Matthew Lenz

With the July 31st trade deadline looming on the horizon, urgency will begin to mount for many Major League Baseball teams. While some clubs are firmly entrenched in playoff contention and will be looking to bolster their rosters, there is a distinct group already facing the reality of a lost season. So, who are the likely sellers from the National League? What valuable assets might they put on the market, and how could the Toronto Blue Jays leverage these opportunities to their advantage? Let's delve into the teams poised to ignite the hot stove and the potential impact on the Blue Jays’ playoff aspirations. Colorado Rockies The Rockies are on pace for all sorts of records - and not in a good way. The Rockies don't have much in the form of rentals, with starters German Márquez (6.62 ERA) and Austin Gomber (just returned from a shoulder injury) the only expiring deals, but that's not to say they don't have trade chips. Most notably, I anticipate many teams will be calling about starter Kyle Freeland (controlled through 2026) and third baseman Ryan McMahon (controlled through 2027). Freeland’s surface numbers are heavily inflated by pitching in Coors. On the road, the lefty has a 3.64 ERA (3.31 FIP) and a 14.6% strikeout minus walk rate. Concerning McMahon, Bob Nightengale of USA Today has reported that the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs have already shown interest in the 30-year-old. Like Freeland, McMahon’s surface stats are also impacted by Coors - a .739 OPS overall drops by nearly 200 points on the road. Other less notable names that could be available are infielders Thairo Estrada and Kyle Farmer, who both have mutual options for 2026. Miami Marlins The Marlins are 15 games under .500 and well outside of the playoff picture. However, they are the youngest team in Major League Baseball, which makes it a challenge to know how much they're willing to sell. Kyle Stowers, Connor Norby, and Agustín Ramírez have all been great, but they're also in their pre-arbitration years. Would the rebuilding Marlins really sell what looks to be a solid core of hitters? I doubt it. On the other hand, starting pitchers Cal Quantrill (a free agent at season's end) and Sandy Alcántara (controllable through 2026) could be attractive “buy low” options at the deadline. Quantrill has an ERA minus FIP of 1.27 and Alcántara, a former Cy Young award winner, has underperformed his ERA by 2.43 runs. However, both have well below average strikeout minus walk rates, suggesting their upside might be limited with some tweaking of their pitch profiles. The Marlins have gotten some good production out of their bullpen from guys like Ronny Henriquez, Janson Junk, and Patrick Monteverde. While these guys are controllable, it would make sense for the Marlins to listen to offers on any relievers. Pittsburgh Pirates The Pirates are in a race for second worst team in the NL with the Marlins. There's been (mostly sarcastic) speculation that they may trade starter Paul Skenes, but I don't think they will do that - for now. Instead, they have a few assets who will likely have a market over the next month and a half. There's already been rumors floating around regarding infielder Isiah Kiner-Faleda, who has a solid (but empty) .714 OPS. Other solid players on expiring deals include outfielders Andrew McCutchen and Tommy Pham, as well as starter Andrew Heaney, and reliever Ryan Burocki. Aside from Burocki, whose peripherals suggest some positive regression, all players have been more than serviceable this season. However, the most valuable realistic trade chip is current closer David Bednar, who is controlled through the 2026 season. In 20 appearances, the righty has a 3.42 ERA, 2.14 FIP, and a 29.2% strikeout minus walk rate. He may end up being the most sought after reliever on the market. Twins' Needs The Twins' inconsistent offense continues to drive their up-and-down performance this season, and now they're dealing with a whole lot of uncertainty from their rotation. With Royce Lewis' latest injury, a third base solution might be on the shopping list, though Luke Keaschall's return could offer an internal option and more roster flexibility. Interestingly, second base, despite lacking a clear starter, has been productive, ranking ninth in OPS across MLB. Catcher, however, remains a weakness, but a trade for a new backstop seems unlikely without moving either Jeffers or Vazquez—a tough sell. A full-time designated hitter doesn't fit the Twins' current roster design. Offensive improvement is needed, but it likely means trading a current contributor without adding to the payrolls On the pitching side, what was once a potential strength to trade for hitting has become precarious; one more injury )like a Bailey Ober hip issue) would put them in a dire situation. And of course, this all overlooks the financial implications. All that being said, I think it's fools gold to think the Twins will make noise at the deadline. Expect them to be quiet due to financial limitations, a move they can easily justify with Pablo López's return from injury. What is the ceiling of the Twins current roster If they stand pat? Join the conversation in the comments! View full article

