Matthew Taylor

For the first time in what feels like forever, the Minnesota Twins didn’t hedge. They didn’t straddle the line between buying and selling, between rebuilding and retooling, between competing and coasting. They made a decision. They picked a direction. And they went all in. At the 2025 MLB trade deadline, the Twins executed one of the most aggressive sell-offs in recent major-league history. Ten players from the active 26-man roster were traded away (11 players in total). Team leaders, high-leverage relievers, young controllable talent, all gone. The front office didn’t tiptoe around tough decisions. They didn’t try to sugarcoat their situation. They saw the writing on the wall and decided to act with purpose. That, in itself, is worth celebrating. Because for the past two years, the opposite has been true. This front office has, in many ways, become synonymous with inaction. In 2023, their lone deadline move was acquiring Dylan Floro. In 2024, it was Trevor Richards. Those aren't exactly needle-movers. Nor was it just the deadline paralysis that defined them. It was the broader refusal to shift course in any meaningful way. After a playoff appearance in 2023, the Twins slashed payroll by $30 million but made no real roster changes beyond those absolutely necessitated by that slashing. Following a late-season collapse in 2024, they once again ran it back, keeping their core untouched. Even as cracks formed in the foundation, the team stuck with manager Rocco Baldelli and doubled down on the same formula that was no longer working. It all felt like a team stuck in limbo, afraid to take a real risk—afraid to pick a lane. Opportunities to sell high were passed over. Max Kepler could have been dealt after 2023. Edouard Julien or Jose Miranda might have netted solid returns after breakout stretches in 2023 and 2024. But the Twins held firm, betting on continuity and internal improvement. That bet failed. This week, the front office finally broke the cycle. This wasn’t just a sell-off. It was an admission, an acknowledgement that the team they had built—the one they extended, defended, and preserved over the past few years—was not good enough. So instead of watching it slowly erode, they hit the reset button. Hard. They didn’t dip a toe in the waters of a rebuild. They dove in headfirst. Even the decision to move Carlos Correa, the $200-million man and face of the franchise, underscored just how serious they were. They weren’t preserving icons or clinging to sunk costs. They were starting over. Of course, there will be debates. Should they have dumped Correa’s salary? Could they have gotten more for Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax? Did they really need to trade all of those guys, or could they have kept a couple of pieces in place? These are fair questions, and we’ll explore them here on Twins Daily all week long. But this article isn’t about the trades themselves. It’s not about value or prospects or WAR. This article is about something more fundamental: vision. For once, the front office had one. You don’t have to love it. You don’t even have to agree with it. But you can finally say the Twins have a plan. They chose not to languish in the middle. They chose not to keep spinning the same wheels with the same core. They recognized that their window had closed, and they decided to tear it all down before the walls caved in on their own. In a sport where indecision is often the safest move, boldness is rare, but the Twins finally got bold. What do you think? Was this the right time for a total reset? Let us know in the comments.

The Phillies have reportedly pivoted from Jhoan Duran to Griffin Jax in their search for bullpen help, according to Jayson Stark in a radio interview with 97.5 The Fanatic in Philadelphia. According to Stark, talks between the Twins and Phillies regarding Duran hit a snag when Minnesota asked for top Phillies pitching prospect Andrew Painter in return. Painter is currently ranked as the number eight prospect in baseball by Baseball America, and Philadelphia has been unwilling to put him on the table. As a result, this has led them to refocus on Jax, whom they may view as more attainable. Jax has taken a step back this year in terms of ERA and Win Probability Added, but his underlying metrics paint a different picture. His strikeout and walk rates remain strong, and advanced numbers like xERA suggest he’s been pitching better than the results indicate. He’s been snakebitten by some poor luck, not regression in stuff or command. Jax remains under team control through 2027 and has been a high-leverage staple for the past three seasons. Trading him would be a notable blow to the bullpen depth, but if the return is meaningful, it could be the right move. Would you move Jax in the right deal? Should the Twins keep pressing for a Painter/Duran deal? Drop your thoughts below.

