Cody Christie

The Twins weren't expected to make significant moves before Tuesday's trade deadline. However, many believed the club would add to an overworked bullpen and a line-up that has struggled mightily versus left-handed pitching. Instead, the front office will stick with the roster they assembled, which has the highest payroll in team history. Following the trade deadline, the message from the front office was similar to recent weeks. Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said. "We've seen stretches of our performance as a team that we think can go do that. I don't think that there were clear opportunities here that we felt were going to be achievable based on the conversations that we were having that would change that significantly, so I feel like we think this is a good roster. We think this is a good team. We believe in it. We believe in the group that's in the clubhouse." For the Twins to win the AL Central, the team must be more consistent in all facets of the game. Here are five players critical to the team's division title hopes. 5. Joey Gallo, 1B/OF The Twins announced that Alex Kirilloff's shoulder injury will cause him to miss more time, pushing Gallo into a more regular role at first base. Gallo started the season hot but has been arguably the team's worst hitter for most of the season. Since June 1st, he is hitting .153/.231/.378 (.609) while also providing negative defensive value (-2.1 DEF). Gallo's calling cards for his career have been an ability to get on base, hit for power, and provide strong defense. He's failed to deliver in all areas for the Twins, so does he have anything left in the tank for the stretch run? 4. Jovani Moran, RP Caleb Thielbar recently returned from injury, but there are no guarantees when it comes to the performance of a 36-year-old pitcher. Moran has made the third most appearances in the Twins bullpen behind Griffin Jax and Emilio Pagan. Over his last 21 appearances, he has a 7.64 ERA with a 5.60 BB/9. His walk rate is too high, but there are signs that he might be getting unlucky. His 3.61 FIP and 4.34 xFIP are significantly lower than his ERA, and his .354 BABIP is higher than his career average. Moran can upgrade the bullpen if he pitches closer to some of his peripheral numbers. 3. Jhoan Duran, RP Duran has been a revelation over the last two seasons while shifting from a starting pitching prospect to one of baseball's best late-inning relievers. Unfortunately, the Twins tend not to add to their bullpen mix through free agency, which puts added pressure on Duran. His performance has suffered in recent weeks. Since June 1st, he has a 4.43 ERA with 3.54 BB/9 and 25% HR/FB. Duran must perform at his best for the bullpen to succeed. Minnesota didn't add to the bullpen, which will force Rocco Baldelli to use Duran regularly. He will be responsible for some losses down the stretch without his best stuff. 2. Joe Ryan, SP Minnesota's starting pitchers have struggled in the second half, none more so than Ryan. His first half was tremendous, putting him in the conversation for making his first All-Star team. However, he has posted a 5.90 ERA with an .821 opponent's OPS in his last 11 appearances while surrendering 17 home runs. Ryan is part of the team's long-term plans, and he must make adjustments to succeed in the season's final months. Last season, he pitched around 150 innings, and he's approaching 130 innings during the 2023 campaign. The team needs to monitor his performance as he gets closer to a career-high innings total. 1. Byron Buxton, DH Buxton is arguably the most critical player to Minnesota's success. It's seemingly more unlikely for him to step foot in center field this season, but that doesn't make his performance less valuable. Many expected the Twins to add a right-handed bat at the deadline, but an improved Buxton is the easiest way to increase the team's offensive output. Many of the team's struggles against lefties are tied to his streakiness in the batter's box. There have been signs that Buxton's bat is starting to wake up since he returned from paternity leave, including five doubles in three games. Can Buxton stay hot for the remainder of the season and carry the Twins to the playoffs? How would you rank the players that need to improve the most? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.

The Twins announced that the organization’s top prospect Brooks Lee was being promoted to Triple-A St. Paul. Lee, 22, is in his first full professional season after being drafted in 2022. He will be the first player from the first round of the 2022 draft to play at Triple-A. It has been a meteoric rise for one of baseball’s best prospects. Minnesota drafted Brooks Lee in the first round of the 2022 MLB Draft with the eighth overall pick, and the team was thrilled he was still on the board. Lee played three years at Cal Poly because his dad was the head coach and improved his draft stock each year. In his junior year, he hit .357/.462/.664 (1.125) with 25 doubles and 15 home runs in 58 games. He was widely considered the best college bat in his draft class, and the Twins haven’t been afraid to be aggressive with his promotions. Lee made his professional debut nearly one year ago to the day on August 4, 2022. He played four games in the rookie leagues to get his feet wet at the professional level while going 6-for-17 with two doubles. Most of his pro debut was spent at High-A, where he hit .289/.395/.454 (.848) with four doubles and four home runs in 25 games. Wichita was headed to the Texas League playoffs, so the Twins promoted Lee to Double-A for the stretch run. In seven postseason games (three with Cedar Rapids and four with Wichita), Lee hit .400, striking out just twice in 30 at-bats. After participating in big-league spring training, the Twins assigned Lee to Double-A to start the 2023 season. Lee hit .292/.365/.476 (.841) with 11 home runs and 31 doubles. He leads all Double-A hitters with 42 extra-base hits and 31 doubles. He began the season with a 10-game hit streak and had hits in 16 of the 19 April games. During July, his bat really started to heat up as he slashed .365/.433/.600 (1.033) with five doubles and five home runs. Before the promotion, he was amid an eight-game hitting streak. Defensively, the Twins drafted Lee as a shortstop, and he has continued to play the position throughout his professional career. Some evaluators believe he will need to move to third base as he continues to add muscle to his frame. The Twins believe his arm, instincts, and hands are good enough to stick at shortstop for the long term. Minnesota has Carlos Correa playing shortstop, so transitioning to another defensive position is still possible. By many national rankings, Lee is the consensus top Twins prospect, with recently-signed Walker Jenkins also in the discussion. MLB Pipeline ranks Lee as baseball’s 18th-best prospect, while Baseball America ranks him 34th in their most recent rankings. The switch-hitter has as good contact skills as anyone in the minor leagues, which makes him such an intriguing prospect. Some fans might want Lee to be promoted to the Twins during the season’s second half. However, it seems more likely for the team to give Lee a chance to adjust to the Triple-A level. Lee can obviously change that plan with a strong performance in St. Paul, but it’s clear the team thinks highly of him with the way they have promoted him over the last year. What are your opinions on Lee’s performance so far in his professional career? Will he make his big-league debut in 2023? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.

