We're heading toward the trade deadline and things are not going well, to put it mildly. Where does everyone think we'll be on August 1 and how will we get there? My view is that we should be playing for 2026 and beyond at this point. The current iteration of this team is unlikely to make the playoffs and very unlikely to do anything if they sneak into the postseason. We're also not trading for an impact vet with the team up for sale. I say we pivot to see what we have by trading vets for prospects and giving opportunity to others. Here are the steps:
Trade for Prospects - Castro, Paddack, Bader, Coulombe, and France. The return won't be great except maybe for the first two, but none of these guys are part of the 2026 team. I would try to re-sign Castro but I don't think he'll sign on the cusp of free agency and it's hard to commit to future payroll with the team up for sale. All of the trades are for prospects and I want as much quality as possible so I trade for better guys farther away if we can. None of the prospects we get are on the MLB roster until at least 2026. You could also substitute Stewart for Coulombe but we need to keep one and trade one.
DFA/Use as Trade Add-Ons - Clemens, Wentz, Vasquez, Keirsey (or send him back to AAA). I don't think any team will want these guys but who knows, they might go as part of a package with one of the guys above. Catching is always hard to find so maybe some one will a want or need a catcher badly enough to give up something for Vasquez? Ahhh, probably not.
Players back from Il - Matthews, Keaschall. Both are supposed to return in July so I assume they will do so, have their rehab at AAA and be back with the Twins.
Up From AAA - Noah Cardenas (C), Travis Adams (RP/long man), Austin Martin (OF), Emmanuel Rodriguez (CF), Anthony Prato (UTL), Pierson Ohl (RP). This is pretty much all we got at AAA. Miranda isn't hitting at all, Fitzgerald is 31 and not in our long term plans, and we saw what the team thinks of McCusker. I added Emma because he plays CF but could see McCusker with Martin the backup CF. It's not great if Buxton goes done but we're totally screwed for the year if Buxton goes down any way. I thought about Eeles for the UTL spot but went with Prato because he plays SS and Eeles doesn't. Besides Prato just turned 27 and if he's going to make the Show, now is the time. Eeles is only 25 and just came back from injury.
Lineup on August 1 going forward:
Keaschall - 1B
Buxton - CF
Larnach or Wallner - RF/LF/DH
Lewis - 3B
Correa - SS
Lee - 2B
Wallner or Larnach - RF/DH
Jeffers or Cardenas - C
Martin/Rodriguez - DH/OF
Bench (all play 2-3 days a week) - Julien (1B/2B), Jeffers/Cardenas (C), Martin/Rodriguez (OF), Prato (SS/3B).
Starting Pitchers:
Ryan
Ober
Matthews
Festa
SWR
Lopez takes over for whoever is injured or not performing when he comes back. If all are healthy and performing, low man goes to the bullpen.
Bullpen:
Duran (closer)
Jax (high leverage/8th inning)
Varland (high leverage/7th inning)
Topa
Stewart
Adams
Sands
Ohl
Funderburk
Is this a great roster? Nope. Is this as good or maybe better than what we have now? maybe. Does this have a better chance of setting us up for 20026 and beyond while hopefully replenishing the farm? Absolutely. Let's find out what we got. This is the way to do it, IMHO.
What do you guys think?
