Jump to content
If free agency is too rich for your blood, click here for the 35 players most likely to be traded this offseason. ×
Twins Daily
  • Create Account

  • Minnesota Twins Trade & Free Agent Rumors

    Follow the latest Minnesota Twins trade and free agent rumors, along with quick notes on the big league club, the minor leagues and the draft.
    Show all categories
    Matthew Lenz
    Trevor Larnach is in the midst of a career year, having gone from non tender candidate to an above average hitter and serviceable left fielder in a matter of months. Is now the right time to move on from him and create an opening for a top prospect?
    Chandler Rome of The Athletic is reporting that the "[Houston] Astros focus at the trade deadline is a left-handed hitting outfielder." While their farm system isn't strong, the Astros have a bevy of southpaw relievers that they could look to move...something the Minnesota Twins are in need of.
    Though the Minnesota Twins may not be true "buyers" at the deadline, they will seemingly be in the playoff hunt in the second half of the season. If they were to make a move, it would make sense for them to deal from a position of depth to strengthen the weakest position group on the roster. 
     
    For Larnach, he is currently slashing .247/.326/.412 with 13 home runs and a pair of stolen bases across 75 games. Though it's still not great, he has improved his defensive contributions this season to a more serviceable level. Having been a league-average (or slightly better) hitter for years now, the improved defense has made him a more reliable everyday player. He is controllable through 2027.
    Should the Minnesota Twins look to trade Trevor Lawrence? Join the conversation in the comments!
    Steve Drumwright
    One of the Minnesota Twins' All-Stars won't be going to Philadelphia after all.
    The Twins on Tuesday placed center fielder Byron Buxton on the 10-day injured list due to an ailing right hip. Outfielder Alan Roden was called up from Triple-A St. Paul. Also, the Twins officially added right-handed reliever Woo-Suk Go, acquired in a cash trade Sunday with the Detroit Tigers, to the roster. He will be making his MLB debut.
    Buxton was selected Saturday to his third All-Star Game, but will not be playing in the game due to his injury. He has a .271/.328/.575 slash line and is among the AL leaders with 25 homers. He hit a career-high 35 homers a year ago. Buxton's career is littered with injuries that have prevented him from consistently putting up monster numbers.
    Roden has been having a good season at St. Paul this year, slashing .272/.397/.512 with eight homers and 24 RBIs in 33 games. Roden spent time on the injured list this season due to a labrum tear. He appeared in 55 games last year between the Twins and Toronto Blue Jays, with a .191/.261/.294 slash line, hitting two homers and driving in nine. Roden and left-hander Kendry Rojas were the return in the trade with the Jays for right-handed reliever Louis Varland and first baseman Ty France.
     
    Cody Christie
    Just a couple of weeks ago, it felt inevitable that the Minnesota Twins would spend the trade deadline moving veteran pieces for future assets. Hovering below .500 and struggling to gain ground in the American League Wild Card race, Minnesota looked like a team headed toward another disappointing finish. Then the script changed.
    A series victory at Yankee Stadium, Minnesota's first since 2014, continued a stretch of improved baseball that has put the Twins squarely back in the postseason conversation. They aren't leading the division, but they're close enough to the final Wild Card spot that selling no longer feels like the obvious path.
    According to MLB insider Ken Rosenthal, that's exactly how the Twins are approaching the deadline.
    "The Minnesota Twins... look increasingly unlikely to sell. They are only 1 1/2 games back in the race for the third AL wild card, and their new control person, Tom Pohlad, is motivated to win over his players and win back fans."
    That represents a significant shift from where things stood just days ago. Minnesota has played itself back into contention, and with roughly three weeks remaining before the trade deadline, every win makes it more difficult to justify subtracting from the major league roster. Even so, standing pat doesn't necessarily mean every veteran is untouchable.
    Ryan Jeffers Still Makes Sense as a Trade Chip
    Rosenthal also noted that catcher Ryan Jeffers remains one player who could be moved regardless of where Minnesota sits in the standings.
    "One player the Twins could move regardless of their standing is catcher Ryan Jeffers, who is on a rehabilitation assignment as he works his way back from a left hamate fracture. Jeffers is a potential free agent who could bring back bullpen help, and the Twins could replace him with Victor Caratini and Alex Jackson."
    That possibility has become much more realistic over the past month. When Jeffers went down with a fractured hamate bone, Minnesota turned to Victor Caratini for an increased workload. Rather than simply filling in, Caratini has become one of the club's most productive hitters while continuing to provide quality defense and veteran leadership behind the plate.
    His emergence has changed the equation. Earlier this season, trading Jeffers would have left a significant hole at catcher. Now, Caratini has shown he is capable of handling everyday duties, while Alex Jackson gives Minnesota another defensive-minded option to round out the catching tandem.
    The Market Could Work in Minnesota's Favor
    Rosenthal also identified two clubs that continue to monitor the catching market.