On most national lists, Brooks Lee and Walker Jenkins are the organization's top two prospects, with Emmanuel Rodriguez not far behind. Royce Lewis only recently graduated from prospect status, or he'd also rank near the top of the list. It seems unlikely for the Twins to include any of these young players in a deal unless they are making a blockbuster trade. Jenkins isn't allowed to be traded this soon after the team drafted him. Outside of those players, here's a look at other top Twins prospects that might find themselves in other organizations by the week’s end. Marco Raya, RHP TD Prospect Rank: 4 Raya is arguably the team's top pitching prospect, and he's pitched well up to this point in his professional career. In 2023, he began the season in Cedar Rapids and posted a 2.94 ERA with a 0.92 WHIP and 10.4 K/9. He was over three years younger than the average age of the competition in the Midwest League, making his performance even more impressive. Minnesota continued to be aggressive with him and pushed him to Double-A. In four starts (12 IP), he has allowed 11 earned runs with a 1.33 WHIP. The Twins have been very careful with Raya's innings, and he might only be traded if the team acquires one of the top available trade pieces. Matt Wallner, OF TD Prospect Rank: 5 Wallner destroyed Triple-A pitching in 2023 (.927 OPS) after being the team's Minor League Player of the Year last season. Minnesota kept him in St. Paul even though the club's offense struggled, and he continued to perform well. He's made his way back to the big leagues, but the club has a plethora of left-handed hitting corner outfield options. Minnesota has been fielding calls about their lefties, and it is likely for one of them to be traded from the group that includes Wallner, Trevor Larnach, Joey Gallo, and Max Kepler. David Festa, RHP TD Prospect Rank: 7 Festa was the organization's representative during the 2023 MLB Futures Game after a tremendous 2022 season. Last year, he posted a 2.43 ERA with a 1.09 WHIP and 9.4 K/9 in 103 2/3 innings. In 2023, the Twins sent him to Double-A, and he allowed 37 earned runs over 64 2/3 innings. He is giving up too much contact this season, which is hurting him, but he's posted increased strikeout totals (11.7 K/9). Festa is the type of player this front office might trade since they drafted him late (13th round) and improved his stock over the last three seasons. Austin Martin, IF/OF TD Prospect Rank: 8 Martin is a very intriguing name for the Twins to consider trading. His stock has dropped since the Twins acquired him as part of the Jose Berrios trade, but other teams might continue to see value in his skillset. An elbow injury has limited his 2023 season, and he posted a .576 OPS with the Saints in 18 games. Teams interested in him will want a long look at his medicals before making a deal, so it isn't likely for him to be traded before the deadline. Tanner Schobel, IF TD Prospect Rank: 10 The Twins thought highly of Schobel and drafted him in the second round of the 2022 MLB Draft. During his professional debut, he hit .237/.353/.298 (.651) with five extra-base hits and a 26-to-19 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Minnesota bumped him up to High-A to begin 2023, and his bat responded. In 77 games, he posted an .859 OPS with ten doubles, one triple, and 14 home runs. He's been a threat on the base paths by going 9-for-10 in stolen base attempts. The Twins promoted him to Double-A earlier in July, so he's getting closer to the big leagues. The Twins might want to include him in a deal similar to last year when the team traded Spencer Steer and Christian Encarnacion-Strand after seeing their stock rise. Will the Twins trade any prospects currently ranking in Twins Daily's top 10? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.

