The Twins are running out of time to patch a bullpen that has become a real problem, and the trade deadline is the obvious place to do it. Minnesota is sitting at .500 and just one game behind the final American League wild card spot, which puts them in buyer mode whether they like it or not.
That urgency is sharpened by last year’s deadline misfire, when the Twins sent Louis Varland to the Toronto Blue Jays. Varland is not the same pitcher he was then; this season, he has emerged as the best closer in the game and has given Mason Miller a serious challenge for that title. Looking back, it is the kind of move that stings even more with time.
Now the focus has shifted to relief help, and one name that fits Minnesota’s needs is Kyle Finnegan. The Twins have a trade history with the Detroit Tigers, and the Tigers’ disappointing season could turn them into sellers. Their bullpen has been the worst in baseball this year, but Finnegan stands out as a possible target.
Finnegan has been one of the better relievers in the game over the past few seasons, even if he has had some recent struggles. That downturn could work in Minnesota’s favor by lowering the price, but it also comes with some risk.
He has a sub-3.00 ERA this season and has allowed 15 earned runs in 46 games, yet he has also given up plenty of contact, with about a hit per inning and a WHIP over 1.50. Even so, he has been one of the few steady arms available for a Twins team that badly needs someone to keep runs off the board.
Another possible fit is Antonio Senzatela of the Colorado Rockies. He has put together the best season of his career, and for a while he looked like one of the hottest relievers on the market.
But his recent slide has changed the picture. June and July have not been kind to him, which has hurt his value and made him a more affordable gamble.
Senzatela’s 3.66 ERA is still appealing, especially if a team believes a change of scenery can unlock more. That idea matters here, too, because the Twins’ defense is better than the Rockies’, and that could help him strand runners more often than he has in Colorado.
However Minnesota chooses to attack the deadline, the message is clear: the Twins need bullpen help if they want to stay in the playoff race and be a threat in October. With only a few days left, the front office has to act aggressively if it wants to be taken seriously.
In Other News...
Twins Finally Made A Bullpen Move That Changes The Deadline Mood
The Twins finally made a bullpen move ahead of the Aug. 3 deadline, and it came with the kind of practical purpose this front office has been chasing for weeks. Minnesota landed left-handed reliever A.J. Minter from the Mets, giving the late-inning mix a needed arm from the left side while parting with prospects Billy Amick and Bruin Agbayani in a deal that says as much about urgency as it does about depth.
Minter has already made 20 appearances this season and is only recently back after surgery, which gives the Twins a useful reliever with some uncertainty still attached. The return package also reflects where the organization is in the calendar, moving two prospects whose recent playing time has been limited by injury and turning them into a bullpen piece that could matter right away as the deadline pressure keeps building. [Read more 🡒]
Two Former Twins Fan Favorites Are Suddenly Back In Deadline Rumors
With the trade deadline closing in, the Twins have already dipped into the market by adding A.J. Minter, but the bigger ripple for Minnesota fans may be the familiar names popping back up in rumor season. Two former Twins who once fit neatly into the clubs recent roster churn are now on the move radar again, a reminder of how quickly deadline conversations can circle back to players this fan base knows well.
Willi Castros situation is tied to a Rockies team buried in the standings and weighing what its future looks like, while Luis Arraez has kept producing for the Giants and remains one of the more intriguing pieces in play. For Twins followers, it is the kind of deadline subplot that mixes nostalgia with a little curiosity, especially when both players still feel connected to the recent past even as their next stop starts to come into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Bullpen Buzz Suddenly Comes With A Costly Family Twist
The Twins have been linked to a bullpen upgrade that would bring in one of the games more unusual relief arms, a pitcher whose low-slot delivery and knack for weak contact make him stand out in any trade discussion. For a club that can always use more late-inning stability, the appeal is obvious: this is the kind of arm that can change how a manager lines up the back end of a game, especially when the market starts thinning out.
The catch is the price tag, and it is not just about prospects. Minnesota would be taking on a contract that runs well beyond this season, with significant money attached in each of the next two years and a possible vesting option down the road. So the Twins are weighing more than bullpen help here, because a move that looks sensible on the mound could also shape how much flexibility they have to build the rest of the roster. [Read more 🡒]