    "Speculation persists that the New York Yankees will pursue Jeffers. The Tampa Bay Rays are another team interested in catching help, creating the possibility of an AL East bidding war."
    That's encouraging news if Minnesota ultimately decides to move Jeffers. Quality catching is always difficult to acquire in July, and multiple playoff contenders searching for upgrades could drive up the asking price. Rather than simply receiving a lower-level prospect, the Twins could target an area of greater need.
    The Twins no longer appear headed for a traditional sell-off. If they continue to play winning baseball, adding complementary pieces may become just as likely as subtracting veterans. But that doesn't eliminate the possibility of making calculated moves that improve both the present and the future.
    The next few weeks will determine whether the Twins become buyers, sellers, or something in between. Based on their recent play, the most likely outcome is a club that tries to thread the needle by competing for a postseason berth while taking advantage of opportunities to improve the roster.
    Cody Christie
    The Twins made a low-risk addition to their bullpen depth on Sunday, acquiring right-handed reliever Woo-Suk Go from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for cash considerations. While the move won't generate significant excitement, it gives Minnesota another intriguing arm to evaluate as the club continues to fight for an American League Wild Card spot.
    Because Go had an assignment clause in his contract, the Twins must add him to the 40-man roster. Fortunately, Minnesota already had an open 40-man roster spot, so no corresponding move was necessary.
    Go signed a minor league contract with Detroit last December after spending the 2024 season in the Miami Marlins organization. The Tigers never promoted him to the major league roster, despite an impressive first half with Triple-A Toledo.
    Across 27 2/3 innings this season, Go posted a 2.60 ERA while striking out 29.1% of opposing hitters. He also has yet to surrender a home run. Some of those numbers have been helped by a favorable .239 batting average on balls in play, but the underlying traits remain appealing. His ability to miss bats and keep the ball on the ground gives the Twins another bullpen option with upside. That profile is especially valuable considering Minnesota's struggles to find consistency in relief.
    Outside of Yoendrys Gómez and Andrew Morris, few Twins relievers have provided dependable production throughout the first half. Morris owns an above-average 17.1 K-BB% rate and a 3.04 xERA over 40 innings. Gómez has taken on the closer role and has posted a 234 ERA+ with a 15.6 K-BB%. 
    As a unit, Minnesota's bullpen has posted a 5.28 ERA with a 19.9% strikeout rate, an 11.5% walk rate, and a 39.7% ground-ball rate. All four marks rank among the bottom ten bullpens in Major League Baseball. Only five teams have a lower fWAR total, and their -1.2 WPA ranks 23rd overall. 
    Adding Go doesn't solve those issues overnight, but it represents another attempt by the front office to uncover value without sacrificing future assets. The 26-year-old arrives with an impressive résumé from Korea. Before coming to Major League Baseball, Go was one of the KBO League's top closers, relying on a lively fastball and swing-and-miss slider to pile up saves. His transition to affiliated baseball has been uneven, particularly with his command, but his strikeout ability has continued to show up whenever he's been healthy.
    Minnesota is betting that those traits can translate against major league hitters. The timing also makes sense. The Twins improved to 44-47 with Sunday's victory over the Yankees and remain only two games behind an American League Wild Card spot. With the trade deadline still several weeks away, the front office isn't locked into either buying or selling. Moves like this allow the organization to add potential contributors while maintaining payroll flexibility and preserving its prospect depth.
    According to reports, Go is expected to join the Twins on Tuesday and should have an opportunity to make his major league debut shortly thereafter. How long he remains in Minnesota may ultimately depend on both his performance and the club's direction over the next few weeks.
    If the Twins stay in the postseason race, Go will have to earn every appearance in a competitive bullpen. If Minnesota slips further behind before the trade deadline, he could receive a longer opportunity to prove he belongs as the organization evaluates arms for both the remainder of 2026 and beyond.
    Cory Moen
    Walker Jenkins was named to the MLB Futures Game, which will be played on Sunday, July 12, at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. He will join fellow top prospect Kaelen Culpepper in representing the Twins in the game.
    Jenkins is clearly deserving of this honor, as he is the Twins' top prospect and has proved why thus far in 2026. This year has been slowed by injury, but he has looked the part of a top prospect at Triple-A, hitting .272/.390/.430 over 31 games played. His .820 OPS is solidly above average, and he has added two home runs with 11 RBIs as well. He's also shown his athleticism with seven stolen bases on the year as well.
    While many Twins fans are hoping he makes his Major League debut sooner rather than later, you will get your opportunity to see him on a Major League Field come July 12. 
    Seth Stohs
    On Tuesday night at CHS Field, the St. Paul Saints returned home for a series against the Buffalo Bisons. 
    The Twins won the first game of the series on Tuesday by a score of 12-6. The Saints scored seven runs in the bottom of the first inning and led 11-3 after four innings. The did most of their damage early. 