Minnesota agreed to a minor league deal with Dallas Keuchel at the end of June. He was coming off of two disastrous seasons where he posted a 6.35 ERA in over 222 innings. Keuchel has never been a flame-throwing lefty, but his average fastball velocity dipped to under 88 mph last season. No teams showed interest in him over the winter, but Keuchel wasn't ready to retire. Instead, he headed to Driveline Baseball and started working on his repertoire. Keuchel added some velocity while also seeing some improvement in his sinker and sweeper during his time at Driveline. With improved results, the Twins hoped that he could show the ability to be a back-of-the-rotation starter or even a bulk-inning reliever. His performance with the Saints has been terrific, and that might leave the Twins with some tough decisions before his opt-out on August 1st. In six starts, Keuchel allowed four earned runs (1.13 ERA) on 28 hits in 32 innings. He posted a 28-to-12 strikeout-to-walk ratio. His numbers have been terrific, and he is likely done pitching in minor-league games. Either the Twins or another big-league team will want Keuchel pitching innings for them in the season's final months. Following his final start, Keuchel said, "I know my opt-out is on Tuesday. Derek (Falvey) and the organization have been very transparent with me. A lot of teams that need help still are figuring out moves in the big leagues. This is a place that I want to be, and I'd still like to be up with Minnesota. I have provided what I needed to do, and shown myself what I am still capable of doing." So, what are the Twins' options with Keuchel before his opt-out deadline? Option 1: Add Keuchel to the Twins' 26-man roster According to reports, the Twins considered trading Kenta Maeda to make room for Keuchel in the team's starting rotation. However, Maeda has recently been the team's best starter, so he forced the team to readjust their plans. Minnesota has two scheduled off days in less than a week, so the club has dropped down to 12 pitchers on the active roster. The Twins can add Keuchel to the 26-man roster following Monday's off-day before the St. Louis series. Keuchel can be added as another long-man in the bullpen, or the club can temporarily switch to a six-man starting rotation, a strategy the front office has considered in 2023. Option 2: Trade Keuchel Another option is to trade Keuchel if the Twins get an appropriate offer or if the team can't find room for him on the 26-man roster. His Triple-A performance indicates that he can be a capable back-of-the-rotation option, and plenty of teams need depth to make it through the second half. Keuchel likely won't bring back a significant return, but he might garner a lower-level minor-league player with potential upside. The Twins are expected to make multiple trades before the deadline so that the club can include Keuchel in a deal. There is also a possibility the club trades another starter, opening a spot for Keuchel at the big-league level. Option 3: Allow Keuchel to Exercise His Opt-Out Allowing Keuchel to leave for nothing is the least likely option for the Twins at this point. Minnesota would only do this if Keuchel drew no trade interest or if they wanted to allow Keuchel to select his next destination. His opt-out aligns nicely with the trade deadline's conclusion, letting him know which contending teams need rotation help. Besides losing him for nothing, the Twins likely want to avoid seeing him jump to a team like the Guardians, which are in direct competition with Minnesota for the AL Central title. Which option is the most likely for the Twins and Keuchel? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.

The Twins made a minor trade over the last week by dealing Jorge Lopez to the Marlins for Dylan Floro. Lopez was one of the front office’s key acquisitions at last year’s deadline, but he struggled with the Twins. For both relievers, it is a chance to reestablish themselves with a new club. One reliever-for-reliever swap hardly moves the needle for the Twins, so here are three bold predictions that have a chance to play out in the coming days. The Twins Trade One Young Left-Handed Bat Rumors have swirled that teams have contacted the Twins about their plethora of big-league caliber left-handed bats, and there are a few directions the club can go regarding a trade. Veterans Joey Gallo and Max Kepler have been regulars in the Twins line-up, but their offensive performance has been up and down throughout the season. Minnesota has overvalued Kepler in recent seasons, so I expect the team to look in a different direction. Matt Wallner and Trevor Larnach have seen sporadic playing time at the big-league level in recent seasons, and both would likely bring back more on the trade market compared to the veteran lefty bats. Trading one of the younger bats might allow the Twins to acquire a player that can help the Twins for multiple seasons instead of dealing with a rental player. The Twins Acquire Josh Hader Minnesota’s front office has mentioned the club is searching for bullpen help, which is a need for every contending club. Hader was dealt at last year’s deadline to the Padres and struggled with a 7.31 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP in 19 appearances after the trade. He’s returned to form this season in Southern California. In 38 innings, he has posted a 0.95 ERA with a 0.95 WHIP and a 58-to-20 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Hader is one of baseball’s best relievers, and the Padres are on the borderline between being buyers and sellers. Acquiring him from San Diego will take a lot, even though he is a two-month rental. FanGraphs predicted the Twins would need to surrender two young pitchers, Marco Raya and Brent Headrick. Is that too steep of a cost? The Twins Trade a Starting Pitcher Minnesota’s starting rotation has carried the team for much of the 2023 season, and other teams have contacted the Twins about some of their starting pitching options. According to the Athletic, the Twins initially considered trading Kenta Maeda to make room for Dallas Keuchel in the rotation. Maeda has been the team’s best starter since the All-Star Break, so their plans have likely shifted to keeping him. Keuchel bypassed his first opt-out with the Twins and has a second opt-out on the same day as the trade deadline. He has a 0.69 ERA in five Triple-A starts with 20 strikeouts and 11 walks. Minnesota could deal either pitcher before the deadline. There has also been plenty of talk about the Twins trading Sonny Gray, but that seems like it would take quite the offer from another contending team. Gray was one of the AL’s best starters in the first half, and the team has a chance to get draft pick compensation through the qualifying offer system if Gray leaves via free agency. The Twins will need Gray in October if they want to end their playoff losing streak, so it seems unlikely for him to be traded in the coming days. Which bold predictions will come true? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.

