Orioles' Yennier Cano Would Be A Big Boost For Twins' Bullpen

[Steve Drumwright]

 

With the Minnesota Twins in buy mode and Monday's trade deadline coming at them, there is a reliever that fits this year's push and will remain part of the immediate future.

Introducing Baltimore Orioles right-hander Yennier Cano.

With two years of club control beyond this season, Cano would fit nicely into the Twins' plans. The 32-year-old, a bit of a late bloomer, is "one of the most coveted" late-inning relievers, according to MLB Network's Jon Morosi.

Cano, who is making $1.6 million this season in his first year of arbitration, has a 2.55 FIP (2.27 ERA) in 35⅔ innings with a 5.6% walk rate and 21% strikeout rate entering play Wednesday. He had a breakout season in 2023 when he was named an AL All-Star with a 2.84 FIP (2.11 ERA) with a 4.6% walk rate and 23% strikeout rate, notching eight saves in 72⅔ innings.

In order to acquire Cano, it would take a notable prospect due to the control the Orioles still have of the reliever, but would be worth it if the Twins can get back into the postseason after two fourth-place finishes in the AL Central, including last year's massive sell-off at the trade deadline.

 

View full rumor

[Dman]

I don't think the Twins would want that level of egg on their face.  They gave him away in a deal that turned out to be one of their worst trades.  Trading even more capital to get him back would be a delicious indictment on what a poor decision the FO made and how much capital they had to spend to get him back. I don't think the FO could handle the stories that would come out if they traded for him (i.e. they would have given up Cade Povich, Juan Nunez, Juan Rojas and Cano plus whatever they trade to get Cano back).  I'm sure Orioles fans would get a good laugh out of it too as that would be quite the haul for Jorge Lopez who was a complete bust.

So to sum it up.  He might be a decent target just not for the Twins.

[mnfireman]

 

Introducing Baltimore Orioles right-hander Yennier Cano.  

He's no stranger to Minnesota, he was in the Twins system from '19 - '22... Even got into a 10 games for the Twins in '22 before being traded to Baltimore as part of the deadline deal for Jorge Lopez.

[arby58]

The Os beat the Tigers today and are now 53-56. It’s not clear that they will be sellers.

[BaseballBob]

7 minutes ago, Dman said:

I don't think the Twins would want that level of egg on their face.  They gave him away in a deal that turned out to be one of their worst trades.  Trading even more capital to get him back would be a delicious indictment on what a poor decision the FO made and how much capital they had to spend to get him back. I don't think the FO could handle the stories that would come out if they traded for him (i.e. they would have given up Cade Povich, Juan Nunez, Juan Rojas and Cano plus whatever they trade to get Cano back).  I'm sure Orioles fans would get a good laugh out of it too as that would be quite the haul for Jorge Lopez who was a complete bust.

So to sum it up.  He might be a decent target just not for the Twins.

Really? That was then, this is now.

[Dman]

1 minute ago, BaseballBob said:

Really? That was then, this is now.

We'll see if they trade for him.  I'd bet they don't.

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

That shouldn’t come into the decision making. It should be the best reliever they can get for reasonable value. It’s going to be interesting to see who the buyers and sellers are. We should have been a seller in normal circumstances but are willing to to buy with a team around .500. 

[Dman]

9 minutes ago, arby58 said:

The Os beat the Tigers today and are now 53-56. It’s not clear that they will be sellers.

Man it's hard to believe how bad the Tigers have been this year.  I had them winning the division and now it looks like they won't even be in the wild card race.  Baseball is so crazy unpredictable.

[Linus]

There are several decent former Twins relievers out there. 

[Dman]

17 minutes ago, Hawkeye Bean Counter said:

That shouldn’t come into the decision making. It should be the best reliever they can get for reasonable value. It’s going to be interesting to see who the buyers and sellers are. We should have been a seller in normal circumstances but are willing to to buy with a team around .500. 

I agree it shouldn't, but just think about the PR mess they would have to face every time Cano came out to pitch. The announcer's from from both telecast's would recap the amount of capital it took in the Cano deal. 

Would you want one of your biggest mistakes as an organization out their in the public every time that player came in to pitch?  A trade that makes the organization look like it doesn't know what it's doing?  I'd think you would want that buried and hope no one remembers it.  For an org that is trying to win fans back I don't think that's a look they'll want to have regardless of what deal they can get from Baltimore.

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

7 minutes ago, Dman said:

I agree it shouldn't, but just think about the PR mess they would have to face every time Cano came out to pitch. The announcer's from from both telecast's would recap the amount of capital it took in the Cano deal. 

Would you want one of your biggest mistakes as an organization out their in the public every time that player came in to pitch?  A trade that makes the organization look like it doesn't know what it's doing?  I'd think you would want that buried and hope no one remembers it.  For an org that is trying to win fans back I don't think that's a look they'll want to have regardless of what deal they can get from Baltimore.

If the choice is Cano or a lessor reliever, I bet the Twins take Cano. Who cares about the previous deal. Lopez failure has nothing to do with whether Cano can help the Twins and I would argue zero PR disaster. So it comes up during the broadcast, who cares.