MLB Insider Reports Twins Will Buy at Deadline, Not Break Up Core

[Cody Christie]

With one week remaining before the August 3 MLB trade deadline, the Minnesota Twins continue to walk the line between contender and pretender. At 53-54, they have exceeded expectations and are still very much alive in both the American League Central and Wild Card races.

That reality has fueled weeks of speculation about whether Minnesota could cash in on its biggest stars. Byron Buxton and Joe Ryan have frequently surfaced in trade rumors, with rival executives wondering if the Twins would entertain blockbuster offers. According to former MLB general manager and current insider Jim Bowden, that isn't happening.

Twins Operating as Buyers

Speaking on GM Territory, Bowden shut down the idea that Minnesota is shopping either of its franchise cornerstones.

"No, absolutely not," Bowden said when asked if the Twins would trade Buxton or Ryan. "I'm being told neither one is going. In fact, the Twins are buyers right now, they feel like they're in the race as well. They feel they have a chance for the Wild Card."

That aligns with everything the Twins have shown publicly. Owner Tom Pohlad has repeatedly indicated that Minnesota would add talent if the club remained in postseason contention. Despite hovering around .500 for much of the summer, the Twins have done just enough to stay within striking distance.

The Twins trail the division-leading Chicago White Sox by only 3.5 games and sit just one game behind the final American League Wild Card spot currently held by Cleveland. In a league where few teams have separated themselves, Minnesota believes it has a legitimate opportunity to play meaningful baseball in October.

Bullpen Is the Clear Priority

If the Twins are going to buy, the biggest need isn't difficult to identify. Minnesota's bullpen has struggled throughout the season, posting a 5.03 ERA that ranks among the worst relief units in baseball. Late-inning inconsistency has turned potential victories into frustrating losses and left little margin for error.

Adding one impact reliever may not be enough. Minnesota could realistically use multiple bullpen arms capable of pitching high-leverage innings if it hopes to survive the stretch run. Bowden's report suggests that's exactly where the front office is directing its attention instead of pursuing splashier moves.

Ryan and Buxton Aren't Going Anywhere

While rival clubs would undoubtedly love to pry away Ryan or Buxton, neither situation has ever appeared particularly realistic.

Ryan has once again established himself as one of the American League's better starters, compiling a 3.38 ERA with 131 strikeouts across 114 1/3 innings. Even after a pair of uneven outings, he remains the ace of Minnesota's rotation and would leave an enormous hole if traded.

Buxton's case is even simpler. The veteran center fielder owns a full no-trade clause through 2028 and has repeatedly stated his desire to spend his entire career in Minnesota. When healthy, he remains one of baseball's most impactful players, providing elite defense, game-changing speed, and middle-of-the-order power.

Bowden also noted that Minnesota believes staying healthy (particularly with Buxton and Royce Lewis) is critical to making a postseason push. If those stars remain on the field, the Twins believe their roster is capable of competing with the rest of the American League.

Buying Makes Sense With the Right Moves

A 53-54 club buying at the deadline may raise eyebrows, but context matters. The American League has been defined by parity, and Minnesota remains firmly in the playoff picture despite an inconsistent first four months. Selling would signal surrender in a race where virtually every contender has flaws of its own.

The Twins don't necessarily need a dramatic overhaul. Their lineup has produced enough offense to compete, and the rotation has been anchored by Ryan while receiving quality contributions from the rest of the staff. The glaring weakness has been the bullpen, making it the logical place to invest deadline resources. There is also an opportunity to move Connor Prielipp or Zebby Matthews to the bullpen if the team acquires a back-end starter. 

Whether that's enough to make a deep postseason run remains to be seen. A frontline starting pitcher would undoubtedly elevate Minnesota's October outlook, but there has been little indication that such a move is on the table.

If Bowden's reporting proves accurate, the Twins have made their decision. Ryan and Buxton will stay put, the front office will search aggressively for bullpen reinforcements, and Minnesota will bet that a healthier roster and a stronger relief corps are enough to turn a .500 season into a playoff berth.

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[MMBoys93]

Really really curious to see what happens here.

To me, buying at the deadline means holding onto Ryan Jeffers. The offensive numbers have started to slip as a team and trading Jeffers away would be too big an impact on the team. Similar with Trevor Larnach. These two have been two of the best hitters on the team and saying that you’re buying at the deadline and moving these two would be a major detriment to the offense.

With all that being said letting these two walk at free agency seems ridiculous to me for a team that that’s currently under .500.

The team has three major league catchers on the roster and something’s gotta give. I also firmly believe that Alan Roden and Matt Wallner deserve a shot to play the remainder of the year. These 2 replacing Bell and Larnach would simply make sense for the future of the org. 

I think this all in talk is ridiculous and simply an attempt for Tom Pohlad to be seen as the good guy among some Twins fans. If this is the route they take then it’s a major error.

Tampa, Cleveland, Milwaukee are the gold standard for low spend teams and none of them would make this choice.  

And before you all freak out on me about Wallner, he had an .885 ops in 500 PAs in 2023-2024, and last year had north of an .837 ops in each of April, July and August. Theres obviously some insane inconsistency but that’s a damn Twins theme these days. Letting him just walk would be a mistake.