In 2019, the Twins mashed their way to the home run record by blitzing starting pitchers and compiling substantial offensive numbers. Obviously, there have been multiple changes to the Twins since that season, but one growing issue is the team's inability to hit left-handed pitching. Byron Buxton has been one of the team's most critical right-handed hitters over the last three seasons. Multiple factors have impacted his performance, including knee and back issues that have plagued him in 2023. Let's look back over the last three seasons to see how the team fared against lefties, what right-handed hitters should have been producing, and how Buxton's streakiness tied to the team's output. 2021 Season Only two AL teams had a lower OPS against left-handed pitchers than the Twins during the 2021 season. Minnesota's team OPS was nearly 20 points lower against lefties than righties. Besides Buxton, the Twins had multiple right-handed bats that should have done damage against lefties, including Miguel Sano, Josh Donaldson, Jorge Polanco, and Nelson Cruz. Sano struggled against lefties with an OPS over 100 points lower than his career mark. Donaldson and Cruz destroyed Southpaws as both posted an OPS above .900 in their final season with the Twins. Polanco is better at batting from the left side, but he posted an .803 OPS against lefties. Buxton was limited to 61 games during the 2021 season but still finished second on the team, according to rWAR. He played three total games between May 7th and August 26th. He ended the year with a .997 OPS against left-handed pitchers, but he was unavailable for a large chunk of the season while the team struggled to a last-place finish. Minnesota's overall numbers would look better if injuries hadn't sidelined Buxton for most of the season. 2022 Season Minnesota added Carlos Correa, a powerful right-handed bat, leading into the 2022 season, and the club saw some offensive improvement. Correa started slowly but continued to hit well against lefties and finished the season with a .945 OPS. Jose Miranda compiled substantial numbers during his rookie season and posted a .512 SLG against Southpaws. As a team, the Twins finished with the fifth-lowest OPS against left-handed pitchers while ranking 17th overall in wRC+. Buxton was one of baseball's best hitters in the first half on the way to being selected to his first All-Star Game. He posted an .824 OPS in the first half with 11 doubles, three triples, and 23 home runs. Buxton was also among the team's best hitters against lefties with a .917 OPS in 114 PA. Unfortunately, he was limited to 19 games in the second half while the Twins fell out of contention in the AL Central. 2023 Season Entering the season, the Twins hoped Correa, Buxton, and Miranda would build off their 2022 success to form a trio of lefty killers in the middle of the line-up. Miranda has been ineffective because of a shoulder injury that has bothered him since spring training. Correa and Buxton have also yet to live up to their high expectations. Evaluators expected Correa to be among the AL's leaders in WAR, but he finished a disappointing first half as a candidate for Least Valuable Player. Minnesota has reached a new low against lefties this season, with the non-contending Rockies being the only club with a lower wRC+ and OPS. The Twins shifted Buxton to DH this season in hopes of having him available more regularly. He is on pace to play over 100 games for the second time in his big-league career, but his performance has continued to struggle. He has hit .162/.244/.338 (.582) with seven extra-base hits and a 28-to-9 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 86 PA versus lefties. There have been long stretches where Buxton has looked lost at the plate, and the team's lefty struggles have increased while his bat has gone cold. Do you feel like Buxton's streakiness is to blame? Will the Twins be able to solve their offensive woes against lefties? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.

The Royals already traded Aroldis Chapman to the Texas Rangers to set the reliever trade market. Other reliever options might not be as well known as Chapman, but they can impact important games down the stretch. Minnesota’s late-inning options have been performing well, but other arms can add depth needed during the dog days of summer. Here are some names that non-contending teams will trade before the deadline because they have expiring contracts. David Robertson, RHP Over the last decade and a half, Robertson has been one of baseball’s best relievers. He’s won a World Series and pitched over 45 innings in October. Over the last two seasons, he has rebuilt himself into a late-inning weapon while posting a 2.27 ERA with a 1.10 WHIP and 10.9 K/9. He’s 38 years old and has a lot of October experience, making him an intriguing trade target for every contending team. His price tag might be high, but it’s hard not to dream about the added dimension he’d bring to late-inning scenarios for the Twins. Keynan Middleton, RHP There have been few bright spots for the White Sox this season. However, Middleton has produced solid numbers for a bullpen that has struggled to find consistency. He struggled over the last three seasons with a 5.10 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP across 60 innings. Middleton lowered his ERA to 3.41 while posting an 11.5 K/9, which is over 2.0 K/9 higher than his career average. His acquisition cost will be lower than other pitchers on this list, so the Twins must decide if his performance is a sign of long-term improvement. Jose Cisnero, RHP Cisnero has bounced between three organizations and found a home in Detroit over the last four seasons. Over the last three seasons, he has a 3.20 ERA with a 1.33 WHIP and 9.2 K/9. His 4.7 BB/9 during that time is a little higher than team’s like to see from a reliever. Minnesota wouldn’t likely use him in a late-inning role, but he can add another reliable arm to the middle innings. Last year, the Twins worked out a last-minute deal with Detroit for Michael Fulmer, so keep an eye on Cisnero as an option they might consider if they can’t acquire other names from this list. Jordan Hicks, RHP St. Louis is likely selling before the deadline, but the front office plans to be in contention during the 2024 season. Hicks is one of the few pitchers in baseball that can rival Jhoan Duran in the velocity department with a fastball and a sinker that averages over 100 mph. Unlike Duran, Hicks struggles with command with over 5.0 BB/9 and a 1.50 WHIP. His FIP is nearly 80 points lower than his ERA, so this might point to him being unlucky so far in 2023. Hicks has the pure stuff that can dominate in October, and multiple contenders will be interested in adding him before the deadline. Michael Fulmer, RHP Minnesota acquired Fulmer at last year’s deadline, and he posted a 3.70 ERA in 26 appearances for the club down the stretch last season. The team had an opportunity to re-sign him this winter, but he ended up on the Cubs, where he’d get more late-inning chances. His season started horribly by allowing 18 earned runs in his first 22 innings. Since the calendar turned to June, his performance returned to his old track record. In 22 2/3 innings, Fulmer has a 1.59 ERA while holding batters to a .564 OPS. The real Fulmer is probably somewhere between his performance highs and lows this season. Which trade candidate is the best fit for the Twins? Are there other reliever candidates the team should target? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.