The Twins have made their first move of the trade deadline, and it's already left a sour taste. Chris Paddack has been traded to the Detroit Tigers for catching prospect Enrique Jimenez. At first glance, it looks like your typical deadline deal. Paddack hasn’t been good this year, holding a 4.95 ERA overall and a 6.04 ERA since June 1. Trading him for a lottery ticket type of prospect seemed fair enough at the time. But then the details started to come out, and it quickly became clear that this wasn’t just about getting something in return for a struggling pitcher. It was reported that the Rays and Yankees had also shown interest in Paddack. That should have given the Twins some leverage. If multiple teams are interested, you’d expect the front office to work that into a better return. Let them bid. Drive up the price. Do the smart baseball thing. But that didn’t happen. Instead, it was revealed that Randy Dobnak was included in the deal, as well. That changes the calculus entirely. Dobnak has bounced between the majors and Triple-A St. Paul for a few years now, but his recent performance has been rough. This year alone, he has a 7.57 ERA with the Saints, after middling seasons in 2023 and 2024. On top of that, he’s making $3 million this year, which means he’s still owed about $1 million the rest of the season, plus another $1 million buyout at the end. There is no real value there for a team in a playoff race. And yet, there he is, packaged in the deal. That tells you everything you need to know about the Twins' true motivation. This wasn’t about acquiring the best prospect available for Chris Paddack. This was about dumping salary. It’s not hard to imagine that the Rays and Yankees weren’t willing to take on Dobnak’s money, as well as the entirety of Paddack's remaining contract, but the Tigers were. In exchange, the Tigers didn’t have to give up a better prospect. The Twins took the cheaper deal, not the better one. That’s not to say Jiménez is a bad player. He’s a switch-hitting catching prospect in rookie ball and has some upside. But he’s a long shot—a true lottery ticket. He's the kind of player you might take if you were also getting something else or had no leverage. The Twins had leverage, and they still took the lighter return because it let them get out of paying Dobnak—not to mention the remainder of Paddack's own salary. It’s disappointing. Not surprising, but disappointing. The Pohlad family clearly has one foot out the door, and their top priority at this deadline is saving money. They’ve already slashed payroll over the last two years, and with the deadline finally here, they’re not even pretending to try to get the best baseball value. They’re prioritizing their bottom line. That money isn’t going back into the team: not this year, not next year, and especially not while a sale is looming. This is the kind of trade that makes you nervous about what’s to come. If the front office is being told to prioritize savings over value, how many more deals like this are we going to see? Are they going to keep attaching bloated contracts to semi-valuable players just to get rid of money, even if it means taking weaker returns? Is that the game plan? It's much too soon to say that for sure, but the very idea is unwelcome. Maybe Jiménez ends up being something, and in a few years we’ll look back on this trade a bit more kindly. But right now, it’s hard to feel anything but frustrated. The front office probably could have done better. They just weren’t allowed to. What do you think? Was there a better deal to be made? And does this trade make you worried about what the rest of the deadline will look like?

As the MLB trade deadline approaches, the Minnesota Twins are holding two of the most sought-after bullpen arms on the market: Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax. With both relievers boasting 2.5 years of team control and plenty of experience in high-leverage roles, the Twins are in a rare position of strength. According to The Athletic’s trade deadline big board, Duran and Jax now rank fifth and ninth overall among available players, and first and second among available relievers, following Emmanuel Clase being placed on leave. If the Twins decide to part with only one of them, the question becomes: which one do they trade, and which one do they keep? When trying to evaluate who carries more trade value, Duran initially stands out. He has a 2.01 ERA over 49.1 innings this season, is still pumping fastballs at an average of 100.2 miles per hour, and is just 27 years old. He’s been the team’s most trusted closer in big moments, and has consistently delivered dominant performances since debuting. However, Griffin Jax’s profile is quietly just as appealing, if not more so. While his ERA is a modest 3.91 over 46 innings, he is striking out a higher percentage of batters than Duran (36.9%, compared to Duran’s 25.7%). Jax’s FIP is also lower than Duran’s (2.00 to 2.48), and he’s generating more whiffs and a higher chase rate from hitters. His average fastball velocity is trending upward, reaching 97 MPH this year compared to 96.5 in 2023. Duran, by contrast, has seen a dip in velocity from 101.8 in 2023 to 100.2 this season. Interestingly, recent reports suggest that the Twins are seeking similar trade packages for either pitcher, reportedly asking for top-100 prospects whether it’s Duran or Jax. That reveals how closely their trade value is viewed by the Twins front office, and how compelling the argument for either pitcher has become. What’s especially intriguing is the built-in relationship between their individual market value. If the Twins choose to keep one and make it known that the other is not available, the trade value of the remaining pitcher could immediately rise. Removing either Duran or Jax from the market would leave the other as the undisputed top reliever available at the deadline, which could push contending teams to bid more aggressively for what would then become the rarest remaining bullpen upgrade. In my opinion, if the Twins only trade one, they should keep Jax and trade Duran. Even though the trade value between the two is similar, if the Twins can extract a slightly better return for one of them, I believe Duran would command that premium. That alone could tilt the decision. Beyond that, I think there’s reason to be more optimistic about Jax moving forward than there is for Duran. Duran is still effective, but there are signs of a slow decline. His velocity is dipping; his strikeout numbers have decreased in each of the last three seasons; and his fastball usage continues to decline. While his breaking ball is still generating success this year, I’m skeptical that it will continue to be as effective if his fastball velocity continues to drop. If hitters no longer have to respect the same level of heat, they’ll be able to time up the offspeed stuff more easily, and the edge could erode quickly. Jax, on the other hand, is trending in the opposite direction. He’s raised his strikeout rate for three consecutive seasons and is having the best swing-and-miss season of his career in 2025. Though he had a shaky start to the season, his underlying metrics have been strong all year, and his results are starting to catch up. He’s been negatively affected by WPA with untimely hits, which is not a predictive stat—though it can be a big penalty in the moment. Age is often a factor in these decisions, but I don’t think it’s a major one here. Jax is 30 and under team control through his age-32 season. Duran is 27, but both pitchers are only signed through 2027. The difference in contract value also matters, especially for a team with a limited payroll. Jax is earning $2.3 million this year, while Duran is making $4.125 million. And with how arbitration works with valuing stats like saves, Duran’s contract figures to escalate at a more rapid rate heading into next season. All of this adds up to a decision that leans toward keeping Jax and trading Duran. If the Twins can net two top-100 prospects for either pitcher, Duran might be the better trade chip to capitalize on. With Jax trending upward (despite the lesser results) and carrying a friendlier contract, he might be the better bet to anchor the bullpen for the next two years. That’s where I stand, but I’d love to hear what you think. If the Twins only trade one of Jhoan Duran or Griffin Jax, who would you rather they keep? Would you sell high on Duran and lean into Jax’s underlying numbers? Or would you hold onto the younger, proven closer and try to get value for Jax while his peripherals shine? Let us know in the comments.

