Minnesota Twins Exploring Division Rival Starter
The Minnesota Twins have two key areas they are looking to address prior to the trade deadline on Tuesday. If they have their way, adding a starting pitcher from within the division is of interest to them.
One of the best available starters intrigues Minnesota Twins
Rocco Baldelli’s starting rotation needed help as far back as this offseason. Minnesota decided against paying an aging Sonny Gray. That was a fine decision. Ownership told the front office that payroll would decrease by $30 million. That has had ripple effects. Minnesota needs another postseason arm, and Bob Nightengale is hearing that one within the division would be of intrigue.
The White Sox are telling contenders in the AL Central, including the Minnesota Twins, that they really would prefer not to trade within the division. The Twins and Guardians would love to get their hands on starter Erick Fedde.
Erick Fedde is currently a bright spot for the Chicago White Sox. His 3.11 ERA across 21 starts has him in contention for an American League Cy Young award. After years of mediocrity with the Washington Nationals, Fedde went to Korea and came back a changed man. His 8.0 K/9 isn’t going to light the world on fire, but the 3.76 FIP suggests his results aren’t just smoke and mirrors.
Related: Twins Insider Expects Core Outfielder to be Traded
Would the Minnesota Twins pay a division tax?
Most times teams don’t like to trade within the division for fearing a first-hand view of their miscalculation. Fedde isn’t a prospect though, and signed to just a two-year deal, he would be pitching for Minnesota in another season when Chicago will be bad. Fedde is making $7.5 million both this season and next. That’s a modesty payday for a quality starting pitcher, and the Twins would certainly prefer paying him that amount over Chris Paddack’s $7.5 million in 2025.
Erick Fedde’s final start with the White Sox?
— Sox On 35th (@SoxOn35th) July 28, 2024
4.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 1 HR
79 pitches – 47 strikes (9 swinging)
pic.twitter.com/FmI8rVC16a
Related: Insider Says Minnesota Twins Have No Money at Trade Deadline
If the Twins were to work out a deal with the White Sox, Chicago probably isn’t eating salary. Beyond that, the divisional opponent will ask for more in return than they have been offered by other parties. There will always be a division tax for those sorts of trades. The Twins certainly wish they would have just paid Fedde out of Korea this offseason instead. Now they must decide how much they are willing to allow prospects to burn them down the line.
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