The Twins have already been busy reshaping their roster, and the front office may not be done yet.
Minnesota has pulled off two trades in the past few days, first landing left-handed reliever A.J. Minter from the New York Mets for infield prospects Billy Amick and Bruin Agbayani, then bringing in right-handed starter Dean Kremer from the Baltimore Orioles for outfield prospect Jhomnardo Reyes. In both deals, the Twins gave up relatively little, with all three players they sent away ranking outside the organization’s top 20 prospects, according to MLB Pipeline.
That low-cost approach could change if Minnesota goes after a bigger name next. According to The Athletic’s Dan Hayes and Ken Rosenthal, the Twins are still looking to " bolster their roster further." If they want to swing for an All-Star-level addition, they’ll likely need to part with a more prominent prospect.
One name to watch is Eduardo Tait.
The 19-year-old catcher came to Minnesota last summer in the trade that sent star closer Jhoan Duran to the Philadelphia Phillies, and before this year’s draft, it would have been hard to imagine the Twins seriously considering moving him. But the draft changed the catching picture in a hurry. Minnesota used the third overall pick on catcher Vahn Lackey and also selected catcher Carson Tinney in the second round, giving the organization more depth at the position.
That doesn’t make Tait disposable, but it does make him more available than he once was. If the Twins can turn him into a controllable starter or a lockdown closer, he could become part of the package that gets a deal across the finish line.
Lackey, who is two years older than Tait, now looks like the catcher of the future. Minnesota also has two more catching prospects worth noting in Khadim Diaw, ranked No. 10, and Enrique Jimenez, ranked No. 24.
Tait still carries plenty of value, even if there are real questions about how he’ll translate behind the plate. He hasn’t had the kind of offensive season that pushes his stock higher, batting .228/.290/.441 in 89 games with High-A Cedar Rapids. And because he’s still a teenager, there’s plenty left to figure out about what kind of big leaguer he’ll become.
Even so, MLB Pipeline still sees him as a top-100 prospect. The Twins aren’t in a position to move him lightly. If he’s going to be traded, it would take a return worthy of the kind of talent Minnesota gave up to get him in the first place.
In Other News...
Twins Deadline Focus Now Includes One Clear Outfield Need
After adding three pitchers this month, the Twins deadline shopping list still does not feel finished. Pitching remains a priority, with the club reportedly looking for a late-inning right-handed reliever, but there is also a quieter need taking shape in the outfield, where Minnesota could use another right-handed bat to deepen the bench and give the lineup more balance.
One name that has surfaced is a versatile Dodgers outfielder who can handle all three spots and has drawn attention for his work against left-handed pitching. He also comes with multiple years of arbitration control, which makes him the kind of fit front offices tend to circle at this time of year, even if the final asking price is still part of the equation. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Paid A Price For Bullpen Help Fans Need To See
The Twins kept pushing to shore up their bullpen before the trade deadline, and their latest move adds another late-inning arm with a track record that should fit the stretch run. Jeff Hoffman brings postseason experience and a strong strikeout profile, giving Minnesota another option to help stabilize games down the back end as the club continues to reshape its roster after earlier deals for A.J. Minter and Dean Kremer.
The price was real, though, and it went beyond a simple cash consideration. Minnesota parted with Dasan Hill, John Klein, Dameury Pena and international cap space to get the deal done, a reminder that bullpen fixes often come with long-term costs attached. Hoffman is expected to be part of the picture through 2028, but the Twins gave up multiple pieces in a move that says plenty about how aggressive they plan to be in the months ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Are Sending A Clear Deadline Message With This Pitching Move
The Twins made another pitching shuffle as the deadline and stretch run draw closer, activating right-hander Dean Kremer and optioning Jack Anderson to Triple-A St. Paul. It is the kind of move teams make when they want a little more stability on the mound without losing flexibility, especially with the season entering a more demanding phase and front offices weighing every roster spot.
Anderson has already bounced between the majors and minors several times this season, and this latest trip back to St. Paul is expected to be temporary. Still, the transaction says plenty about how Minnesota is approaching this moment: the Twins want pitching depth in place now, and they are keeping enough room open to adjust again as the trade deadline pressure builds. [Read more 🡒]