The Twins may be one of the busiest teams in baseball over the next 48 hours. According to Jim Bowden of The Athletic, multiple contenders are aggressively pursuing Minnesota as a trade partner. The Red Sox, Yankees, Blue Jays, Phillies, and Mariners have all been in regular contact with the front office, showing serious interest in a wide range of players. Among the most talked-about names are Joe Ryan, several key bullpen arms, Willi Castro, and Harrison Bader. That level of widespread demand suggests the Twins could be busy over the next few days. With such a deep list of in-demand assets, Minnesota is suddenly positioned as a potential centerpiece of this year’s trade deadline. Whether the front office chooses to fully lean into selling or sticks to it's impending free agents remains to be seen. Either way, the next move could shift the tone of the season. Where do you stand on it? Drop your thoughts below.

If the Minnesota Twins trade Joe Ryan at this year’s deadline, it better be for a deal that makes them truly stop in their tracks. Ryan is the type of player small and mid-market teams try to build around: a young, durable, strike-throwing All-Star with 2.5 years of team control and the demeanor to pitch at the top of a rotation. Reports have suggested the Twins are not actively shopping him, and they shouldn’t be. But if a contender is desperate enough, and the Twins are offered a truly game-changing return, the front office at least owes it to themselves to listen. This piece isn't advocating for a Ryan trade, but it does explore what "blown away" would look like. And it starts with a package headlined by a global Top 25 prospect. These are the caliber of names that would make the Twins have to think long and hard about giving up their prized young ace. Leo De Vries, San Diego Padres, SS Prospect Rankings: MLB Pipeline: #3 Baseball America: #6 The Athletic: #13 Leo De Vries is one of the fastest-rising stars in the minor leagues. The switch-hitting shortstop was the top international prospect in the 2024 class and has already made it to High-A ball at just 18 years old. His profile is loaded: elite swing speed, premium exit velocities, speed on the basepaths, and the kind of glove and arm combo that should stick at shortstop long-term. It’s not hard to imagine him becoming the number one prospect in baseball within the next year or two. It would take a haul to pry him away from the Padres, but for a player like Joe Ryan, who is not only under control through 2026 but could start Game 1 of a playoff series, San Diego could be tempted. A.J. Preller has a well-documented history of going all in at the deadline, flipping top prospects like James Wood and CJ Abrams in the Juan Soto trade. Now sitting in a hyper-competitive NL West and watching the Dodgers stumble with injuries, this could be the moment Preller again pushes all his chips to the center of the table. Jesús Made, Milwaukee Brewers, SS/3B Prospect Rankings: MLB Pipeline: #7 Baseball America: #4 The Athletic: #5 Another young infielder with top-of-the-scale upside, Jesús Made might be the type of player who makes the Twins pause and consider a Ryan trade. The switch-hitting Dominican burst onto the scene as a Dominican Summer League All-Star, slashing .331/.458/.554 with six homers, 28 steals, and an absurd 28-to-39 strikeout-to-walk ratio in just 51 games. Evaluators rave about his plate discipline and underlying metrics, and even if he doesn’t stick at shortstop, his bat could make him an elite third baseman with future number one overall prospect potential. The Brewers are white-hot, winning 13 of their last 15 and currently boasting the best record in the majors. They already have the top ERA in the National League, but adding Joe Ryan could give them a playoff rotation that few teams can match. Bryce Eldridge, San Francisco Giants, OF Prospect Rankings: MLB Pipeline: #17 Baseball America: #22 The Athletic: #28 Bryce Eldridge, the 16th overall pick in the 2023 draft, is the type of slugger you dream on. At 6-foot-7 with top-of-the-scale raw power, Eldridge moved from Single-A to Triple-A as a 19-year-old in his first full professional season. His left-handed swing is quick and powerful, and he generates elite exit velocities that have some projecting him as a 35 to 45 homer bat in the majors. While his glove doesn’t stand out and he’s unlikely to be a defensive asset, his bat alone makes him a high-ceiling player. The Giants are firmly in the playoff race at 54–49 and in need of rotation help behind Logan Webb and a rehabbing Robbie Ray. They’ve shown they’re willing to make impact moves at the deadline when the time is right. San Francisco has proven they’re willing to be bold, swinging a huge deal for Rafael Devers earlier this season. They’ve sent a clear message: they’re going for it in 2025. Josue De Paula, Los Angeles Dodgers, OF Prospect Rankings: MLB Pipeline: #22 Baseball America: #21 The Athletic: #17 Josue De Paula offers a tantalizing mix of youth, power, and plate discipline. The 19-year-old left-handed hitter slashed .268/.404/.405 with 10 homers across two Class A levels last season. He controls the strike zone extremely well and has the ability to make hard contact to all