    However, the most important "play of the day" before the phrase, "Play Ball" was uttered. 
    Before each game at CHS Field, a kid gets to stand alongside each of the nine defensive players. Maybe they bring a ball with them and the player signs it for him or her. Overall, it's a cool way for the players to interact with kids. And they stand next to the player for the playing of the national anthem. 
    Shortly after The Star-Spangled Banner started, the youngster standing next to Walker Jenkins in center field started to wobble. He leaned heavily to his right, bumping into right fielder Matt Wallner who caught him and set him up, likely not sure what was happening. But when he started to fall, Jenkins stepped over and caught him. Realizing that he had fainted, Jenkins picked him up and ran him into the Saints dugout where he handed the child to Chase Thompson, the Saints lead athletic trainer. From there, the child, "Lincoln" was brought into the clubhouse and evaluated. 
    Ultimately, he was OK. He had overheated and was a bit dehydrated which caused him to faint. He was given fluids and cooled off before he returned to watching the game. 
    After Jenkins handed Lincoln over, he clearly did not know what to do? Does he follow along? Does he stay on the field? The national anthem was still playing? Should he run back out to his position? A situation like that has to cause the mind to race. But when he was needed, he came through. 
    Did it affect him during the game? If it did, it didn't show. He had a single in the first inning, doubled in the fourth inning, and tripled in the sixth inning. 
    The summer before being drafted, Jenkins was playing for Team USA Baseball. Twins Hall of Famer Michael Cuddyer has been very active with Team USA over the years. He gave Jenkins the nickname "Captain America" because of his size, stature, and overall talent level. 
    On Tuesday, Jenkins got to play Super Hero for a kid and his family. 
    Cody Christie
    For the second consecutive summer, one of the Minnesota Twins' brightest young stars will spend All-Star weekend in a major league stadium. Shortstop Kaelen Culpepper has been selected to the 2026 MLB All-Star Futures Game, giving him another opportunity to represent the organization among the game's top prospects.
    Ranked as the Twins Daily's No. 2 prospect, Culpepper has continued his impressive rise through the system with an outstanding first half at Triple-A St. Paul. The 23-year-old has appeared in 63 games while posting a .272/.376/.492 slash line with an .868 OPS. He has collected 14 home runs, 43 RBI, scored 54 runs, and stolen 15 bases in 17 attempts. Perhaps just as encouraging has been his advanced approach at the plate, drawing 37 walks while striking out only 51 times across 250 at-bats.
    His production stacks up well against the rest of the International League. Culpepper ranks among the league leaders in several offensive categories, including sitting seventh in runs scored. His 123 wRC+ also places him among the top young hitters in the league, ranking fifth among players age 23 or younger and sixth among International League shortstops.
    Few players in professional baseball have been as dangerous at the start of games. Culpepper has launched six leadoff home runs this season, tying for the most in all of baseball alongside Byron Buxton, Shohei Ohtani, James Wood, and Rangers prospect Devin Fitz-Gerald.
    His power has also shown up throughout games. Culpepper's 10 home runs leading off an inning are tied for the most in the minor leagues with Diamondbacks prospect Manuel Peña. Across both the majors and minors, only Buxton (14), Wood (13), and Ohtani (11) have hit more.
    This will be Culpepper's second consecutive appearance in the Futures Game after participating during All-Star festivities in Atlanta last season. In the 2025 contest at Truist Park, he entered defensively in the fourth inning and recorded one plate appearance, lining out to left field.
    According to the Saints, he becomes the fourth player to earn a Futures Game selection since the club became affiliated with the Twins. Josh Winder represented the organization in 2021, Spencer Steer followed in 2022, and Brooks Lee was selected in 2024 before earning a promotion to the Twins instead of appearing in the game.
    The 2026 MLB All-Star Futures Game will be played on Sunday, July 12, at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. The annual showcase features many of baseball's top prospects as the American League and National League square off during All-Star weekend, with first pitch scheduled for 11:00 a.m. CT on NBC.
    Cody Christie
    Monday's pregame news immediately raised concern when Byron Buxton was scratched from the lineup before the series opener against the Houston Astros. Fortunately for the Twins, the initial diagnosis could have been much worse.
    An MRI revealed that Buxton is dealing with a right hip impingement and is considered day-to-day. Manager Derek Shelton said the club has no plans to place him on the Injured List, offering encouraging news after another injury scare involving the franchise centerpiece.
    The issue became more apparent during Sunday's victory over Colorado when Buxton served as the designated hitter. Although he finished 0-for-4 with a strikeout, the bigger concern was how uncomfortable he looked at the plate.
    "He's dealing with a little hip thing that's going on," Shelton said. "We had some imaging done, we're waiting to get back on it. Yesterday after watching him in the box, it didn't look right to me, so we had a conversation. Just giving him a day."
    Shelton remained optimistic after receiving the imaging results.
