What is the Biggest Move Made by the Twins Before the Trade Deadline?

[Ted Schwerzler]

The Minnesota Twins are guaranteed to be active during the next week. They have some significant roster decisions to address, both from an internal and talent acquisition standpoint. Looking at a few possibilities, all of the options could send substantial waves throughout the organization.

 

Although this is trade deadline season, roster decisions aren’t just going to be made from the perspective of adding talent. Derek Falvey and Thad Levine will be tasked with figuring out which players make sense on the active roster now, and who they see as needing to be a part of the future. Considering three external options and one internal, which of the four following scenarios winds up being the most seismic move made in Twins Territory over the next week?

1. Miguel Sano gets DFA’d
Having last played on April 30 and then undergoing knee surgery, Sano has found himself working his way back yet again. He began a rehab assignment on July 4 and posted a very strong 1.217 OPS across 12 games in his 20 allowable days. The biggest detractor for any team being interested in acquiring Sano is the correlation between production and pay. He’s still owed something north of $6 million combining the duration of this season and his buyout. Minnesota could swallow some of that when trying to find a trade partner, but he could also be a candidate to be DFA’d. Sano has had ups and downs in a Twins uniform, but leaving in a season having played less than 25 games and with a sub .500 OPS would be about as low as it gets.

2. A Frontline Starter is Acquired
Fans have been clamoring since the offseason for Minnesota to acquire top-tier pitching. Sonny Gray qualified as that when the front office flipped former first-round pick Chase Petty. It’s clear that this rotation could use someone of equal or similar-ilk when looking towards the Postseason. There are not exactly that many names out there to be had, but this group would look like a deal for Frankie Montas, a pact for Luis Castillo, acquiring Tyler Mahle, or potentially netting Blake Snell. There are other starters that will be moved, but it’s hard to come up with many more names that will reach this level.

3. High-Leverage Relief is Grabbed
Alongside a starter, Minnesota absolutely needs help in the bullpen. It’s been one of the worst units in the league for significant stretches this season, and outside of Jhoan Duran, the group has largely been shuffling deck chairs. It’s good that Tyler Duffey seems to have turned a corner, and maybe someone else emerges down the stretch, but it’s hard to view Jorge Alcala as a potential to return prominently at this point. A reliever in this category would be along the lines of Pirates All-Star David Bednar or Rockies closer Daniel Bard. If the Twins are going to be serious about the bullpen, they need a mate for Duran and someone that can confidently eat outs in the late innings.

4. Shock the Lineup With a Bat
Arguably one of the hottest and coldest things for Rocco Baldelli’s club this season has been the lineup and run production. The worst position on the roster offensively has been behind the plate, and that was before Ryan Jeffers suffered a two-month injury. There aren't a ton of places for the Twins to prioritize a bat, but a backstop could be it. Willson Contreras is all but certain to be moved by the Cubs, and although it’s a luxury, man would that elevate Minnesota on both sides of the ball. Bovada also tabbed Minnesota as favorites to acquire the Nationals Jose Bell, which would be an odd fit, but he’s certainly been great this season.

Which of these scenarios would be most surprising to you? Which one seems most likely?

 

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[JakeBru3]

Give me Snell from SD than make the call to Colorado and grab Bard and Marquez. If not Marquez call Boston and grab Eovaldi. 

Snell, Gray, Ryan, Marquez/Eovaldi and Smeltzer/Winder as your 5 man rotation.

Duran, Bard, Jax as reliable bullpen arms

Call up Strotman, Canterino, SWR or any other young capable arm and give them a chance.

DFA Smith and Sano. Maybe Archer or Bundy can be bullpen arms or else they can be DFA'd as well

Assuming we won't give the prospect capital to be in on Montas or Castillo this adds arms you would feel ok with starting in the postseason. 

[Bigfork Twins Guy]

I think #1 DFA Sano is most likely and #4 shock the lineup with a bat is least likely.

They need in the following order...

Relief pitching, starting pitching, and then can look to a bat in the lineup.

[Vanimal46]

High aspirations, low expectations. I will be shocked if a front line starter or back end reliever with multiple years of control is acquired. If we’re shooting for the stars, I would go after Pablo Lopez from Miami and make an enticing offer. 

All I expect is trading for a rental bullpen arm or two. 

[cjm0926]

It came out that the Marlins are now at least willing to entertain trades for Pablo Lopez. They also said they are looking for a good left handed bat in return to help their 2023 lineup. Immediately I thought of Kepler or Larnach. I would assume they would have much more interest in Larnach. We could send them Larnach and maybe a mid-level prospect. I have a hard time thinking that they would say no or that it would be far off at least.

[Rosterman]

I would go after Snell and the top catching prospect from San Diego. Maybe give up Kepler and...Balazovic.

The Twins will let Sano get at bats for msot of August. Can they afford 15-20 games with the Big Guy? We will see.

Be interesting to see what happens with the bullpen. Rotate in a couple of folks from St. Paul. Does Hamilton deserve another chance? At what point do you look at Schulfer and Sisk and see if they are valuable additions.

Do you bring in Strotman just...because? I sure wish he had some value.

Wladimir Pinto is putting up some good numbers (and we have yet to see Yennier Cano since his recall).

Who goes (just cut) from the current relief core? Smith? Cotton? Megill? Duffey? At what point is enough enough?

 

 

 

[JakeBru3]

1 hour ago, Bigfork Twins Guy said:

I think #1 DFA Sano is most likely and #4 shock the lineup with a bat is least likely.

They need in the following order...

Relief pitching, starting pitching, and then can look to a bat in the lineup.

This team can't be taken serious with Dylan Bundy as their #3 SP

[JakeBru3]

23 minutes ago, Rosterman said:

I would go after Snell and the top catching prospect from San Diego. Maybe give up Kepler and...Balazovic.

