Four Popular Twins Trade Targets, According To Fans

[Cory Engelhardt]

1 minute ago, Mike Sixel said:

I'd happily do Hill or Soto and any hitting prospect not named Jenkins, Culpepper, Houston. Heck, I'd do any two hitters and one of those pitchers for Detmers and a RP. I'd even consider both those pitchers and one hitter for him and a RP.

I would too. I also saw the Angels traded O'Hoppe and the reliever Silseth for a young rookie level infielder from the Rangers. I know Detmers is worth a lot more, but Silseth is a solid reliever and O'Hoppe has been good and probably needed a fresh start. Just saying, maybe the Angels value one of our DSL players or Fort Myers players more than rankings do? 

Anyway, I do worry most about the offense, and even more about the rotation. I'd prefer a good starter and even a hitter in trade now, while also adding a reliever. This team isn't finished, but they do have Culpepper and Jenkins on the horizon too.

[JD-TWINS]

On 7/29/2026 at 4:34 PM, arby58 said:

For all of Arraez’s skill with the bat, he’s mostly a singles hitter who doesn’t score many runs. He’s second in BA and tied for 76th in runs scored - the same number as ‘fleet of foot’ Josh Bell. It’s interesting that such a high BA player is on his 4th team in 5 years.

I’d take him 8 days per week. He can’t score if the guys behind him can’t hit.

Arraez has improved his defense at 2B greatly. Having a guy that hits .330 behind Buxton gets Buxton better pitches to hit. He should hit 3rd or 5th, behind Lewis and not at the Top of the line-up.

Twins traded him for Lopez.

Miami traded him because they don’t spend money & new GM.

San Diego let him go because he declined just a bit but principally because they spend too much money and didn’t want to pay him with Tatis - Machado - Bogarts on the payroll.

The Giants want to trade him because they suck as a whole and he’ll be a free agent.

[arby58]

28 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

I’d take him 8 days per week. He can’t score if the guys behind him can’t hit.

Arraez has improved his defense at 2B greatly. Having a guy that hits .330 behind Buxton gets Buxton better pitches to hit. He should hit 3rd or 5th, behind Lewis and not at the Top of the line-up.

Twins traded him for Lopez.

Miami traded him because they don’t spend money & new GM.

San Diego let him go because he declined just a bit but principally because they spend too much money and didn’t want to pay him with Tatis - Machado - Bogarts on the payroll.

The Giants want to trade him because they suck as a whole and he’ll be a free agent.

Part of why he can’t score from the guys behind him is he’s slow and mostly on first base. It doesn’t sound like he moves the dial much for teams offense from what you’ve wrote. That is why he’s tied with Bell in runs scored this year. He’s not worth what he’s getting paid - that’s another hard truth about why he gets moved on.

[JD-TWINS]

Just now, arby58 said:

It doesn’t sound like he moves the dial much for teams offense from what you’ve wrote. That is why he’s tied with Bell in runs scored this year. He’s not worth what he’s getting paid - that’s another hard truth about why he gets moved on.

Why are you hung up on runs scored?

Bell doesn’t play defense - there’s talk in baseball about Arraez playing GG defense in ‘26.

That said, a guy can’t score without guys that hit behind him - Bell and mostly others on Twins have scored a bunch because they are close to Top of Baseball in BA with RISP. Hence they lead or did lead the A.L. in runs…….. when guys hit with RISP the guys in front of them are scoring runs - not happening in SF. That’s why guys are getting moved from Giants for prospects instead of getting zero value when they walk.

Btw, what I wrote was he was valued enough to trade for our staff ace. I wrote the Marlins switched GM’s after they signed Luis & he won Batting Title again ….. they were once again in frugal mode. Preller was/is spending wildly in San Diego and they had to cut costs some. Dylan Cease doesn’t pitch for them anymore because of this $$ issue in San Diego.

[tony&rodney]

2 hours ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

Detmers is a lot better than Prielipp right now today. I don't know how anyone could argue that. Prielipp does have potential yes, but I'd argue Prielipp's best is what Detmers is today.

FWIW .... The last five outings have Prielipp with 28.2 IP and 13 ER with Detmers at 25.1 IP and 13 ER. Prielipp is just getting his feet wet and looks pretty good. He is getting stronger recently. I do really like Detmers and am interested in seeing if the Twins can acquire him. I would not trade Prielipp and the Twins agree.

[Cory Engelhardt]

27 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

FWIW .... The last five outings have Prielipp with 28.2 IP and 13 ER with Detmers at 25.1 IP and 13 ER. Prielipp is just getting his feet wet and looks pretty good. He is getting stronger recently. I do really like Detmers and am interested in seeing if the Twins can acquire him. I would not trade Prielipp and the Twins agree.

That could be, and if they add pitching without giving up Prielipp I'd be good for that. Mostly for this season alone, I just assume he'll be shut down at some point. That's all. 

