Friday, August 08

DETROIT -- As a fan, there’s a good chance you didn’t love the Twins’ Trade Deadline, when they moved 10 players off their Major League roster in four days. But there’s also a good chance that you understood most of the moves.

The Twins moved five pending free agents. They got a huge return for Jhoan Duran. They moved Brock Stewart, who has been very effective but has a checkered health history, at perhaps the peak of his value. The Carlos Correa deal was shocking, but even if you didn’t like it, you probably at least understand the financial aspect.

Perhaps the Griffin Jax trade was hard to swallow, but Jax reportedly requested a trade and the Twins got someone they expect to be in their 2026 starting rotation for him in Taj Bradley. 

If there was one trade that clearly confused many people, it was the move of Louis Varland (and Ty France) to Toronto.

It’s the one I got the most questions about. It’s the one that player after player told me caught them off guard. So I asked about it. I asked not only Twins president of baseball and business operations Derek Falvey but also some other members of the front office about it.

And I think I understand where they were coming from. So I thought maybe I could help you understand as well. You may still not like it -- that’s your right as a fan. I’m not trying to tell you how to feel or what to think. But maybe I can at least give you a better feel for the team’s reasoning.

First, know this: The Twins weren’t looking to move Varland. I don’t think anyone in the front office thought that the hometown kid would be one of the players moved. But as you hear all the time, all it takes is one phone call, and they got the call that made them -- to use a term I heard a lot this week -- “motivated.”

It starts with this: The Twins believe Alan Roden, who came over from the Blue Jays, will be something very close to an everyday Major League outfielder, and as you’ve seen, they’re already playing him that way. They like his athleticism -- he’s the best defensive corner outfielder currently on the roster -- and they like his approach at the plate.

But it’s the other player in the deal who they view as the real prize. The Twins rate lefty Kendry Rojas very, very highly. They were as fond of him as any pitcher in the Blue Jays’ system. Just because analysts don’t have him as a Top-100 prospect, doesn’t mean the Twins view him as lesser.

“That's a potential everyday position player and a really high upside starting pitcher,” Falvey said, “who you know, in the event that he's not a starting pitcher somewhere down the line, it's not hard to envision a world where he's an elite, impact reliever, too. So that was hard for us to look at and pass up based on what we think the talent was.”

But there’s another aspect, and I found this very interesting. One thing that a lot of people have noted is that Varland still has five years of team control remaining. But I was told by someone in the industry that sometimes teams view that differently for relievers than other positions.

Relief pitchers are, without question, the most volatile players in baseball. If you took a look at the best relievers in 2021 and the best relievers in ‘25, there would be almost no overlap. So the math is just a little different. Yes, you have Varland for five years, but it’s not the same as having a hitter or starter for five years. The value is just different.

None of that may change your view. You may still be angry, sad or frustrated, and I’m not trying to change your mind. But I do hope you have a better understanding of the thought process.

The MLB Players Association announced the 2025 club winners for its annual Heart & Hustle Award, given to players who “exemplify a true passion for the game and who best embody the values, spirit and tradition of the game.”

And, well, you probably wouldn’t need a whole lot of guesses before you correctly deduced the Twins’ nominee this year. It is, of course, the heart and soul of the Twins, Byron Buxton, enjoying one of the finest seasons of his MLB career.

The overall winner will be announced in November.

Rojas is, of course, not the only noteworthy player the Twins acquired at the Deadline. In addition to prospects, they acquired four players with Major League experience: right-handers Mick Abel and Bradley and outfielders Roden and James Outman.

Of those, only Roden is currently on the active roster. Abel, Bradley and Outman were all assigned to Triple-A St. Paul. And both starters introduced themselves to their new organization in style.

Abel, still rated a Top-100 prospect (MLB Pipeline's No. 91), pitched five scoreless innings in his St. Paul debut, allowing one hit and two walks and striking out seven. The Twins have some refinements they’d like him to make, but it likely won’t be too terribly long before Abel is in the Major League rotation.

Bradley, who no longer has prospect status, followed suit on Wednesday. He pitched six strong innings, allowing one run on five hits, while striking out four with no walks. The club wants him working on his split-finger fastball, but like Abel, Bradley is very much considered a part of the team’s near future.

Back in Detroit means more Motown, as I promised when we were here 5 1/2 weeks ago.

Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, “You’re All I Need To Get By”

Thelma Houston, “Don’t Leave Me This Way”

The Temptations, “The Way You Do The Things You Do”

Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, “The Tears Of A Clown”

Martha and the Vandellas, “Nowhere to Run”

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