2018 Twins Trade Deadline Review: Long-Term Impact

[Cody Christie]

Minnesota's front office didn't mess around at the 2018 trade deadline. Take a look back at the talent acquired during the last week in July. 

 

Derek Falvey and Thad Levine took over Minnesota's baseball operations department leading into the 2017 season. Each season has taken on a different feel, but they have a track record of making moves at the trade deadline. This series will look back at each trade deadline under this regime. 

Minnesota surprised many by being in contention during the 2017 season, with their front office shifting between buying and selling at the deadline. The 2018 season was a little easier because the team was below .500 but ended up in second place in the AL Central. The Twins made multiple moves before the deadline, and the big-league roster still feels these trades' impacts. 

Trade 1 (July 27, 2018)
Twins Receive: OF Ernie De La Trinidad, P Jhoan Duran, OF Gabriel Maciel
Diamondbacks Receive: INF Eduardo Escobar 
Escobar was on an expiring contract, so it made sense to deal the veteran who was in the middle of a tremendous season. Duran has turned into the team's dominant high-leverage reliever, which is more than enough for a couple of months of Escobar. De La Trinidad topped out at Double-A last season with the Twins, where he posted a .759 OPS in 80 games. Maciel played 73 games at Cedar Rapids last season with a .621 OPS. In December, he was selected in the minor-league Rule 5 draft by the Athletics organization and has a .733 OPS as he repeats High-A.   

Trade 2 (July 27, 2018)
Twins Receive: P Jorge Alcala, OF Gilberto Celestino
Astros Receive: P Ryan Pressly
It was tough to see the Twins part with a reliever that wasn't on an expiring contract, but both prospects in the deal were viewed highly by evaluators. Pressly has stayed in Houston for the remainder of his career while turning into one of baseball's best late-inning arms. Alcala posted decent numbers as a reliever last season, and the team hopes he can return this year to help a struggling bullpen. Celestino has proven his value to the club as a strong center-field defender to complement a decent bat. Minnesota acquired two big-league assets for 14 months of Pressly, so this deal looks great for both teams. 

Trade 3 (July 30, 2018)
Twins Receive: P Chase De Jong, 1B/3B Ryan Costello
Seattle Receive: P Zach Duke
Duke was a strong left-handed specialist at a time when relievers could face fewer than three batters. Following the trade, he posted a 5.52 ERA in 27 appearances. De Jong made five appearances with the Twins and allowed 11 earned runs in 18 2/3 innings. During the 2022 season, he found a role in the Pirates bullpen, having a 2.25 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP in 32 innings. Costello posted a .755 OPS between High- and Double-A during the 2019 season. Tragically, he passed away on November 18, 2019, from a sudden cardiac arrhythmia. (Learn more about The RC13 Foundation here.) 

Trade 4 (July 30, 2018)
Twins Receive: 1B/OF Tyler Austin, P Luis Rijo
Yankees Receive: P Lance Lynn
Lynn has evolved into one of baseball's best pitchers over the last four seasons, but he was terrible for the Twins in 2018. It made sense to deal with his expiring contract, and the returning players offered some intrigue. Austin played parts of two seasons with the Twins and posted a .786 OPS. Rijo has been limited to nine appearances over the last two seasons as he dealt with right elbow UCL reconstruction. He is currently rehabbing with the FCL Twins. 

Trade 5 (July 31, 2018)
Twins Receive: 2B Logan Forsythe, OF/1B Luke Raley, P Devin Smeltzer
Dodgers Receive: 2B Brian Dozier
One year after being vocal about the team trading away veterans, Dozier found himself dealt to a contender. After leaving the Twins, Dozier only played one more full season, but he won a World Series with the Nationals. Forsythe was included in the deal, so the Twins had someone to fill second base for the season's remaining games. Raley eventually was part of the Kenta Maeda trade as he returned to the Dodger organization. Smeltzer has been a surprise contributor to the Twins rotation in 2022. 

What do you remember about this trade deadline? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.

OTHER POSTS IN THE SERIES
-2017 Trade Deadline

 

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[big dog]

I remember being so relieved to get rid of Lynn that getting players back was just a bonus. He did eventually get out of his funk, but I believe we only had him on a one-year so see ya. 

[mickster]

Agree about Lynn.   The Pressley trade is one that wasn't popular at the time - but will prove to be a win for both teams which is good.   No one wanted to see Dozier leave, but him leading off a WS for the Dodgers and then getting ring with the Nationals was good to see - and Smeltzer has a shot to provide the asset we needed from this deal

 

[Blyleven2011]

It was a busy and crazy deadline in 2018 ..

.did get some prospects back  that are performing  at the mlb level  ...

If the twins FO are smart , they should be thinking smelters value  is not going to be any higher as a starter and trade him at the deadline if we acquire Snell or another starter  ...

Smeltzer has had no success as a relief pitcher  as a twin ...

 

[blindeke]

I'm still mad about Lance Lynn sucking for us.

[tony&rodney]

The trades were ok as sellers. Now, it is time to be a buyer.

[Loosey]

Lance Lynn didn't want to be here if I recall.  Wasn't he a signed after spring training started?  That was the weird offseason where no one was being signed and lots of guys signed late and people were yelling collusion.  

[Brandon]

Looks like we acquired 4 players who will contribute for several years or even more. Alcala, Duran, Celestine, and Smeltzer.  The Twins clearly won the trade deadline deals that year.  

[Game7-91]

Twins gained some guys who might help.

But I sure wish we could be the kind of org that decides to extend the guys who prove they can play and produce, i. e. Pressly, rather than kicking that can down the road with prospects who are 3 yrs away.

Pressly has anchored a WS and pennant winning BP since the trade. We're still projecting prospects. Jury is still out, but that trade is not close to even in results.

Reality is some guys are going to get paid market rate. Time for Twins to reap the benefits of those hard spent developmental $$$ and pay up when its time to solidify positions like back end BP talent. One wonders what our record might be with Mr Pressly snd Rogers tag teaming this season. 

[Mark G]

Unless I missed a line or two up there, all the trades combined, and all the great prospects we thought we got combined, shows we have 4 guys with the team as I write this, and Alcala is on the 60 day IL.  12 minor league prospects, and 4 years later 4 are on the team.  The other 8 either saw very limited time here or none at all.  Not sure how that would be assessed as a success, but that's just me.

As I wrote in the 2017 trade deadline article, I have always wondered if the trading away of so many players their first two years was a way of undermining Molitor so they would be able to justify letting him go and bringing in the guy they wanted all along.  The overall return for those two years isn't a shining star on their resume but, again, maybe that's just me.