SEATTLE -- Depending on when exactly you’re reading this, it’s probably about 24-30 hours until the Trade Deadline, which is set for 5 p.m. CT on Monday. And if you’re reading this, you’re probably well aware that the Twins have already been one of the more active teams as the Deadline approaches, with the acquisitions of reliever A.J. Minter from the Mets and starter Dean Kremer from the Orioles. As I write this, however, it’s more like 48 hours until the Deadline. There’s a lot that’s in flux. So rather than projecting any specific moves or analyzing the ones that Minnesota has already made without the context of what’s to come, it seemed like a good moment to split the difference. So here’s a look at what we can glean about the run up to the Deadline, based on what the Twins’ front office has already done. 1. They know they need pitching Sure, it’s obvious. For most of the year, the Twins have been one of the American League’s highest-scoring teams, yet they have a negative run differential. But it’s one thing to know it and another to act on it, and Minnesota has made two very targeted moves. Adding Minter eases some of the blow of losing Anthony Banda for the rest of the year, with an experienced lefty who can pitch in the late innings. Adding Kremer gets them back to having more starting pitchers than rotation spots for the first time in quite a while. What else do they still need? The most obvious thing is one more right-hander who can pitch in a high-leverage spot. That’s not to say they’ll only make one more move, but if you’re trying to predict what’s still coming up, that’s your best bet. |
2. They are willing to spend some money Chairman Tom Pohlad has pretty directly said, going all the way back to when he moved into the role last December, that the front office would have money to spend when there are upgrades to be made. Minter and Kremer are owed a little more than $5 million combined for the rest of the season, and the Twins did not receive cash considerations in either deal. Sure, that’s not an earth-shattering number, but it’s noticeable. It’s an indicator that the front office doesn’t have to make cash-neutral deals or give up a better prospect haul in order to pay less salary. 3. They’d rather not deal from the top tier of their farm system The Twins have four Top-100 prospects, all of them currently ranked 53rd or higher by MLB Pipeline, plus new draftee Vahn Lackey, who is likely to join them. But both moves so far have consisted entirely of prospects not in the organization’s top 20. That doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll only deal from the bottom of their top 30, but it does seem there’s little desire to move someone like their top prospect Walker Jenkins, Kaelen Culpepper (No. 2) or Emmanuel Rodriguez (No. 3). |
4. They might be willing to deal from the Major League roster It’s unclear how much truth there was to the report on X that the Twins had agreed to a deal sending Trevor Larnach to the Astros, but regardless, it passed the sniff test. General manager Jeremy Zoll has repeatedly acknowledged that the Twins’ roster construction puts them in a position where one way to upgrade may be to try to pull off a Major League for Major League trade. That would most likely take the form of sending a bat -- specifically an outfielder, most likely -- to another team for a pitcher. Out of those aforementioned four Top 100 prospects, Jenkins and Culpepper are currently on the roster at Triple-A St. Paul, and Rodriguez is making his way back after an injury. There’s also Matt Wallner, who has consistently produced since being sent down. So if the Twins were to deal someone from their lineup, they could call up one of those players to fill the spot. |
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MLB MORNING LINEUP PODCAST |
A year ago, when the Twins carried out a massive selloff at the Deadline, Byron Buxton was on the injured list but still made a point to come to Cleveland. Buxton’s presence and leadership helped a shocked group of players get through an extremely jarring few days as everyone adjusted to the new reality. This year, there’s no fear of a similar teardown. But with Buxton on the IL again, and not eligible to come off before the Twins get to Milwaukee at the end of next week, he’s traveling again. It’s not specifically about the Deadline. He just wants to be present. And part of his inspiration for that is teammate Pablo López, who has traveled with the team all season, despite being out for the year due to elbow surgery. “We're in a special spot where we're at in the season,” Buxton said. “To be in the position we're in takes everybody. That's a testament to Pablo being with us all year, doing his rehab with us. The little things like that, people don't have to do, but to have him here and doing the things he's done other than TV and translating -- he's awesome. You couldn't ask for much more. He's doing everything he possibly can, and that's something when you look around in here, it goes a long way for sure.” |
AND, FINALLY, THE PLAYLIST |
Friends, I’m sorry for being so obvious, but I’m 51 and we’re in Seattle. You know what’s going to be on the playlist this week. Y’all be kind and look out for each other, OK? Screaming Trees, “All I Know” Death Cab for Cutie, “The New Year” Chris Cornell, “Seasons” Nirvana, “Heart-Shaped Box” Pearl Jam, “Given to Fly” |
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