    "I think right now we're at a day-to-day place. Really never want to get any farther than that. I think over the course of the last week we've seen how well he's moved. We've seen him on the bases. Just yesterday it just didn't look as comfortable."
    For Twins fans, hearing "day-to-day" attached to Buxton is about as positive an outcome as they could have hoped for.
    After years of seeing injuries derail outstanding stretches of play, 2026 has looked different. Buxton has stayed on the field for the overwhelming majority of the season despite a few minor scares. He missed a short period in May because of hip discomfort and later spent time at designated hitter after jamming his shoulder, but he has avoided an Injured List stint altogether.
    That availability has coincided with one of the best offensive seasons of his career. Buxton enters July slashing .268/.325/.573 with 25 home runs, tied for the American League lead. His 43 RBIs don't fully capture his impact, as he's once again become the top of the lineup force Minnesota envisioned years ago. That production has made him one of the favorites to start in the American League outfield at next month's All-Star Game.
    Even without him, Minnesota found a way to pick up an important victory. The Twins opened their series in Houston with a 5-4 win as Royce Lewis, Josh Bell, and Victor Caratini each homered. The victory improved Minnesota to 41-45, leaving the club 4.5 games behind in the American League Central while sitting just two games out of the final Wild Card spot.
    Those standings reinforce why avoiding an extended absence from Buxton matters so much. Minnesota has spent much of the first half hovering around .500, unable to string together the sustained winning streak necessary to climb into playoff position. With the All-Star break approaching, every game carries additional significance.
    Now the focus shifts toward getting him back into the lineup. The Twins continue their series against Houston on Tuesday night before wrapping things up Wednesday. Then comes a trip to the Bronx for a weekend showdown with the Yankees, a venue that has historically been one of Minnesota's toughest road assignments.
    If the Twins hope to build momentum heading into the All-Star break, having Buxton back in center field would be the biggest boost they could ask for. Monday's diagnosis doesn't guarantee he'll avoid further issues, but for a team whose season has already featured plenty of uncertainty, "day-to-day" qualifies as very good news.
    Steve Drumwright
    The Minnesota Twins have lost one of their left-handed relievers for a bit.
    The Twins on Monday placed lefty Anthony Banda on the 15-day injured list due to a strained left lat and called up right-handed reliever Cody Laweryson from Triple-A.
    In 39 games and 34⅓ innings this year, Banda has a 4.32 FIP (4.46 ERA) with a 9.6 walk rate and 21.2 strikeout rate. He has already hit a career-high eight batters. He appeared in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Colorado Rockies, allowing a hit, hitting a batter, walking another and striking out a pair in two-thirds of an inning.
    Laweryson is with the Twins for a second time this year after making the Opening Day roster. He also spent time on the 15-day injured list due to a strained right forearm. When healthy, Laweryson appeared in 14 games and had a 4.97 FIP (5.06 ERA), posting a 9.7% walk rate and 25% strikeout rate. He has given up three homers in 16 innings.
     
    Cody Christie
    The Minnesota Twins have watched Byron Buxton put together plenty of memorable seasons throughout his career, but 2026 has been something different. Healthy (knock on wood), productive, and once again one of the game's most dynamic players, Buxton is now one step closer to receiving the recognition that has long felt overdue.
    Major League Baseball announced the results of Phase 1 of All-Star voting on Thursday, and Buxton advanced to Phase 2 as one of six American League outfield finalists. Now, with the vote totals reset, Twins fans have one more opportunity to help send their center fielder to Philadelphia as a starting outfielder in the 2026 MLB All-Star Game.
    Finally Getting the Recognition
    Buxton's talent has never been questioned. Staying on the field has often been the only thing standing between him and national superstardom. This season, he's erased those questions.
    After launching 35 home runs during his All-Star campaign in 2025, Buxton has somehow raised the bar even higher. Entering the final days before voting resumes, he is tied with Yordan Alvarez for the American League lead with 25 home runs, putting him on pace to eclipse the 50-homer mark for the first time in his career.
    His .912 OPS ranks as the second-best mark of his career, trailing only his remarkable 2021 season, when injuries limited him to just 61 games despite producing like one of baseball's best hitters. It's the kind of production Twins fans have always believed was possible when Buxton is healthy. Now the rest of baseball is taking notice.
    A Crowded Race in the AL Outfield
    Phase 2 won't be easy. Buxton will compete with Aaron Judge, Mike Trout, Cody Bellinger, Daulton Varsho, and Jesús Sánchez for one of three starting outfield spots.
    Judge and Trout remain two of the sport's biggest stars, but both enter the final round while on the injured list. Judge is recovering from a stress fracture in his ribs and is not expected back until after the All-Star break. Trout is dealing with a right hamstring strain but could return before the Midsummer Classic.
    Meanwhile, Bellinger has enjoyed a strong bounce-back season after returning to New York, while Toronto teammates Varsho and Sánchez are both looking to earn the first All-Star selections of their careers.