fields. He’s already projected to develop 30-plus homer power and likely profiles as a corner outfielder in the long run. Scouts love his polish and projectability. The Dodgers have lost 11 of their last 15 games and are dealing with injuries across their pitching staff. Still, with the second-highest payroll in baseball and championship expectations, they are always a threat to make a splash. Pairing Joe Ryan with Yoshinobu Yamamoto would give Los Angeles a formidable top of the rotation while also serving as a hedge against health questions surrounding Shohei Ohtani and Tyler Glasnow. De Paula is one of their crown jewels, but the Dodgers have moved top names in the past when the stakes were high enough. What do you think? Would you be willing to trade Joe Ryan if a Top 25 global prospect is coming back? Or should the Twins keep their ace no matter the offer? Which of the above names is most intriguing to you? Let us know in the comments.

With the 2025 trade deadline approaching, the Minnesota Twins have made it clear that they are open for business. The assumption has been that the team would be moving impending free agents, but reports have surfaced that the front office is also listening on players with team control beyond this season—names like Joe Ryan, Griffin Jax, and Jhoan Duran. That naturally leads to questions. First, should the Twins be looking to trade players who (despite the current odds) could still help push for a playoff spot this year, and certainly contend next year? But even if the answer to that question is yes—if now is the best time to move those players at peak value—the follow-up is just as important: is Derek Falvey the right person to be making those decisions? There are two main reasons why that question matters. First, Falvey’s long-term status in Minnesota is uncertain. With the sale of the team still pending, it’s entirely plausible that new ownership will want to install their own front office. That possibility alone raises real concerns about letting a potentially lame-duck executive make trades with long-term consequences. And second, even without the ownership factor, it’s not obvious that Falvey has earned the right to continue leading baseball operations. If this year goes the way it appears to be going, the Twins will have missed the playoffs four of the last five seasons, and the roster (while not without talent) doesn’t look like the product of a visionary baseball mind. The results simply haven’t been there. There’s a natural misalignment of incentives when someone with an uncertain future is asked to make decisions that will affect the franchise for years to come. Even with the best intentions, it’s human nature to act in ways that protect your own position. That might mean targeting players who are closer to the majors over ones with more upside but more risk. It could mean making trades that look good in the short term, but don’t truly serve the long game. It’s not necessarily sabotage, but it’s not necessarily stewardship, either. You have to ask yourself if you’d rather let the next front office make those decisions—one that will be living with them—rather than someone who might not be around to see how they play out. Ryan, Jax, and Duran will all still have significant trade value in the offseason, or even at next season’s deadline. There’s also the matter of whether Falvey is equipped to make these decisions, regardless of his job status. During his time with the Twins, he’s made two major selling trades. The first, acquiring Joe Ryan for Nelson Cruz, was a clear win. The second, trading José Berríos for Austin Martin and Simeon Woods Richardson, is more complicated. Woods Richardson has turned things around lately, but the deal was centered on Martin, who has either been a scouting miss or a development failure. Beyond that, the record isn’t exactly inspiring. The draft has been inconsistent, acquisitions have been middling, and the team stuck with an underwhelming core too long. On the development front, names like Jose Miranda, Edouard Julien, Trevor Larnach, Matt Wallner, and Austin Martin all flashed potential but haven’t reached anything close to consistency. That’s not just bad luck; it reflects poorly on the infrastructure. So if the front office has shown it can’t consistently evaluate or develop talent, do you trust it to execute a complex, high-leverage trade? Of course, there’s an opportunity cost in doing nothing. The trade deadline is when contenders pay the highest prices. If you’re going to trade Ryan, Jax, or Duran, now is when you’re likely to get the biggest return. Waiting until the offseason may mean settling for less. But you also have to ask whether the return Falvey would get—while potentially greater on the surface—would actually deliver long-term value, or whether a new front office might do more with a little less. Sometimes it’s not just about the pieces you get, but how you build around them. So what do you think? Should Derek Falvey be the one calling the shots on trades involving Jhoan Duran, Joe Ryan, and Griffin Jax? Or would you rather wait for a new front office to make those decisions, even if it means taking a little less in return? Leave a comment and start the conversation!

