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    3 Bold Predictions for the 2023 Twins Trade Deadline

    Cody Christie

    By Cody Christie

    MLB’s trade deadline can be a fast and furious 48-hour period. Some teams have already started making moves, so here are three bold predictions about what the Twins will do before the deadline.

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    The Twins made a minor trade over the last week by dealing Jorge Lopez to the Marlins for Dylan Floro. Lopez was one of the front office’s key acquisitions at last year’s deadline, but he struggled with the Twins. For both relievers, it is a chance to reestablish themselves with a new club. One reliever-for-reliever swap hardly moves the needle for the Twins, so here are three bold predictions that have a chance to play out in the coming days. 

    The Twins Trade One Young Left-Handed Bat
    Rumors have swirled that teams have contacted the Twins about their plethora of big-league caliber left-handed bats, and there are a few directions the club can go regarding a trade. Veterans Joey Gallo and Max Kepler have been regulars in the Twins line-up, but their offensive performance has been up and down throughout the season. Minnesota has overvalued Kepler in recent seasons, so I expect the team to look in a different direction. Matt Wallner and Trevor Larnach have seen sporadic playing time at the big-league level in recent seasons, and both would likely bring back more on the trade market compared to the veteran lefty bats. Trading one of the younger bats might allow the Twins to acquire a player that can help the Twins for multiple seasons instead of dealing with a rental player.

    The Twins Acquire Josh Hader
    Minnesota’s front office has mentioned the club is searching for bullpen help, which is a need for every contending club. Hader was dealt at last year’s deadline to the Padres and struggled with a 7.31 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP in 19 appearances after the trade. He’s returned to form this season in Southern California. In 38 innings, he has posted a 0.95 ERA with a 0.95 WHIP and a 58-to-20 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Hader is one of baseball’s best relievers, and the Padres are on the borderline between being buyers and sellers. Acquiring him from San Diego will take a lot, even though he is a two-month rental. FanGraphs predicted the Twins would need to surrender two young pitchers, Marco Raya and Brent Headrick. Is that too steep of a cost?

    The Twins Trade a Starting Pitcher
    Minnesota’s starting rotation has carried the team for much of the 2023 season, and other teams have contacted the Twins about some of their starting pitching options. According to the Athletic, the Twins initially considered trading Kenta Maeda to make room for Dallas Keuchel in the rotation. Maeda has been the team’s best starter since the All-Star Break, so their plans have likely shifted to keeping him. Keuchel bypassed his first opt-out with the Twins and has a second opt-out on the same day as the trade deadline. He has a 0.69 ERA in five Triple-A starts with 20 strikeouts and 11 walks. Minnesota could deal either pitcher before the deadline. 

    There has also been plenty of talk about the Twins trading Sonny Gray, but that seems like it would take quite the offer from another contending team. Gray was one of the AL’s best starters in the first half, and the team has a chance to get draft pick compensation through the qualifying offer system if Gray leaves via free agency. The Twins will need Gray in October if they want to end their playoff losing streak, so it seems unlikely for him to be traded in the coming days.  

    Which bold predictions will come true? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.

    Cody Christie is a Twins writer and content contributor. His writing can be found exclusively at Twins Daily and his voice can be heard on radio stations throughout the Upper Midwest. Outside of the Twins, he is a father, high school teacher, and avid runner.
    Follow Cody Christie on Twitter: nodaktwinsfan

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    Kenny Powers

    Kenny Powers 298

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    20 minutes ago, dxpavelka said:

    They WON'T trade a starting pitcher.  They HAVE starting pitching.  AND a lead in the standings.  You don't trade away starting pitching when you have a lead in the standings.  You trade FOR starting pitching.  No matter how much you have.  We've traded away starting pitching at the deadline before.  J.A. Happ, Jose Berrios, Lance Lynn, Jaime Garcia, Kevin Correa, Tommy Milone, Kyle Lohse.  Some of my favorite Twins memories in recent decades are all the World Series parades in years subsequent to trading guys like that for impressive, franchise changing hauls at the deadline.  Can't wait for the next one.

