Josh Bell doesn’t sound like a player who wants to see the Minnesota Twins torn down at the trade deadline.
He sounds like someone who thinks they’re close enough to keep pushing.
Bell said on Foul Territory that the clubhouse has no interest in reliving last year’s deadline, when Minnesota’s roster was broken up and the room felt it. This time, the Twins are trying to prove they should stay together. Entering Tuesday at 53-54 and just one game out of the final American League wild-card spot, they have the record to make that argument feel real.
Bell has been part of why that case has some weight. The 33-year-old switch-hitter has settled into the middle of the lineup with a .243 average, 13 home runs, 23 doubles and 62 RBIs, while also serving as a veteran presence in a younger group.
He talked about that responsibility in spring training.
“I’ve had a few more reps than other people in this clubhouse," he said.
For Bell, that role starts with straight talk and showing up the right way every day, not by trying to deliver speeches. That kind of leadership matters, but his optimism also comes from what he sees around him.
Byron Buxton still drives the offense, and Brooks Lee, Ryan Jeffers, Trevor Larnach, Royce Lewis and Luke Keaschall give Minnesota enough depth to absorb the usual injuries and slumps. The Twins came into Tuesday leading the American League with 511 runs, which says plenty about how dangerous this lineup can be even if the standings haven’t fully caught up.
The real concern is the bullpen.
Minnesota relievers have posted a 5.03 ERA and 1.52 WHIP while going 30-for-42 in save chances. Andrew Morris and Yoendrys Gómez have helped steady things late, and Tommy Nance gives them another arm to lean on, but the group still doesn’t have enough dependable options to lock down leads over the stretch run. MLB.com listed relief pitching as the Twins’ biggest deadline need and said one or two additions are still required.
This isn’t about chasing a big-name closer. It’s about adding stability.
A.J. Minter and Brooks Raley are both pending free agents, with Minter at a 2.45 ERA and Raley at 2.09.
Kenley Jansen would be a right-handed option if Detroit sells, and even with a 3.90 ERA, he brings plenty of late-inning experience.
The broad picture is clear enough: Minnesota has a strong offense, top-end starting pitching and enough young talent to be taken seriously. What they need now is help in the bullpen, not a reset. Reinforce the roster, protect the foundation and give this clubhouse a chance to turn belief into a real postseason run.
In Other News...
Twins May Have Found The Smart Deadline Pitching Move Fans Wanted
The Twins appear ready to approach the deadline like a club that believes it can still play into October, and that makes the pitching market especially interesting. Rather than chasing a short-term rental, Minnesota is being linked to a starter with enough quality to help the rotation now and enough team control to matter beyond this season, a combination that fits a front office trying to avoid a one-and-done move.
Seattles surplus on the mound only adds to the intrigue, since the Mariners are in position to deal from strength while looking for offense. For Minnesota, the appeal is obvious: a pitcher who can steady the staff in the stretch run and remain part of the long-term plan would be the kind of deadline addition that feels both aggressive and measured, even if the final price and timing are still very much in play. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Get Troubling David Festa Update No One Wanted To Hear
David Festas season has been headed in the wrong direction for a while, and the latest update only deepens the concern for the Twins. The right-hander, who has been on the 60-day injured list all year, has not pitched in a regular-season game since last July, leaving Minnesota without a young arm it had hoped could factor into the pitching mix.
Now the next step is surgery, with Festa set to have procedures on his shoulder and pectoral muscle. General manager Jeremy Zoll said Festa is likely to miss the entire season, a sobering development for a club that has already had to plan around his absence and now has to wait even longer to see what comes next. [Read more 🡒]