TRANSACTIONS UT Mickey Gasper activated from injured list (St. Paul) C Ricardo Peña transferred to 60-day injured list (Fort Myers) RHP Carlos Gutierrez was released by the Twins (FCL Twins) SAINTS SENTINEL Game 1 Worcester Red Sox 4, St. Paul Saints 0 SP: Darren McCaughan: 4.0 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 0 BB, 5 K HR: None Multi-hit games: None In the first seven-inning game of the doubleheader, it was a lackluster offensive performance for the Saints, who only mustered two hits—one each from Austin Martin and Jonah Bride. The rest of the lineup was held completely in check. Carson McCusker had a particularly tough game, going 0-for-3 with three strikeouts. On the mound, Darren McCaughan gave up four earned runs in four innings, including a first-inning homer to Red Sox prospect Kristian Campbell. His ERA rose to 5.40 on the season. Game 2 Worcester Red Sox 5, St. Paul Saints 2 SP: Pierson Ohl: 4.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K HR: None Multi-hit games: None The Saints got a gem from Pierson Ohl in Game 2. He threw four innings of one-hit, zero-earned run baseball while striking out five. The lone run he allowed came on an unearned sequence after a Payton Eeles error. Ohl lowered his Saints ERA to 2.82. Unfortunately for St. Paul, Erasmo Ramirez gave up six hits and four runs in two innings of relief, including a bases-clearing double from Red Sox prospect Nathan Hickey. Offensively, the Saints looked promising early with three hits and two runs in the first, highlighted by Jonah Bride's two-run single with the bases loaded. But they collected just one more hit the rest of the game. McCusker finished the doubleheader 0-for-7 with five strikeouts. WIND SURGE WISDOM Wichita Wind Surge 6, Frisco RoughRiders 5 SP: C.J. Culpepper: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K HR: None Multi-hit games: Kala’i Rosario (2-for-4, 2B, RBI) CJ Culpepper got the start and worked three innings, allowing just one earned run. The Wind Surge mounted two different comebacks, first rallying for three runs in the seventh on a Jose Salas hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded and a Jorel Ortega RBI single. After surrendering the lead in the eighth, Wichita responded again with a three-run bottom half featuring key doubles from Kala’i Rosario and Ben Ross. Cole Percival gave up one in the ninth, but the Surge held on to improve their second-half record. KERNELS NUGGETS Fort Wayne TinCaps 2, Cedar Rapids Kernels 1 SP: Cole Peschl: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K HR: None Multi-hit games: Caden Kendle (2-for-4) Cole Peschl was slotted to be the starter for the Kernels today but left after just one inning with some sort of injury. Even given the tough assignment for the rest of the game, the Kernels got strong pitching, allowing just two runs and five hits on the day. Jacob Kisting was particularly impressive, tossing three hitless innings, striking out four and lowering his ERA to 1.17. Unfortunately, the Kernels offense was unable to pull through, crossing just one run when Kyle DeBarge scored on a wild pitch. Center fielder Caden Kendle delivered the lone multi-hit game of the day for Cedar Rapids. MUSSEL MATTERS Fort Myers Mighty Mussels 5, Lakeland Flying Tigers 4 (10 innings) SP: Adrian Bohorquez: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K HR: Yasser Mercedes (6), Dameury Pena (6), Blaze O'Saben (1) Multi-hit games: Yasser Mercedes (2-for-5, HR, RBI), Blaze O'Saben (3-for-3, HR, 2 RBI, BB) While the other Minor League clubs had slow days at the plate, the bats were hot in Lakeland, Florida for the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels, who launched three home runs. Yasser Mercedes got it started in the first inning with his sixth of the season. Dameury Pena followed with a solo shot of his own in the fifth, and Blaze O'Saben added his first home run of the season in the eighth. On the mound, Adrian Bohorquez gave the Mussels four innings of one-run (unearned) ball before handing things off to the bullpen. After Tyler Stasiowski blew the save in the ninth, Blaze O'Saben stepped up again in the top of the 10th, driving in Bryan Acuña with the go-ahead run. Ivran Romero closed the door in the bottom half to secure the win. The Mussels are now 7-1 in extra inning games this season. COMPLEX CHRONICLES (Double Header) Game 1 FCL Twins 4, FCL Orioles 1 Melvin Rodriguez: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 3 K HR: None Multi-hit games: None The FCL Twins grabbed a win against the FCL Orioles thanks to strong pitching from Melvin Rodriguez, Xander Hamilton, and Brent Francisco, who allowed just four hits and one run combined. Offensively, Ricardo Paez reached base three times via walk and scored three of the Twins' four runs on the day. Game 2 FCL Twins 4, FCL Orioles 3 SP: Xavier Kolhosser 3.0 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K HR: Yandro Hernandez (2) Multi-hit games: Yandro Hernandez (2-3, HR, 