Would the Twins Be Better Off Trading Royce Lewis?

The Twins are going to be one of the fascinating teams to monitor leading up to the 2026 MLB trade deadline on August 3. Regardless of how competitive the organization believes they are, the way this roster is currently constructed, it feels inevitable that some moves have to happen.

Multiple factors are going into that. An abundance of talent in the minor leagues and a shortage of fans and revenue have created a unique situation. They have more young players pushing for opportunities than they have everyday spots available, and at some point, difficult decisions have to be made. That's why players like Trevor Larnach and Joe Ryan have been mentioned so frequently in trade rumors.

Despite the Twins still having a chance to control him for one more season, moving Larnach now would clear some money off the books while also opening up major-league at-bats for the Twins' next wave of outfield talent. Then you've got Ryan Jeffers. He’s set to hit free agency this winter, and it feels very unlikely that he'll be back in Minnesota beyond this season. If that's the case, you're probably better off moving him now, rather than watching him leave for nothing in a few months.

Those are the names everyone has talked about. But every trade deadline, there are always a handful of players who get moved that nobody saw coming. I think the Twins have one of those candidates this year. It's Royce Lewis.

For a while, it looked like the Twins had found their next franchise superstar. Former No. 1 overall picks don't come around often, and when Lewis finally reached the majors, he looked every bit like the guy everyone envisioned. The talent was obvious, and when he got hot, he could completely take over games. He just wasn't able to stay healthy for a long while—and then, once he finally was, somethign seemed to be missing.

It feels like every time Lewis has started to build momentum, another injury has sent him back to square one. Those repeated setbacks haven't just limited his availability; they've also taken a toll on his production. As a result, his numbers have cratered. This season, Lewis is hitting just .213 with a .294 on-base percentage and a .676 OPS. It's the third straight season in which he's posted a batting average below .240 and an on-base percentage below .300. It's also the second consecutive year he's carried an OPS below .700.

At some point, you have to acknowledge reality. Sometimes, players and organizations need a fresh start. That might be exactly what both Royce Lewis and the Twins need. It isn't just about the offensive struggles, either. Moving Lewis would also clear up what is becoming an increasingly crowded infield picture. Lewis is no longer the young, up-and-coming prospect he once was. He's 27 years old now, and frankly, where does he fit long-term?

He's already had to move off both shortstop and third base, eventually settling into a primary role at first base. That transition alone says a lot about how the organization currently views him defensively. Meanwhile, the Twins have more infield talent on the way. Kaelen Culpepper should be making his major-league debut sometime over the next couple of months. Marek Houston probably isn't far behind and could realistically arrive sometime next season. Brooks Lee and Luke Keaschall are also still parts of that jam. Either way, the Twins are looking at an infield that's going to be awfully crowded over the next couple of years. If everyone develops the way Minnesota hopes (which, to be fair, they probably won’t), there won't be enough everyday opportunities for everyone. Moving Lewis could solve part of that puzzle.

It might also allow the Twins to stick with someone like Kody Clemens. Clemens has shown he can play a strong first base while providing better production, and both players still have two years of arbitration eligibility. If the price tag is going to be higher for Lewis, why not keep the more productive player while clearing up another roster spot in the process? It’s harsh to say that about Lewis, and I take no pride in doing so. But that’s the cruel business of baseball. It doesn’t care about your feelings, as nice as that would be.

So what could the Twins realistically get for Royce Lewis? By himself, not a whole lot. This is a 27-year-old hitter whose primary position is now first base, coming off multiple injury-plagued seasons while struggling offensively. That's not exactly the type of profile teams are lining up to acquire. At the same time, though, every front office has seen what Lewis looks like when he's feeling himself. He's shown flashes of being the type of player who can carry an offense for (literally) weeks at a time. His ceiling isn’t what it once was, but when he’s on, you don’t want to pitch to him.  For a contending team looking for upside, Lewis could absolutely be worth taking a chance on, especially as part of a larger deal.

If the Twins packaged him with someone like Jeffers or Larnach, not only would they clear additional money from future payrolls, but they could also increase the overall return in a hypothetical trade. Lewis isn't bringing back a quality prospect on his own. But as an additional piece in a larger package, he could make a deal more appealing for another organization.

It would certainly qualify as one of the more surprising moves of the trade deadline—not because he’s a season-saving addition for a team, but because of the context. Again, this is a player who was once viewed as the future of the franchise. He delivered one of the most memorable moments in recent Twins history, with his Game 1 homer off Kevin Gausman in the first inning of the 2023 AL Wild Card (the second one was cool, too, but the first one is cooler). He had the makings of a star.

But baseball changes quickly. Injuries happen–to some more than others. And eventually, there comes a point where both sides might benefit from turning the page. If the Twins decide that's the route they want to take, moving Lewis before the trade deadline would be surprising, but in my opinion, not crazy.