The Minnesota Twins have made the trade deadline a lot trickier for everyone else.
With Aug. 3 closing in, clubs like the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays have been eyeing Minnesota’s biggest names, especially catcher Ryan Jeffers. But the Twins’ recent run has put them squarely in the playoff picture, and that changes the conversation fast.
Minnesota is 49-49 and 33-26 since May 9, the second-most wins in the AL over that span. They’re tied for the final wild-card spot and just one game behind the Boston Red Sox for the last AL Wild Card position. That kind of standing makes it a lot harder to imagine the Twins dealing away key pieces unless the season goes off the rails before the deadline.
Jeffers is the name drawing the most attention. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported that the Yankees are interested in acquiring him, while The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal said the Rays are also looking for catching help, which would put them in the mix if Minnesota actually made Jeffers available. But right now, that looks like a long shot.
Before landing on the IL in May with a broken left hamate bone, Jeffers was producing at an All-Star level. He returned July 10 and has kept hitting.
In 41 games this season, he’s slashing .292/.402/.547 with eight home runs, nine doubles, one triple and 31 RBI. He also launched his first homer since coming back from the IL, a three-run shot in the Twins’ 5-2 win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field on Friday night.
Ryan Jeffers powers the @Twins ahead with a 3-run homer 😤 pic.twitter.com/4WCXZ2LgE1
- MLB (@MLB) July 18, 2026
That’s why moving him would be a risky call if Minnesota is serious about staying in the race. The Twins would also have the option of extending Jeffers a qualifying offer, which could bring back a compensatory draft pick if he signs elsewhere.
Joe Ryan is another name that has surfaced in trade chatter, but he may be even less likely to move. The right-hander has been Minnesota’s best starter, posting a 2.85 ERA with a 1.05 WHIP and 128 strikeouts over 110 1/3 innings. He’s under team control through the end of next season, and with the Twins playing this well, there’s little reason to rush into a deal.
Teams such as the Atlanta Braves and Cubs would probably be willing to pay a hefty prospect price for Ryan. But if Minnesota keeps hanging around in the wild-card race, those clubs may have to turn their attention elsewhere.
Minnesota did lose 6-2 to the Cubs at Wrigley Field on Saturday, but that result doesn’t erase the bigger picture: the Twins have played well enough to make themselves a tough sell at the deadline.
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 🡒]