Minnesota’s 3 Most Tradeable Prospects

[Cody Christie]

MLB’s Winter Meetings can be a time for front offices to put the finishing touches on trades. If the Twins want to add to the 2023 roster, here are the organization’s three most tradeable prospects.

Image courtesy of Lon Horwedel, USA Today Sports

 

The Twins were very active at last year’s trade deadline, which saw the team acquire two relievers (Jorge Lopez and Michael Fulmer) and one starter (Tyler Mahle). Acquiring these players cost multiple prospects that were close to big-league ready. Minnesota may need to dip deeper into an already depleted farm system to acquire other players to improve the 2023 roster. 

Rising Stock: Edouard Julien
Twins Daily Prospect Rank: 10
Earlier this week, MLB Pipeline named Julien as the most tradeable prospect. Last season at Double-A, Julien hit .300/.441/.490 (.931) with 39 extra-base hits in 113 games. He carried that performance to the Arizona Fall League, where he led the league in hitting (28-for-70, .400 BA). Julien did so well that he was named the AFL’s Breakout Player of the Year. Currently, there is no direct path for Julien to the big leagues, as his defensive future isn’t clear. Minnesota may decide that other better infield options can make Julien expendable. His stock is likely at its highest point, so the team may want to sell high. 

Top Talent: Brooks Lee
Twins Daily Prospect Rank: 2 
On most national rankings, Lee is considered the team’s top prospect entering the 2023 campaign. He was widely considered the best college bat in the 2022 MLB Draft, and the Twins were lucky he fell to them with the eighth overall pick. During his pro debut, he impressed by hitting .303/.389/.451 (.839) with ten extra-base hits in 31 games. Minnesota was also aggressive with him by pushing him all the way to Double-A for Wichita’s playoff run. The Twins will likely want to hang on to Lee, but the club might want to acquire a top of the rotation starter. Trading for that type of pitcher will require Lee to be included in the prospect package. 

Upside Starter: Simeon Woods Richardson
Twins Daily Prospect Rank: 5
At this time last year, Woods Richardson saw his stock drop to the point where he fell off national top-100 prospect lists. He had a resurgent year in the upper minors with a 2.77 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP on his way to making his big-league debut. Woods Richardson is entering his age-22 season, so it seems likely for him to reappear on top-100 prospect lists this winter. Woods Richardson seems the least likely to be traded out of the players on this list. He has multiple years of team control, and he is big-league-ready. Minnesota can include him in a trade for a top-tier starter, or the club can hold on to him and hope he continues to develop.

Many fans get attached to top prospects because they offer unlimited hope for the future. Unfortunately, no prospects are guaranteed to succeed at baseball’s highest level. The Twins roster is far from complete for 2023, and trading prospects is undoubtedly one path the front office has to consider. Do the Twins want to go all-in for 2023 and trade other top prospects? Or should the team hang on to the names above and hope they can help the club in the years ahead? 

Will the Twins consider trading any of these prospects? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. 

 

 

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[Fire Dan Gladden]

Multiple major league ready prospects?

Lopez cost 4 guys no higher than A ball

Fulmer cost a AA pitcher with a 7+ ERA

Mahle cost two A ball players and Spencer Steer

I think we have different opinions on major league ready prospects.

edit: Not to misquote you... close to major league ready prospects.

[ashbury]

The scouting reports on Julien's defense aren't complimentary, so if he could be flipped for good pitching I'd be in favor.  The other two guys, well, it should need to be a blockbuster deal to pry them away.

[old nurse]

What is most likely to get traded are high ceiling prospects that are not near major league ready for thee pitching prospects. The need at the major league level is going to be there for that pitcher sooner or later. High ceiling position players it depends on what is ahead or just behind them.  Lee wont go anywhere without SS being settled. Julian. Won’t go anywhere if they think Polanco is going to be injury prone or fading

[PatPfund]

Trading these three would be stupid. Our biggest needs are an ace, middle infield, a catcher, pitching depth, and restocking a 'depleted' farm system.

