front of me, enjoy them when they are good, enjoy them when they are not winning championships, AND root for them to do the front office moves that could eventually get them to the promised land, and even enjoy the lousy baseball that comes in the meantime.

I contain multitudes.

[StiltedGopher]

Fans should be clamoring to resign Jeffers.  It is not just wanting to see him through the rest of 2026.  The team is worse in 2027 without him (blah blah Victor Caratini- yeah no).  
if the Twins want to prove they are here to win - now or 2027, they build around Jeffers as their #1 catcher.  

[Vanimal46]

11 minutes ago, StiltedGopher said:

Fans should be clamoring to resign Jeffers.  It is not just wanting to see him through the rest of 2026.  The team is worse in 2027 without him (blah blah Victor Caratini- yeah no).  
if the Twins want to prove they are here to win - now or 2027, they build around Jeffers as their #1 catcher.  

Nothing is stopping the Twins from being the top offer to him this winter. In the mean time, it’s smart to gather additional talent that could help the team long term in a non playoff season. 

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

I do find it humorous this article came out a few hours after Seth’s article stating the Twins were offered 2 prospects for Ryan last year who have both done well with the implication we should have done the trade. But this is Twinsdaily the land of differing opinions. 
 

As a fan I can both root for short term and long term success. Do I want short term satisfaction or something that can be a long term joy. 
 

As to Jeffers specifically with a high possibility of a Qualifying offer compensation pick the Twins could still capitalize on keeping a player through the end of the season.  

[Vanimal46]

1 hour ago, Greggory Masterson said:

The Twins are probably not going to make the playoffs this season. If you’re honest with yourself, you probably know that to be true. But stripping the team for parts—especially parts that are far from guaranteed contributors at some nebulous future time—kneecaps their chances. They kneecap your chances of having entertaining Twins baseball to watch over the next two or three months. Shouldn’t that be worth more to you than a 20-year-old pitcher that MLB Pipeline ranks as the Twins’ new #8 prospect?

This is what the Angels continue to do over and over. How’s that been working out for them? 

[DJL44]

I am on record here saying the Twins should give him a big contract extension in the 2024-25 offseason. They blew that opportunity. Now they have three catchers on the roster and one of them needs to go. 
 

I want the Twins to win more than they lose. I want them to do that as soon as next season. The best way to accomplish that is to trade players with expiring contracts for future help.

[HarmonK03]

3 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

The best way to accomplish that is to trade players with expiring contracts for future help.

Their farm system is currently ranked in the top 10.  I get adding more to that.  But at some point you have to use those assets either here in Minnesota or trade them for quality front line starters in your lineup.  It feels like they just keep adding but when do we see these additions contributing to a winning team.

You want a winning a team next season, how does that happen if they keep adding more prospects then don't give them a shot up here.

[Jack207]

41 minutes ago, StiltedGopher said:

Fans should be clamoring to resign Jeffers.  It is not just wanting to see him through the rest of 2026.  The team is worse in 2027 without him (blah blah Victor Caratini- yeah no).  
if the Twins want to prove they are here to win - now or 2027, they build around Jeffers as their #1 catcher.  

I agree with this sentiment, sign Jeffers to a long term contract to show that you are in it to win!

[Fatbat]

I agree! Nice article that gets deep into several subjects.  I believe a lot of diehard TD’rs have whiplash from last year's selloff and for good reason.  The team was so close to being really good and then were a dumpster fire within a few days.  The trade returns were good, younger and possibly better long term. The high minors are stacked with talent that “should” become mlb regulars. I understand why the “ trade everyone “ mentality is real.  
 

I would prefer the GM to put a winning team on the field every season but baseball is broken. With the pending CBA dispute, will any team want to trade away top 100 prospects?  The market may just dry up for any large trades. 

[Whitey333]

Very negative in your face article!  You write stories for Twins Daily that usually supports differing opinions.  Then slam those same people that don't agree with your opinion.  One of the many things wrong with baseball IMO (there im doing it too) is telling us how to be fans.  Don't go there.  Baseball is already in bad shape.   But thanks for your opinion anyway.

[DJL44]

9 minutes ago, HarmonK03 said:

Their farm system is currently ranked in the top 10.  I get adding more to that.  But at some point you have to use those assets either here in Minnesota or trade them for quality front line starters in your lineup.  It feels like they just keep adding but when do we see these additions contributing to a winning team.

You want a winning a team next season, how does that happen if they keep adding more prospects then don't give them a shot up here.

All the pitching prospects are on the roster (Abel, Rojas, Prielipp, Matthews, Morris). 

