Cody Christie

The Twins have strong defenders at multiple positions across the diamond, and some players have performed well up to this point in the season. So, which players are in the conversation for a Gold Glove? Image courtesy of Jesse Johnson, USA TODAY Sports 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 7th 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. View full article

Ideally, Byron Buxton should be manning centerfield on a daily basis, tracking down balls in the gap, and hitting monster home runs. That scenario has yet to play out in 2023, but the Twins might have a different plan for Buxton in the second half. Image courtesy of Jordan Johnson-USA TODAY Sports Many fans have called for Byron Buxton to return to center field to help an offense that has struggled mightily for most of the season. Michael A. Taylor has provided value to the Twins, but Buxton has been an All-Star caliber player in center. There are a lot of layers to the Buxton situation, and the team might have an updated plan for the season's second half. Initial Plan The Twins announced that Byron Buxton would begin the season as designated hitter near the end of March. Multiple factors influenced this decision, including his off-season knee surgery and the cold weather in the season's early months. No clear timetable was given for his return to the outfield, but many hoped it would be sooner rather than later. "If he could play 162 games in center field, we would have him in center field for 162 games," Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. "Almost no player does that, or no player does that in the entire game. So what's going to help us get the absolute most out of Buck and help us win the most games? I think it's going to be him being in the line-up as much as possible." Buxton has been in the line-up regularly by appearing in over 80% of the team's first-half games. In 73 games, he hit .208/.300/.468 (.736) with 12 doubles, one triple, 15 home runs, and a 101 OPS+. It's his lowest OPS+ total since 2018, and there are higher expectations for offensive performance from the DH position. Adjusting the Plan Buxton's knee has continued to bother him during the 2023 season, which has been evident throughout the season. It takes him time to pick himself up when he slides into a base, or there can be a limp when he sprints to beat out an infield hit. He's clearly not playing at 100%, but the Twins have been able to pencil him into the line-up regularly. Near the end of June, Baldelli made candid remarks about Buxton and his possibility of playing in center field. "At this moment in time, and from the beginning of the year, he has not been physically able to play in the outfield," said Baldelli. "If he was, he would be out there. If we even thought that it was possible that he could play in the outfield right now, he would be out there. But he can't. He can't. He physically can't." Initially, the Twins likely hoped his knee would improve during the season so the club could use him in center field. Unfortunately, there has been little improvement with his knee, and he's also dealt with back issues. According to Baldelli, his knee isn't any worse, but it also isn't getting any better. Second-Half Changes Baldelli was on MLB Network Radio at the end of last week and expressed many of the same thoughts he shared near the end of June. He said, "As of right now, I don't know if Buxton is going take the field anytime soon. The goal is to have him in the line-up every single day." Those opinions follow the company line. Still, Twins General Manager Thad Levine offered some other thoughts during Sunday's episode of Inside Twins with the team's radio announcer Cory Provus. Provus referenced the catch made by Cedric Mullins during the Orioles series. He approached his question from two views saying that the catch might be a catalyst for Buxton to return to center field or if the team might announce that he just isn't going to play in the outfield this season. "Of course, we believe the best version of the Minnesota Twins includes Byron Buxton spending some time in center field, if not a lot of time out there," Levine said. "It's an ongoing conversation… there are a lot of people who are participating in this conversation. The ones who are most central to our dialogue- Nick Paparesta, our head athletic trainer, our strength and conditioning group, and Byron himself." He said, "Behind the scenes right now, we are doing a lot of defensive work, so when that time comes, we don't say we need three weeks to ramp him up. There are some things being done on a daily basis to help position him to be able to go out there when he is ready." There is a glimmer of hope for fans that Buxton will see time in center field in the second half. His continued health is the most significant factor in the decision, but it's hard not to imagine the boost he could give the team the first time he steps into the outfield grass. Will Buxton play center this year? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Minnesota's playoff losing streak is well documented throughout Twins Territory, but fans might have a reason for optimism in 2023. The Twins starting staff might be built for October success. Image courtesy of Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports Major League Baseball's playoff format allows for some unique scenarios to transpire. Some teams are built for the regular season and can compile wins on their way to October. Other teams limp into the playoffs and must find a way to get hot in the season's most important moments. Last season, the Philadelphia Phillies finished with an 87-75 record, which placed them in third place in the AL East. However, the team got hot at the right time and rode their success to a World Series berth. Baseball has an element of luck, and lesser teams can steal series from teams that are perceived to be better. The Twins are a long way from being a lock to make the playoffs, but their pitching staff might have the necessary pieces to end the team's playoff losing streak. Entering play this weekend, FanGraphs projected the Twins had a 62.8% chance to win the AL Central. It seems unlikely for the AL Central to get more than one playoff qualifier, so winning the division is the only path to October. Under the current format, the Twins would host a three-game series at Target Field against the lowest-seeded playoff team if they win the division. There's no question the Twins have been inconsistent through the season's first half, but the club might have built a pitching staff that can be successful in October. Minnesota entered the year with perceived depth in the starting rotation. The team acquired Pablo Lopez in a trade with the Marlins, pushing Bailey Ober and Louie Varland to Triple-A. Eventually, the Twins needed to utilize that depth, with Tyler Mahle undergoing Tommy John surgery and Kenta Maeda missing time with a right triceps strain. Ober has performed well since joining the rotation and