Question of the week: Grade the trade deadline

[Brock Beauchamp]

Now that the dust has settled, what grade do you give?

[Mike Sixel]

I feel like my D was generous. 

[thelanges5]

I gave a C - if the offense continues to be this bad the bullpen won’t matter though. 

[thelanges5]

34 minutes ago, thelanges5 said:

I gave a C - if the offense continues to be this bad the bullpen won’t matter though. 

If they knew about the Joe Ryan back injury at the trade deadline, then I change my grade to an F. 

[Mike Sixel]

8 minutes ago, thelanges5 said:

If they knew about the Joe Ryan back injury at the trade deadline, then I change my grade to an F. 

This.

[The Great Hambino]

I gave a C, though I could convinced on changing it to a B after a few drinks

The good: the prospect haul given away is unlikely to haunt them, 2 of the 3 acquired are controlled into next year, Hoffman has legitimate high-leverage upside, and while I think the goodwill generated is short-term and overrated, it's not nothing, either

The bad: their playoff odds didn't actually improve, nothing was done about a lineup that can be upgraded in many places now that they're no longer magical with RISP, Hoffman has Emilio-Pagan-esque downside, Kremer looks like a bad cost-benefit bet to me (in terms of future salary) if he can't turn it around, and I can't shake the feeling that they missed on some chances to add real value by capitalizing on potential returns for Jeffers and Ryan.  I also am afraid that Tom is more concerned with making the popular decision instead of the right decision.  It could be a one-time event meant to jumpstart the real investment in the offseason, or it could be a harbinger of things to come.

[nicksaviking]

I was good standing pat, giving the reps to the young relievers and hitters and going all in for 2027, but that's not a popular take so I get why they felt they had to make moves.

But it kind of feels like they were making moves as fan service. Fans were talking about the bullpen so that's what they went at, but the bullpen had started to come into it's own after a half season of tinkering and it seemed more than clear that Ryan was hitting the wall, Ober hit the wall 18 months ago and the young starters were probably close to their inning totals anyway.

This team TALKED about spending money, and sure, 8M is nothing to sneeze at, but it's still only a quarter of what they cut last off season, so the team still took a discount there. If they'd truly wanted to put their money where their mouth was, shouldn't they have gone after one if not two of Gausman, Peralta, Ray, May or Holmes instead of Kremer? These guys went for virtually no player equity. 

[USAFChief]

B-.

Not bad. Addressed needs, at least marginally. Didn't cost much. Took on salary. Made an effort for a team that, much to the chagrin of many here, actually has a puncher chance at sneaking into the postseason. 

 

[USAFChief]

1 hour ago, thelanges5 said:

If they knew about the Joe Ryan back injury at the trade deadline, then I change my grade to an F. 

Is it your contention they knew of an actual injury and sent him to the mound last night?

 

I call BS.

[thelanges5]

17 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

Is it your contention they knew of an actual injury and sent him to the mound last night?

 

I call BS.

Wasn’t really thinking about the game just the draft, but I see what you’re saying. 

Overall thought was they shouldn’t have been buying if Buck and Ryan are injured. 

They made the bullpen better and that is great. The problem now is that the bullpen needs a lead to be effective and we haven’t been giving them that with the starting pitching or hitting.
 

[Vanimal46]

1 hour ago, USAFChief said:

Is it your contention they knew of an actual injury and sent him to the mound last night?

 

I call BS.

I don’t think they knew, but Joe Ryan knew and once again hid an injury. 

[USAFChief]

31 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

I don’t think they knew, but Joe Ryan knew and once again hid an injury. 

Possible. 

But even if true would have had no impact on what the Twins should have done.

And for the record I'd have wanted the Twins to make an effort to sneak into the postseason even IF Ryan had said he was having back issues prior to the deadline. 

[TheLeviathan]

C or D.  Lean D.

[Brandon]

On 8/5/2026 at 4:10 PM, USAFChief said:

B-.

Not bad. Addressed needs, at least marginally. Didn't cost much. Took on salary. Made an effort for a team that, much to the chagrin of many here, actually has a puncher chance at sneaking into the postseason. 

 

I gave them a B as well.  I think the Twins had lots of opportunities to go after a mid rotation starter like Mize, Soriano, Detmer, Holmes, and a few others.  They should have traded for one of them over the starter they got.  But They hit perfectly on relievers and on price.  trading Dasan Hill is the only potential painful player traded.