The first move they made, a few days prior to the trade deadline itself, was to move veteran starter Chris Paddack. He is an impending free agent, but they didn’t guard him from the division itself either.

Detroit came knocking and Minnesota was fine with sending The Sherriff to the Motor City. He’s already pitched against Minnesota twice, and things didn’t go well.

Chris Paddack headed to Detroit bullpen

For the Detroit Tigers, Chris Paddack has made six starts. Two of them came against the Minnesota Twins and his former team broke out the belt to the tune of 12 runs and five homers in just 9 2/3 innings. After a lackluster outing against the Kansas City Royals, manager A.J. Hinch decided he had seen enough.

The Tigers are moving Chris Paddack to the bullpen starting tonight

— Cody Stavenhagen (@CodyStavenhagen) September 2, 2025

The timing is a bit interesting. While Paddack has thrown batting practice to the Twins, he was largely fine in the other four starts. His debut was a six inning outing against the Arizona Diamondbacks and he gave up just a single run.

He got lit up at home by Minnesota, but then shut down the White Sox over 5 2/3 innings. After getting bludgeoned at Target Field, he responded with a five inning outing against Kansas City. That was just a one-run start. On August 29th Paddack made his most recent start and went just 3 2/3 innings allowing three runs on five hits. He threw just 58 pitches before getting the heave ho.

Brooks Lee GRAND SLAM against Chris Paddack! The Twins have hit Paddack well both times they've faced him since trading him pic.twitter.com/6wneJD6tnW

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) August 17, 2025

Paddack is a competitor, and he holds himself to a high standard. The results just haven’t been there this season, and it was surprising he was a prioritized trade acquisition in the first place.

A.J. Hinch pulls the plug on former MN Twins starter

While the overall numbers are inflated by two bad starts against the Twins, he still owns a 5.40 ERA (6.16 FIP) across 30 innings. Hinch knows enough about winning big games, and where he wants the Tigers to go, that he had seen enough.

Now Paddack goes to the bullpen. It’s a place he didn’t want to be in Minnesota, and not somewhere that bodes well for his future starting contract considerations. With Detroit though, it’s the place he needs to be if he wants to compete in the postseason at all.

Related: Twins Ace Nearing Return; Veteran Catcher Trying

The Tigers are among baseball’s best teams. Tarik Skubal is going to win a second straight AL Cy Young Award, and will start the biggest games in the postseason. Jack Flaherty and Casey Mize can also be assumed for starting roles. Paddack and Charlie Morton aren’t of that caliber, and it may have been deemed time to make the change.

No matter what, it’s been a mediocre year at best, and a bad one at worst for Paddack. He’ll hit free agency this offseason, but the line of suitors shouldn’t expected to be long, or lucrative.

Not all who were shipped off wanted that fate, others were asking to get out. While it was the Correa deal that lit the match on the Twins’ flurry of trades last week, it was actually Chris Paddack who was dealt first.

And on Tuesday evening in Detroit, the 29-year-old righty will face his former team in game two of this week’s series between the division rival Twins and Tigers.

Chris Paddack loves the Detroit Tigers facilities

The Minnesota Twins aren’t the first franchise Chris Paddack has played for at the big league level. He was acquired from the San Diego Padres after pitching their for the first three years of his career. But in the days since leaving Minneapolis for Detroit, there’s one thing he’s noticed. The Tigers aren’t cutting financial corners in their facilities like the Twins must be…

In an interview with the Star Tribune’s Bobby Nightengale, Paddack pointed to the clubhouse, the kitchen and everywhere in between. Target Field was built in 2010 and the most hyped upgrade since was the nap room created for Nelson Cruz, along with the childcare provided for families during games. In Detroit, however, the amenities provided to players seem to hit Paddack different.

“I mean, look at it. From clubhouse to kitchen to weight room, I think the training room is next, it’s top tier. It goes to show little things for players, for our bodies and our mind, the space that they create for us in here, it’s important. It’s just crazy what winning some games can do for an organization. Their front office is all-in on this group and started making some upgrades.”

Chris Paddack – Star Tribune

Chris Paddack, Filthy 78mph Curveball. 😷 pic.twitter.com/j4z8PDvLJE

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 30, 2025

The home clubhouse was remodeled in Detroit just two years ago. There is still a shine and a luster for the players that have been there. It has to feel that much more special to guys experiencing it for the first time, especially when coming from a Twins organization you know is trying to pinch pennies wherever possible.