looks like a middle-of-the-rotation option for the next decade. Maeda has also returned and performed admirably since coming off the IL. Health will always play a factor late in the season, but the top of the Twins rotation can match up nicely with other playoff contenders. Sonny Gray Gray is heading to his third All-Star Game after a dominating first half. In 99 2/3 innings, he posted a 2.89 ERA with a 1.27 WHIP and a 101-to-39 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He leads the major leagues with a 0.3 HR/9 and ranks fourth in the AL according to fWAR. Health has been critical to Gray's first-half performance, as he is only 20 innings shy of what he pitched last year with the Twins. Minnesota can attempt to organize the rotation for the playoffs, but Gray in the top spot makes sense with his previous playoff experience. Gray is heading toward a decent payday this winter, but he hopes to bring some October success to Minnesota before hitting free agency. Pablo Lopez Fans' view of Lopez is skewed because Luis Arraez has performed well since the trade. He ended the first half ranking among the top-10 pitchers in baseball according to fWAR and became an injury replacement for the All-Star Game. Lopez ranks in the 97th percentile in Chase Rate while also ranking well in Average Exit Velocity (77th), Hard Hit % (69th), xBA (84th), xSLG (80th), BB% (74th), and Whiff% (78th). He would be the top starting pitching option on many teams, including his former club, the Marlins. If Lopez continues to pitch this well, he will match up nicely with any other team's Game 2 starter in the playoffs. Joe Ryan Ryan's final start before the All-Star break didn't go as planned, but he's still been among the AL's best pitchers during the first half. In 18 starts (107 IP), he posted a 3.70 ERA with a 1.01 WHIP and a 124-to-18 strikeout-to-walk ratio. His xBA, xSLG, and Barrel % rank in the 74th percentile or higher, while his BB % and Chase Rate are above the 95 percentile. Ryan has made some clear adjustments this year with a split-finger pitch that has kept batters off balance. Few teams would have a number three starter with those numbers, which can help the Twins, especially in the short Wild Card series. The Twins also have other starting pitching depth if injuries strike either of the top three starters. Ober and Maeda have an opportunity to move up in the rotation. A lot of season remains where the team's starting pitching performance might regress, but the team has an opportunity to contend if they qualify for the postseason. Strong starting pitching can carry a team in October, and the Twins have prioritized pitching this season. What are your impressions of the Twins' rotation at the end of the first half? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

The Twins hoped Carlos Correa would be a staple at the top of the line-up while powering Minnesota into a regular contender. After a disastrous first half, he is among the American League's Least Valuable Players. Image courtesy of Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports Many national outlets will be handing out first-half awards this week, with MLB's All-Star festivities occurring in Seattle. Shohei Ohtani and Ronald Acuna Jr. are the leaders in their respective leagues for the MVP awards, but those aren't the only races to watch. The Athletic's Jayson Stark takes a unique approach and names the contenders for each league's Least Valuable Player. Unfortunately, Carlos Correa is one of the top names on his list. Stark named Jose Abreu the AL's first-half LVP, which is undoubtedly a strong choice. However, Correa might need a more extended look for the top spot. For Stark, the LVP awards "usually come down to what's expected versus what has actually happened." Here's a look at the top names on the list and how their first-half numbers compare to their preseason projections. Carlos Correa, Minnesota Twins Preseason ZiPS Projections: 5.9 fWAR (3rd in the AL), .827 OPS, 137 wRC+ First Half Totals: 1.0 fWAR (50th in the AL), .700 OPS, 94 wRC+ Correa is on pace for career lows in nearly every offensive category. In preseason projections, ZiPS picked him to finish third in the AL in WAR behind Aaron Judge and Jose Ramirez. His current 92 OPS+ is a career low, as he's only had two seasons with an OPS+ below 120. His season can't gain any traction at the plate, especially for a player expected to be among the best in the AL. Correa's plantar fasciitis might be one of the reasons for his poor performance, but the Twins will need a better second-half performance to help the team stay in contention. Jose Abreu, Houston Astros Preseason ZiPS Projections: 2.8 fWAR (61st in the AL), .802 OPS, 129 wRC+ First Half Totals: -0.8 fWAR (70th in the AL), .631 OPS, 74 wRC+ Abreu's first-half numbers are hard to ignore, as age might be catching up to the 36-year-old slugger. He's averaged a 131 OPS+ throughout his career, but he's over 55 points lower than that in the first half. He ranks last among regular first basemen in OPS and park-adjusted OPS+. Even with his poor first half, Abreu is close to where he was supposed to rank in the AL, according to fWAR. He can get closer to his preseason expectations with a solid second half. The same thing can't be said for Correa. Tim Anderson, Chicago White Sox Preseason ZiPS Projections: 2.6 fWAR (69th in the AL), .756 OPS, 114 wRC+ First Half Totals: -0.9 fWAR (71st in the AL), .531 OPS, 46 wRC+ Preseason projections had Chicago in contention with Minnesota and Cleveland for the AL Central title, but little has gone right in the South Side. The White Sox sit in fourth place in the division and are currently 15 games under .500 in arguably baseball's worst division. Anderson has been a spark plug for Chicago's offense in the past, so his poor performance is tied to some of their struggles this season. Like Abreu, his fWAR ranking isn't far from his preseason projections. He can post improved numbers in the second half and remove himself from consideration for this award. Enrique Hernandez, Boston Red Sox Preseason ZiPS Projections: 3.1 fWAR (50th in the AL), .741 OPS, 106 wRC+ First Half Totals: -1.2 fWAR (72nd in the AL), .606 OPS, 63 wRC+ Hernandez ranks at the bottom of the AL among qualified batters according to fWAR, and there have been few signs of improvement. The Red Sox are four games over .500, but they are nine out of first place in the AL East juggernaut. Boston is only two games out of a Wild Card spot, so they must jump at least one team in their division to make the playoffs. If the Red Sox want a second-half turnaround, players like Hernandez must perform closer to expectations. Based on preseason projections, Correa has been the more significant disappointment because he was supposed to be one of the league's best players. Here is how my ballot would look, and feel free to add your ballot in the comments. Cody's AL First-Half LVP Ballot 1. Correa 2. Abreu 3. Hernandez 4. Anderson View full article

