The Minnesota Twins are in a strange place as the MLB trade deadline approaches. They’re third in the AL Central, trailing the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Guardians, and they were five games back of first place as of Tuesday afternoon. At the same time, they’re still in the mix for a playoff spot, even after dropping three straight.
That tension has put two of the Twins’ biggest names squarely into the deadline conversation. ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan put together a Top 100 list of trade candidates, and Minnesota showed up in a major way: Byron Buxton and Joe Ryan were ranked second and third, behind only division rival Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal.
Buxton is listed as the biggest offensive trade chip on the board, but the idea of moving him appears to be more noise than real possibility. The veteran has made it clear he wants to remain with the Twins, and general manager Jeremy Zoll backed that up by saying, "It's not something we're exploring. It's not something we plan to explore."
ESPN put Buxton’s chances of being traded at 10%, pointing to the fact that both the player and the front office are not interested in making a deal. His contract also includes a full no-trade clause. Buxton is under contract through the 2028 season, which makes a trade even less likely.
Ryan is the other name drawing attention, and for good reason. He’s under team control for one more year after the 2026 season, so Minnesota has the option to keep him.
But pitchers with his ability tend to bring plenty of interest, and ESPN gave him a 35% chance of being dealt. The Twins could land a massive return if they decided to listen.
Still, even with Ryan’s name in the mix and Buxton’s showing up again, the odds suggest Minnesota is more likely to keep both stars than move them. ESPN’s numbers leave less than a 50% chance that both are traded.
If the Twins were to seriously slide further, the conversation could change. For now, though, the expectation is that these two stay where they are.
ESPN listed the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Athletics, Arizona Diamondbacks, Atlanta Braves, Chicago White Sox, Washington Nationals, Toronto Blue Jays and St. Louis Cardinals as possible fits for Ryan if Minnesota ever did decide to deal him.
In Other News...
Twins May Be Creating A Keaschall Problem They Cant Hide
Luke Keaschalls move from second base into the outfield has become one of the more interesting side projects on the Twins roster. Since June, Minnesota has tried him in right field and then in center during Byron Buxtons injury absence, and now that Buxton is back, Keaschall has settled again on the right side while the club keeps working to turn his athleticism into something usable in the grass.
The challenge is that the Twins are asking him to learn on the fly in a spot where mistakes are hard to hide. They have been shading him deeper in center to make the job easier as he develops, but that also changes the look of the defense and puts a spotlight on every read and route. Buxton can play shallower because of his elite range, and Keaschall is still trying to find the balance between protecting against balls over his head and being in position to attack the ones in front of him. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Could Lose Two Key Regulars If This Slide Gets Worse
A four-game skid has nudged the Twins farther from the American League Wild Card picture, and the timing matters with the Aug. 3 trade deadline closing in. Minnesota is sitting at 49-53, which is the kind of record that starts forcing difficult conversations about whether to push for a run or listen on established regulars while there is still value to be had.
Ryan Jeffers and Trevor Larnach are the names to watch if the slide continues. Jeffers is in the final year of his deal and has drawn attention from clubs looking for catching help, while Larnach remains under team control through 2027 and could become expendable if the Twins decide their outfield depth gives them room to deal from strength. [Read more 🡒]
Joe Ryan Just Became The Twins Trust Test
Joe Ryan has become one of the most interesting names on the Twins board as the trade deadline approaches, and not just because of what he does on the mound. He has pitched well enough to draw attention from contenders, and with team control beyond this season, he is the kind of arm that can bring back real value if Minnesota decides the time is right to move him.
The harder question is what kind of message that would send to a fan base that has already watched attendance sag at Target Field and has little appetite for another summer selloff. The Twins can talk themselves into several paths with Ryan, including holding him, moving him later, or cashing in now, but any deadline decision will land with more weight than a typical roster shuffle. [Read more 🡒]