Many evaluators looked at the Twins' 2022 trade deadline with a positive view. Minnesota had clear needs at the deadline, and the team addressed those needs by trading for one of the top available starting pitchers, two late-inning relievers, and a back-up catcher. The Tyler Mahle and Jorge Lopez trades have not fared well over the last calendar year, but that should deter the front office from making other moves in 2023. Entering the 2023 trade deadline, the Twins have multiple directions the team can follow. Some big names have the potential to be available, including Shohei Ohtani, Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado, and Juan Soto. There's no indication the team will be willing to surrender the prospect capital needed to acquire one of those superstars. However, the club can address weaknesses by trading for specific pieces with a lower acquisition cost. The Twins have struggled against left-handed pitching for multiple seasons, so a solid right-handed bat can supplement the team's offense. Minnesota's easiest way to address this weakness is to get better production from the other significant right-handed bats on the roster, including Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton. Many contending teams need bullpen help, and the Twins will likely add at least one reliever before the trade deadline. It will be up to the front office to balance the quality of players being acquired and the prospects the organization will need to surrender. If the Twins want a perfect 2023 trade deadline, these are the players the team should target. Right-Handed Bat: Teoscar Hernandez, Seattle Mariners Multiple teams are on the cusp of being buyers or sellers before the deadline, and the Mariners are part of this group. Minnesota has seen a lot of Seattle recently, so the front office has gotten a close-up look at Hernandez. He destroys left-handed pitching and is a free agent at the season's end. Over the last three seasons, only two players have a higher OPS versus lefties than Hernandez. His defense could be better in the outfield, but the Twins might only need him for specific match-ups down the stretch. Back-Up Option: Hunter Renfroe, Los Angeles Angels Late Inning Bullpen Arm: David Robertson, New York Mets Minnesota hopes to add Caleb Thielbar and Brock Stewart back to the bullpen mix in August, but there are no guarantees with their age and injury histories. Robertson is one of the top available relievers that comes with extensive playoff experience and no signs of slowing down. His cost will be significantly higher than other bullpen options, but he might provide the most considerable potential boost. Relievers on expiring contracts are limited in the amount of innings they can pitch down the stretch. However, the Twins hope to play into October when Robertson can have an even more significant impact. Back-Up Option: Jordan Hicks, St. Louis Cardinals Left-Handed Reliever: Brooks Raley, New York Mets The Mets have multiple relief arms likely to be dealt before the deadline, and in this perfect scenario, the Twins acquire their top two relief arms before the deadline. Raley is under team control through the 2024 season so that he can help the team next season. Over the last two seasons, he has posted a 2.45 ERA with a 1.06 WHIP and a 99-to-30 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 88 1/3 innings. Raley has held left-handed hitters for his career to a .546 OPS with 104 strikeouts and 17 walks in 313 PA. Jovani Moran is the only lefty currently on the active roster, and there is no guarantee that Thielbar will be at 100% before the season's end. The Twins need to add a lefty, especially for crucial match-ups in October. Back-Up Option: Brad Hand, Colorado Rockies How would you plan Minnesota's perfect trade deadline? Do they need to be in the market for one of the big names? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.

The Twins selected Brian Dozier in the eighth round of the 2009 MLB Draft from the University of Southern Mississippi. He played shortstop in college, and the Twins continued to use him at up-the-middle defensive positions throughout his tenure in the organization. Dozier hit for a high average in the minors but failed to hit double-digit home runs in any season. His powerful swing only appeared after he made his big-league debut. Dozier became the poster child for a late bloomer. In seven seasons in Minnesota, he hit .248/.325/.447 (.772) with a 109 OPS+. He made an All-Star team, won a Gold Glove, and averaged 35 home runs from 2015-17. He was a leader on and off the field for the Twins, even though the club struggled through much of his tenure. Like Dozier, another mid-round pick is discovering his powerful swing as he gets closer to the big-league level. The Twins drafted Anthony Prato in the seventh round of the 2019 MLB Draft from the University of Connecticut. In three collegiate seasons, he hit .315/.401/.407 (.808) with 49 extra-base hits in 178 games. He played shortstop throughout college and saw time at second base and outfield during his summer league play. From the Twins' perspective, Prato looked like an experienced player who could play an up-the-middle defensive position with high on-base skills. His power wasn't evident in college, but players that make enough solid contact can add power later in their careers. After signing, Prato made his professional debut in Elizabethton and Cedar Rapids, hitting .268/.373/.357 (.730) with ten extra-base hits in 47 games. Coming out of the pandemic, he played at three different levels, with over half his playing time coming in Fort Myers. In 47 games, he hit .260/.403/.301 (.705) with six doubles. Prato dealt with some injuries that season but continued to show his high on-base skills from his college career. Last season, Prato played in over 50 games for the first time in his professional career, which helped him to set career highs in multiple offensive categories. In 132 games, he hit .285/.383/.444 (.827) with 48 extra-base hits between High- and Double-A. It seemed like Prato was poised to break out in 2023. The Twins sent Prato to Wichita to start the 2023 season, and he struggled to get out of the gate. In 43 games, he hit .171/.305/.248 (.553) with five extra-base hits and a 35-to-20 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Despite his poor performance, the Saints had an infield need, so Prato was promoted to Triple-A. Over the last 28 games, something has clicked for Prato, and he has been one of St. Paul's best hitters. Since being promoted, he has gone 29-for-91 (.319 BA) with ten doubles, six home runs, and a 1.070 OPS. Even Dozier didn't have a breakout performance like Prato at Triple-A. Defensively, Prato is spending the majority of his innings at second base. However, he has played over 75 innings at third base, shortstop, and left field in 2023. Defensive flexibility is a trait many big league clubs value, especially for players with Prato's skillset. Dozier followed a similar defensive path by playing shortstop early in his professional career and started playing other defensive positions when he got closer to Target Field. Dozier debuted with the Twins when he was 25 years old, so it took him time to develop. Prato turned 25 in May and has reached another offensive level with the Saints. There are other second basemen ahead of him on the organizational depth chart, but ignoring his offensive output for the Saints might get tricky. The Twins would love for Prato to develop into the next Dozier, but it seems more likely for him to be a utility player in the near future. Do you think Prato can have a similar career to Dozier? What is his ceiling? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.