[tony&rodney]

1 hour ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

That could be, and if they add pitching without giving up Prielipp I'd be good for that. Mostly for this season alone, I just assume he'll be shut down at some point. That's all. 

Prielipp isn't going anywhere. I also don't think Connor is shut down until the Twins are done. They will continue to give him longer between starts and watch his pitch counts and the stresses in innings. Of course that puts further stress on the bullpen and so a guy like Detmers or Emerson would be nice. However, neither of those guys go long in most games. Gausman will throw more innings if that is the goal.

[Cory Engelhardt]

1 hour ago, tony&rodney said:

Prielipp isn't going anywhere. I also don't think Connor is shut down until the Twins are done. They will continue to give him longer between starts and watch his pitch counts and the stresses in innings. Of course that puts further stress on the bullpen and so a guy like Detmers or Emerson would be nice. However, neither of those guys go long in most games. Gausman will throw more innings if that is the goal.

Oh man, Gausman would be so perfect here for the next two months. What do you think Toronto would ask for in a Gausman trade? Or better yet, a Gausman and Jeff Hoffman deal? Could enticing them with any number of AAA or mlb level outfielders as a starting point work? (Not named Jenkins.)

[jmlease1]

15 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

I'd happily do Hill or Soto and any hitting prospect not named Jenkins, Culpepper, Houston. Heck, I'd do any two hitters and one of those pitchers for Detmers and a RP. I'd even consider both those pitchers and one hitter for him and a RP.

not putting Lackey on that list? He'd be damn near untouchable for me.

[jmlease1]

14 hours ago, arby58 said:

Part of why he can’t score from the guys behind him is he’s slow and mostly on first base. It doesn’t sound like he moves the dial much for teams offense from what you’ve wrote. That is why he’s tied with Bell in runs scored this year. He’s not worth what he’s getting paid - that’s another hard truth about why he gets moved on.

He's worth it this year; he's been able to stay healthy and has been able to be a good 2B, and he's also hit LHP for basically the first time in his career. The question is how many of those things will continue. We know his knees are bad, we know his defense hasn't always been good, and we know that historically he can't hit LHP. SF should trade him; he's on an expiring and you basically couldn't sell any higher than this...but buyer beware. And I say this as someone who likes Arraez.

[TopGunn#22]

With the recent bad news regarding Buxton's hip impingement, and even with thrilling come from behind wins against the Royals in 2 of their last 3 games, how realistic are the Twins chances without Buxton for an extended period and possibly the rest of this season?  Read Lucas Seehafer's article for more details. 

I know we are in "BUY" mode right now, but with the news on Buxton, does that change the outlook with the news of their clear team MVP missing extensive time?

Any trade now should be viewed as how it could help in 2026 but more so in 2027.  I must admit, I'm kind of intrigued by the possible Angels trade ideas.  Neto is just 3 years older than Culpepper.  He has some swing and miss issues, but has power and speed potential that is more fully realized than Culpepper.  And Neto PLAYS !   He's played in 106 out of 109 games for the Angels this season.  Last year, he played in 128.  In 2024, 155 games.  My biggest worry with Culpepper is his proclivity to get injured.

Neto is also a solid defensive SS.  He gives Houston time to fully polish his skills and then you have a middle IF of Houston at SS and Neto at 2B.  That would be some serious defense.  Neto has 30-HR 30-SB potential. He came close in 2025 and he's on pace to come close this season.  For the remainder of this season, the Twins need a SP who can allow Zebby Matthews to finish this year out in the bullpen.  Detmers and Soriano would both be in the Twins starting rotation in 2027.  I prefer Detmers, but both are worthy additions.  

But I come back to Buxton.  If he misses extended time.  Adding a bat like Neto could help with the rest of this season not to mention the improved defense at SS.  Neto will surely have a better immediate impact on the Twins chances of winning the division or a Wild Card than Culpepper will.  Neto had a WAR of 5.1 in 2024 and 5.3 last season.  He's at 2.7 thru July of this year.  Would Culpepper come anywhere near those numbers in the 2027-2029 seasons?  

A deal like the suggested Angels trades in this op not only helps the Twins THIS year in their playoff drive but in future years as well.  

On Luis Arraez.  One of my favorite Twins players.  Loved watching him grind out AB's.  But this need to compare him to 2 HOF players (Tony Gwynn and Ichiro) is getting far too hyperbolic.  He's a great contact hitter in an era where swinging for the fences is "The Way."  But please...he is NOT Gwynn or Inchiro, even if he has 3 batting titles.  He got those batting titles because other hitters have sacrificed average for power.  His competition has thinned considerably when compared to past baseball seasons.  He's NOT Gwynn or Ichiro and never will be.   

[Mike Sixel]

4 hours ago, jmlease1 said:

not putting Lackey on that list? He'd be damn near untouchable for me.

Can't trade any picks until December.