Minnesota's starting pitching has been among baseball's best in the first half, but bolstering the bullpen might be necessary at the trade deadline. Here are five players the team can target to add to the relief core. Image courtesy of John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports Last season, the Twins targeted Jorge Lopez on the trade market because he came with multiple years of team control and had performed tremendously well in the first half. He was one of the best available relievers on the market, and the Twins had to give up significant value to acquire him. So far, this trade hasn't worked out in the team's favor, but it shouldn't stop the front office from trying to improve the 2023 squad. Recently, MLB Trade Rumors released their ranking of the top 50 deadline trade candidates. As part of this ranking, they try to balance a player's trade value and the likelihood of that player being dealt. Shohei Ohtani is a pending free agent and could fetch the Angels a king's ransom on the trade market. However, he isn't ranked first on their list because there is no guarantee the Angels will move him. Let's explore five reliever trade options for the Twins. RHP Scott Barlow, Kansas City Royals MLBTR Ranking: 3 Barlow became the top available reliever after the Royals dealt Aroldis Chapman to the Rangers. He is an intriguing option because an acquiring team can control him via arbitration for the 2024 season. Barlow was one of baseball's best relievers in 2021-22, combining for a 2.30 ERA with a 1.10 WHIP and 10.2 K/9. His 2023 numbers could be better, which might be one reason Kansas City wants to move him before the deadline. He has posted a 4.22 ERA with a 1.34 WHIP, but his 3.32 FIP is almost a run lower than his ERA. As the top available reliever, it seems likely for another team to make a more significant offer than Minnesota. RHP David Robertson, New York Mets MLBTR Ranking: 7 The Mets have fallen short of their lofty preseason expectations, so that the club might become sellers before the deadline. Robertson is one of the best relievers of this generation, and he's rediscovered his All-Star former over the last two seasons. In 102 innings, he's posted a 2.21 ERA with a 1.11 WHIP and 11.9 K/9. The Mets have used Robertson as the team's primary closer since Edwin Diaz suffered his knee injury. In his age-38 season, Robertson likely wants another shot at a World Series ring, which won't happen in Queens. He's only under team control through the end of the season, but that might bring down his asking price to one the Twins are willing to pay. LHP Brooks Raley, New York Mets MLBTR Ranking: 15 Raley didn't pitch in the big leagues from 2013 to 2020, but he's rebuilt himself into a reliable option in his mid-30s. Raley is the top-ranked left-handed reliever according to MLBTR, and he's under team control through 2024. Both of these traits make him a more likely trade target for the Twins. His club option for next season is $6.25 million, which is a little high for the Twins' budget. In 2023, he has a 2.35 ERA with a 1.17 WHIP and 10.0 K/9. His 4.01 FIP is significantly higher than his ERA, so this might point to some regression in the second half. He has plenty of late-inning experience and might cost less in prospect capital than the players ranked ahead of him. RHP Jose Cisnero, Detroit Tigers MLBTR Ranking: 28 Cisnero has posted strong numbers over the last three seasons for the Tigers. From 2021-23, he posted a 2.71 ERA with a 1.30 WHIP and 9.1 K/9. He is an impending free agent, and some peripheral numbers indicate an even better performance. His average exit velocity, barrel %, xBA, and xSLG all rank in the 75th percentile or higher. The Tigers are in third place in the AL Central, so there is no guarantee that the team will be sellers at the deadline. RHP Michael Fulmer, Chicago Cubs MLBTR Ranking: 31 Minnesota traded for Fulmer at last year's trade deadline, but he left in free agency last winter. His Cubs tenure started slowly with a 7.84 ERA and an .894 OPS through his first 23 appearances. Over his last 16 appearances, he has only allowed two earned runs while batters have hit .158/.254/.263 (.517) against him. There was some indication the Twins didn't want to bring Fulmer back entering the 2023 season, but their opinion might have changed based on his more recent performance. Which reliever is the best fit for the Twins? Do any of the other relievers on MLBTR's list seem like fits in Minnesota? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

One year ago, Jose Miranda was in the midst of a strong rookie campaign. It made it easier to deal away another third-base prospect, but now that decision looks like a mistake. Image courtesy of David Richard-USA TODAY Sports Entering the 2023 season, the Twins expected Jose Miranda to be part of the club's long-term plans. He was the team's minor league player of the year in 2021 and showed some solid offensive skills in his rookie season. Unfortunately, the season's start couldn't have gone much worse for Miranda. He struggled mightily on both sides of the ball before being demoted to Triple-A. In 35 games, he hit .220/.275/.318 (.593) with four doubles and three home runs. It was a disastrous start for a club lacking offensive production up and down the line-up. Miranda struggled initially following the demotion by going 8-for-54 (.148 BA) without an extra-base hit. It can be easy for players to struggle when demoted, especially with the expectations surrounding Miranda entering the season. However, he started making more consistent contact and drawing a few walks. In his next 26 games, he slashed .308/.378/.467 (.846) with a 17-to-10 strikeout-to-walk ratio. His power numbers were lower than what he produced in the past, but Royce Lewis' injury put him back in the big leagues. Miranda was the only infield option on the 40-man roster, so he gets the next couple of months to prove he can contribute to the Twins this season. Trading away prospects is a complicated endeavor. Some young players can never put it all together at the big-league level, while others obtain instant levels of success. Teams must trade away pieces of value to obtain other players with perceived value. Spencer Steer saw his prospect stock rose significantly last season, but now it's hard for fans not to imagine what he would mean to the Twins line-up. The Twins traded Steer to the Reds at last year's trade deadline as part of the package for Tyler Mahle. He got his feet wet in the big leagues at the end of last season (72 OPS+), but the team thought highly enough of him to hand him the starting third base job in 2023. His season didn't start ideally, but he's figured it out offensively after a slow start. In his first 37 games, he posted a respectable .758 OPS, but over his next 47 games, he combined for a .977 OPS. During that stretch, he is tied for 17th among MLB hitters in fWAR, with Willi Castro being the highest-ranked Twins hitter (54th). Steer has yet to carry the Reds' offense, but