Some potential big names on the trade market include Shohei Ohtani, Paul Goldschmidt, Juan Soto, and Pete Alonso. However, there is no guarantee teams will move those players before the trade deadline. Here are five players on expiring contracts with teams out of contention. They will likely come with a lower acquisition cost while helping the team in the final two months. Tommy Pham, OF Pham is a 35-year-old veteran with ten years of big-league experience, including 15 postseason games. He’s in the midst of a career year on an underperforming Mets club. In 73 games, he has hit .274/.359/.479 (.838) with 15 doubles, nine home runs, and a 132 OPS+. He’s posted an OPS above .800 against righties and lefties this season, but he mashes southpaws with an .889 OPS. He has an .847 OPS against lefties for his career, so this isn’t something unique to this season. Pham is a unique personality famously known for punching Joc Pederson over a fantasy football dispute. The Twins might not want someone with his personality upsetting the clubhouse vibe. Hunter Renfroe, OF The Angels must decide if they are buyers or sellers before the end of the month. Renfroe is a likely trade candidate if they sell because of his expiring contract. During the 2023 season, he has hit .244/.301/.441 (.741) with 21 doubles and 15 home runs in 89 games. His OPS this season is 15 points higher against righties than lefties, but that doesn’t follow his career trend. He has an .878 OPS for his career in over 800 at-bats against southpaws. His 2023 season hasn’t been outstanding, but the Twins might be able to utilize him in a platoon role down the stretch. Andrew McCutchen, OF During the winter, some speculation swirled about McCutchen being a good fit for the Twins. McCutchen decided to return to Pittsburgh on a discounted one-year, $5 million deal to finish his career where it began. In 77 games, he has posted a 118 OPS+ with a .782 OPS against lefties. There are a few issues with trying to acquire McCutchen. First, he has been playing nearly all his games as a DH, a position usually occupied by Byron Buxton for the Twins. Second, he might want to avoid being traded at this point in his career. He has never made it past the Division Series round, so a long playoff run might be something he wants to experience before he retires. C.J. Cron, 1B Cron is a familiar name to Twins fans, having played 125 games for the team in 2019 with a 104 OPS+. Since leaving Minnesota, he has hit .263/.336/.493 (.829) with a 115 OPS+ in 357 games. His OPS has dropped over 20 points this season compared to last year, but it has been a decrease in walks with the same slugging percentage. He has an .814 OPS against left-handed pitchers for his career, but this season, that total has dropped by over 70 points. Also, Cron can’t play in the outfield, so the Twins would need to move Kirilloff to a corner outfield spot when CJ Cron was in the lineup at first base. Jeimer Candelario, 3B/1B Candelario might not be a household name, but he could be one of the most sought-after players at the trade deadline. MLB Trade Rumors ranks him as the number two player on their top 50 deadline trade candidates, ranking behind Lucas Giolito. Candelario was non-tendered by the Tigers and signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Nationals. In 89 games, he has hit .259/.334/.485 (.819) with 27 doubles, 15 home runs, and a 127 OPS+. He will come with the highest cost of any player on this list, so the Twins might stay away for that reason. He also is a better hitter from the left side, which isn’t currently a need for the Twins. Which player is the best fit for the Twins before the deadline? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.