It's been two weeks since Royce Lewis strained his left hamstring leaving the Minnesota Twins scrambling to cover the hot corner. In a positive development, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic is reporting that Lewis will begin a rehab assignment in Triple-A St. Paul on Friday, June 27th. While Lewis struggled to find his bat after missing the first month of the season, but seemed to be turning a corner before his latest injury. In the meantime, Brooks Lee has been a solid replacement for Lewis and is recently enjoyed an 18-game hitting streak and his hit safely in 22 of his last 23 games. Once Lewis' rehab assignment is over, should he join the Twins ASAP or get extra reps in St. Paul? Join the conversation in the comments! View full rumor

As Twins fans have gotten used to in recent seasons, it's been a roller coaster ride of a season. With a peak that included a 13-game win streak and valleys for a majority of the games before and after that winning streak. Now, sitting below .500 and 4.5 games out of an AL Wild Card spot, many are wondering if the Twins would be sellers at the deadline. In a recent article by Matthew Leach of MLB.com, he shares that Twins President of Baseball Operations, Derek Falvey, is not focused on selling at the deadline. The Twins are 3-14 in their last 17 games and their starting rotation, who carried the team through the 13-game win streak, has been one of the worst in the league for the month of June. While it's clear the team needs a jump start, perhaps by adding at the trade deadline, it's not expected the Twins will be legitimate buyers. It's well known that the Pohlad family is not only trying to sell the team, but also has pushed back on adding to the payroll. Any likely moves made at the deadline will be similar to those of previous seasons - low impact players on cheap deals. Any meaningful reinforcements will need to come from the injured list (Pablo López, Zebby Matthews, Luke Keaschall, and/or Royce Lewis) or from their farm system. View full rumor

The Minnesota Twins depth took another hit today, but this time it comes on the offensive side of the ball. After missing multiple games this weekend, Mickey Gasper, has been placed on the Triple-A injured list with plantar fasciitis. An issued that has plagued All-Star shortstop Carlos Correa in previous seasons. With the Twins in a 3-13 funk, some speculated whether recalling Gasper from Triple-A St. Paul could help the big-league club. Gasper, 30, was dominating with the Saints slashing .318/.418/.609 with 10 home runs. His production has resulted in a 165 wRC+. However, the same hasn't been true in his cup of coffee with the Twins this season. In 39 plate appearances, the switch hitter has a .488 OPS with just one extra base hit - a double - good for a wRC+ of 47. If the Twins plan to change things up, they may have to look at getting slugger Carson McCusker some at-bats, though he doesn't answer the Twins need for help on the dirt. Ryan Fitzgerald may be the next man up to fill that need, who has also been very productive for the Saints. Do you think anyone currently in Triple-A could help the Twins right the ship? View full rumor

Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic is reporting that Minnesota Twins starting pitcher prospect, Andrew Morris, was placed on the 15-day IL with a right forearm strain. The news is yet another pitcher injury for the Twins, who recently lost Pablo Lopez and Zebby Matthews to injury. In addition, Bailey Ober recently mentioned a hip issue that's impacting his mechanics, though he's been able to continue pitching. Morris has been very up and down for Triple-A St. Paul with five starts of four earned runs or more and seven starts of two earned runs or less. In all, it had amounted to a 4.41 ERA across 63 1/3 innings. With all the injuries, Morris was on the short list of pitchers who could be next in line to head West down 94 to Target Field. Now, we await to learn the severity of his injury but it's safe to assume he'll be shut down for awhile. Do you think there is something to all these injuries or is it just coincidence? View full rumor