Paddack took his first turn in the Tigers rotation last week. He threw six innings of one-run ball while allowing just three hits and striking out five. It will be interesting to see how he attacks Minnesota, and how the Twins respond when the two see each other Tuesday night.

Paddack weighs in on Minnesota Twins crowds

With the Twins sending players all throughout the league, it’s not surprising that plenty will cross paths on new teams. That happened for Chris Paddack and the Tigers as they faced the Philadelphia Phillies. Jhoan Duran’s entrance was on display, and the former Minnesota starter said it hit different.

“The guys were asking me, ‘Was it this good in Minnesota?’ I was like, ‘We had some good crowds, some good light shows and some fun games, but it wasn’t 46,000, lights turning off and the whole stadium is rocking. I was trying to hold in the smiles for him because he’s on the wrong side, but that’s what it is about. That’s why we play this game. You get goosebumps when you get those opportunities.”

Chris Paddack – Star Tribune

Jhoan Duran kept his entrance from when he was with the Twins and introduced it to the Bank. pic.twitter.com/LU1NvVHgyk

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 2, 2025

Paddack isn’t wrong. The Duran entrance hits different in a filled ballpark, at night, with fans knowing the game means something. This season the Twins have been able to offer the darkness, but that’s where things end.

Their attendance ranks 12th of 15 teams in the American League. They will fail to hit 2 million in total attendance yet again, and the rest of the way should see dismal crowds after the selloff was initiated by ownership.

Related: One Minnesota Twins Pitcher Devastated by Trade

It’s disappointing that so many around the country are just now seeing this moment for the first time. It could have been something celebrated in Minnesota if the franchise cared enough to get it on center stage.

We are likely to see multiple deals consummated by the Twins before Thursday’s Major League Baseball trade deadline. But on Monday, they got the party started about 72 hours before the deadline.

Detroit Tigers trade for Minnesota Twins’ pitchers Chris Paddack

Chris Paddack is in the final year of his three-year contract with the Minnesota Twins. It was assumed the front office may entertain moving his $7.5 million this offseason, but he returned and has been healthy. The Detroit Tigers are now add him as an additional starting option.

Full trade, per ESPN sources:

Detroit receives: RHP Chris Paddack and RHP Randy Dobnak

Minnesota receives: C/1B Enrique Jimenez

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 28, 2025

Paddack resurrected his value in recent weeks, especially his most recent start vs the Dodgers, where he went 6 innings, allowing just 1 run on 4 hits, while striking out 8.

Across 21 starts this season, Paddack has posted a 4.95 ERA (4.39 FIP) for the Twins. He has struck out a career-low 6.7 batters per nine innings but is coming off the best start of his season. Paddack had a 3.33 ERA (3.95 FIP) across 26 starts with the Padres in 2019, but he’s never returned to that form.

He gave up 11 runs in two starts during July, but he had a 17 game stretch that culminated in a 3.93 ERA, from April through the July 4. In return for Paddack and Dobnak, Minnesota gets Enrique Jimenez (more on him below), and they clear the final portion of both big league salaries too.

Details behind MN Twins + Detroit Tigers trade

Of course that last bit is exciting to the Pohlad family in conversations to sell the team. When the Minnesota Twins traded Taylor Rogers and Brent Rooker to the San Diego Padres, they grabbed Emilio Pagan and Paddack, hoping for the rookie version of the starter.

Related: Houston Astros Coming for MN Twins Trade Candidate

Detroit was not the only team looking to acquire Paddack. Jon Heyman reports that the Tampa Bay Rays also were interested in his services. Again, while Paddack has been mediocre at best, there’s no reason he can’t eat innings down the stretch. Minnesota still has seven games against Detroit, so they’ll likely see their former starter.

It will be interesting to see how the Tigers use him in the postseason if he makes the roster. Paddack was scheduled to pitch for Minnesota on Tuesday against Boston. They will now need another arm to fill that opening.

Randy Dobnak included in trade

Randy Dobnak being included in the trade also helps the Twins bottom line. He was signed to a five-year, $9.25 million deal prior to the 2021 season. The Tigers are now on the hook for the final amount of his $3 million this season and $1 million buyout next year.

Dobnak made the Opening Day roster this season for Minnesota, but his career was dramatically altered due to the finger injury he suffered in 2022. He had a 1.69 ERA in 5 1/3 innings with the Twins, but a 7.12 ERA across 60 2/3 innings with Triple-A St. Paul this season.

March 2019: Randy Dobnak drives for Uber during Spring Training.