The Twins will let Sano get at bats for msot of August. Can they afford 15-20 games with the Big Guy? We will see.

Be interesting to see what happens with the bullpen. Rotate in a couple of folks from St. Paul. Does Hamilton deserve another chance? At what point do you look at Schulfer and Sisk and see if they are valuable additions.

Do you bring in Strotman just...because? I sure wish he had some value.

Wladimir Pinto is putting up some good numbers (and we have yet to see Yennier Cano since his recall).

Who goes (just cut) from the current relief core? Smith? Cotton? Megill? Duffey? At what point is enough enough?

 

 

 

Smith has to be the first to go at this point. You can't throw mid 80's fastballs with not much else to offer and be an option. His first month pixy dust has fallen off and we now see who he is....time to cut bait..

[insagt1]

interesting to me that Sano batted 9th and was removed after going 0-2 with a 'k'. I have to think Twins are letting him get a few AB's as a courtesy to what he has done as a Twin. There is no place for him anymore. He may catch fire for awhile, but I wouldn't it bet on it. I think he'll be gone soon.

[Finlander]

Agreed, Sano DFA'd seems most likely. Reluctantly agree adding impact bat least likely, but not impossible. Contreras? Soto? Would sure look great!

They will look to add pitching, but hard to determine their mindset on priority regarding whether help is most needed in top of rotation or in relief.

It wouldn't surprise me to see them address multiple needs with one trade. Oakland, Cindy, Miami, Arizona, Anaheim, Texas, Pittsburg all look to be potential matchups for a larger deal, and there are likely other fits too.

[Finlander]

(Sorry, spellcheck mangled "Cincy", and the "h" didn't take root in Pittsburgh...fat thumbs on cell phone)

[ashbury]

1 hour ago, Finlander said:

(Sorry, spellcheck mangled "Cincy", and the "h" didn't take root in Pittsburgh...fat thumbs on cell phone)

There should be 3 dots in the upper left corner of your post.  Click on it and you should see an "edit" option.

[Craig Arko]

One good rental RP and a controllable catcher. Probably Sano DFA’d.

[nicksaviking]

As much as I want a "high end" reliever, I don't really think any are available. Sure a guy like David Robertson may help, but I don't think he's elite or anything. He's having his first good season since 2018, I wouldn't trust his success will last. I don't believe for a second Bednar is available for anything other than an entire farm system, he's under control for 4.5 more years. Daniel Bard is not elite. His walk problem will only compound the issues already plaguing the bullpen.

They need starters, and two of them. Push Archer to the pen and grab another reliever who's not exciting but has underlying numbers that are better than his current counting stats. That seems like the best they can do at this point. 

[Doctor Gast]

5 hours ago, cjm0926 said:

It came out that the Marlins are now at least willing to entertain trades for Pablo Lopez. They also said they are looking for a good left handed bat in return to help their 2023 lineup. Immediately I thought of Kepler or Larnach. I would assume they would have much more interest in Larnach. We could send them Larnach and maybe a mid-level prospect. I have a hard time thinking that they would say no or that it would be far off at least.

I heard a few more teams are interested in trading their front line SPing, which is a good thing because of the increase competion . Biggest surprise is CLE, they're still in contention. I've been an advocate for Lopez we could also through in Bass, MIA should be interested in Larnach or Kepler with some pitching prospects. 

I'd be interested in a Contreras/ Robertson/ maybe Stroman trade,  it shouldn't be hard to come up a trade with Cubs. Hoping HOU would go after Murphy (OAK). I wouldn't be interested in another SD reject. I don't see them DFA Sano unless they are really strapped in 40 man.

It'll be a very exciting or disappointing week.

[lukeduke1980]

I think Anthony bass, and a usable backup catcher.  Nothing else really, prices will be too high.  I expect a quiet deadline, rush at the end a lot of teams waiting on Soto.  Soto to SF.

[jimbo92107]

Any good acquired starter will allow the Twins to put Archer in the bullpen as long relief. One more good reliever after that would change this staff a lot. 

DFA Sano? Not if I could include him in a trade package. 

[Rosterman]

I agree. One good starter and we can send Archer to the bullpen. So, we still have Bundy and Smeltzer! And pray for no mroe injuries.

I wish Cano wasn't such a...BUST!

[ajohns24]

None of the rebuilding/non-contending teams are going to want Kepler.  He’s nearing 30 and has a broken toe.  Lots of delusional trade ideas here.

Also Smeltzer is not in the running for a rotation spot down the stretch.  Rocco has seen enough and quite frankly so have I. 

[Linus]

Not trying to be negative here but Strotman has zero trade value - none. He is closer to dfa than traded. 
Second Archer to the bullpen is not realistic. With his injury history he literally couldn’t pitch enough to help the pen. He needs 5 days to pitch 3-4 innings. I’m afraid it’s just another failed experiment in the pitching morass. 

[Mike Sixel]

On 7/27/2022 at 10:01 AM, insagt1 said:

interesting to me that Sano batted 9th and was removed after going 0-2 with a 'k'. I have to think Twins are letting him get a few AB's as a courtesy to what he has done as a Twin. There is no place for him anymore. He may catch fire for awhile, but I wouldn't it bet on it. I think he'll be gone soon.

He was removed because the other team brought in a righty so they put in Arraez. Nothing more or less than that.

[Mike Sixel]

I have extremely low expectations of this trade deadline for the Twins. 1-2 ok RPs is about it.

They'll need health and luck after that....the O and D should get better...but the SP and RP need help, IMO.

[insagt1]

3 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

He was removed because the other team brought in a righty so they put in Arraez. Nothing more or less than that.

Yeah, but in years past, how often did they remove Sano, for any reason in the middle of a game?