Joe Ryan has established himself as an above-average big-league pitcher over the last three seasons, making him Minnesota's most valuable trade asset. Since joining the Twins in 2021, he has pitched 286 innings with a 3.68 ERA, a 1.05 WHIP, and a 312-to-73 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Some might argue that he deserved to be an All-Star in 2023 as he ranked 10th among AL pitchers in fWAR. He improved his split-finger this winter and has utilized it effectively in the first half to add to his projections in the coming years. Many national outlets are starting to compile trade deadline primers, including the value of potential trade assets. FanGraphs compiles a ranking of the top 50 trade assets, which uses ZiPS to project a player's five-year WAR and takes into account contract status, age, and team control. Ryan ranks 45th according to FanGraphs because he is under team control through 2027 and projects for 9.5 WAR over the next five years. Ryan's value comes from the fact that he is a reliable starting pitcher that will come at a bargain price for multiple years. His value is even higher because trading for a starting pitcher comes with the possibility of that player suffering an injury. Unfortunately, Minnesota fell victim to this last year when trading for Tyler Mahle, but not every pitcher has the same risk. Ryan comes with less risk because he can still provide value to a trading team even if he misses most of a season due to injury. FanGraphs said, "What gives Ryan the edge over the crop of rookie starters on the list of honorable mentions? It's the certainty, more or less. Pitchers always have some likelihood of injury, but they also have a likelihood of taking a leap forward into stardom. Ryan marries that potential leap with a high floor; the combination of that and the amount of time you could have him on your team makes him more valuable than you might think." FanGraphs isn't the only outlet that believes in Ryan's high trade value. Baseball Trade Values (BTV) ranks Ryan number one among all assets in the major and minor leagues. According to BTV, Ryan's median value is $78.2 M with a potential high value of $93.8 M. Minnesota's following four highest-ranked players don't come close to the same value as Ryan's. Brooks Lee ($47.6 M), Pablo Lopez ($46.9 M), Bailey Ober ($45.2 M), and Jhoan Duran ($37.8 M) round out the team's top five, according to BTV. Based on this list, it's clear that controllable starting pitching has extreme value in any trade scenario. BTV also tries to identify the availability of players for their simulation models. They consider Ryan and Duran's availability "Low," while the other MLB players rank as "Medium" availability. Lee doesn't get an availability ranking since he is still in the minor leagues. Among these players, Lee is likely the only player with an opportunity to be traded, and that's only if the front office feels like they are getting significant value in return. Minnesota's front office made aggressive moves at last year's deadline to add a frontline starting pitcher, two relievers, and a backup catcher. Few of those deals worked out in the team's favor, but it shouldn't stop Derek Falvey and Thad Levine from making moves in the coming weeks. The Twins were lucky to get Ryan from the Rays for Nelson Cruz's expiring contract, so there is almost a non-zero chance that the club would move him before the trade deadline. He is part of the organization's long-term plans because he has found ways to consistently improve while coming at a low cost for multiple years. Ryan also debuted at age-25, so he can only reach free agency after his age-31 season. The Twins have him under team control for the prime of his career, and there's little chance they are letting him go. Should the Twins consider trading some of their highly valued assets? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.

Defensive metrics have come a long way over the last decade. With Statcast tracking every batted ball, the amount of information available to fans is at an all-time high. One metric the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) developed is the SABR Defensive Index (SDI). According to SABR's website, the SDI "draws on and aggregates two types of existing defensive metrics: those derived from batted ball location-based data and those collected from play-by-play accounts." Since 2013, SDI has been used as part of the process for selecting Gold Glove winners. The rankings below are through games played on July 9, 2023. Pitcher (AL Ranking): Pablo Lopez 1.5 SDI (3rd), Sonny Gray 0.0 SDI (22nd), Joe Ryan -0.8 SDI (31st) Lopez made one of the biggest jumps of any Twins player over the last month. He was the top-ranked Twins pitcher in the initial rankings but ranked 11th in the AL. Since the beginning of June, he has more than doubled his SDI total. Only Zack Greinke (3.7 SDI) and Jose Berrios (2.5 SDI) rank above Lopez. Gray stayed consistent over the last month and increased one spot in the rankings. Ryan is near the bottom of the rankings among qualified pitchers, with Lucas Giolito and Luis Castillo being the only player below him. Lopez had a tremendous month and has a chance to move up the rankings with another strong month. Catcher (AL Ranking): Christian Vazquez 3.2 SDI (5th), Ryan Jeffers 1.6 SDI (8th) Minnesota has arguably the best defensive-catching duo in the American League. Vazquez has been known as a strong defender and ranks in the top five according to SDI, where he finished the 2022 campaign. Since joining the Twins, his framing has improved from the 55th percentile to the 79th percentile. Jeffers has been touted for his framing ability and finished last season ranking in the 64th percentile. He has struggled more in 2023 by ranking in the 27th percentile. First Base (AL Ranking): No Twins Players Qualify The Twins have used multiple players at first base so far in 2023, which means no one has accumulated enough innings to qualify for the SDI leaderboard. In the initial rankings, Joey Gallo ranked sixth with a -0.2 SDI, but he has started playing more outfield, with Alex Kirilloff getting regular reps at first base. Kirilloff has struggled at first base with a -5 DRS and a -4 OAA in over 280 innings. Only three AL first basemen have a positive SDI, and Kirilloff's struggles wouldn't put him in the Gold Glove conversation. Second Base (AL Ranking): No Twins Players Qualify Like first base, the Twins have shuffled through different players at second base. Jorge Polanco is close to returning from injury but has struggled defensively in recent years as age and injuries start to mount. Edouard Julien is considered a below-average defensive second baseman, and other metrics prove that to be true. He has a -5 DRS and OAA in over 240 innings