     

    I agree with everything you wrote, but with one caveat...never say never.  IF (and it's a big if), someone were to completely blow us away with a haul for like Sonny Gray, then I'd certainly consider flipping Gray.  It would have be a great deal though.  Think of being on the reverse side of some of our pitching trades:

    Pablo Lopez for Luis Arraez.  Would you trade Gray for 25 year old batting champ?  I probably would.

    Tyler Mahle for CES, Spencer Steer and Steve Hajjar.  Would you trade Gray for two highly ranked AA bats and another flier arm?  I'd probably consider it.

    Even the original Gray trade in reverse...would you trade Gray for 19 year old Chase Petty right now?

    The second two trades are high risk/reward.  I'd consider them based on how I feel about Keuchel.  But a reverse Arraez trade might be just the boost this team needs.  IDK.  We won't need 5 starters for the playoffs - right?

    TopGunn#22

    TopGunn#22 4,223

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    I don't trade Raya for Hader.  But I DO trade Miranda for Hader.  The Pads have nobody at 1B any good and a little uncertainty at 3B with Machado and at DH.  The biggest difference maker on the trade market to me is Hader.  For all his talent, Duran, like last night, just isn't at the consistent level of someone like Hader.  But the two of them at the end of games would be dominating.  With all the payroll leaving our roster next year maybe at 29 years old Hader would be worth the price.  

    If it cost me a Larnach/Winder to acquire Lane Thomas I'd do it.  Thomas fits in LF or RF (maybe even a little CF) for the rest of this season and beyond.  Thomas is breaking through and would be a solid RH bat in a lineup where our strength is LH hitting.  

     

    Otaknam

    Otaknam 1,245

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    No to trading Raya for anyone. He’s the only high potential starter in the system after the trading debacles of last year. It wouldn’t surprise me if Larnach is traded for a right handed outfield bat, as I think Wallner has more upside. I think they will hold onto Maeda and Gray despite their impending free agency unless someone blows them away with an offer. 

    MABB1959

    MABB1959 1,010

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    Besides releasing Gallo, I would stick with what we have.  If I were the Pohlad’s I’d be wondering if Falvey or Levine really know talent when they see it.  First, they have traded away many respectable to above average players for absolutely nothing.    I wonder if they could tell if they traded a bag of baseballs in good condition for a bag of used softballs.   Trading Berrios for SWR and Martin???  They should have gotten so much more for him!  I looked at this list of trades and there is not a single one where we were the big winner.  In fact I barely recognize any of the names to have even been on the Twins roster.   Lots of cash considerations on the list. 
     

    https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/transactions/minnesota-twins/trade/

     

     

    dxpavelka

    dxpavelka 2,936

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    3 hours ago, Kenny Powers said:

     

    I agree with everything you wrote, but with one caveat...never say never.  IF (and it's a big if), someone were to completely blow us away with a haul for like Sonny Gray, then I'd certainly consider flipping Gray.  It would have be a great deal though.  Think of being on the reverse side of some of our pitching trades:

    Pablo Lopez for Luis Arraez.  Would you trade Gray for 25 year old batting champ?  I probably would.

    Tyler Mahle for CES, Spencer Steer and Steve Hajjar.  Would you trade Gray for two highly ranked AA bats and another flier arm?  I'd probably consider it.

    Even the original Gray trade in reverse...would you trade Gray for 19 year old Chase Petty right now?

    The second two trades are high risk/reward.  I'd consider them based on how I feel about Keuchel.  But a reverse Arraez trade might be just the boost this team needs.  IDK.  We won't need 5 starters for the playoffs - right?

    I'll agree with almost everything you just wrote.  I will question the last sentence though.  You're right, you PROBABLY don't need 5 starters for the playoffs.  As long as everyone stays healthy.  Not just during the playoffs but in the two months of the regular season remaining.  One of the, perhaps the main, reason our starting pitching has performed at the level it has this year is because, for the most part, they have remained relatively healthy.  Approaching my sixth decade of being a fan of this team I could be a bit cynical.  Just because our starters have been relatively healthy thus far is NOT an indication that they will stay that way.  In fact, it MAY just mean that the bad stuff is yet to come.  So, no, we won't need 5 starters for the playoffs.  But I'd have NO issue with waking up on August 2 with 8 guys to choose 4 from among on October 4.

     



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