Twins Can Upgrade Rotation and Bullpen With One Trade Deadline Move

The Twins have no shortage of needs as the trade deadline approaches, but one priority stands above the rest. If this team is serious about making a playoff push, the bullpen has to be fixed.

The numbers leave little room for debate. Minnesota's relievers rank 27th in baseball with a 4.72 ERA and 24th in fWAR. Too often, strong starts have unraveled late because the bullpen simply has not been able to protect leads with any consistency. Every contender needs trustworthy relief pitching in October, and right now, the Twins are far from having that.

That reality has naturally led to plenty of discussion about adding another high-leverage reliever or two before the deadline. While that certainly makes sense, there may be an even smarter way to address the bullpen. Instead of strictly trading for relievers, the Twins should consider trading for another starting pitcher.

At first glance, it seems counterintuitive. The rotation has clearly outperformed the bullpen this season, ranking 15th in MLB in ERA and 13th in fWAR. Compared to the relief corps, that looks like a strength. Dig a little deeper, however, and there are still legitimate concerns about whether this group can carry the Twins through the final two months.

Zebby Matthews remains one of the biggest question marks. His season ERA sits at 5.40, and while he has flashed the ability that made him one of the organization's most intriguing pitching prospects, the inconsistency has been impossible to ignore. Three of his 12 starts have resulted in seven or more earned runs allowed, including Sunday's outing at Wrigley Field when he surrendered eight runs in just three innings. Those kinds of blowups are incredibly difficult for a playoff hopeful to absorb.

Connor Prielipp has experienced a similar learning curve. There have been stretches where his upside has been obvious, but there have also been too many outings where command or efficiency has eluded him. His 5.00 ERA reflects that inconsistency. Prielipp is currently on a rehab assignment and should return to the major-league rotation soon, but he is also entering uncharted territory with his workload. After years of injuries limited his innings, asking him to shoulder a significant role throughout the remainder of the season comes with understandable risk.

Bailey Ober adds another layer of uncertainty. He recently returned from the injured list and owns a respectable 4.32 ERA, but his profile continues to walk a fine line. Ober succeeds through command and deception, rather than overpowering velocity, and every outing seems to require near-perfect execution. His 88-MPH fastball leaves very little margin for error against playoff-caliber lineups.

None of this is to suggest the rotation is a disaster. Joe Ryan has pitched like an ace, Taj Bradley has been an outstanding addition, and the group has generally done enough to keep the Twins competitive. The problem is that Minnesota cannot afford to ignore the uncertainty behind them while also trying to solve the bullpen.

The solution may be simpler than many expect. Instead of splitting prospect capital between a starting pitcher and a reliever, the Twins could acquire another established starter who slots behind Ryan and Bradley in the postseason rotation. Whether that pitcher is someone like Freddy Peralta, Kevin Gausman, or another veteran who becomes available, adding a quality starter would immediately strengthen the rotation while creating another benefit that extends beyond those five days between starts. It would free one of the current starters to move into the bullpen.

Both Matthews and Prielipp have the type of arsenal that could become even more dangerous in relief. We've already seen this blueprint succeed within the Twins organization. Griffin Jax transformed from an inconsistent starter into one of baseball's best relievers. Louis Varland followed a similar path and has become one of baseball's most valuable bullpen arms (unfortunately with Toronto).

Matthews has all the ingredients to be next. As a starter, he already sits comfortably in the mid-90s with his fastball. Working one inning at a time, it's easy to envision that velocity climbing into the upper 90s and regularly touching 98 MPH. Pair that with a slider opponents are hitting just .203 against this season, and suddenly the Twins could have another legitimate late-inning weapon. His changeup would also likely play up against left-handed hitters once it's paired with premium velocity.

Prielipp offers a similarly intriguing profile. His fastball already has plenty of life, and shorter outings could allow him to consistently approach triple digits. His slider has been his best pitch, limiting opponents to a .198 batting average. As a reliever, he would immediately give Minnesota a power lefthander capable of attacking the highest-leverage situations, something this bullpen desperately lacks.

Rather than viewing a starting pitcher as a luxury, the Twins should see one as an opportunity to improve two areas of the roster at once. A new starter would stabilize the rotation, reduce the pressure on Matthews or Prielipp, and allow one of those electric young arms to shift into a bullpen role where the raw stuff could play at an even higher level. The Twins unquestionably need bullpen help before the deadline. They might find the best way to get it by trading for a starter, instead.

What do you think? Should the Twins prioritize another reliever, or would adding a starting pitcher and moving Matthews or Prielipp into the bullpen be the smarter deadline strategy? Leave a comment below and start the conversation!