his value is impossible to ignore for a club sitting near the top of the NL Central. Miranda recently turned 25, which is when many players either make it or break it. He needs to produce strong offensive numbers to provide the team value because his defensive value is minimal. The Twins have Alex Kirilloff and Byron Buxton penciled in at first base and DH, so Miranda needs to produce enough to stick at the hot corner. Injuries can always change the line-up equation, but Miranda is beginning to have more limited opportunities. Miranda's outlook has changed significantly over the last 12 months, and things aren't going to get easier in the future. Looking to the future, it's hard to see where Miranda fits into the team's long-term plans. Royce Lewis already passed him on the organization's third base depth chart, and Brooks Lee is just a little behind. Miranda must find a way to consistently produce power numbers that make him impossible to keep out of the line-up. Otherwise, the Twins will need to go in a different direction. Steer was an unproven commodity at the time of the trade, and Miranda was thriving at the big-league level. The front office knew Steer had the potential to be a solid performer, but the Twins thought Miranda's production would match Steer's or be even better. The Twins made the decision that looked right at the time by trading from a position of depth for a position of need. Unfortunately, it looks like the team picked the wrong third baseman. What can Miranda do over the next two months to help his long-term value? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

The Twins announced that Royce Lewis would miss at least six weeks with his latest injury. Unfortunately, he is following a disappointing trend with the Twins' top prospects. Image courtesy of Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports There are high expectations for any player taken with the first overall pick. When the Twins selected Royce Lewis in 2017, he immediately rose into the conversation as one of baseball's top prospects and has stayed there throughout his time in the minors. Lewis has shown flashes of being a five-tool talent throughout his professional career, but injuries marred the start of his Twins tenure. Like other top prospects before him, injuries are preventing Lewis from reaching his full potential. Here's a look back at the last five Twins Daily top prospects and how injuries have impacted their careers. Austin Martin, SS/OF TD Top Prospect: 2022 Martin was the top prospect received from the Blue Jays in the Jose Berrios trade. Many evaluators viewed him as the best college bat in his draft class, and Toronto drafted him with a top-five pick. Martin struggled last year at Double-A by hitting .241/.368/.317 (.685) with 14 doubles, three triples, and two home runs in 92 games. Minnesota sent him to the AFL, and he posted a .936 OPS, which pointed to a potential turnaround in 2023. Martin entered spring training with a chance to impress the organization, but his elbow started bothering him, and the team shut him down. He was diagnosed with a UCL sprain, an injury that often leads to Tommy John surgery. Minnesota's medical staff decided to have him rehab to try and avoid surgery. He started rehabbing in early June but left his sixth start after colliding with another player in the outfield. Martin restarted his rehab in the last week, and the Twins promoted him to St. Paul. There is still a chance that he will need Tommy John surgery, but there is also an opportunity for him to help the Twins this season. Alex Kirilloff, OF/1B TD Top Prospect: 2021 Kirilloff was a hitting savant by hitting .322/.380/.520 (.900) in his minor league career. He missed the entire 2017 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He returned strongly and debuted with the Twins in the 2020 playoffs against the Astros. Wrist issues have haunted him throughout his big-league career, culminating in a unique wrist surgery last winter where he had an osteotomy procedure to shorten the ulna bone. The team delayed the start of his 2023 season while he worked his way back from this unique procedure. There have been some positive signs since he returned, with his walk rate increasing and flashes of power. In 52 games with the Twins, he has hit .277/.378/.403 (.781). Fans hoped Kirilloff would be a staple in the middle of the Twins' line-up by this point in his career, but there have been multiple bumps in the road. Royce Lewis, SS/3B TD Top Prospect: 2020, 2019, 2018 Lewis is one of the best prospects to come through the Twins organization since Byron Buxton, which makes his injury history even more frustrating for fans. His last two seasons have been cut short due to ACL surgery, and now he will miss around six weeks with a Grade 2 oblique strain. Lewis returned from his second ACL surgery in late May, providing a unique skill set to the Twins' line-up. In 26 games, he slashed .326/.354/.478 (.832) with four home runs. Last year, he provided similar production when he returned from his first ACL surgery. Lewis has a tremendously high ceiling, but injuries have stopped him from impacting the club long-term. Fernando Romero, RHP TD Top Prospect: 2017 Twins Daily made an aggressive selection at the top of the prospect rankings in 2017 because it looked like Romero had the skills to be a frontline starter. Tommy John surgery impacted his early professional career, and he missed the entire 2015 season. However, he returned strongly and posted a sub-2.00 ERA across 16 starts in 2016. He received national attention with Baseball Prospectus, and MLB Pipeline included him in their top-100 prospect rankings entering the 2018 season. His path to the big leagues ran into some struggles in the upper minors. He played parts of two seasons with the Twins but posted a 5.17 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. In 2021 and 2022, he played in Japan before appearing in the Angels organization this season. There were high hopes that Romero could join Jose Berrios at the top of the Twins' rotation, but that dream never became a reality. Byron Buxton, OF/DH TD Top Prospect: 2016 A novel could be written about how injuries have impacted Buxton throughout his career. However, there have been flashes of brilliance when the Twins find a way to keep him on the field. There has only been one season where he played over 100 games, so the Twins decided on a new approach for the 2023 campaign. His knee continues to be an issue, so the club moved him to a full-time DH role. A healthy version of Buxton is one of baseball's top players with his five-tool talent on both sides of the ball. Earlier this season, I argued that Buxton didn't live up to his prospect hype. However, only some players considered baseball's best prospects can become perennial MVP candidates. Injuries will define Buxton's career, and fans are left wondering what might have been. The names listed above are recent examples of top prospects struggling with injuries. Going further back, players like Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, Francisco Liriano and Jason Kubel were prospects that suffered injuries in the early part of their careers that didn't give them a clear runway at the big-league level. It's an unfortunate trend and one the team can hope to avoid with the next generation of top prospects. What are your impressions of this disappointing trend for the Twins' top prospects? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Many national outlets took notice of Emmanuel Rodriguez during his breakout 2022 campaign. Don’t look now, but he might be on the cusp of an even better season in 2023. Image courtesy of Steve Buhr, Twins Daily The Twins signed Emmanuel Rodriguez during the 2019 international signing period for $2.5 million. At the time, MLB.com called him the “next Eddie Rosario,” which may have conjured up some mixed feelings for Minnesota fans. As a 16-year-old, Rodriguez showcased many skills that were comparable to Eddie Rosario . His powerful swing could spray the ball around the field, and he had a strong outfield arm. He was considered one of the top international players during his signing period, and the Twins hoped his advanced approach would help him during his professional debut. Unfortunately, the pandemic meant he didn’t debut until the 2021 season in the FCL. In 37 games, he hit .214/.346/.524 (.870) with five doubles, two triples, and ten home runs. His 23 walks helped improve his overall on-base percentage, and he went 9-for-13 in stolen base opportunities. His biggest issue was that he struck out 56 times in 126 at-bats, which was more swing-and-miss than an organization wants from a young player. It was a decent debut, but he hadn’t placed himself among the team’s top prospects. Minnesota sent Rodriguez to the Florida State League in 2022, where he was over two years younger than the average age of the competition. In 47 games, he hit .272/.493/.552 (1.044) with five doubles, three triples, and nine home runs. He continued to show an advanced approach at the plate and drew more walks (57) than strikeouts (52). His numbers are even more impressive because he only faced younger pitchers in four plate appearances for the season. His season was cut short when he tore the meniscus in his right knee while sliding into a base. It was a disappointing end to a season that put him in the conversation as a top prospect. Entering the 2023 season, Emmanuel Rodriguez was among baseball’s Top-100 prospects, according to the three major national outlets. Baseball Prospectus (42nd) and Baseball America (46th) had him among the Top 50, while MLB.com ranked him 88th overall. At Twins Daily, Rodriguez ranked as the third-best prospect in the Twins organization behind Brooks Lee and Royce Lewis. Different outlets value certain traits when it comes to ranking minor league players. Some prefer a player who has proven himself in the upper levels of the minors, and others prefer to consider a player’s overall ceiling. Clearly, Rodriguez was a player that evaluators would watch closely throughout the 2023 campaign. Rodriguez had an interesting start to the season with Cedar Rapids. In his first seven games, he went 5-for-27 (.185 BA) with 17 strikeouts in 34 plate appearances. All five of his hits went for extra bases, including three home runs which resulted in a .953 OPS. He was placed on the Injured List (IL) with a strained left abdomen and didn’t appear in a game from April 15th to May 6th. There were struggles at the plate when he returned from the IL. In 20 games during May, he posted a .572 OPS with three extra-base hits and a 30-to-17 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Core muscle injuries can linger, which might have been one reason for Rodriguez’s struggles. Rodriguez began to find his offensive stroke as the calendar flipped to June. In the month's first 20 games, he hit .315/.452/.589 (1.041) with three doubles, one triple, and five home runs. He posted a significantly improved 19-to-19 strikeout-to-walk ratio while being a perfect six-for-six in stolen base attempts. The Kernels continue to use him in center field regularly, but he has also made four starts in right field for the first time in his professional career. Even with time on the IL, he has played in more games than any other professional season, and he’s started to showcase all five tools. Royce Lewis recently graduatd from prospect eligibility, putting Rodriguez in the conversation as the organization’s top prospect. Rodriguez must prove that his hot hitting in June is not a fluke and that he can continue to thrive while facing older pitching. By season’s end, he has an opportunity to be among baseball’s Top 25 prospects, but there is still work to be done in 2023. What impressions do you have regarding Emmanuel Rodriguez over the last two seasons? Would you rank him as the organization’s top overall prospect? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Relief pitching is critical for any team to have consistent success. Here are June's top relief pitcher performances in the Twins' farm system. Image courtesy of Rob Thompson, St. Paul Saints One appearance can wreak havoc on a reliever's numbers for any given month. In the Twins system, some relievers continue to appear on the monthly award list—those players with the potential to have a long-term impact on the big-league club. Let's dive into some honorable mentions before we reveal this month's winner. RHP Oliver Ortega, St. Paul Saints Ortega joined the big-league club to end the month, but he compiled some strong numbers to start the month at Triple-A. He allowed four earned runs in six appearances (10 IP) and posted a 15-to-2 strikeout-to-walk ratio. RHP, Alex Scherff, Wichita Wind Surge Scherff made appearances in June for the organization's two highest affiliates. He posted a 2.84 ERA with a 1.50 WHIP with 17 strikeouts and ten walks in 12 2/3 innings. RHP Miguel Rodriguez, Cedar Rapids Kernels Batters went 5-for-29 (.172 BA) with seven strikeouts against Rodriguez in June. He didn't allow an earned run in eight innings and was credited with four saves. His innings were limited compared to others on this list. Now onto the top five: 5. RHP Alejandro Hidalgo, High-A Cedar Rapids Kernels, 10 1/3 IP, 28.6 K%, 2.61 ERA, 0.97 WHIP The Twins acquired Hidalgo from the Angels for Gio Urshela this winter. He began the season as a starter at Cedar Rapids, but the club has moved him into a bullpen role, where he has been more successful. He pitched two innings or more in every appearance for the month and allowed one earned run or fewer in three of his four outings. Hidalgo had a dominant relief appearance on June 8th when he struck out six of the 11 batters he faced over three innings. He's faced older batters in all but seven plate appearances this year, so there is time for him to continue to build off his successful month. 