at second. Minnesota refuses to give him time at other defensive positions, so Julien needs to find a way to be passable at second so his bat can stay in the line-up. Third Base (AL Ranking): No Twins Players Qualify Four Twins players have accrued more than 100 innings at third base this season, with Jose Miranda leading the way. In over 300 innings, Miranda has posted a 1 DRS and a -6 OAA, so he wouldn't rank well according to SDI if he qualified for the leaderboard. Royce Lewis had a 1 DRS and a -1 OAA in just under 200 innings before his oblique injury. With Lewis and Miranda on the IL, Kyle Farmer and Willi Castro will see more time at the hot corner. Shortstop (AL Ranking): Carlos Correa 1.1 SDI (7th) Correa made a solid jump in the rankings over the last month by improving by 1.7 SDI and moving from 11th to seventh in the AL. Last season, he started poorly and finished the season with a 1.6 SDI (9th in the AL). He is on pace to finish with a better defensive season, but there is little chance of him catching the players in the top three who have between 9.1 and 4.2 SDI. It's a far cry from the defensive player he was in Houston, but his plantar fasciitis might be impacting his mobility. Left Field (AL Ranking): Willi Castro 1.0 SDI (6th), Joey Gallo -0.1 SDI (8th) He has not been known as a strong defender, but the Twins are getting a career-best season from Castro. With Detroit, he combined for a -1 DRS and a -1 OAA in LF, but he's posted a 3 DRS and a 0 OAA in 2023. Gallo is just a little behind Castro with a 0 DRS and a -1 OAA. Only two qualified AL left fielder rank below Gallo, Oswaldo Cabrera, and Andrew Benintendi. Center Field (AL Ranking): Michael A. Taylor 3.7 SDI (5th) Taylor had a tremendous month of June by accumulating 3.0 SDI and moving up two spots on the AL leaderboard. In his age-32 season, he ranks in the 90th percentile for OAA, and his arm strength is in the 84th percentile. Despite this improvement, many fans have been clamoring for Byron Buxton to return to center field. Twins General Manager Thad Levine recently said that Buxton has been working "behind the scenes" to return to center field. Taylor has been great defensively, but Buxton has the potential to be even better. Right Field (AL Ranking): Max Kepler 1.6 SDI (5th) Kepler was a Gold Glove finalist in 2022 after finishing the season with the second-highest SDI total (6.3 SDI). He posted an elite Outs Above Average ranking in the 97th percentile in 2022. Defensively, he struggled to start the season but improved his OAA from the 67th percentile at the beginning of June to the 84th percentile by the All-Star break. The top AL right fielders have accumulated a 3.3 SDI or higher, so Kepler must continue to play well to move into the top-3. Are you surprised by any of these defensive rankings? Which Twins will be Gold Glove finalists? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.

The team expects each injured player below to return at some point before the season ends. Below is a brief explanation of their injury and an expected timeline for their return. The Twins haven’t been the most reliable at meeting those timelines in the past, but the current medical staff was new at the beginning of the year and can be given the benefit of the doubt. Other injured players that didn’t make the top five include Jose Miranda, Jorge Alcala, and Chris Paddack. 5. Nick Gordon, OF/INF Injury: Right Tibia Fracture Expected Return: September Minnesota needs to improve offensive production from the corner outfield spots, and Gordon was looking to build off a 2022 season where he posted a 110 OPS+ in 136 games. Unfortunately, Gordon struggled out of the gate in 2023 with a .503 OPS in 34 games before fouling a ball off his leg and fracturing his right tibia. He had the cast and brace removed from his leg near the end of June. Gordon has yet to start running but has been working in the weight room. The Twins have other corner outfield options, but the 2022 version of Gordon would assist the offense. 4. Brock Stewart, RP Injury: Right Elbow Soreness Expected Return: August Stewart saved the bullpen earlier in the season when multiple players struggled in late-inning roles. He’s previously dealt with other arm injuries, and the Twins are attributing his latest injury to his increased workload in 2023. In 25 2/3 innings, he posted a 0.70 ERA with a 1.01 WHIP and a 35-to-11 strikeout-to-walk ratio. At the beginning of July, he threw from 90 feet without issue, but he will require a rehab stint before returning to the MLB level. Minnesota will likely be in the market for relief pitching at the trading deadline, especially since Stewart won’t return until August. 3. Caleb Thielbar, RP Injury: Right Oblique Strain Expected Return: August Like Stewart, Thielbar was a critical component of the bullpen in the first half. Oblique injuries are complicated, as he tried to return early this season before reinjuring himself. Over the weekend, he threw a 30-pitch bullpen session and expects to throw another one early this week. His next steps would be to throw live batting practice before starting a rehab assignment. He doesn’t seem likely to return to the roster before the trade deadline, so the Twins will likely be looking for bullpen upgrades. 2. Royce Lewis, 3B Injury: Left Oblique Strain Expected Return: August Lewis has been unable to catch a break regarding staying healthy, a trend that follows many of the team’s recent top prospects. Over the last two seasons, injuries have limited him to 38 big-league games, but he’s posted a 131 OPS+. He is expected to begin baseball activities this week after doing other core work over the last week. He may return to the line-up by early August, but more will be known after the team returns from their current road trip. There’s been some speculation that the Twins might be interested in trading for a third baseman, but it seems more likely for the team to rely on other players with the hope Lewis returns shortly after the deadline. 1. Jorge Polanco, 2B Injury: Left Hamstring Strain Expected Return: Late July Minnesota’s offense has lacked a particular element without infielders like Polanco and Lewis. His return can provide a veteran presence to the line-up, but the Twins will need to find a way for him and Edouard Julien to coexist in the same line-up. Polanco began a rehab assignment on July 16, and he will likely need multiple weeks to ramp up before joining the Twins. In 30 games this season, Polanco has posted a 102 OPS+ with nine doubles and five home runs. If the Twins make the playoffs, the line-up is better, with Polanco playing at full strength. How would you rank the injured Twins players on their importance to the club in the second half? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.