The Twins have put themselves in a spot where the second half actually matters, and that changes the trade-deadline conversation. With an offense that’s been better than expected and an American League that’s been soft overall, Minnesota has a path to push for October.
The catch is obvious: this probably isn’t the time to start tossing around premium prospect capital. But if ownership is serious about backing this roster, there are ways to make real upgrades without gutting the future.
That’s where Tom Pohlad’s comments come into play. He has repeatedly said he’s willing to invest in this team if there’s a reason to do it, and the club has at least earned the right to be taken seriously. If the money is there, the Twins could target players who cost more in salary than in prospect haul.
Sonny Gray is the dream name.
A reunion would make a lot of sense if Minnesota decides it’s all-in on a playoff chase, especially because the rotation depth is a real concern. Pablo Lopez isn’t coming back this season, Mick Abel also looks unlikely, and Connor Prielipp is nearing his career high in innings. Mike Paredes is still in the rotation, but it’s hard to look at that group and feel good about it holding together for the rest of the year.
Gray, meanwhile, has stayed in the same class of starter he was when he left Minnesota. He’s sitting on a sub-3.00 ERA this season and has just under $15m left on his contract this year, along with a $10m buyout on a $30m mutual option for 2027.
That’s a steep price, and it’s not easy to picture the Twins making that kind of commitment based on how they’ve operated since 2023. The Red Sox also have reentered the playoff hunt, which makes the fit even less straightforward.
For now, Gray feels more like a perfect-world target than a likely one.
Kevin Gausman is another rotation answer if Toronto decides to sell.
He has a little more than $10m left on his deal and is a free agent in 2027, which makes him attractive for a team trying to upgrade without taking on long-term risk. The market for starting pitching is always expensive, so Gausman would still bring back a meaningful prospect package. But because his contract doesn’t extend into 2027, the Twins could potentially make a run at him if they’re willing to absorb the salary.
His season has been bumpier than usual, with stranded runner rate, HR/FB rate, and BABIP all working against him. Even so, he still looks like the kind of playoff-caliber starter who can steady a staff.
If Minnesota gets into the October picture, he’d fit nicely as a No. 2 starter. And if ownership is willing to pay the rest of the deal, the Twins might not have to part with any top-tier prospects.
The bullpen is the other obvious place to attack, and that market is always a mess.
Relievers get pushed up the board at the deadline because every contender wants another arm. Affordable options like Luke Weaver, who is in the middle of a career year, are going to draw plenty of attention. The Twins should be in on that class of relievers, but if they’re willing to spend on a volatile position, they could aim even higher.
Pete Fairbanks is the kind of swing that could make sense.
The 32-year-old is still averaging 97.4 mph on his fastball, and while his ERA is just under 7.00, the underlying picture is better than that number suggests. An inflated BABIP and HR/FB rate have dragged him down, but he’s still striking out more than 30% of hitters.
He’s owed about $6m for the rest of his contract, and that’s the kind of salary a competitive Marlins team might be happy to move if it means getting little prospect capital back. With setup and closing experience, Fairbanks would be a worthwhile gamble if the Twins want to chase upside in the bullpen.
A big-spending deadline still feels like a long shot for Minnesota. But if Pohlad’s words about investing in the team are real, the Twins have a chance to improve in a major way without sacrificing the top of the farm system.
They’ve already done the hard part by hanging around. Now it comes down to whether ownership is ready to finish the job.
In Other News...
Twins Fans Have Waited Years To Hear This From Pohlad
For years, Twins fans have heard variations of the same message: stay competitive, keep the pipeline moving, trust the process. Tom Pohlad used a different tone this time. The chairman said the organization understands it has to raise its payroll investment if it wants to do more than hang around the race, and he framed the goal in much bigger terms than simply remaining relevant in September.
Pohlad also made clear that consistency is only the starting point, not the finish line, and that playoff progress will require bolder moves and real spending. He expressed confidence in general manager Jeremy Zoll, but the larger point was aimed at the fan base as much as the front office: support is earned by what the club does on the field and by how aggressively it shows a commitment to winning, not by promises alone. [Read more 🡒]
Twins May Have Just Answered Their Biggest Catcher Question
The Twins used the No. 3 overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft on Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey, giving the organization a high-end prospect at a position that has been a constant question mark in the system. It was a notable choice on its own, and it carried extra weight because Minnesota has not spent a first-round pick on a catcher since Joe Mauer, a reminder of how rarely the club has gone this route at the top of the draft.
Lackey arrives with the kind of profile that made him one of the most intriguing names on the board, with some evaluators seeing a possible five-tool catcher and other clubs surely weighing him as well. His college track record and scouting grades help explain why the Twins were willing to make the move, and why this pick feels like more than just another premium selection, even if the real test will come once he starts climbing the ladder in pro ball. [Read more 🡒]
Twins May Be Forced Off Their Draft Plan At No. 3
With the third overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, the Twins look positioned to land a premium talent, but the shape of that board could push them in a different direction than the one they might prefer. Minnesota has been linked to shortstops Grady Emerson and Roch Cholowsky, along with catcher Vahn Lackey, and the early read is that the club is leaning toward college players rather than Emerson, whose path would likely take more time.
Keith Laws latest read on the class only adds to the uncertainty, since the Twins may have to react to how the first two picks and the clubs ahead of them break. If Cholowsky is there, he could be the obvious fit, but Minnesota may not get that clean a choice, and the possibility of a pivot to another college bat or arm is very much alive as the draft order starts to sort itself out. [Read more 🡒]