4. RHP Eduardo Soriano, DSL Twins- 15 1/3 IP, 30.8 K%, 2.35 ERA, 1.24 WHIP Soriano is in his third summer in the DSL, so he is over a year older than the average age of the competition at his level. He has yet to start a game but is pitching a starter's workload with three innings or more in every appearance. In his first three appearances (11 IP), he limited batters to one earned run on seven hits while striking out 19 batters. As part of this strong stretch, he pitched five shutout innings with 11 strikeouts. His final appearance of the month was his most challenging as he struggled with his command and allowed a season-high four walks. Will the Twins bring Soriano to the FCL Twins if he continues to pitch well? 3. RHP John Stankiewicz, Cedar Rapids Kernels- 13 1/3 IP, 25.0 K%, 2.03 ERA, 1.05 WHIP Following a poor month of April, Stankiewicz has been one of the best relievers in the Twins organization, including winning the TD Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Month in May. His June numbers looked even better before allowing three earned runs over his final five innings. He pitched two innings or more in all but one June appearance. In his first four appearances during the month, he pitched 8 1/3 scoreless with 12 strikeouts and one walk. On June 10th, he started a game for Cedar Rapids and pitched into the fourth inning without allowing a hit and striking out six. It's his first full season as a reliever, so it will be interesting to see if the Twins promote him in the second half. 2. RHP A.J. Labas, Fort Myers Mighty Mussels/Cedar Rapids Kernels- 13 IP, 36.2 K%, 2.08 ERA, 0.69 WHIP Labas entered June with a 6.62 ERA for the season after allowing 13 earned runs in his first 17 2/3 innings. He reeled off eight straight scoreless appearances to start the month, including three saves. His last appearance in Fort Myers was his worst, as he allowed three earned runs on three hits in 2/3rds of an inning while taking the loss. The Twins felt his overall stretch of strong appearances still warranted a promotion, and he made his first High-A appearance to end the month. With his college experience, Labas has been older than the average age of the competition at every professional level. Now fans can watch his performance and hope his recent hot stretch is a sign of good things to come. 1. LHP Kody Funderburk, St. Paul Saints - 12 1/3 IP, 38.5 K%, 2.92 ERA, 1.14 WHIP Funderburk ended the month of June on a high note at Triple-A. In his final seven appearances, he allowed one earned run on five hits over 8 1/3 innings. He posted a 14-to-2 strikeout-to-walk ratio during that stretch while holding batters to a .167/.242/.300 (.542) slash line. He pitched more than one inning in five consecutive appearances and even made a start as part of a bullpen game earlier in the month. For the season, he has posted a 13.6 K/9 between Double- and Triple-A. Funderburk has been a successful reliever in the upper minors over the last two seasons, and his big-league opportunity is on the horizon. What are your thoughts on the relief pitching performances in the Twins' minor leagues in June? How would you rank these pitchers? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

In recent weeks, many of the Twins' minor league affiliates passed the midway point in their season. Let's look back at the best starting pitching performances down on the farm during June. Image courtesy of Jean Pfiefer (aka, go4twinkies on Instagram) It was a rough pitching month for starters in the upper levels of the Twins system. Minnesota has needed to dig into Triple-A depth which can impact other levels too. However, some players are compiling numbers that will put them in the conversation to start showing up on top-30 prospect lists for the Twins. Let's dive into some honorable mentions before we reveal this month's winner. RHP Kyle Jones, Cedar Rapids Kernels Jones was limited to three starts in June but limited batters to a .216 BA. In 10 innings, he allowed two earned runs on six hits with 14 strikeouts and six walks. He allowed his first two home runs of the year in one June start; otherwise, his numbers would look even better. RHP Jack Noble, FCL Twins Noble is over two years older than the average age of the competition in the FCL, but he compiled some strong numbers in June. He averaged over five innings per start with an 11.5 K/9. Noble held opponents to a .543 OPS with only one extra-base hit against him. He was promoted to Fort Myers at the end of the month. Now onto the top five: 5. LHP Christian MacLeod, High-A Cedar Rapids Kernels, 17 IP, 26.7 K%, 2.12 ERA, 1.47 WHIP MacLeod has fared well since being promoted to High-A at the end of May. In four starts (17 IP), he posted a 2.12 ERA with a 1.47 WHIP and a 20-to-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He allowed one earned run in every appearance for the month and never allowed more than five hits. His best appearance for the month was an outing where he didn't start. Marco Raya started the game on June 9th and pitched four innings before giving way to MacLeod. He pitched the final five innings, allowing one earned run on four hits with nine strikeouts. MacLeod is slightly younger than the average age of the competition in the Midwest League, so it will be interesting to see what kind of numbers he can compile as he gets more comfortable at that level. 4. RHP Miguel Cordero, DSL Twins- 11 2/3 IP, 40.4 K%, 2.31 ERA, 1.11 WHIP Cordero is in his age-16 season, but he started strongly in his professional debut. He posted a 2.31 ERA in three starts with a 1.14 WHIP and 19 strikeouts over 11 2/3 innings. His first professional start is where batters did all the damage against him. In 3 2/3 innings, he allowed three earned runs on six hits with five strikeouts. In his other two starts, he has been nearly unhittable. Over eight shutout innings, he surrendered one hit and struck out 14 batters. Opponents are hitting .171/.277/.268 (.545) while striking out over 40% of the time. It's been a dominant start to his professional career, and he might be a player to watch in the coming years. 3. RHP Andrew Morris, Fort Myers Mighty Mussels- 23 1/3 IP, 22.8 K%, 1.93 ERA, 0.90 WHIP The Twins took Morris with their fourth-round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, and he only pitched one inning during his professional debut. His 2023 season started slowly as he spent time on the IL with right bicep tendonitis and had mixed results on the field. Morris allowed an OPS above .800 in the season's first two months (three appearances) but lowered that to .527 during June. In five starts (23 1/3 innings), he posted a 1.93 ERA with a 21-to-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He is over a year younger than the average age of the competition in the FSL but has faced younger batters in over 60% of his plate appearances. Morris would likely have been the top pitcher on this list in other months because of his accumulated numbers. 