    Despite the talented field, Buxton has a compelling case that extends well beyond his home run total. He continues to provide strong defense in center field while serving as the centerpiece of Minnesota's offense nearly every night. That's the type of complete player deserving of an All-Star start.
    Twins Fans Can Finish the Job
    The biggest twist in MLB's voting process is that nothing from Phase 1 carries over. Although Buxton received more than 1.6 million votes to comfortably advance, every finalist now starts back at zero.
    Phase 2 voting opens at 11:00 a.m. CT on Monday, June 29th, and runs through 11:00 a.m. CT on Thursday, July 2nd. Fans can cast one ballot every 24 hours through MLB's website, club websites, the MLB App, and MLB Ballpark App. The winners will be announced on July 4, with pitchers and reserves revealed shortly afterward.
    Buxton has spent more than a decade giving Twins fans highlight-reel catches, breathtaking speed, and tape-measure home runs. This season has showcased everything that has made him one of baseball's most exciting players, only this time with the consistency that comes from being healthy.
    Now comes the final push. Phase 1 showed that Buxton has earned national attention. Phase 2 will determine whether he takes the field at Citizens Bank Park as a starter.
    If Twins fans want to see one of the franchise's best seasons in recent memory rewarded with a place in the starting lineup, voting begins Monday. With the totals reset, every vote matters once again, and Minnesota has four days to help send Byron Buxton where he belongs: the All-Star starting lineup.
    Cody Christie
    The Minnesota Twins received more disappointing pitching news on Wednesday when the club announced that right-hander Mick Abel will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his injured right elbow.
    For a Twins team already navigating a rotation battered by injuries, Abel's latest setback adds another layer of uncertainty to a pitching staff that has spent much of the season trying to patch together innings.
    The good news is that Abel's ulnar collateral ligament remains intact. This is not a Tommy John surgery situation, nor does it appear that an internal brace procedure is necessary. Instead, the operation is being recommended to address recurring discomfort that repeatedly halted his rehabilitation process. Unfortunately, that discomfort proved impossible to shake.
    A Promising Start Cut Short
    When the Twins acquired Abel along with catching prospect Eduardo Tait from the Phillies as part of last summer's Jhoan Duran trade, they were betting on upside.
    The former first-round pick arrived with plenty of prospect pedigree but also questions after an inconsistent start to his professional career. While his rookie season in Minnesota featured some growing pains, there were legitimate reasons for optimism entering 2026.
    Abel was one of the organization's standout performers during Spring Training. His fastball showed more life, his secondary pitches generated more swing-and-miss, and he looked poised to finally establish himself as a long-term rotation piece.
    That momentum carried into the regular season. Over his first 20 1/3 innings, Abel struck out 23 batters and flashed the type of stuff that once made him one of baseball's most highly regarded pitching prospects. Command remained a work in progress, but hitters were expanding the zone more frequently and struggling to square him up consistently.
    For the first time, it looked like the Twins were beginning to see the version of Abel they envisioned when they made the trade. Then came the elbow inflammation.
    Rehab Progress Followed by More Frustration
    Abel landed on the injured list in April after experiencing discomfort in his elbow. Initially, the injury didn't appear overly concerning, and the organization remained optimistic about a relatively quick return.
    Twice during his recovery process, Abel appeared to be nearing a return to game action. Twice, the elbow had other plans. Most recently, the right-hander was tentatively lined up to start Sunday's game in Arizona. That possibility disappeared after a bullpen session on Friday led to renewed discomfort the following day, forcing the Twins to scratch him before he could take the next step in his progression.
    Subsequent imaging provided some encouraging news. An MRI revealed no damage to either the UCL or the flexor tendon, two structures that often lead to season-ending surgeries for pitchers. Still, the recurring nature of the discomfort prompted consultation with renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Keith Meister, who ultimately recommended arthroscopic surgery to address the issue.
    Specific details regarding the procedure have not yet been released. Arthroscopic elbow surgeries can involve removing loose bodies, cleaning up bone spurs, or addressing other sources of irritation within the joint. A return timeline won’t be established until following the surgery. 
    The Twins currently have an open spot on their 40-man roster after designating Austin Voth for assignment earlier this week. Once that vacancy is filled, Abel could become a candidate to be transferred to the 60-day injured list, creating additional roster flexibility.
    For now, the focus shifts to surgery and recovery. The organization can take some comfort in knowing that Abel avoided the worst-case scenario. An intact UCL leaves the door open for a return later this season and should preserve his long-term outlook.
    Still, after a spring that hinted at a breakout and an April that showcased some of the best pitching of his professional career, Abel's season has become another reminder of how quickly pitching development can be derailed by health concerns.
