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The MLB Trade Deadline falls on Thursday, July 31st at 5:00 PM CT. The Minnesota Twins find themselves at the center of attention as a team with plenty of attractive talent — including arguably the most coveted target on the market — but whose contention hopes have faded to a fantasy. In the following primer you'll find a rundown of the latest rumors and buzz, as well as an overview of the overall deadline landscape and how the Twins fit into it. Bookmark this page and check back often this week, as we'll be updating it frequently!
The Latest Twins Trade Deadline News
Harrison Bader joins Jhoan Duran on Phillies, Twins get back two prospects (7/31): The Twins got back 21-year-old outfielder Hendry Mendez and 16-year-old righthander Geremy Villoria in exchange for the two-month rental.
Twins send Jhoan Duran to Philadelphia in exchange for top catching prospect, talented young arm (7/30): The Twins received highly touted 18-year-old catcher Eduardo Tait and hard-throwing 23-year-old right-hander Mick Abel in exchange for Duran.
Twins trade Chris Paddack and Randy Dobnak to Tigers for rookie-ball catcher Enrique Jimenez (7/28): Minnesota will take any organizational catching depth it can get at this point, but this looks like pretty much a salary dump, shaving $3.5 million from the 2025 payroll by unloading their remaining commitments to Paddack and Dobnak.
Los Angeles Dodgers have expressed interest in Harrison Bader (7/27): Bob Nightengale lists Bader alongside Cardinals utilityman Brendan Donovan as a player whom the Dodgers have eyes on (via USA Today).
Willi Castro drawing attention from New York Yankees (7/25): Chris Kirschner reports that the Yankees "had interest in Castro last offseason, and that interest remains" (via The Athletic).
Industry belief that one of Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax will be traded (7/23): Alden Gonzalez of ESPN shared that his "sense" is one of Minnesota's big relief arms will move before Thursday's deadline, although he acknowledges asking price is very high (via ESPN).
Quick Resources
- Twins Rumors: Find and discuss the latest trade rumors in real time.
- Top Prospect Tracker: Get up to speed on the state of the system, pre-deadline.
- Trade Deadline Blueprint Tool: Create your own plan to shake things up.
Key Twins Trade Deadline Stories
The Minnesota Twins are firmly in the "seller" category.
For a while, it was up in the air and up for debate. But by going 3-6 in their first nine games out of the All-Star break, including series losses against two very bad last-place teams, the Twins players essentially sealed their fate. Their increasingly long postseason odds and continually listless play on the field give the front office little choice but to turn their focus to the future. The question is: how far into the future?
Read more: The Twins Could Be Sellers and Still Make the Playoffs. (They've Done It Before!)
Sell the present, or sell the future? That is the question.
It is now a given that the Twins will unload at least one of their players with expiring contracts, and probably several of them. The big question that looms is how open they will be to trading players with one or more years of team control remaining beyond 2025, because that's where future plans start be impacted and disrupted. With the Twins on track to miss the playoffs for a fourth time in five years, a significant shakeup is arguably warranted, but the question is whether you trust this front office — potentially living on borrowed time — to oversee it.
Read more: Should Derek Falvey Be Trusted to Make Trade Decisions on Jax, Duran and Ryan?
Ownership situation in flux adds layer of decision-making complexity.
The Twins franchise has been publicly up for sale dating back to the end of last season, and following a start-and-stop with Justin Ishbia, it sounds like momentum is building toward completion of a sale with a new buyer. This adds another complicating dynamic for the Twins and their front office: Do they really want to make a drastic move that affects the future product this new ownership is inheriting? Are they allowed to?
Read more: Manfred Expresses Confidence in Sale of Twins, Which Could Be Drawing Near
Twins Top Trade Candidates
(Listed in order of likelihood to be moved, per this writer's humble opinion.)
1. Harrison Bader, CF
TRADED TO PHILADELPHIA ON 7/31 FOR OF HENDRY MENDEZ AND RHP GEREMY VILLORIA
- Why trade him: Having one of the best seasons of his career on a one-year contract. Ownership will surely appreciate unloading a couple million in remaining salary owed.
- Why he's in demand: Can clearly help a lot of teams as a solid right-handed bat with renewed power stroke and elite outfield defense.
- Likely return: 1-2 mid-level prospects, likely ranking in the 15-20 range for another organization at best.
2. Danny Coulombe, LHP
- Why trade him: Why not? Veteran reliever due for free agency at year's end. Unlikely to factor into Minnesota's plans beyond 2025.
- Why he's in demand: Trusted bullpen help is always highly sought at the deadline. Coulombe has proven skeptics wrong by staying (mostly) healthy and (very) effective at age 35.
- Likely return: Nominal. Probably either a high-ceiling longshot young prospect or a low-ceiling minor-leaguer who is closer to readiness.
3. Willi Castro, UTIL
- Why trade him: Castro is set to become a free agent this offseason and unlikely to be retained. He also hasn't shown convincingly that he's going to be helpful toward whatever aspirations of a miracle resurgence the Twins might hold.