2. RHP C.J. Culpepper, Fort Myers Mighty Mussels- 20 IP, 32.0 K%, 1.35 ERA, 0.95 WHIP Culpepper was the runner-up for this honor after four tremendous starts in Fort Myers. He's also been among the top-performing starting pitchers in the entire Twins system during the first half. Over 20 innings, he posted a 1.35 ERA with a 0.95 WHIP while averaging six strikeouts per appearance. Batters hit .177/.253/.265 (.518) against him, and he's held opponents to a .523 OPS or lower in every month of the season. Culpepper averaged a 62-game score across his four appearances, including two games with a 70 or higher. Minnesota can leave him in Fort Myers for the entire season, but it wouldn't be surprising for him to get a promotion at some point in the second half. 1. RHP Cory Lewis, Fort Myers Mighty Mussels/Cedar Rapids Kernels - 15 2/3 IP, 33.9 K%, 0.57 ERA, 0.96 WHIP The Twins promoted Lewis from Fort Myers to Cedar Rapids earlier in June, and he had no trouble adjusting to the higher level of competition. In his first start, he pitched five shutout innings with eight strikeouts while limiting Daytona to three hits. Six days later, he continued his strikeout barrage with nine strikeouts over five frames. He had 15 or more swinging strikes in each of those two starts. In his final start of the month, he pitched five innings and allowed no earned runs on three hits. Batters hit .146/.242/.182 (.424) against him for the month, his second straight month with an OPS below .500. He has yet to allow a batting average above .200 in any month, and he has one of the best strikeout-to-walk rates in the farm system. For the season, he has faced younger batters the majority of the time, but that will likely change as he pitches more innings in High-A. What are your thoughts on the starting pitching performances in the Twins' minor leagues in June? How would you rank these pitchers? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Nearly one year ago, Byron Buxton was the starting center fielder for the American League in the All-Star Game. A lot has changed in the last 365 days for Minnesota's superstar player. Image courtesy of Jayne Kamin-Oncea and Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports Byron Buxton must have been riding high entering the 2022 season after signing a seven-year, $100 million contract extension with the Twins. He knew that the Twin Cities would be his home for most of his professional career, and his family could establish roots in the community. Buxton was comfortable with the organization, and a healthy start to the year proved how valuable he could be to the Twins. Buxton compiled strong first-half numbers to put himself in the conversation for making his first All-Star Game. In 73 games, he hit .216/.293/.531 (.824) with 11 doubles, three triples, and 23 home runs. Some ups and downs were mixed into that performance, but he headed to Los Angeles for the Midsummer Classic. Eventually, he was named a starter because Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout was scratched with a back injury. Buxton hit a go-ahead home run for the American League, and it seemed like Buxton was at a high point in his career. Buxton's second half didn't go nearly as well as his first half. A knee injury that started bothering him in the first half continued to be a problem and limited his playing time. He only played 19 more games after the All-Star break, and his season ended in August. His 92 games played tied for the second-most in his career, but it's hard not to look at his second half with some disappointment. Buxton wasn't the only player hit by the injury bug, but the Twins lost the division lead in the second half and ended the season on a sour note. Buxton had season-ending arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in September to clean up an issue that had bothered him for most of the 2022 campaign. Derek Falvey told reporters that expectations for his recovery time to be only a few weeks and that he should be ready for the start of spring training. Unfortunately, Buxton's knee still wasn't 100% as spring training opened, so the Twins had to adjust their plans for the 2023 season. There has been plenty of discussion about the team's decision to move Buxton to full-time DH. During spring training, the club made the move to ensure Buxton could play on a more regular basis. There was likely hope that Buxton could return to center field later in the season, but there were no guarantees. In the season's first month, it looked like the strategy worked as Buxton hit .258/.324/.557 (.881) with six doubles, one triple, and seven home runs. Much like the 2022 season, it was a hot start that injuries would impact later in the year. Since the calendar turned to May, Buxton has been in an offensive slump while dealing with knee issues, back soreness, and missed time when a pitch hit him in the ribs. In 39 games, he has hit .172/.289/.373 (.662) with 13 extra-base hits and a 48-to-19 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli and Buxton both spoke candidly during the last homestand about Buxton's injury concerns this season. Some fans have pushed for Buxton to be playing center field, but the team doesn't believe his body would hold up to the daily grind associated with one of baseball's most demanding defensive positions. They hope he can play center field again, but it seems unlikely in the short term. The last year has been rough for Buxton, and much of the Twins' on-field success ties to his high performance. Injuries will continue to be a part of the equation with Buxton, so the team will continue to adjust their plan for keeping him on the field. Here's hoping the next 365 days go better for Buxton. What are your thoughts on Byron Buxton's last 365 days? Will he play center field again? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Marco Raya had a breakout season in 2022 at Low-A and ranked among the top pitching prospects in the Twins organization. Now in his age-20 season, he is looking to redefine himself as he climbs the organizational ladder. Image courtesy of McKenzie Short, Cedar Rapids Kernels The Twins drafted Marco Raya in the fourth round of the 2020 MLB Draft out of high school in Texas. It was a strange draft year with limited rounds and no ability to scout players in the weeks leading into the draft. A player like Raya might have gained more steam with a strong spring season, but the Twins were happy to have him still available with the club’s penultimate pick. Drafting and developing high school pitchers can take patience, but the Twins might have a potential top-of-the-rotation pitcher in Raya. Minnesota pushed back Raya’s professional debut until the 2022 season because of a shoulder strain. Minnesota was still aggressive with him by sending him to Low-A, where he was three years younger than the average age of the competition in the FSL. It was also important to limit his innings because of the previous year’s shoulder issues, but he showed plenty of upside in his 65 innings. In 19 appearances (17 starts), he posted a 3.05 ERA with a 1.08 WHIP and a 76-to-23 