2 R, RBI) The FCL Twins were able to sweep the doubleheader in walk-off fashion when Merphy Hernandez scored Carlos Silva on an RBI single in the eighth inning. The standout performance came from Yandro Hernandez who contributed an inside-the-park home run in the 1st inning. Following the double header sweep the FCL Twins finished the regular season at 39-20, the best record in the Florida Complex League this season. The FCL Twins will play the Tigers on Saturday in the four-team playoff. DOMINICAN DAILIES DSL Rangers 7, DSL Twins 5 SP: Jesus Gomez: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K HR: None Multi-hit games: Yovanny Duran (2-for-4, BB, RBI), Haritzon Castillo (2-for-5, 2B, RBI), Joyner Perez (2-for-4, 2 RBI) Despite a strong day at the plate with nine hits, the DSL Twins fell to the Rangers 7-5. Jesus Gomez struck out six and allowed just two earned runs over four innings before the game unraveled in the fifth. Eli Urena struggled with control, issuing a walk, hitting a batter, and throwing three wild pitches. Yovanny Duran, Haritzon Castillo, and Joyner Perez each turned in multi-hit games and continue to be bright spots in the DSL lineup. PLAYERS OF THE DAY Batter: Blaze O'Saben (Ft. Myers): 3-for-3, HR, 2 RBI, BB Pitcher: Pierson Ohl (St. Paul): 4.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K FRIDAY PITCHING PROBABLES Worcester @ St. Paul (7:07 PM CT) - RHP Bailey Ober (0-0, 0.00 ERA) Frisco @ Wichita (7:05 PM CT) - RHP John Klein (6-5, 3.52 ERA) Fort Wayne @ Cedar Rapids (6:35 PM CT) - RHP Ty Langenberg (2-4, 5.32 ERA) Fort Myers @ Lakeland (6:05 PM CT) - RHP Jason Doktorczyk (3-4, 4.81 ERA) DSL Twins @ DSL Marlins (10:00 AM CT) - TBD PROSPECT SUMMARY #1 - Walker Jenkins (Wichita) - 0-for-3, 2 K #2 - Luke Keaschall (St. Paul) - 1-for-6, BB #3 - Kaelen Culpepper (Wichita) - 0-for-4, BB, 2 K #8 - Gabriel Gonzalez (Wichita) - 1-for-3, BB, 2 K #11 - Brandon Winkour (Cedar Rapids) - 1-for-4, R, 2 K #14 - Kyle DeBarge (Cedar Rapids) - 0-for-3, R, K #15 - C.J. Culpepper (Wichita) - 3.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K #16 - Billy Amick (Cedar Rapids) - 0-for-3, 1 BB, 1 K #19 - Eduardo Beltre (FCL Twins) - 1-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 K

A recent report from ESPN Insider Jeff Passan has sparked discussion throughout Twins Territory. According to Passan, the Minnesota Twins are open to trading both Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax, two of the most electric relievers in baseball, as a package deal. The asking price? Two top-100-caliber prospects. It’s a steep ask, but given the dominance, age, and team control of both relievers, it's entirely justified. This wouldn’t be the first time a contender paid a premium for elite bullpen arms. In 2018, the Padres flipped Brad Hand and Adam Cimber to Cleveland for Francisco Mejía, a top-20 global prospect at the time. That deal saw two relievers with similar team control flipped for one high-end return. Now, the Twins may be looking to repeat history, albeit with even greater upside. So what might a two-for-two top-100 swap look like? Let’s dig into potential trade packages with some of the reported suitors: the Dodgers, Phillies, Yankees, Mets, Cubs, and (though less likely) the division-rival Tigers. Note: These prospect rankings are according to MLB Pipeline. Los Angeles Dodgers: Jackson Ferris, LHP (#65) and Dalton Rushing, C (formerly top-30) The Dodgers boast one of the deepest farm systems in the league and could be a strong match. A potential package could include left-handed pitcher Jackson Ferris and catcher Dalton Rushing, who recently graduated from prospect status but was a top-30 prospect before that. Ferris is a towering 6-foot-4 southpaw who’s already making strides in Double A at age 21. He’s turned a corner with a 1.30 ERA over his last five starts, and would add valuable left-handed depth to a Twins system heavy on right-handed arms. Rushing, meanwhile, fits a clear organizational need. With Ryan Jeffers under team control only through 2026 and little catching depth behind him, the left-handed-hitting Rushing, who posted a .907 OPS in Triple A last season, could quickly become Jeffers’s heir. The Dodgers have a stud catcher on their roster already in Will Smith, and may be willing to move on from Rushing. Philadelphia Phillies: Mick Abel, RHP (#71) and Eduardo Tait (#59) The Phillies could offer another combination pitching-catching package centered around Mick Abel and Eduardo Tait. Abel, a former 15th overall pick in the 2020 draft, has been a fixture on prospect lists since 2021. Though he struggled in Triple-A last season with a 6.46 ERA over 108 innings, he’s rebounded in a big way in 2025. In 69 innings at Triple-A this year, Abel owns a sparkling 1.83 ERA, showcasing his ability to adjust and develop. He made his MLB debut earlier this summer with mixed results, but his five-pitch mix and a fastball that touches the upper 90s give him mid-rotation (or a touch higher) upside. The