So further depleting that system by shipping out potential (low cost) stars at some of needed spots makes no sense. This year we have a rare chance to spend money on Free Agents within our budget. And since that budget will NEVER be one of the top 5 in MLB, it makes sense to spend that money on areas we have no near-term solutions in our system. Ace and catcher for instance. Maybe an extra big bat or two. That will work if we supplement young "value" players coming up, but it won't work if we trade them to get similars available right now for "just" money. 

Which isn't to say it won't happen. This Front Office likes to wait around to get "Value" table scraps that often turn out to be something you wouldn't give your dog. Then they ship out our future for middling/disappointing short-term returns. And sadly try to wildly overspend for a decade on the very position two of our top prospects play.

If only there was a recent example of a team that won it all letting their about-to-be-expensive SS walk in favor of a talented-and-cheap rookie (saving their money to spend in areas of higher impact). Oh, wait...

 

[Tibs]

You would much rather have a high performing major leaguer, especially an ace, than prospects. However, the only times the Twins should be trading top prospects is when we're getting a high caliber player with multiple years of control, bare minimum 2, or we're absolutely killing it during the season and going all in on a championship.

The Twins aren't a team who can replace holes in the roster through the team's payroll and free agents. We are not the Dodgers, Mets, Phillies, Yankees, etc. The Twins never have and never will be. We literally can't afford to trade these top prospects outside of the two situations I mentioned above. The Twins will always have to build from within.

[Doctor Gast]

It'll be hard to trade any of these especially if Correa doesn't sign. No matter what we need SWR and he's far too underrated to trade.

[RpR]

19 minutes ago, Doctor Gast said:

It'll be hard to trade any of these especially if Correa doesn't sign. No matter what we need SWR and he's far too underrated to trade.

For a team that needs pitching you are probably correct.

[farmerguychris]

Need to keep some prospects in our ranks - keep looking but I want these three on our teams.

[MoyBoy74]

I think we could improve bullpen by trading Larnach to Chicago White Soxs.

I heard they are shopping Liam Hendricks. They need payroll relief. They need a RF and Left-handed hitter for their lineup.

We need a shut down bullpen.

This would be a win win trade. We can afford Hendrick salary for next 2 years.

I know teams in same decision rarely make trades to help each other.

But this deal makes sense for both teams. Do you agree?

[gman]

As it stands, even if we resign Correa, the Twins would only be treading water in probably the worst division in baseball. I don't think we need to trade any top 20 prospects.

[RpR]

1 hour ago, gman said:

As it stands, even if we resign Correa, the Twins would only be treading water in probably the worst division in baseball. I don't think we need to trade any top 20 prospects.

If the Twins are going put their future in supposedly up and coming rookies, they will be treading water for a long, long time from what has come up in the past ten years.

At that of the boys from the Twins wannbe Minors, Larnach and only one other seem, at this point, of maybe being the read deal, due to hard work on Larnach's part, and simple talent for the other.

[mikelink45]

I don't trade them.  Look at the youth that is taking over baseball.  Players coming up at 19 - 21 and doing it well.  Prospects are not as suspect as they used to be and the trades for players like Lopez and Pagan leave me shuddering!  Yikes.  How do we really value and evaluate players.  

We have teams falling all over themselves to sign rich contracts - will that make the Cubs or Rangers into winners?  The Yankees  are holding out for their own icon and the Dodgers are sitting back.  Houston signed one player - Abreu and not for $300,000,000.   The Braves have not gone crazy and so far St Louis has not either.  These are the winning teams.  There are lessons here.

 

[DocBauer]

I think the Twins got really lucky to grab Lee. I really don't want to move him.

I haven't been the biggest fan of SWR, despite his previous prospect rankings. He started to make me a believer in 2022. I think he's got a chance to be good. How good? IDK. Nothing about his stuff totally "wow's" me so I'm not sure what to expect going forward. But he's so young, I can't help wonder how good he might be 2-3yrs from now. Is it worth the risk to move him to someone else? It would have to be someone GOOD with at least 2yrs of control.