[Rufus]

I sure am glad you are not the GM.  Caratini and Jackson are more than adequate behind the plate.  4 of the Twins top 14 prospects are catchers.  Catching is this team's strength.  If they can trade Jeffers and add another bullpen arm or fill in starter,   Overall the team could be strengthened.   

[tarheeltwinsfan]

37 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

I am on record here saying the Twins should give him a big contract extension in the 2024-25 offseason. They blew that opportunity. Now they have three catchers on the roster and one of them needs to go. 
 

I want the Twins to win more than they lose. I want them to do that as soon as next season. The best way to accomplish that is to trade players with expiring contracts for future help.

The future is now.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

Great article Gregg. I agree 100%.

[DJL44]

7 minutes ago, tarheeltwinsfan said:

The future is now.

Are you talking about the  2026 team? They look pretty evenly matched with the Athletics.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

Yikes.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

11 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Are you talking about the  2026 team? They look pretty evenly matched with the Athletics.

Oh ye of little faith.

[Linus]

Thanks for telling me how to be a fan. Reminds me of the old Jack Welsh quote “if I want your opinion, I’ll give it to you”

[qwerty2582]

I think we all want the team to be better. Always, right?  In order to add, someone has to go.  Plenty of places to cut from in order to have the roster space for additions.

With a winnable central division, I don't want them to trade the stars away.  I just really like Jeffers anyway, so I don't want to see him go and would love them to sign an extension.

Caratini proved he's capable while Jeffers was out.  I get that.  I'd still rather keep Jeffers.

Now we've also been here long enough to say that Cheap Pohlad gonna Cheap Pohlad, and if there's a dollar to be saved in a lost season, it will be saved.  But we're not at "lost season" yet, and the new Pohlad promises to be different.  Let's see if he puts his money where his mouth is.

[nicholas Anderson]

I'm only interested in trading him for the right piece. A top 100 pitcher, that can be plugged into the back of the rotation now. Think mick abel from last year. That helps us now and into the future. Look at the yankees, the top of their prospect list is full of pitchers.

[GNess]

Here is a very basic way to frame this issue a bit differently:

In some years teams with lesser records in the regular season go on to reach the League Championship Series or even the World Series. Call it the get hot at the right time path. (Path A)

In most years big spending, power franchises like the current LA Dodgers go on to the League Championship and/or World Series. Call this the have more talent path. (Path B)

If there two distinct paths to reach Championship levels which path is more likely for the Twins to reach Championship type levels? 

The Twins are just a few games back of the Chisox and Guardians. Why give up on this team that is clearly capable of winning the division or at least play meaningful games in September and the fun that goes along with that.,

For an attempt to acquire, through astute trading, prospects which will allow for the Twins to have an uber talented team which will be World Series worthy at some unknown point in the future.

[HarmonK03]

1 hour ago, Rufus said:

Caratini and Jackson are more than adequate behind the plate.  

Yes they did a good job in the month of June when Jeffers was out.  But can they do it for a whole season.  Caratini has never started more than 87 games at catcher and that was 5 years ago.  And Jackson has never started more than 30 games and that was 5 years ago as well.  You are going to expect them to catch a significant number of games more than they have in the past and still be productive, no more what the split is of games started.  And Caratini will be 33 be the end of this season.

There may not be any chance of having Jeffers next year, but I am not sure our catching situation is as solid as we are hoping it is.  We have two good backup catchers that we will be hoping can take on a larger role.

[strumdatjag]

This is a sport dominated by 28-32 year olds.   Long-term contracts to aging players are often NOT the answer.   Look at Josh Donaldson and Carlos Correa.  
I know that Jeffers is still young, but (especially after this draft) catching is a position of strength for this organization.   Trade Jeffers to build quality at other positions (especially pitching and right-handed outfield and first baseman bats).  

[LA Vikes Fan]

36 minutes ago, nicholas Anderson said:

I'm only interested in trading him for the right piece. A top 100 pitcher, that can be plugged into the back of the rotation now. Think mick abel from last year. That helps us now and into the future. Look at the yankees, the top of their prospect list is full of pitchers.

I agree and think they can do better. If we trade Jeffers, trade him for Emerson Hancock of the Mariners. They need a RH bat, Raleigh is hurt and playing poorly so they need a C. Hancock is maturing into a solid #3/4 starter and has 4 years of control left. Given that Jeffers is a rental, Maybe the deal is Jeffers and a good prospect for Hancock and a decent reliever. Helps both teams.

[LambchoP]

I would definitely take Hancock for Jeffers. Twins need pitching, as always. Could use some relievers with control too. Maybe we can acquire a few with some kind of package including Larnach, Wallner, Bell or Rogers.

[Mike Sixel]

Telling others how to be a fan. Ugh. 

[D.C Twins]

Click. Bait. (and I clicked... Doh!)