hope is that he sticks as a starter long-term, with the tools to anchor a rotation for years to come. Eduardo Tait, meanwhile, is one of the youngest names on this list and a longer-term play. A bat-first catcher out of Panama, Tait turns 19 in August and already flashes power from the left side. His defense is coming along, and his size and offensive profile could eventually make him a high-impact player at a position of need for Minnesota. New York Yankees: George Lombard Jr., MI (#32) and Carlos Lagrange, RHP (#100) This might be the most exciting mix of tools and upside. George Lombard Jr. (MLB Pipeline #32) is already in Double-A at age 20 and offers contact ability, speed, and defensive versatility in the middle infield. The Yankees love his makeup, but the Twins could pry him loose in a deal of this magnitude. Carlos Lagrange brings a flamethrowing presence to the mound, reaching up to 102 mph with his fastball while mixing in a sharp sweeper and an improving changeup. His control remains a work in progress, and whether he can remain a starter depends largely on his ability to consistently command the zone. Ideally, he sticks as a high-octane starting pitcher, but if he’s moved to the bullpen down the line, his stuff could make him a Duran clone in a late-inning role. That seems more likely, but would be a nice bit of serendipity: by extending the same trade tree that brought them Duran, they could get a very Duran-like arm. New York Mets: Jonah Tong, RHP (#55) and Nolan McLean, RHP (#72) If the Twins prefer pitchers-for-relievers, the Mets could offer two top-end arms: Jonah Tong and Noah McLean. Tong has been electric at Double-A this season, with a 1.71 ERA and a staggering 14.1 K/9 across 84 innings. He profiles as a mid-rotation starter or better. McLean is more advanced, already pitching in Triple-A with strong fastball/slider metrics and a 3.64 ERA. He could be in the Twins’ rotation as early as the end of 2025. Chicago Cubs: Moisés Ballesteros, C/1B (#49) and Kevin Alcántara, OF (#82) Moisés Ballesteros is a bat-first catcher with massive power, but a questionable long-term outlook behind the plate. If he can stick at catcher, he’s a game-changer. If not, he may be confined to first base or DH. Ballesteros has already made his big-league debut with the Cubs. Kevin Alcántara is a towering 6-foot-6 center fielder with impressive speed and feel for contact. He could be a future Buxton replacement, if everything clicks. (That's a big 'if,' but if it weren't, he wouldn't be available even in a trade like this.) Detroit Tigers: Bryce Rainer, SS (#37) and Thayron Liranzo, C/1B (#84) An intradivisional trade is highly unlikely, but for the sake of speculation, Bryce Rainer and Thayron Liranzo could tempt the Twins to deal with their rivals. Rainer, the 2024 No. 11 overall pick, has already flashed elite tools at Low-A. A likely shortstop with power and an elite arm, he could be a star in the making. Liranzo is a switch-hitter with 60-grade power and big-time exit velocities, though he may end up at first base. There’s no doubt the Twins’ bullpen has been a major strength. Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax have formed a dominant 1-2 punch late in games, and moving them would signal a shift toward long-term planning. But the opportunity to secure two blue-chip talents, especially at premium positions, doesn’t come often. Which package stands out to you? Would you pull the trigger on any of these? Or do you want the Twins to hold firm? Leave a comment and start the conversation!

The Minnesota Twins have begun locking in their 2025 draft class, announcing the signings of three of their top selections, including their first-rounder, just days after the MLB Draft. Marek Houston, the Twins' first-round pick at No. 16 overall, has officially signed for $4,497,500, slightly under the assigned slot value of $4,929,600. Houston, widely regarded as the best defensive shortstop in the class, brings elite glove work and advanced instincts to the organization. Though questions remain about the bat, his athleticism and polish make him a potential fast mover in the system. Joining him is Riley Quick, the Twins' supplemental first-rounder out of Alabama, who signed for his full slot value of $2,692,000. A hard-throwing righty with a deep pitch mix, Quick profiles as a potential rotation mainstay with multiple plus offerings and a competitive SEC pedigree. Second-round pick Quentin Young, the nephew of former Twin Delmon Young, also signed for full slot value at $1,761,600. One of the more intriguing upside plays in the class, Young brings raw but electric tools, boasting elite athleticism and massive power potential. If the Twins can refine his approach, he could become a high-ceiling force in the lineup down the line. The Twins are expected to announce additional signings in the coming days as they work to finalize the rest of their 2025 class. Stay up-to-date on the 2025 MLB Draft with Twins Daily's draft tracker.