I absolutely love Julien. I think he's a faster, more powerful version of Arraez with less AVG but similar eye. I think his defense will settle down now that's spending more time at 2B instead of moving around. But, I could see some 1B or even LF in his future, but 2B seems to be his best spot. I don't know that Polanco is going away any time soon, but he could be a replacement for him. But then again, IF the Twins sign Correa, or Boegarts, Lewis and Lee become likely fits at 2B and 3B, and Julien becomes expendable. [Miranda going back to 1B/3B/DH as he was in 2022]. 

So I guess Julien is the one guy I see as "expendable" out of this group.

[tony&rodney]

Julien looks a little like Arraez with power and a bit more savvy on the bases. The onus is on  management to identify the best talent and put it on the field. Injuries and bad luck have seemingly dogged the team recently but the pendulum can swing at any time. One thing remains clear - the Twins need a top of the rotation pitcher and Carlos Rodon may be beyond reach financially leaving trades as the sole savior for this off season.

[Otaknam]

Lewis, Lee, and SWR should all be untouchable. They have the greatest potential to be impact players, which are essential to making a long playoff run. The only reason to even consider a trade of any of the three is to acquire an actual ace with team control, and even then I cringe at the thought. 

[Blyleven2011]

I too think Julien is expendable with others vying for infield positions ... 

SWR has made his debut last season ( one start ) and should be able to contribute when called apon  , most likely will start at AAA ...

LEE was considered the best college hitter in the draft  and he showed great promise in his minor league professional  debut  , he is right around the corner at making his major league debut ...

LEE will start at AA , move up to AAA next year and possibly make his major league debut if he stays healthy and keeps hitting , HE LOOKS THAT GOOD  ....

[Trov]

I think some are reading the article as they should be traded, or even will be, but it is just stating they are the most tradeable at this time.  Mainly, it is based on where they are at in organization, and possible trade value at this time.  All are pretty high at this point.  

I agree I would not look to move really any of them, but if you can get the right player back no guy is off limits in my mind.  Of course much depends on other moves.  Should we sign CC for long term, well that locks up SS and or 3b for many years,(depending on details of contract) which makes Lee and Lewis more expendable, if you do not plan to move positions.  

That is exactly why Steer was easy to move.  We already had many IF prospects that are boarder line SS with decent bats.  Even if he goes on to be a good player for Reds, people will need to compare him not to what we got in trade, but to who we sign, if anyone at SS, Lewis, Lee, Martin, Miller, and Julien, all guys that are in similar roll.  Also, Mirana and Arraez would need to be considered as they would play similar position as Steer.  That is a lot of other players that could all have better time with Twins than Steer would have. 

I have no player in mind I would move any of those guys for, but if you can get a young controllable top end pitcher, which SWR could be for ourselves, you have to listen to offers.  I would not like moving any of them right now for a 1 to 2 year guy.  The only one I would be open at this time for a 1 to 2 year pitcher is Julien, as he may be a great hitter, but his defense is suspect from what I hear.  We cannot have an infield of Miranda, (SS to be determined) Julien, Arraez or something like that.  

[Karbo]

Developing players is the only way to have a winning team for a mid market team like the Twins. Any type of trade for 1 of these 3 should be for a young stud pitcher with 3-4 years of control IMO.

[saviking]

No, No and NO .. I'm looking forward to seeing all three in a Twins uniform by 2024 

[TopGunn#22]

I would trade Arraez (19.7 BTV) before I would trade Julien (7.50).  I agree with the statement that Julien is somewhat like an Arraez with power.  I trade the higher BTV's guy Arraez, in a package to get a SP like Pablo Lopez.  It would take Arraez, Larnach and a little something extra to get Lopez.  I'd do it.

[Malachi]

On 12/7/2022 at 11:09 AM, saviking said:

No, No and NO .. I'm looking forward to seeing all three in a Twins uniform by 2024 

I 100% agree with this, but maybe julian in 2025