With a little over a month until the trade deadline, the hot stove is going to start heating up. Who will be sellers from the American League? Will the Twins swing any deals? View full video

Walker JenkinsLuke KeaschallDasan HillConnor PrielippKaelen CulpepperKyle DeBargeEmmanuel RodriguezCharlee SotoBrandon WinokurAndrew MorrisBilly AmickMarco RayaPayton EelesCJ CulpepperEduardo BeltreGabriel GonzalezCory LewisRicardo OlivarKhadim DiawDanny De Andrade

Walker JenkinsLuke KeaschallDasan HillConnor PrielippKaelen CulpepperKyle DeBargeEmmanuel RodriguezCharlee SotoBrandon WinokurAndrew MorrisBilly AmickMarco RayaPayton EelesCJ CulpepperEduardo BeltreGabriel GonzalezCory LewisRicardo OlivarKhadim DiawDanny De Andrade

While we are still about a month and a half away from the trade deadline, it's starting to get late early for some teams across Major League Baseball. With the trade deadline set for July 31, we are roughly a month away from the hot stove reaching its inferno. However, there are a handful of teams that we can pretty confidently say are going to be sellers around the deadline. Who are they, what do they have to offer, and how could the Minnesota Twins benefit? Let's dive in. Chicago White Sox The White Sox are 12 games below .500 and 13 games out of the playoff spot. They acknowledged a multi-year rebuild over the off-season, so it shouldn't be surprising that they are sellers once again. Potential rentals include outfielders Michael A. Taylor and Austin Slater as well as recently acquired starter Aaron Civale. Otherwise, intriguing players who are controlled beyond 2025 include infielder Josh Rojas and outfielder Mike Tauchman. However, it’s more realistic that teams aggressively kick the tires on outfielder Luis Robert Jr., who has been the subject of trade speculation for a while now. Robert Jr. signed a pre-arbitration extension that included $20 million in team options for 2026 and 2027, which can be bought out for $2 million. Once a top prospect in baseball, the 28-year-old has had a hard time staying healthy throughout his career and has struggled at the plate over the last two seasons. Athletics The Athletics are in a free fall ever since they started their season 22-20. In their last 28 games they have just four wins. While they are a young team with some exciting talent, they're obviously not ready yet and have a handful of rentals that teams could kick the tires on. Most notably are utility players Miguel Andujar and Luis Urias who have both produced above average at the plate this season. Third baseman Gio Urshela is more than two years removed from his last productive season and has a mediocre glove at the hot corner, but could be an intriguing option to handle the short side of a platoon. On the mound, Jose Leclerc and T.J. McFarland are two potential reliever rentals, though Leclerc has been sidelined with a lat strain since April and McFarland has been plain bad. It seems likely that at least one of Andujar, Urias, or Urshela are traded ahead of the deadline. Baltimore Orioles Injuries aside, it's still pretty shocking to see the Orioles struggling this much. After winning 91 games and earning a playoff berth in 2024, they are currently 13 games below .500 and 8.5 games out of a playoff spot. The difference here is that the Orioles are not in the midst of a rebuild, so it's likely they limit their moves to players on expiring deals. Those names include: pitchers Zach Eflin, Charlie Morton, Tomoyuki Sugano, and Gregory Soto as well as outfielder Cedric Mullins. Of those players, Eflin, Sugano, and Soro are having successful seasons on the mound and will draw significant trade interest. However, two names that have been the subject of trade rumors but are controllable beyond 2025 are first baseman Ryan Mountcastle and outfielder Heston Kjerstad. Mountcastle, who will miss the next 8-12 weeks with a hamstring strain, is having a down year with a .628 OPS and two home runs. Kjerstad, who was recently optioned to Triple-A Norfolk, has also struggled this season but has often found himself as the odd man out of a stacked group of young talent. Twins Needs Like the last few seasons, the offense has been inconsistent which would explain the Twins peaks and valleys as a team. Generally speaking, they don’t have one specific weakness but could benefit from an improvement in their lineup. However, it's hard to see where that might happen. Twins third baseman have one of the lowest OPS’ of any team’s third baseman in baseball, but they're surely not taking Royce Lewis out of the lineup. They don't have a solid answer at second base, but that position has produced the ninth highest OPS in baseball. Catcher has been a bit of a black hole but it's hard to see them bringing in someone without dealing one of Jeffers or Vazquez (and who's trading for one of them?). That leaves designated hitter, but the Twins roster construction isn't built for a full-time DH. They need to improve their offense but I don't see how that happens without dealing one of their regular offensive contributors. On the other side of the ball, if this were two weeks ago, the Twins would have been potentially looking to flip a starter for a hitter. Now, the Twins are one injury away from (such as a Bailey Ober hip issue) from being in a very, very bad spot. All of that said and we haven't even broached the topic of money. Ultimately, money will be the reason why the Twins are (once again) quiet at the trade deadline. Not only that, but they'll have the built in excuse of Pablo López returning from injury. Could they benefit from Zach Eflin or Miguel Andujar? I think so, but we all know how this plays out. How do you think the Twins will handle the trade deadline? Join the conversation in the comments! View full article

