The Minnesota Twins enter the trade deadline in a spot that usually points one direction, but this year the picture is a lot murkier.
A club sitting below .500 at the All-Star break and in third place in its division is often expected to start moving pieces out. That’s the standard script.
Yet the Twins are only a game under .500, three games back of both the White Sox and Guardians in the AL Central, and still squarely in the Wild Card conversation. In other words, they’re not drifting out of the race - they’re still right in it.
That reality opens the door to something that would have sounded far-fetched not long ago: Minnesota buying instead of selling.
There are still reasons to think the Twins could move players. Trevor Larnach and Kody Clemens have both been mentioned as possible trade candidates, and dealing one or both could help clear future roster congestion while bringing back pieces that fit the long-term plan. But there’s another path here, and it’s becoming harder to ignore.
The biggest reason is the offense. Minnesota has scored more runs than any other American League team this season, and it has done that while missing key bats like Byron Buxton and Ryan Jeffers.
That kind of production says a lot about what the lineup has already been able to do. If those two come back healthy and anywhere close to normal, the ceiling gets even higher.
The rotation gives the Twins another reason to believe. Joe Ryan has continued to look like one of the AL’s best arms, and Taj Bradley has settled in as a strong No.
- That kind of top-end pairing matters in a postseason race.
When those two take the mound, Minnesota has a real chance.
The problems are obvious too. The back end of the rotation has been shaky, and the bullpen has been the team’s biggest issue.
Too many late leads have slipped away, and relief help is clearly on the shopping list. That’s why the Twins’ move for Tommy Nance last week stood out.
It wasn’t a headline-grabber, but it may have said plenty about how the front office views this team.
I’m not sure that trade happens unless Tom Pohlad and the front office think this club has a real shot to get in. If they were already leaning toward selling, there wouldn’t be much reason to start adding bullpen depth before the deadline even arrives.
Pohlad added to the intrigue last week when he said:
"I think the barometer for success in the past has been, 'Let's just try to be competitive.' The barometer for success going forward is, 'Let's win a championship.' And that's going to require us to make decisions, whether it's at a Trade Deadline or in the offseason, that look probably pretty different than decisions we would have made in the past."
That doesn’t mean the Twins are about to go all-in and empty the system for the biggest names available. It does suggest a different mindset, though.
Maybe the usual sell-off isn’t the plan. Maybe the front office sees a team that’s close enough to justify adding instead of subtracting.
And that idea isn’t crazy. If Minnesota can shore up the bullpen and add another starter or two, it could become a much more complete team.
The offense is already producing at a high level. The top of the rotation can match up with anybody.
The missing pieces are in the late innings and the back end of the staff.
For now, though, it’s still a waiting game. The next few weeks will tell the story, and the August 3rd trade deadline will make the answer clear.
A strong stretch could push the Twins firmly into buyer mode. A slump could force a different kind of decision.
But right now, there’s a real case for Minnesota to be aggressive.
In Other News...
Twins Rotation Anxiety Just Took A Brutal Turn
The Twins rotation depth took another hit this week, and the timing could hardly be worse for a club trying to keep pace in the playoff race. Mick Abel and David Festa were both already on the injured list, leaving Minnesota to keep piecing together innings while the calendar keeps moving toward the trade deadline.
Abels path has been especially frustrating after a right elbow injury led to surgery on June 1, while Festa has been out since spring training with a shoulder and tricep issue. With so little certainty behind the current group, the front office may have little choice but to look outside the organization for starting help if it wants to keep the season on track. [Read more 🡒]
Two Twins Are Running Out Of Time In Wild Card Push
With the Twins closing in on a playoff spot, the margin for error is shrinking for players who have not held up their end of the bargain. Tristan Gray has struggled enough that his grip on a roster spot is looking shaky, especially with Ryan Kreidler offering a steadier option at shortstop and the organization keeping an eye on prospect Kaelen Culpepper as a possible next move.
Austin Martin is in a similarly uneasy spot after his production has slipped hard from where it was earlier in the season. The Twins do not have much patience left for underperformance this time of year, and depending on how the next stretch goes, Gray or Martin could be the one sent to Triple-A St. Paul as Minnesota tries to tighten the roster for the push run. [Read more 🡒]
Another AL Threat Just Entered The Twins Trade Deadline Picture
The Twins trade deadline could get a little more crowded after word that both the Rays and Yankees had scouts at Wrigley Field over the weekend watching Ryan Jeffers, Joe Ryan and Trevor Larnach. Tampa Bay is expected to be in the market for help and has clear needs behind the plate, in the rotation and in the outfield, which makes Minnesotas veteran trio a natural fit if the Rays decide to get aggressive.
Joe Ryan is the headliner in that group, but Jeffers and Larnach also give the Twins options if the deadline market starts to heat up. With Tampa Bay and New York both circling the same roster, Minnesota may find itself dealing with more than one contender for the same pieces, and that kind of overlap can change the conversation quickly as July winds down. [Read more 🡒]