MN Twins Have Best Trade Deadline Assets to Offer Yet Again
Last summer around the MLB trade deadline, the Minnesota Twins sold in historic fashion, dealing double-digit big leaguers, including Carlos Correa and the entire bullpen, essentially flipping half the roster midseason in a way that most organizations wouldn’t dare duplicate.
That Twins team sat at 51-57 on July 31. This Twins team currently sits at 35-40. Meaning… unless they play well-above .500 baseball between now and the 2026 MLB trade deadline on August 3, it’s very plausible Minnesota could be heading down the same kind of road.
Currently, Fangraphs estimates the MN Twins postseason odds at 24.8%, thanks to a recent stretch of four wins in their last five games. Today, they go for a sweep in Arlington, against the Rangers, so anything can still happen.
ESPN ranks Minnesota Twins trade assets HIGH
However, that’s not what those around the league expect to happen. For example, MLB insiders Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan released a top 100 trade deadline big board on Wednesday over at ESPN.
Guess who is No. 2 on the list? It’s Byron Buxton. And No. 4 overall… is Joe Ryan. In total, the MN Twins have EIGHT players listed in the top 100, which tells us everything we need to know on what ESPN expects the Twins to do over the next handful of weeks.
| Rank | Player | Position | Likelihood |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Byron Buxton | Centerfield | 30% |
| 4 | Joe Ryan | Right-Handed Pitcher | 55% |
| 21 | Ryan Jeffers | Catcher | 85% |
| 46 | Trevor Larnach | Outfield | NA |
| 55 | Taylor Rogers | Left-Handed Pitcher | NA |
| 70 | Josh Bell | First Base/Designated Hitter | NA |
| 77 | Victor Caratini | Catcher | NA |
| 94 | Anthony Banda | Left-Handed Pitcher | NA |
Only the top 25 players were given odds to be moved. If the Twins turn to sellers, Byron Buxton’s odds of being traded shoot well above 50%, if he agrees to waive his no-trade clause. That seems plausible, if only for his hometown Atlanta Braves.
What is Byron Buxton doing up there?
It’s been a little while since we have heard from Buck on his current no-trade clause standing. Last year, he made it clear he wasn’t going anywhere, but that waivered a bit during the offseason, according to some reports.
How he answers the same type of questions in the coming weeks could dictate, not just his future… but, that of the Twins and teammates around him too. It’ll be a lot more difficult to sell big before the deadline if Byron doesn’t want to pack his bags.
Buxton has produced 2.9 fWAR this season, is on pace to hit 50 home runs, and is a legitimate MVP candidate. Asking that type of player to waive his no-trade clause, despite his staunch desire to stay, is a horrendous look. Even at 32, Buxton is a talent this franchise should be looking to build around, not ship out.
Byron Buxton is currently on pace to hit 50 HR this season! đź’Ş
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) June 16, 2026
Where do you have the @Twins star in the AL MVP race right now? pic.twitter.com/03YgzeuhYH
What about Joe Ryan…?
When Joe Ryan exited a start earlier this year it was unfortunate as the Minnesota Twins have already experienced so many pitching injuries. Another aspect of the concern was losing a significant asset at the trade deadline.
Thankfully Joe Ryan returned from injury scares earlier this season to produce one of the better first halves in his MLB career. Ryan’s 22.9% K/BB this season is 7th-best in baseball, only trailing talents like Jacob Misiorowski, Dylan Cease, and Paul Skenes.
Last summer, Joe thought he was shipped off to Boston, due to a false report. If Tom Pohlad decides to blow things up again this year, Ryan is the most likely top talent to go.
Joe Ryan's 9th K…thru 5 pic.twitter.com/4OoN9cmYcs
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 20, 2026
Goodbye Ryan Jeffers…?
Even more likely to go than Joe, is catcher Ryan Jeffers, who is due to hit free agency this offseason if the Minnesota Twins can’t get something for him at the deadline.
Jeffers was producing like an All-Star catcher prior to injury (broken hamate bone). This offseason, he’ll be in search of a payday that the Twins will have absolutely no interest in matching.
His .295 average and .949 OPS are both career-high marks. If Jeffers can get back in the next couple of weeks, and pick up at a reasonable level to where he was, he’ll be the most coveted catcher at the deadline. And his new team likely won’t let him get to market.
Other Minnesota Twins likely to go at MLB trade deadline
If the Minnesota Twins are selling, Trevor Larnach, Taylor Rogers, Josh Bell, and Anthony Banda would are all guaranteed to be traded. Every single one of them are on one-year deals that Pohlad and GM Jeremey Zoll would love nothing more than to shed for anything in return.
Josh Bell has been really good with runners on base, but he’s struggled overall. How much of his remaining $7 million salary will they have to eat to get another team to take his 87 OPS+ off their hands… is TBD. But in the right spot, Bell (8 HR, 45 RBI on the season) has helped the Twins win more than a few games in 2026.
"GREEN LIGHT!"
— Talkin' Twins (@TalkinTwins) June 17, 2026
Josh Bell drives in Byron Buxton to give the Twins a 2-0 lead.
Rangers RHP Kumar Rocker gave up 2 runs on 3 hits in the 1st.#MNTwins | #AllForTx | #MLB pic.twitter.com/qWvwxUyLnS
Moving Ryan Jeffers would leave only Victor Caratini and Alex Jackson as catching options. That’s already not a good group, but moving Caratini depletes it even further.
That said, Caratini has batted just .215 with a .630 OPS. If someone wants to take a bunch of what’s left on Catatin’s original two-year, $14 million deal… the Twins might not have a choice but to take what they can get and move on.
Alex Jackson actually has a better 87 OPS+ than Caratini’s 75 OPS+ this season. He doesn’t have the resume, though, and his 13/0 K/BB isn’t pretty either.
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