Minnesota Twins Getting Serious as Trade Deadline Sellers

If the Minnesota Twins front office was hoping to position itself as a buyer before the July 31 MLB trade deadline, the players in the clubhouse missed the memo.

Out of the All-Star Break, the Twins had 12 games until the deadline to prove they had something special in store for the second half. Instead, they’ve started this all-important stretch with just one win and three devastating losses.

Now sitting at 48-52, with nearly 10 teams between them and the final AL Wild Card spot, the MN Twins’ playoff chances are now down to 10% (PlayoffStatus.com). In order to reach .500 by the deadline, they’d have to go 6-2 over their next eight games, five of which are against playoff teams — Dodgers (59-42), Red Sox (54-48).

MLB trade deadline buyers are circling Minnesota Twins rentals

At this point, that doesn’t just feel impossible. It feels like climbing Mount Everest in nothing but shorts and a T-shirt. Thus, according to Jon Heyman (MLB Network, NY Post), team president Derek Falvey is cracking open the trade deadline doors at Target Field, and starting to seriously field offers from buying teams.

To what extent the Minnesota Twins ultimately decide to sell, remains to be seen. But for now, they’re at least open to trading away their pending free agents, which could be just the beginning.

As of today, the Twins are now seriously listening on their rental players, including Coulombe, Bader and Castro. While they will listen on All-Star starter Joe Ryan and star closer Jhoan Duran they’d have to be blown away, especially for Ryan.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 22, 2025

As soon as the Minnesota Twins tripped over themselves in June, and put themselves in this position, opposing teams have been waiting for this moment. And now, they’re patience may pay off.

Willi Castro — who’s making $6.4 million this season and due for unrestricted free agency this offseason — was the team MVP in 2024, and an AL All-Star. In 2025, his 1.4 fWAR is among the Twins’ best.

Related: Dodgers, Twins in Trade Talks Over Prized Bullpen Assets

Danny Coulombe is making $3 million this season, and he’s been worth every penny, The 35-year-old lefty has been nothing short of incredible out of the bullpen, touting a career best 0.65 ERA (1.75 FIP) in 27.2 IP.

Harrison Bader has been one of the MN Twins best players this season. He owns a 1.8 fWAR which is second-best amongst hitters on the team. Bader’s $8 million is the most expensive contract of the bunch, but an acquiring team would be paying roughly one-third of that.

The slide from Harrison Bader to get the ball in the corner and get it back in was smoooooth pic.twitter.com/sV7ERYh3Qi

— CJ Fogler 🫡 (@cjzero) July 5, 2025

Nobody in the above group is going to return a top 100 prospect, but it’s beyond fair for Minnesota to seek a prospect within an acquiring team’s top ten. Bader may wind up being the best all-around outfielder available on the deadline market, and Coulombe the top lefty reliever.

Heyman does touch on controllable assets for Minnesota. Relievers Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax may be those that generate the most smoke. Starting pitcher, and 2025 All-Star, Joe Ryan could be among them as well. Those types, all of which have multiple years of control remaining on their contracts, won’t come cheap.

What about the rest of the MN Twins impending free agents?

Heyman notes the Minnesota Twins’ top three free agents, but he kept others like Christian Vazquez, Chris Paddack, and Ty France out of his tweet. Falvey would love to move those guys too, but what would they get in return? A bucket of baseballs… if they’re lucky?

Among those not mentioned by Heyman, Paddack seems like the most logical to draw interest. He is making $7.5 million this season and has a 5.14 ERA (4.50 FIP). He could make sense as a back-end starter for a contending team.

Paddack has never found the stuff that propelled him to a 3.33 ERA as a rookie, but has shown a capability of good stretches. The problem is that he’s already thrown more pitches this season, than any other in his career, so acquiring him doesn’t come without risk.

Related: To Whom It May Concern: Good Luck Prying Joe Ryan Out of Minnesota

France may be movable due to the fact he is making just $1 million. Unfortunately he’s been a negative asset at the plate, and if he isn’t dealt, then DFA’ing him after the deadline and running other guys through the position makes sense.

For almost the entirety of his three-year, $30 million contract, Christian Vazquez has been terrible. The defensive value and clubhouse presence means something, but he’s simply incapable as a hitter (41 OPS+). Minnesota would love to see someone interested in taking the final payments of his $10 million this year on.