MLB Insider Reveals Minnesota Twins Trade Target + Cost to Deal

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Jesus Sanchez - Miami Marlins at Tampa Bay Rays
Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Twins got back in the win column on Thursday night, taking down the Cincinnati Reds with a convincing 12-5 victory, the Twins’ first win in over a week (June 11). Byron Buxton hit two home runs to lead an offense that racked up 17 total hits, including 4 homers.

On Friday, they will start a new series back in Minneapolis against their National League neighbor, the Milwaukee Brewers, with their best (active) pitcher Joe Ryan (80 IP | 2.93 ERA | 89 SO) scheduled to take the mound.

Despite their recent slide back to .500 (37-37), and the extreme lead Detroit has taken in the AL Central, though, the Minnesota Twins remain squarely in the American League Wild Card race, sitting 1.0 games back of the third and final slot, currently held by Boston.

Minnesota Twins targeting Marlins outfielder

Reported Minnesota Twins trade target Jesus Sanchez - Miami Marlins
Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

As of today, with just over a month remaining until the MLB Trade Deadline, the Twins still consider themselves as a buyer. And at the top of their “shopping list” — if the Pohlads will allow us to call it that — is a left-handed outfield bat.

In an article posted Friday morning, former MLB GM-turned-Insider Jim Bowden (The Athletic) revealed Miami Marlins outfielder, Jesus Sanchez, as a top target for Minnesota, and one they’ve already locked onto, even this early in the process.

At 27 years old, Sanchez has proven himself as a consistent, quality bat, during his six-year MLB career. If acquired, he won’t blow the top off this lineup’s ceiling, but he would undoubtedly raise its floor.

The Twins have made it clear to opposing general managers that they are looking for a left-handed-hitting outfielder. Sánchez is one of their trade targets. He has slashed .251/.324/.412 with seven doubles, seven homers and seven steals in 53 games. Last year he hit .252 with 18 home runs and 64 RBIs. He ranks in the 92nd percentile in bat speed and the 76th percentile in average exit velocity. Sánchez, 27, is under team control through 2027.

Jim Bowden – The Athletic

Related: Could Tampa Bay Rays Sale Help Pohlads Sell Minnesota Twins?

With a .736 career OPS and 99 career OPS+ (499 games), Jesus Sanchez would be a nice addition to the Minnesota Twins lineup. He probably won’t lift them defensively, though. Jesus can play all three outfield positions, but he’s not a positive defender at any of them, and he’s a liability in center.

Sanchez has all sorts of range (2.45 career range factor per game), but he’s also committed the fourth-most errors (2) of any MLB outfielder so far this season, and he finished in that same spot back in 2021, with 5 total outfield errors in only 62 games played.

Miami Marlins want LHP Dasan Hill for Jesus Sanchez

Trading for a player like Sanchez won’t be an easy decision for Minnesota Twins president Derek Falvey, especially given what the Miami Marlins appear to be demanding, in exchange, which according to Bowden, is 19-year-old left-handed pitcher Dasan Hill.

Hill, who the Twins selected in the 2nd round of the 2024 MLB Draft, is absolutely ripping up low-A ball this season (1.65 ERA | 43 K | 27.1 IP) for the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels. This time last year, he had just graduated high school, out of Grapevine, TX.

In return, the Marlins would get Hill, a 19-year-old righty [Dasan Hill] whom the Twins selected in the second round of last year’s draft. He’s been dominant in the Low-A Florida State League this season, posting a 1.65 ERA with 43 strikeouts in 27 1/3 innings. This is the type of trade that’s been prioritized by Marlins president of baseball operations Peter Bendix, who has shown a preference for accumulating talent over big-league readiness.

Jim Bowden – The Athletic

Related: Former Minnesota Twins Pitcher Ejected From Little League Game… and There’s Video

I get that the Minnesota Twins are looking for a lefty bat that can balance out the lineup a little bit, in the short term. However, left-handed hitting outfield prospects like Walker Jenkins (AA) and Emmanuel Rodriguez (AAA) are both one call away from big league action, once they can prove any ability to stay healthy.

Meanwhile, the Twins already have left-handed bats in the outfield, like Matt Wallner and Trevor Larnach, who are already contributing positively to the big league club. Thus, I’m not really sure why Falvey would trade away a top draft pick who’s off to an incredibly hot minor league start, in exchange for a temporary outfield rental.

Nonetheless, Bowden seems very sure that this is exactly the type of trade the Minnesota front office is searching for. And no doubt, he knows more about what the Twins are seeking than I do.

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