Report: MN Twins Reliever Requested Trade

If you’re still recovering from whatever insane reality you’d like to call the Minnesota Twins trade deadline fire sale that would be more than understandable. The Pohlad family completed a selloff of epic proportions. Derek Falvey was there to execute it.

It left the sport and fans in awe. Maybe not surprisingly, it sent shockwaves through the clubhouse as well. While veteran Byron Buxton did what he could to provide a steadying presence, the implications will be felt for far longer.

It got so bad that players who had futures seemingly already outlined with the club started bowing out. Carlos Correa took the first opportunity to leave. Griffin Jax said enough as well.

Griffin Jax requested trade from Minnesota Twins

It always seemed possible that the Minnesota Twins would move Griffin Jax. He is among the best relievers that was made available at the deadline. That became less straightforward when Jhoan Duran went first. By the time 38% of his teammates were sent packing, Jax had already said he was ready to be out.

With a mass exodus underway, Griffin Jax requested a deal of his own Thursday, one the Minnesota Twins granted only minutes before the clock ran out.

Derek Falvey said, “In Jax’s case, a lot of the other conversations we were having weren’t quite there. … But then the conversation with Tampa bubbled into a discussion about Taj Bradley, who, a very short time ago, was one of the highest-profile young starters coming up to the big leagues in all of baseball.”

Once the teardown was underway Thursday, including the shocking deal which sent Correa back to the Astros, Jax asked his representative to put in the trade request, multiple league sources confirmed.

The Athletic

As The Athletic’s Dan Hayes reported, Jax wasn’t initially certain he would be traded. He didn’t even necessarily want to be. While he was irate with Rocco Baldelli’s usage of him in the 13-1 drubbing against the Boston Red Sox, that wasn’t enough to request a trade. With the carnage unfolding around him though, there was clearly no reason to stick around.

Despite being under team control through the 2027 season, one of the best pitching success stories in recent franchise history had seen enough. Jax put up a 4.50 ERA (2.02 FIP) with Minnesota across 46 innings this season. He has been a top-five reliever in baseball by fWAR and his sweeper is among the nastiest pitches the sport has seen.

Griffin Jax, Wicked Sweepers…and Sword. ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/MEteME6Hkm

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 29, 2025

Ultimately that was enough for the Tampa Bay Rays to be interested. Falvey laid on praise of Taj Bradley a bit thick, and Minnesota certainly is buying low on the starter. That said, they have shown an ability to get more from pitchers.

Related: Rival MLB Owner Talked Pohlads Into MN Twins Deadline Fire Sale

It’s sad it came to this for Jax, but it’s also hardly a result of his own doing. He was mad about a game he was used where his individual performance was cast aside amidst an otherwise laughable effort. He was mad about his individual worth being non-existent on a team that clearly does not care about winning in the present.

This is the road that all leads to.