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He faced older batters in 82.5% of his plate appearances and solidified himself as one of the team’s top starting pitching prospects. Following the season, Raya’s prospect stock was rising. Baseball Prospectus was the only national outlet to rank Raya among baseball’s Top 100 prospects, ranking him 53rd overall. At Twins Daily, he ranked as the fourth-best Twins prospect, ranking higher than any other pitcher. It was a meteoric rise for a player with fewer than 70 innings pitched in his professional career, but there were reasons to be excited about Raya entering the 2023 campaign. There were a few hiccups in Raya’s first two starts of the season. He allowed five earned runs on four hits over 5 2/3 innings, with opponents posting a .939 OPS against him. Raya ran off seven straight starts from there, allowing one earned run or less. In 22 innings, he posted a 1.23 ERA with a 27-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The Twins continue to limit his innings as he has yet to pitch more than four innings or throw more than 54 pitches. Raya continues to improve his whiff rate and strikeout percentage. Raya’s elite-level spin rates on his two best pitches have helped him miss a lot of bats to this point in his career. His fastball can reach the upper-90s, and the high spin rate makes it a tough pitch for batters to make consistent contact. His slider sits in the low-80s and is his best secondary pitch. He typically features a four-pitch mix, but he continues to develop his curveball and changeup. Raya can throw all four pitches for strikes and is at his best when he pounds the strike zone and avoids walks. Marco Raya is an undersized player who MiLB.com lists at 6-foot-1 and 170 pounds. There is also some concern because the Twins have limited his workload because of his early career injury concerns. Minnesota has seen success from undersized pitchers, including Jose Berrios pitching at an All-Star level for multiple seasons. Raya’s future as a starting pitcher is tied to his ability to improve secondary pitches and increase his workload. He doesn’t turn 21 until August, so he has plenty of time to continue developing in the Twins system. According to MLB.com, the front office has “fielded plenty of calls from other teams asking about Raya.” That might be one of the team’s best signs to keep him long-term. How do you view Raya’s start to the season? What is his ceiling? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Every team makes bad trades, but some trades look even worse in retrospect. Here is a ranking of the five worst trades made by the current front office. Image courtesy of Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports MLB’s 2023 Trade Deadline is scheduled for August 1st, and the Twins will likely need to add pieces to keep themselves in contention. Before the deadline, looking at previous years and how this front office has approached the trading process is critical. This series will look at some of the best and worst trades made by the current front office. 5. Luis Arraez for Pablo Lopez, Jose Salas, and Byron Chourio Trade Date: January 20th, 2023 Many fans may view the Arraez for Lopez swap as a bad deal because of Arraez’s start to his Marlins tenure. However, the Twins wanted more starting pitching depth, and the Marlins wanted a hitter. Salas was the top prospect acquired by the Twins, and he started slowly in 2023. There is still time for the Twins to gain value from the Lopez-Arraez swap, but it’s hard not to imagine what Arraez could mean to Minnesota’s offense, which has struggled to make consistent contact. 4. Prelander Berroa, Kai-Wei Teng, and Jaylin Davis for Sam Dyson Trade Date: July 31st, 2019 Dyson was Minnesota’s key bullpen acquisition at the 2019 trade deadline, but poor performance and injury marred his Twins tenure. In 12 appearances (11 1/3 innings), he allowed nine earned runs with a 1.77 WHIP and 2.4 HR/9. Dyson eventually revealed that he had been pitching with some discomfort, and the Twins investigated what the Giants knew about the injury before the trade. There was no evidence that San Francisco had any knowledge of an injury. Dyson hasn’t pitched since his last appearance for the Twins, and MLB suspended him for the entire 2021 season for violating the league’s domestic violence policy. Overall, it was a bad trade from start to finish for the Twins. 3. Juan Nunez, Cade Povich, Juan Rojas, and Yennier Cano for Jorge Lopez Trade Date: August 2, 2022 Last season, Lopez was an All-Star in his first year as a reliever, and he was supposed to be the missing piece from the Twins’ bullpen. Following the trade, he posted a 4.37 ERA with a 1.63 WHIP and an 18-to-14 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 22 2/3 innings. His 2023 season started strongly as he didn’t allow an earned run in the first month, but his on-field performance declined in recent weeks, and the team put him on the IL to work on his mental health. Yennier Cano has been one of the AL’s best relievers this season, while Cade Povich has pitched well and is on the cusp of making his big-league debut. This trade has looked bad so far and might only look worse in the future. 2. Taylor Rogers and Brent Rooker for Chris Paddack, Emilio Pagan, and Brayan Medina Trade Date: April 7th, 2022 The timing of this trade will always be questionable. On the eve of Opening Day, the Twins shipped out their best late-inning reliever to the Padres in a five-person trade. Rogers was entering his final year of team control, and there was some value in the return package. Chris Paddack pitched well in five starts for the Twins, but he eventually needed Tommy John surgery. Emilio Pagan has been one of baseball’s worst relievers since the trade while posting a -1.60 WPA. Rogers and Rooker provided little value to the Padres, but it will always seem odd that the club made this move close to Opening Day. 1. Spencer Steer, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, and Steve Hajjar for Tyler Mahle Trade Date: August 2nd, 2022 Interestingly, one of Minnesota’s best trades has been with the Reds organization, and their worst trade has been with the same club. Evaluating players is tough, and the Twins knew they were surrendering significant value to acquire a top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher. Mahle struggled to stay healthy and was limited to nine starts with the Twins. He underwent Tommy John surgery earlier this summer. Spencer Steer started slowly for the Reds but has turned a corner and looks like an above-average big leaguer. Christian Encarnacion-Strand has been dominating Triple-A pitching and is on pace to make his debut later this season. This trade will only look worse in the coming years. Check out the Twins Daily forums for more trade discussion from the current front office. How would you rank the above-listed trades? Would you have different trades on the list? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article