    Cody Christie
    The Minnesota Twins continued reshaping their pitching staff on Tuesday, announcing that right-hander Austin Voth has been designated for assignment while left-handed prospect Kendry Rojas was optioned back to Triple-A St. Paul. Taking their places on the active roster are left-hander Kody Funderburk and right-hander Marco Raya, who is set to make his major league debut.
    For Raya, the move represents the culmination of a development path that has been anything but conventional.
    Raya Finally Gets the Call
    Since selecting Raya out of a Texas high school in the fourth round of the 2020 MLB Draft, the Twins have viewed him as one of the organization's most intriguing pitching prospects. His combination of athleticism, arm talent, and advanced feel for pitching allowed Minnesota to move him aggressively through the minor league system.
    At the same time, the organization carefully monitored his workload, often limiting innings while still challenging him with aggressive promotions. That balancing act pushed Raya to Triple-A at just 21 years old in 2024, but his development as a starter eventually stalled against more advanced competition.
    Rather than continue forcing the issue, Minnesota shifted Raya into a relief role last season. The transition has paid dividends. While his overall 2026 numbers don't immediately jump off the page, they don't tell the full story. Raya owns a 5.54 ERA and 1.26 WHIP at Triple-A St. Paul, but nearly all of that damage came during a disastrous April. Opposing hitters posted a 1.129 OPS against him during the season's opening month, and his ERA ballooned to 11.68.
    Since then, Raya has looked like a completely different pitcher. Over the last 28 days, the right-hander has posted a 1.64 ERA with a microscopic 0.64 WHIP across 11 innings. Perhaps most encouraging has been his command. Raya has struck out 11 hitters during that stretch without issuing a single walk. The Twins are clearly betting that version of Raya can help a bullpen that continues searching for reliable innings.
    Rojas Returns to St. Paul
    Rojas' stay in the majors was brief. The young left-hander started Monday night's game against the Dodgers and worked two innings before turning the game over to the bullpen. While the Twins remain high on the talented southpaw, the move back to Triple-A gives the Twins fresh arms for the bullpen. 
    Given Minnesota's recent pitching injuries and constant roster shuffling, it would hardly be surprising to see Rojas back in Minneapolis before long.
    Voth's Twins Tenure Ends Quickly
    Voth's time with Minnesota lasted just one appearance and it was clear during last night’s game that the Twins were going to keep throwing him out there with the game already lost. 
    After signing a minor league contract with the Twins late last month, the veteran right-hander earned a promotion to the major league roster earlier this week. He was immediately thrown into a difficult assignment against one of baseball's most dangerous lineups.
    Tasked with covering multiple innings after Rojas exited Monday's game, Voth surrendered five earned runs on 11 hits and a walk across four innings against the Dodgers. The outing pushed his season ERA even higher, but it doesn't fully reflect the veteran's recent track record.
    Voth entered 2026 with a career 4.70 ERA across 360 1/3 major league innings and was effective as recently as 2024, when he posted a 3.69 ERA in 61 innings for the Seattle Mariners. He also spent last season pitching for the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball, where he logged a respectable 3.96 ERA over 125 innings.
    Even this year, Voth pitched well at Triple-A between the Blue Jays and Twins organizations, compiling a 3.65 ERA across 11 starts before receiving another big league opportunity. Unfortunately for him, the results in the majors never followed. Between Toronto and Minnesota, Voth allowed 11 earned runs over just 10 major league innings in 2026.
    What Happens Next?
    The Twins now have seven days to resolve Voth's DFA. During that period they can attempt to trade him, place him on outright waivers, or release him. If Voth clears waivers, he has enough service time to reject an outright assignment and elect free agency.
    For Minnesota, however, the bigger story is Raya. After six years in the organization, a role change, and plenty of ups and downs along the way, one of the Twins' longest-tenured pitching prospects has finally arrived. Now comes the next challenge: proving he belongs.
    Cody Christie
    Minnesota Twins fans can officially stop refreshing trade rumor websites looking for Byron Buxton updates. On Tuesday, Twins general manager Jeremy Zoll delivered something front office executives rarely offer: a definitive answer.
    "We have no plans to trade Byron," Zoll said. "It's not something we're exploring. It's not something we plan to explore."
    That statement alone carries significant weight. Front offices are typically careful with their wording, especially as the trade deadline approaches. Executives often leave themselves flexibility, speaking in vague terms about listening on players or evaluating opportunities. Even when a team has little intention of moving a player, they rarely remove the possibility altogether.
    Zoll did exactly that. With the August 3 trade deadline approaching and Minnesota sitting in the middle of a crowded American League playoff race, recent speculation had connected Buxton's name to potential trade discussions. A national report from ESPN even suggested he could become the second best player traded if the Twins decided to pivot toward selling. Zoll's comments leave little room for interpretation.
    Buxton Has Been Carrying the Twins
    Part of the reason trade rumors gained traction is because Buxton's value has never been higher. Through 306 plate appearances, the Twins center fielder owns a .275/.333/.596 slash line with an American League-leading 25 home runs. When healthy, he's playing like one of the best players in baseball and has positioned himself squarely in the MVP conversation.