- Why he's in demand: The versatile utilityman profile is one that a whole bunch of different teams could use, which is why his name has been popping up frequently in rumors. He's having his best season offensively with a 110 OPS+.
- Likely return: Maybe somewhere between Bader and Coulombe, I would think. A mid-level prospect or two but nothing special.
Read more: Three Under-the-Radar NL Teams That Could Trade for Willi Castro
4. Brock Stewart, RHP
- Why trade him: Opportunity to capitalize on an unprecedented healthy season for Stewart, whose high-octane late-inning arsenal has obvious appeal to contending teams.
- Why he's in demand: Aside from the big stuff and strikeout numbers, Stewart has two more years of remaining control after 2025, making him a long-term bullpen acquisition instead of a mere rental.
- Likely return: Unspectacular. Opposing teams are well aware of the factors that might make Minnesota apt to trade Stewart — his injury history and his age, turning 34 in October. It feels like you could maybe get a really interesting years-away prospect for a big ceiling, and that might be the kind of move worth making.
Read more: How One Twins Reliever Is Under-the-Radar Before the MLB Trade Deadline
5. Jhoan Durán, RHP
TRADED TO PHILADELPHIA ON 7/30 FOR C EDUARDO TAIT AND RHP MICK ABEL
- Why trade him: First name on this list capable of bringing back a package that would meaningfully upgrade the Twins' farm system. Durán hasn't really shown signs of slowing down on the field and he's been remarkably healthy, but his slowly diminishing fastball velocity offers one small motivator to sell high.
- Why he's in demand: All the requisites of a marquee deadline pickup for a contending team: dominant stuff, excellent current numbers, consistent track record, postseason experience. Under team control through 2027, Durán can become a bullpen cornerstone for any team willing to pay the price. The Athletic ranks him as the sixth-best player available.
- Likely return: Big. The Twins are said to be seeking two top-100 caliber prospects in exchange for Durán, and they have the leverage to hold out for such a package. They shouldn't be compelled to move him for anything less.
6. Griffin Jax, RHP
- Why trade him: Same reasons as Durán. Taking advantage of desperation for bullpen help at the trade deadline can be a savvy strategy for selling teams.
- Why he's in demand: Same reasons as Durán. He's a dominant late-inning reliever who has done it on the big stage, with two remaining years of team control after this.
- Likely return: Similar to Durán. Maybe a little lower because he's not having the greatest season and doesn't have the "closer" clout (for whatever that's worth anymore). But the Twins have reportedly set the same price: multiple top-100 prospects.
Read more: The Pressly Paradox: Why Selling Relievers Is a Precarious Path
7. Christian Vázquez, C
- Why trade him: Zero reason not to, if there's any kind of receptive market.
- Why he's in demand: He's probably not, which is why he isn't higher on this list despite being on an expiring contract. Perhaps someone will opt to bring him in as a veteran backup, valuing the experience and defensive chops. The Red Sox have supposedly shown some interest.
- Likely return: Nothing of substance beyond financial relief.
8. Chris Paddack, RHP
TRADED TO DETROIT ON 7/28 WITH RHP RANDY DOBNAK FOR C ENRIQUE JIMENEZ
- Why trade him: Much like with Vázquez, there isn't much reason not to trade Paddack if you can find a taker. He has a 4.95 ERA and is headed for free agency in the offseason.
- Why he's in demand: He's a veteran pitcher who finally seems to have shaken off the injury bug and there have been some flashes of excellence at times, like his most recent start.
- Likely return: Minimal. Like with Vázquez, the biggest benefit of a Paddack trade is salary relief for the owners, which does nothing to excite me.
9. Joe Ryan, RHP
- Why trade him: Opportunity to bring a transformative infusion of talent into the system. The Athletic ranks him as the #1 player available at this year's deadline. Painful of a loss as it would be for the 2026-27 teams, choosing to trade Ryan would mean the Twins got blown away by an overwhelming package that drastically elevates their future outlook.
- Why he's in demand: He's the best starting pitcher realistically on the market, performing at the level of a true ace, and he's under control for two years after this. It's somewhat rare that contending teams have access to an asset of this caliber at the trade deadline.
- Likely return: Massive. In order to be tempted into making a trade like this, the Twins would need to be getting back either one of the very best prospects in the game or a budding young star in the big leagues, and then some.
Read more: These 4 Phenom Prospects Could Convince the Twins to Trade Joe Ryan
10. Trevor Larnach, OF
- Why trade him: Larnach is stagnating in his fifth year as a Twin, and moving him would present the opportunity for a relatively low-wattage shakeup the core.
- Why he's in demand: His underlying hitting talent is not hard to see, and he still has two remaining years of control at a reasonable cost.
- Likely return: Maybe a solid pitching prospect or two, but probably no more than a secondary arm in another system.
Others To Watch: Ryan Jeffers (C), Pablo Lopez (RHP), Cole Sands (RHP), Ty France (1B), Louis Varland (RHP)
Where do you stand on the Twins and their approach the deadline? Who should go and who should stay? Got any outside-the-box ideas for getting this wayward franchise back on track? Sound off in the comments and feel free to share the latest rumors and rumblings you come across for discussion.
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