Another Coveted MN Twin Open to Being Traded

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Griffin Jax, Minnesota Twins
Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Another day, another trade candidate for the Minnesota Twins. To be fair, Griffin Jax has seen his named floated as a high-end bullpen get for deadline buyers going on weeks now.

So it’s no surprise that — just days after the Twins let it be known around league circles that the they are opening up shop as sellers at the deadline — buying teams have been calling on their 30-year-old flamethrowing righty, among their most desired targets.

Griffin Jax, Minnesota Twins
Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images

Teams with nothing to lose, like the Dodgers, Mets, Yankees etc want Jhoan Duran, Joe Ryan and, of course, the aforementioned Griffin Jax. What caught attention recently, however, wasn’t how interested teams were in the Minnesota Twins’ most talented players.

What surprised some fans was just how happy Joe Ryan — their most valuable deadline asset rumored to be somewhat available at the MLB trade deadline — was to be involved in trade rumors, making it clear that no feelings would be hurt on his end if the Twins decided to move him.

Griffin Jax weighs in on Minnesota Twins trade rumors

Griffin Jax is among the best Minnesota Twins pitching development success stories. A 2016 third round pick out of Air Force Academy, Jax worked double duty getting through college, both serving his country and making himself known as a future big league caliber baseball player.

It took him nearly a decade and a move to the bullpen, to make it happen. Nine years after being drafted, though, Griffin Jax is one of the best relievers on planet Earth.

In 43.1 innings so far this season, Jax has a 3.74 ERA, which doesn’t even do his stuff justice. Look no further than that career-best 1.92 FIP, if you want to see why teams are so enamored with Phoenix, AZ native.

But just like his teammate Joe Ryan, Jax isn’t afraid of being dealt. In fact, now in his 30s, it sounds like he too would welcome the opportunity to join a playoff-bound team for what’s been a rare October opportunity five years into his fast-moving MLB career.

“Odds are I’m not going to finish my career here. That’s just kind of like the trajectory of a lot of high-end relievers. That’s typically the path. I’m emotionally torn because a huge part of me wants nothing to do but to spend the rest of my career here. This is basically all they’ve known. But at the same time, it’s exciting to see.”

Griffin Jax – The Athletic

There are different ways for losing teams to sell at the trade deadline, and how the Twins go about their deal-making business over the next week could tell us a lot about how they see the future. Without a doubt, the Minnesota Twins’ impending free agents are already up for sale. Come and get them.

What will MN Twins reveal about the future during MLB trade deadline?

No delay, no layaway. The bigger questions, however, remain surrounding what Derek Falvey plans to do with guys like Griffin Jax, and the Twins’ more valuable (tradeable) assets, of which still have two-three years of team control remaining.

Because sure, the trade deadline vultures will happily swoop in and pick up a Willi Castro or Danny Coulombe. Even Chris Paddack and Brock Stewart might wet their beaks.

But what the playoff-caliber teams around the league really want from the Twins, and who they’ll undoubtedly come hardest for, are some of the most talented arms on the pitching staff.

And while he’d be sad to say goodbye, it sounds like Jax wouldn’t shed any tears as he boarded his plane to a new baseball life, something Dan Hayes (The Athletic) confirmed in his reporting.

Knowing the realities facing the Twins, Jax is open to entertaining the idea of being traded. Not only would he like to receive a long-term deal, but Jax wants to win. Hard as being traded from his only organization would be, securing multiple desires wouldn’t bother Jax

“We know that there’s going to be a lot of pieces moved at different times,” Jax said. “They add and subtract at all times to help boost the major-league roster. … It’s a compliment to know that there’s other teams out there that really think that I could help push them forward. It’s sad, but at the same time, it’s exciting.”

The Athletic

The sad part is that the 49-52 MN Twins have underachieved. Jax could be available as a trade candidate because the team hasn’t gotten the job done. He is a key piece of one of baseball’s best bullpens and that is hard to leave.

Any competitor wants to win though. Jax could have an opportunity to join a new franchise and immediately view the prospects of his season outcome differently. His sweeper is among the most devastating pitches in all of baseball, and he’d put that on display for a new fanbase.

Although Jax makes just $2.37 million this season, he’ll have another raise coming through arbitration. Falvey has never shown a willingness to spend on relief arms, and traded or not, that means Jax’s time with the organization is finite.

Organization must consider a future without Griffin Jax

It’s one thing for the Minnesota Twins to trade their impending free agents, but only three should command legitimate returns. Short of Harrison Bader, Willi Castro, and Danny Coulombe, it’s addition by subtraction.

If the Twins were to deal either Jax or Jhoan Duran, they’d get a realistic return that helps them build towards the future. A bad team doesn’t need elite back-end bullpen arms until they are competitive once again. That doesn’t mean it won’t hurt any less moving such an incredible pitcher, but it does reveal why it makes sense to do so.

Related: Minnesota Twins Lose Young Pitcher to Injured List

Minnesota tried to have Jax work as a starter during his rookie year. The 6.37 ERA pushed him to the bullpen. This offseason he had interest in returning to the rotation for the sake of money with his stuff looking so good. That didn’t happen.

An acquiring team is going to keep their new asset in the bullpen, and the hope would be that he is every bit as dominant as he has been for Minnesota.

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