Twins "All Over" Zach Neto? Surprise Trade Rumor Emerges Hours Before Deadline

[Matthew Taylor]

Trade speculation surrounding the Minnesota Twins had been relatively quiet on deadline day until USA Today's Bob Nightengale dropped an interesting nugget during an appearance on the Foul Territory podcast.

When discussing Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto, Nightengale said the Twins are "all over him" and "would love to have him." It's important to note that in the same interview, he said that he doesn't think the Angels will trade the right-handed shortstop.

It's a surprising report given that very little had connected the Twins to Neto leading up to Monday's 5 p.m. trade deadline. The 25-year-old has quietly established himself as one of the better young shortstops in baseball, posting a 110 OPS+ across his first three-plus Major League seasons. This year, he's hitting with a .745 OPS while launching 19 home runs and producing 1.9 fWAR. He has also struck out a league-leading 155 times.

Defensively, the picture is a bit more complicated. Baseball Savant credits Neto with negative eight Outs Above Average at shortstop this season, though some evaluators believe he's a better defender than the metrics indicate. He also possesses a strong throwing arm.

Perhaps the biggest appeal is his contract status. Neto is making just $4.15 million in his first year of arbitration and remains under team control through the 2029 season, making him a potential long-term building block.

That also means the acquisition cost would be enormous.

Red Sox reporter Tim Healy indicated the Angels are seeking a massive return for Neto, reporting that the Angels' asking price included top Boston Red Sox prospect Franklin Arias along with additional prospects. If the Twins were to seriously pursue Neto, it's hard to imagine a deal getting done without Kaelen Culpepper being part of the package, plus additional prospect capital.

That would be a difficult decision. Culpepper has long been viewed as Minnesota's shortstop of the future, but Neto is already an established big leaguer with four more years of team control after this season. A scenario where Neto handles shortstop until Marek Houston is ready before eventually sliding over to third base could make plenty of sense for the Twins' long-term roster construction.

Whether anything comes of Nightengale's report remains to be seen. With roughly three hours remaining before the deadline, the Twins may have something up their sleeve.

Would you trade Kaelen Culpepper and additional prospects for Zach Neto? Let us know what you think in the comments.

View full rumor

[whosafraidofluigirussolo]

Why lol

Edit: In seriousness, I guess I'm excited about Culpepper and Houston and think they're likely to get Neto-like production with 6 years of control from one of them within the next year or so. So, not seeing it, but that's absolutely an armchair GM perspective.

[mickster]

I would take the proven Neto over the prospect in Culpepper yes.   Houston has a better shot at being the long term answer at SS and Neto has control.   It won't get done straight up so Erod may need to be included.

[Vanimal46]

Here is Neto’s baseball savant page. That doesn’t scream long term answer at SS. And he’s been striking out at an alarming rate. 

[Mike Sixel]

After looking at it in more detail, I vote no.

[Cory Engelhardt]

Lots of strikeouts, and his savant page is all blue, but he is proven. I guess we will see

[DataNerd]

Neto is a great player (better than I think most of the comments currently have) and is only 25, but the prospects at SS are a huge strength so I don't like trading assets to make that better (and don't want to trade Houston/Culpepper when we are a game under 500).  

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

10 minutes ago, mickster said:

I would take the proven Neto over the prospect in Culpepper yes.   Houston has a better shot at being the long term answer at SS and Neto has control.   It won't get done straight up so Erod may need to be included.

I think we have seen the best of Neto.  I think I take my chances with Houston and Culpepper.  

[Chembry]

14 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

Here is Neto’s baseball savant page. That doesn’t scream long term answer at SS. And he’s been striking out at an alarming rate. 

Fielding Bible had a different take on his defensive metrics.  +13 DRS in 2025, +11 in 2024.  

Historically, he strikes out at a 23-26% rate, which is still below league average but not nearly the rate he has shown this year.  His BB rate is also way up this year.  

My take on Neto is he is proven MLB shortstop with above average MLB production since his debut in 2023.  He has put up 14.5 WAR in 3.5 seasons.  Plus he is still only 25.

[TheLeviathan]

The defensive metrics on him are all over the place.  I tend to think he's a good MLB SS.  

He's not a game changer though so I hope that isn't the price tag we're circling.

[USAFChief]

If Culpepper is the primary return for Neto you have to do that. 

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

1 minute ago, USAFChief said:

If Culpepper is the primary return for Neto you have to do that. 

I don't know he is already at 4 million per a year,  the arbitration numbers will continue to go up for a hitter that the valuation is all on his home runs.  The .240 average with around a .300 OBP  isn't cutting it for me.  Its affectively another Clemens with variable defensive metrics.   Plus there will be more going than just Culpepper.  Likely Culpepper, a top 15 prospect and then one in the top 30,  that is a lot.      