Yep, I think that's the perspective to take. It's not exciting but if he can eat innings that's really what the Twins need right now to tread water.

Image courtesy of © Matt Blewett-Imagn Images The Milwaukee Brewers promoted top prospect Jacob Misiorowski this week, which resulted in a shuffling of their rotation. The odd man out was right-handed starter Aaron Civale, who has made five starts for the club this season. At 30 years old, Civale isn't ready to become a bullpen arm and has formally requested a trade from the club. He hopes to land with someone who has a spot in the rotation, per The Athletic. As it turns out, their rivals just five hours east on Interstate 94 have a need in their rotation. After losing Pablo López and Zebby Matthews to injury, would it make sense for the Minnesota Twins to acquire Civale? Civale has struggled even by the standards of a back of the rotation arm. He's only pitched 22 innings total in his five starts, though the brevity of those outings isn't totally his fault. The Brewers have a tendency to use a quick hook with their starters. In those innings, he's posted a 4.91 ERA with a 5.53 FIP and a lowly 12.8% strikeout minus walk rate. While he’s shown an ability to limit hard contact, he's been susceptible to the long ball, allowing five home runs in a small body of work. As an extreme fly-ball pitcher who pitches to contact, spacious Target Field (coupled with a solid outfield defense) would actually be a good fit for Civale. The former Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians starter has seven pitches in his arsenal, with his cutter traditionally being most often used and best offering. However, that hasn't been the case thus far in 2025, as the pitch currently has a -3 run value (RV), his worst pitch, possibly due to a new shape that has less vertical drop compared to previous seasons. He also leans on a sinker (25.1% usage), 4-seam fastball (14%), and a curveball (13%) while mixing in an occasional slider, split-finger, or sweeper. Aside from his cutter in 2024, he's more than a year removed from any other pitch in his arsenal producing a positive RV. In short, there isn't a lot to be excited about with his profile, but the Twins may just be desperate enough to take a shot on a pitcher who has had success in the past. Needing to replace López and Matthews in the big-league rotation, the Twins recalled David Festa and Simeon Woods Richardson to take their places. Two weeks ago, the Twins had enough starting pitching that people started speculating whether they may turn some of their arms into big-league bats. Now, the Twins are one injury away from having to rely on an arm that either isn't ready for the majors (Andrew Morris or Cory Lewis) or one that hasn't sustained success (Randy Dobnak). While Civale may not be exciting, he may be needed more than we’d like to admit. Especially when considering the performance of our rotation of late. Woods Richardson, who’s made one start since being recalled, was roughed up by a below-average Texas Rangers offense on Tuesday. In 4 ⅔ innings of work he gave up seven hits, six earned runs, and walked three while striking out four. His ERA now sits at 5.74 after struggling to start the season. While we don't want to overreact to a small sample, more concerning than Woods Richardson may be Bailey Ober. After a solid April and May, the towering righty has allowed 11 earned runs in his last two outings. The reason for concern, though, is his diminished velocity which started in Spring Training. His fastball velocity this season is down 1.2 miles per hour from 2024 and in his most recent start it was down an additional 0.3 miles per hour. He's made it work for the most part, though after today’s start he suggested he's “struggling with hip issues and mechanics.” Definitely something to keep an eye on. On the other hand, Festa has been productive in four of his five starts with the Twins. He was knocked around by the Athletics when he was first recalled but that could possibly be chalked up to extenuating circumstances, like flying across the country on short notice to make a start. The big thing for Festa will be to consistently pitch relatively deep into ball games - something that might be challenging for someone who has never pitched more than 124 innings in any one professional season. Down on the farm, Morris has been inconsistent this season. In 11 starts with the Triple-A Saints, Morris has six with one earned or less but four starts with four earned runs or more. Lewis has been consistent in St. Paul, but not in the same way. Through nine appearances (six starts) the 25-year-old has a 9.42 ERA and 7.04 FIP. Finally, top prospect Marco Raya has also struggled with the Saints. While the Twins once were thought to have a plethora of pitching depth, that has been depleted in the matter of a week. One way or another, they're going to have to find depth externally and Civale may be just the right guy for the call. No, Civale won't move the needle with Twins fans but it's hard not to see him as an upgrade over Woods Richardson. Given his production, profile, and contract it's likely he could be had for relatively cheap and the Twins would be remiss not to kick the tires on him. Do you think the Twins should pursue the Civale? What would you give up for him? Join the conversation in the comments! View full article