    Of course, health remains the lingering question. Durability has followed Buxton throughout his career, and it's impossible to discuss his value without acknowledging that reality. However, when he's on the field, few players impact a game the way he does.
    The Twins know that. Even though Minnesota sits four games below .500, they remain very much alive in both the AL Wild Card race and the AL Central. They're only two games out of a playoff spot and 3.5 games behind both Chicago and Cleveland in the division standings.
    Trading Buxton would signal a dramatically different organizational direction. Instead, Zoll made it clear the Twins aren't interested in taking that path.
    A Different Tone Than Last Year
    What's perhaps most interesting about Zoll's comments is how different they are from the organization's approach a year ago. Last summer, rumors circulated around several veteran players as Minnesota struggled to find consistency. While there was never any concrete indication that the Twins seriously considered moving Buxton, the organization never publicly dismissed the possibility either.
    That silence didn't go unnoticed. When Buxton arrived at spring training, he acknowledged some frustration with how the situation had been handled.
    "All it takes is for somebody at the top to go to the media, 'We're not trading you,'" Buxton said in February. "Trade rumors stop and now we don't have those conversations. That's how simple this could get."
    At the time, the comments stood out because Buxton rarely speaks publicly about front-office matters. While the situation clearly didn't damage the relationship between player and organization, it offered a glimpse into how unnecessary speculation can affect even veteran stars.
    Fast forward a few months and Zoll essentially provided the exact public backing Buxton had requested. Whether intentional or not, the message was received.
    Looking Beyond the Deadline
    The bigger story may not be whether Buxton gets traded, but whether the Twins eventually explore keeping him in Minnesota beyond his current contract.
    If both sides remain aligned, this offseason could present an opportunity to discuss an extension that allows Buxton to finish his career where it started. That's still speculative, but it's a far more realistic conversation than trade rumors at this point.
    For now, both the player and the organization are delivering the same message. Buxton said he isn't interested in leaving. The Twins say they aren't interested in moving him.
    Trade rumors may never completely disappear when a star player is involved, but Zoll's comments are about as close to a final answer as a front office executive can provide.
     
    Steve Drumwright
    The next man up in the Minnesota Twins' bullpen shuffle is Austin Voth.
    The right-hander had his contract selected from Triple-A St. Paul on Tuesday, with the Twins sending right-hander Cody Laweryson down to St. Paul.
    Voth was designated for assignment by the Toronto Blue Jays, then latched on with the Twins on a minor-league contract on June 4. Voth made two appearances and pitched six innings for the Jays, giving up six runs on eight hits and five walks with just one strikeout. In three appearances at St. Paul, Voth surrendered nine runs (eight earned) on 14 hits with six walks and 17 strikeouts. Voth originally signed a minor-league contract with the Chicago White Sox this offseason before being released late in spring training.
    Laweryson has pitched in 16 innings over 14 games, posting a 5.06 ERA (4.97 FIP) with seven walks and 18 strikeouts.
     
     
    Cody Christie
    While the Twins have remained within striking distance of contention for stretches, their inability to separate themselves from the pack has increasingly pointed toward a seller's approach at the trade deadline. If that direction becomes official, few players on the roster may generate more interest than catcher Ryan Jeffers.
    According to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, the New York Yankees "are making it no secret" that they want to acquire Jeffers before the trade deadline.
    The interest is understandable. Jeffers is playing on a team-friendly $6.7 million contract and will become a free agent after the season. Productive catchers are difficult to find at any point during the year, and contenders searching for offensive upgrades behind the plate won't find many options with Jeffers' combination of power, on-base skills, and defensive ability.
    Jeffers has been sidelined since May 18 after suffering a fractured hamate bone in his left hand. The injury required surgery and has kept him out for more than five weeks, but recent developments suggest he is trending in the right direction.
    The veteran catcher has resumed baseball activities and recently began taking batting practice. Speaking with reporters this week, Jeffers acknowledged that recovery from the injury has been anything but predictable.
    "There's good days, there's bad days," Jeffers told reporters. "It's a funky buildup just because it's not a straight line. It's not like rehabbing from an oblique where you can kind of timetable it out, of 'Hey, a couple swings here, a couple swings there.' Because there's so much — not to get too medical on it – but there's new pathways that the nerves and the tendons have to learn that just take a little time, but we're in the swings, and we're getting to above-arm BP swings. I like where we're at."
    The encouraging news for Minnesota is that most of the remaining hurdles involve hitting. Jeffers said he has experienced few issues on the defensive side of his recovery and even caught a bullpen session earlier this week. His return to game action will largely depend on how quickly he becomes comfortable swinging a bat again.
