Identifying the Twins Most Tradable Asset

The trade deadline is just around the corner. While many of us thought it may ultimately be a quiet deadline there have already been some deals struck. Most notably may be Taijuan Walker being dealt to the Blue Jays from the Mariners.

Across Twins Daily there have recently been several good write ups about some targets the Twins could try and acquire. Here I will explore the players who have value as trade chips for the Twins during trade talks. This year's trade deadline guidelines read that only players in the 60-man player pool can be traded. That has created speculation that the most traded player this deadline may be the “PTBNL” creating a loophole and expanding teams tradable assets.

Simply for ease of speculation, here is a list of the five most valuable and/or tradable assets in the Twins 60-man player pool.

Eddie Rosario

Rosario’s name is no stranger to lists like these. There is also no denying that Rosario has been very valuable to the Twins in many ways this season. Time and time again we have seen him use his cannon to catch runners on the basepaths. He has also hit .241/.307/.457 with 7 home runs while bumping his walk rate up from 3.7% in 2019 to 8.7% in 2020.

If the Twins want to go get someone of higher impact at the deadline they will need to give up something of value. Rosario may represent the most replaceable piece on this squad as it stands currently. He would also be available to the team receiving him through next season as long as they want to pay his arbitration number.

Speaking of Rosario being replaceable...

The Big 3 Prospect Bats: Alex Kiriloff, Trevor Larnach, Brent Rooker

I am going to go ahead and treat these three prospects as a group. We as fans have already wondered out loud if Alex Kiriloff and Brent Rooker should be looked at to help jump start the Twins offense this season. They also represent players other teams would certainly be interested in.

Because Larnach and Kiriloff are widely regarded as the better two prospects, Rooker is the player that would be the easiest from the Twins stand point to let go. That is not a knock on what he has done since last season at Rochester he hit .281/.398/.535 with a .933 OPS in 65 games. For the right return, I am guessing any of these three can at least be discussed.

Lewis Thorpe

Something has happened to Thorpe. After looking like someone heading on the right track and the pick by many to be a breakout candidate for 2020. Things have not gone well for Thorpe.

In 14.2 innings this season, the Australian has a 6.14 ERA and has been hurt by the long ball boasting a 2.45 HR/9. While all the raw tools seem to be there for Thorpe there is just something missing and maybe another team sees the value and believes they can unlock it. While at the same time the Twins bolstering their roster for a playoff run.

Edwar Colina

I personally would be very shocked if Jhoan Duran or Jordan Balazovic (not in the 60-man pool) were traded at this deadline. Mainly because I just don’t know if there is going to be a big enough fish out there worth their value. Colina could be another arm that would entice teams. Not much unlike Brusdar Graterol this winter did.

Colina is big and thick and can pump the ball into home plate with triple digit velocity. Ultimately I hope he sticks around, but his velocity along with his 2.96 ERA and 9.4 K/9 may be something other teams would like in a trade package come the deadline. Also, since he seems to be slated to be a relief pitcher it makes seeing him go a bit easier to absorb.

The Back-end of the Roster

Welcome to the “not so sexy” portion of the list. My personal feeling is that there will be more trades like this than anything throughout this year’s deadline. These are all guys that can simply fill out the end of a major league team’s bench. Of course that is also fully based on the Twins also being fully healthy.

Ehire Adrianza has been valuable to the Twins over the past couple years, but with his ability to hit free agency coming up and with Marwin Gonzalez and Ildemaro Vargas on the roster if it fetches something he could be expendable. Nick Gordon has been in COVID limbo but he either could be one of the possible replacements for Adrianza on the Twins roster or even the trade market.

Jake Cave would fit mold as well. Not much different than when the Twins acquired him, Cave represents good defense (even with some glaringly bad ones mixed in) with a bat that can get real hot real quick. Depending on how depleted rosters become I even wonder if AAAA guys like Juan Graterol and Drew Maggi could even get asked about in cash deals like the Twins when they acquired Vargas.

What are some names you would be dangling that didn’t get mentioned? Do you even think the trade deadline will be an active one? Love to hear your thoughts and don’t forget to check out some of the pieces written about who the Twins could target.

4 Right-Handed Relievers to Target

4 Left-Handed Relievers to Target

The Case For and Against Lance Lynn

3 Bats to Target

Former Twins to look at