Monday night in Los Angeles, the Minnesota Twins found themselves in a pivotal moment that revealed not just a decision, but a departure from the philosophy they've followed all season. Trailing 3-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning, manager Rocco Baldelli made a surprising call. He sent rookie starter David Festa back out to the mound to face the most dangerous part of the Dodgers lineup for a third time. Shohei Ohtani, Will Smith, and Freddie Freeman were due. All three are elite hitters. Two are left-handed. All are capable of punishing even the slightest mistake. Against that trio, in that situation, on the road, in a critical game, the odds were not just stacked against Festa; they were practically daring the Twins to blink. What followed played out almost exactly as expected. Festa somehow managed to strike out Ohtani to open the inning, a result that felt more like a gift than a plan. But any luck quickly vanished. Smith, who had already homered off Festa earlier in the game, crushed another one over the wall to give the Dodgers a 4-1 lead. Next came Freeman, who drilled a double to keep the inning going. Only then did Baldelli make the move to the bullpen. By then, the damage was done. What made the decision so baffling was how starkly it contrasted with how the Twins have handled their young starting pitchers all year. From the very beginning of the season, the Twins have made a point to shield their starters, especially the young ones, from facing opposing lineups for the third time. We’ve seen it with Simeon Woods Richardson almost weekly. Festa, too, has been managed carefully. Before last night, he had faced just 18 batters all season for a third time in a game. And yet, in one of the most hostile environments in baseball, against perhaps the best offensive lineup in the league, with two of the three hitters being left-handed, and two of them already having homered off of him, Festa was left in. The decision is even more puzzling when viewed in the broader context of where the Twins are in the season. This current stretch leading up to the trade deadline could determine the entire course of the franchise’s summer. A strong showing might convince the front office to invest in the roster, or at least hold firm. A slump might signal that it’s time to sell. Every game carries added weight right now. Every decision matters just a little bit more. That was certainly how Baldelli went on to manage Tuesday night. This was a time to be bold and proactive. Instead, the Twins stayed passive. They gambled on a young starter surviving a near-impossible situation, and they paid the price. It wasn’t even a matter of necessity. The bullpen was in a good spot. Thanks to a comfortable win Sunday in Colorado, only Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax pitched the day before, and both of them were coming off four full days of rest. The relievers were ready. There was no shortage of arms, no strain on the staff. There was a clear opportunity to go to the pen early and give the team a real chance to claw back into the game. Here's a look at how the bullpen usage was lined up heading into Monday night's game: WED THU FRI SAT SUN TOT Topa 0 0 17 16 0 33 Sands 0 0 22 0 0 22 Misiewicz 0 0 0 21 0 21 Durán 0 0 0 0 16 16 Coulombe 0 0 0 12 0 12 Stewart 0 0 0 9 0 9 Jax 0 0 0 0 8 8 Varland 0 0 0 0 0 0 Yes, the offense struggled again. The Twins only scored two runs on the night. Even if the bullpen had shut the Dodgers down the rest of the way, there’s a good chance the bats wouldn’t have come through. That has been a consistent theme for much of the season. But poor offensive output doesn’t excuse poor pitching decisions. What the Twins had control over was who pitched that sixth inning, and they chose to keep Festa in. It was out of character for this staff. It didn’t align with the data or the matchups. The one way in which the move makes sense, actually, is the one we should consider a bit more deeply. Festa was slotted fourth in the team's rotation coming out of the All-Star break; Woods Richardson was set to pitch fifth. Baldelli and the staff might have wanted to get an extra inning from a starter pitching relatively well, knowing they would need to be proactive with Woods Richardson and go to the pen early Tuesday night. (That, of course, is exactly how it turned out.) If that's the case, though, doesn't it follow that having Festa and Woods Richardson pitch back-to-back (especially against the Dodgers, when they had the available alternative of having one face the lighter-hitting Rockies instead) is an error? Of course, the team doesn't have as many sponges for innings as they'd like to, until Pablo López and Bailey Ober return, and of Woods Richardson, Festa and Zebby Matthews, two have to work on consecutive days at some point. Maybe the team wanted to shield the bullpen, in a game they were already losing, but again, that just highlights the dire straits they're in as a team. Whether this was a one-time misjudgment or a signal of a shift in thinking remains to be seen. What’s clear is that in a critical game, against a juggernaut opponent, with the season tilting toward a defining moment, the Twins veered off course. And it cost them. What do you think? Was Baldelli justified in sticking with Festa, or was this a misstep in a must-win game? Let us know in the comments.