    Before the injury, Jeffers was producing at an All-Star level. Through 39 games, he slashed .295/.408/.541 with seven home runs, 26 RBI, and a .949 OPS. Those numbers represented some of the best offensive production of his seven-year career and reinforced his value as one of the more productive offensive catchers in the American League.
    The Yankees have plenty of reasons to pursue that type of player. While Austin Wells remains a strong defender and one of baseball's better pitch framers, New York has received very little offensive production from the catching position this season. Yankees catchers have ranked near the bottom of baseball offensively, creating a clear need for an upgrade as the club pushes toward October. Jeffers would provide exactly that. 
    He would also come at a lower acquisition cost than many of the bigger names potentially available on the market. Teams are often reluctant to move catchers during the season because of the relationships they build with pitchers and coaching staffs. However, Jeffers' expiring contract and Minnesota's current position in the standings could create a rare opportunity.
    Victor Caratini has shown throughout his career that he can handle a larger workload and could step into the primary catching role if Jeffers is moved. That gives Minnesota flexibility that many clubs don't possess when considering a trade involving a starting catcher.
    None of that makes the decision easy. Jeffers has spent his entire professional career in the Twins organization since being selected in the second round of the 2018 MLB Draft. He has developed into one of the club's most consistent offensive performers and remains a respected presence in the clubhouse.
    Still, if Minnesota ultimately decides to prioritize the future over a long-shot playoff push, moving an impending free agent at peak value may be the most logical path.
    The next few weeks could determine everything. If Jeffers returns before the deadline and demonstrates that his bat is fully healthy, his market will only continue to grow. The Yankees may be the most obvious suitor today, but they likely won't be the only contender calling the Twins about one of the deadline's most appealing rental catchers.
    Cody Christie
    As the August 3 trade deadline approaches, front offices across baseball are beginning to shape their strategies. The biggest headlines are expected to revolve around established stars and frontline starting pitchers. Names such as Tarik Skubal, Freddy Peralta, Robbie Ray, and Joe Ryan could dominate conversations if their teams decide to sell, while clubs around the league continue monitoring the situations involving players like Jarren Duran, Aroldis Chapman, Sonny Gray, Rafael Devers, Willy Adames, and Matt Chapman.
    Yet every deadline produces a handful of unexpected moves involving players who were never viewed as obvious trade candidates. According to The Athletic's Jim Bowden, Royce Lewis could fit that description this summer.
    Bowden recently included Lewis among his list of 10 under-the-radar trade candidates, citing both his talent and the growing market for impact infielders around the league. While Lewis has spent much of his career battling injuries, he remains an intriguing player because of his age, athleticism, positional versatility, and offensive upside.
    "The only question is: Can he stay healthy?" Bowden wrote. "He's healthy now, and several contending teams are looking to upgrade at third base and he can also play first base, so he may get moved."
    The timing of the speculation is notable because Lewis has looked much more like himself in recent weeks. After opening the season with a disappointing .163/.261/.279 (.540) slash line and three home runs across his first 31 games, Lewis was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul in a move that felt unthinkable just a year earlier. Instead of sulking, the former No. 1 overall pick responded exactly how the Twins hoped he would.
    Lewis crushed eight home runs in just 13 games with the Saints before earning a return trip to Minnesota. Since being recalled on June 6, he has looked rejuvenated at the plate, producing the type of impact contact that once made him one of baseball's top prospects. In 15 games, he has an .873 OPS with four homers and three doubles.
    The improvements have extended beyond the batter's box. Minnesota has shifted Lewis primarily to first base, where he has appeared in all but one game since returning to the majors. The organization has paired him with Twins Hall of Famer Justin Morneau in an effort to accelerate his development at the position, and the early returns have been encouraging.
    That positional change can be viewed from multiple angles. On one hand, it may represent the Twins searching for a long-term defensive home that allows Lewis to remain healthy while keeping his bat in the lineup. First base could provide stability as the organization continues developing its next wave of infield talent. On the other hand, rival executives may wonder whether the Twins are also attempting to maximize Lewis's value before the deadline.
    During Lewis's stint in Triple-A, Brooks Lee settled in at third base while top prospect Kaelen Culpepper continued progressing toward the major leagues. Luke Keaschall remains part of the organization's future plans despite some defensive growing pains, giving Minnesota multiple young infield pieces around which to build.
    If the Twins remain firmly in contention, moving Lewis would be difficult to justify. A healthy and productive Lewis still possesses the type of talent capable of changing a lineup and impacting a postseason race.
    If Minnesota falls further behind, however, the front office could face difficult decisions. Last year's deadline demonstrated a willingness to make unexpected moves, and Lewis would undoubtedly attract interest from clubs searching for controllable upside. He remains under team control through the 2028 season, making him appealing to both contenders and teams planning beyond this year.
    For now, Lewis is impacting the Twins, but there could be an element of "freezer burn" with Lewis that makes the front office consider moving on with other younger options ready to take his place.
×
×
  • Create New...