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Injuries are part of the baseball landscape, especially for pitchers who continue to push the limits of how hard pitches can be thrown while increasing spin rates. Minnesota’s current front office has tended to trade for injured pitchers or injury-prone players who lived up to that reputation immediately after arriving. Anthony DeSclafani (0 appearances), Sam Dyson (12 appearances), Chris Paddack (five appearances), and Tyler Mahle (9 appearances) all were limited after being acquired by the current regime. It’s time for the front office to double down and find another injured pitcher to add to the team for the second half.
I wrote about why the Twins continue acquiring injured pitchers during spring training. Some of those reasons include increased pitching injuries across the baseball landscape and the front office's valuation of the team’s top prospects. At the trade deadline, these reasons remain true, and the names below might come at a discounted price because of their current injury situations.
Blake Snell, Giants
Injury: Groin
Snell sustained a groin injury during his June 2 start versus the New York Yankees and was placed on the IL the next day. The reigning NL Cy Young winner had a tumultuous offseason searching for a long-term deal before signing a two-year, $62 million deal with the Giants. There is an opt-out after the 2024 season. Snell has made six starts this season and allowed 25 earned runs in 23 2/3 innings. San Francisco sits below .500 and has multiple teams ahead of them in the Wild Card standings. Snell has expressed frustration with the Giants wanting him to rush back and help the big-league team. A change of scenery may help Snell to regain his previous form.
Justin Verlander, Astros
Injury: Neck
Verlander went on the 15-day IL in the middle of June after trying to pitch through a neck issue. The three-time AL Cy Young winner also missed the season’s start due to inflammation in his right shoulder. In ten starts this season, he has posted a 3.95 ERA with a 1.21 WHIP, a 21.3 K%, and a 7.1 BB%. Houston struggled to start the year and has slowly crawled back to .500. The Twins, Royals, and Red Sox sit ahead of the Astros in the Wild Card standings. Houston hasn’t missed the playoff since 2016, and the team has been in the ALCS for seven consecutive years. Verlander would need to agree to a trade, and it seems unlikely for the Astros to be sellers, but a poor stretch in July might force their hand.
Alex Cobb, Giants
Injury: Hip, Shoulder
Cobb underwent hip labrum surgery in November and has been dealing with shoulder soreness in recent weeks. He had an MRI on the shoulder, and there was no structural damage, so the Giants gave him a cortisone shot. Cobb is starting to throw live bullpens, which should put him closer to making a rehab start if everything goes as planned. He would need to get into game action and prove his splitter is back for a team to take a chance on him. That said, Cobb has a chance to be a playoff-caliber starter and might come at a lower cost than some of the other names on this list.
Paul Blackburn, A’s
Injury: Foot
Blackburn has a stress reaction in the fifth metatarsal of his right foot and has been on the IL since mid-May. He made eight starts this season and posted a 4.11 ERA with a 1.15 WHIP. Over the last three seasons, he has been a mid-rotation starter with a 91 ERA+, 7.9 K/9, and 3.0 BB/9. Blackburn is also intriguing because he is still arbitration-eligible next season, which means he likely comes at a higher cost. At this point, he might not be an upgrade over some of the Twins’ internal options. However, the front office values depth and acquiring Blackburn would add depth through the end of next season.
The Twins acquired a playoff-caliber starter with questionable health in the form of Tyler Mahle, but fans may have PTSD because of how poorly it went for the club. At this year's deadline, it seems unlikely that Minnesota will be in the market for some of the bigger-named starting pitchers like Chicago’s Garrett Crochet and Detroit’s Jack Flaherty since they currently play on AL Central rivals. This will leave the front office searching for other options, including some of the names listed above. With injury risk, there can be reward or discontent. The Twins can hope for more positive results by acquiring one of these starting pitchers.
Should the Twins trade for a pitcher with a recent injury? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.
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