As the standings currently sit, the Minnesota Twins and the Detroit Detroit Tigers are the top two teams in the American League Central. Major League Baseball and ESPN are rewarding them by flexing their Sunday matinee to Sunday night baseball on June 29 starting at 6 PM. For the Twins, this will be their first time on Sunday Night Baseball in five seasons. They last played on Sunday Night Baseball in 2020 against the Chicago Cubs. That game featured six shutout innings from then rotation ace Jose Berríos followed by three innings of dominance from the Twins bullpen. Max Kepler had himself a night going 3-for-5 with a two run blast. Also of note, Target Field has not hosted Sunday Night Baseball since its inaugural season, according to Declan Goff. Hopefully the Twins can play better in front of a national audience than they did in front of their own fans against he Texas Rangers. 😬 View full rumor

After injuries to Zebby Matthews and Pablo López, we knew the Twins were going to have to figure out how to manage the pitching staff. This led to promotions of David Festa, Simeon Woods Richardson, Travis Adams, and Danny Coulombe. Adams has since been sent back to Triple-A St. Paul and Woods Richardson is coming off an abysmal outing against a below average Texas Rangers squad. Now, the Twins have transferred López to the 60-day IL and have claimed left-handed reliever, Joey Wentz, from the Pittsburgh Pirates to help eat innings out of the bullpen. Wentz, 28, has thrown 26 innings across 19 appearances with an ERA of 4.15 (3.77 FIP) and a 9.5% strikeout minus walk rate. He's a typical Falvey-esque pitcher with an extension in the 88th percentile and a mid-to-low 90s fastball that he counters with horizontal movement (cutter). He also has a curveball as his third offering. This is just a depth move by the Twins, who have relied heavily on their bullpen in the early going, but may also spell the end of the road for the struggling Jorge Alcala. Do you think this signals the end for Alcala? How long does Wentz last with the Twins? Join the conversation in the comments! View full rumor