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

Also the only information appears to be from Nightengale, so the odds it is throwing crap against the wall is high.  

[USAFChief]

1 minute ago, Hawkeye Bean Counter said:

Also the only information appears to be from Nightengale, so the odds it is throwing crap against the wall is high.  

Fair point

[weitz41]

Squints at title...Opens beer...Umm. Somebody trolling us? RIGHT?? 

Boy, I don't see the need, but I'll play along. Tait, E Rod and 1-2 20-30 rank players. OK I can live with that. Trading from depth. Houston and Culpepper I would not part with either. Jenkins and Lackey are not available IMO.

Lee (3B) Neto (SS) Culpepper (2nd) could be a really good infield. Plus, Houston taking over SS mid 2027? One of Culpepper/Neto in CF with Buck as fulltime DH. That could make for a core of strong offence and defense. Jenkins, GG, Roden, Keaschall, Martin and Mendez filling out the OF roster.

 

[Dman]

I don't understand the Neto infatuation.  Not just for the Twins but Boston, and Tampa were mentioned as destinations as well. I get that he has good power for the position but that K rate is a rally killer.  I' don't know why we would want to do a deal. 

There must be something teams think they can fix or that he is undervalued in some way?  He's had a lot of steam, but if it were me I'd stay away as we have good options that aren't even arb eligible on the way and they might be better in the end anyway.

If they want to focus on something it should be arms as they get hurt a lot and are in short supply.

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

I am sure @USAFChief would love this,  if we are truly trying to buy low and catch lightening in a bottle I would rather have Volpe.  Slightly higher OBP but OPS is lower with less homers.   If we think we need a shortstop I would go this route than doing a major buy on Neto.  I am hoping Nightengale is wrong.  

[Mike Sixel]

16 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

If Culpepper is the primary return for Neto you have to do that. 

Sure, but what if it's him and two more top prospects? 

[Mike Sixel]

1 minute ago, Hawkeye Bean Counter said:

I am sure @USAFChief would love this,  if we are truly trying to buy low and catch lightening in a bottle I would rather have Volpe.  Slightly higher OBP but OPS is lower with less homers.   If we think we need a shortstop I would go this route than doing a major buy on Neto.  I am hoping Nightengale is wrong.  

You are a better fielder. No. No. No. 

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

Just now, Mike Sixel said:

Sure, but what if it's him and two more top prospects? 

It will be.   If its legit - I would say Culpepper, Diaw/Winokur/Young,  and then an arm maybe Gallagher/Barr/Reitz.  

[howeda7]

If it's something like Culpepper and a 15-20 prospect, I would do it.

[tony&rodney]

Sorry to say, i would not trade Winokur for Neto.

Think the Twins had a shot to make a solid trade with Ryan last year and Jeffers this year. Hmmm.

[USAFChief]

6 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Sure, but what if it's him and two more top prospects? 

No.

I did say "primary return. "

Two more "prospects?" Sure. 

[USAFChief]

10 minutes ago, Hawkeye Bean Counter said:

I am sure @USAFChief would love this,  if we are truly trying to buy low and catch lightening in a bottle I would rather have Volpe.  Slightly higher OBP but OPS is lower with less homers.   If we think we need a shortstop I would go this route than doing a major buy on Neto.  I am hoping Nightengale is wrong.  

I'm not a Volpe fan. At all. 

[clone52]

Unless its part of a bigger deal for Neto and Detmers (which would be huge), I wouldn't trade Culpepper.

If the Angels insisted on Culpepper in a Detmers deal, I'd say I'd want Neto too and see what they price would be.

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

Just now, USAFChief said:

No.

I did say "primary return. "

Two more "prospects?" Sure. 

I will say @USAFChief motto would be F them picks/prospects   LOL

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

1 minute ago, USAFChief said:

I'm not a Volpe fan. At all. 

I know you aren't.  More just a joke.  

[Mike Sixel]

Just now, clone52 said:

Unless its part of a bigger deal for Neto and Detmers (which would be huge), I wouldn't trade Culpepper.

If the Angels insisted on Culpepper in a Detmers deal, I'd say I'd want Neto too and see what they price would be.

Wasn't Detmers traded already?

[USAFChief]

1 minute ago, Hawkeye Bean Counter said:

I will say @USAFChief motto would be F them picks/prospects   LOL

Nothing in baseball hyped more and worth less than a prospect. 

[clone52]

Just now, Mike Sixel said:

Wasn't Detmers traded already?

Friend said he went to Cubs but then I read he didn't.  A complicated Detmers/Neto negotiation would explain weird news on the Cubs/Detmers front.