October 2019: Randy Dobnak starts Game 2 of the ALDS for the Twins at Yankee Stadium.

Life's crazy, man. pic.twitter.com/kG2G12rAWt

— Cut4 (@Cut4) October 5, 2019

His success story will go down as one of the best in recent Twins memory. Undrafted out of now-defunct Alderson-Broaddus, he went from independent baseball to pitching in a postseason game at Yankee Stadium for the Twins. He will forever be among the best people to don a Twins uniform.

Enrique Jimenez becomes newest Minnesota Twin

Paddack will join the Detroit Tigers big league roster immediately. The minor league prospect acquired for him won’t be with the Twins for some time. Enrique Jimenez is just 19 years old and played in the Complex League this year for Detroit.

Full trade: The Tigers are acquiring right-hander Chris Paddack from the Twins for catcher/first baseman Enrique Jimenez, source said. Deal is done.

— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) July 28, 2025

It was his second season in the Complex League. Last year Jimenez posted a .242/.366/.376 slash line across 43 games. In 48 games this year he owned a .250/.339/.440 slash line. Jimenez splits time behind the plate and at catcher while hoping to develop into a big league option.

Enrique Jiménez launches a 2-run homer to left. It’s his 4th home run of the season. pic.twitter.com/A6yThduSJz

— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) June 5, 2025

Jimenez ranked 14th in the Tigers system according to MLB Pipeline. Realistically this is about the Twins clearing salary, and the addition of potential flier is just icing on the cake. With the Twins catching depth changing in recent weeks, maybe Jimenez can be an option years down the road.

It’s more than fair to suggest that the current ownership situation has put Derek Falvey and the front office in a bad spot, as has the poor play of Twins players.

Then again, an equal amount of blame should land on the shoulders of the front office, which has failed to get out of its own way at multiple different junctures during its near decade-long tenure. In other words, the failures of Minnesota’s 2025 season is everyone’s fault.

But now, with the MLB Trade Deadline looming, none of that matters anymore. The Minnesota Twins have some of the best players available, of any selling team. Whether buyers are looking for impending free agent rentals or they’re ready for a blockbuster, the Twins have what they need.

Joe Ryan lands No. 1 overall spot on MLB Trade Deadline Big Board

That became even more clear Thursday morning, when The Athletic released a fresh MLB Trade Deadline Big Board, ranking all of the most available players, leading up to July 31. Unsurprisingly, the Minnesota Twins are very well-represented, landing six total names in the top 50.

Nobody who made the list by surprise, but the most notable takeaway? Sitting at the very top, in the No. 1 spot overall, is Twins starting pitcher, Joe Ryan. They name the Chicago Cubs, LA Dodgers and NY Mets as the 29-year-old‘s best fits.

“Minnesota isn’t itching to move Ryan, who is 29 and under team control for two seasons beyond this one, but it’s easy to understand why teams will be calling the Twins about him just in case. Coming off his first All-Star honor, Ryan is a proven front-line starter with a career 3.67 ERA who pounds the zone and racks up whiffs, posting MLB’s seventh-best K/BB ratio since his 2021 debut.

Ryan might be effectively off limits even if the Twins are in seller mode, but some contenders could try to blow them away with an offer. Among all qualified starters the past two seasons, Ryan ranks second to only Tarik Skubal in K/BB ratio (6.1/1) and is also fourth in opponents’ batting average (.207) and 10th in ERA (3.15).”

The Athletic

Put together by Aaron Gleeman, Eno Sarris, Tim Britton, and Chad Jennings, The Athletic’s big board may have Joe Ryan listed as the best talent available. But all 50 players who landed in this article also got a red, yellow or green light to mark the likelihood they are traded. Joe’s light is red, meaning it’s unlikely he is moved between now and July 31.

Nonetheless, if a contending team believes they can slot him in near the top of their rotation for the next two seasons, beyond just a 2025 playoff run, it’s possible they come to the Minnesota Twins with an offer that Falvey just cannot refuse to turn down. But as all of the MLB insiders have made clear, it would have to be a HAUL of a package.

Joe Ryan's Ungodly Sweeper with 30 inches of Horizontal Break…with Tail. 😳 pic.twitter.com/rBCq28amFt

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 27, 2025

The reality is that Ryan’s 2.63 ERA is a career-best, and he is now a first-time All-Star. He’s making only $3 million this season, and his next two years will be held down by arbitration.

That reality is beyond enticing for any team looking to bolster their rotation before the postseason, and beyond. If he is traded, Ryan has made it clear that he will not shed any tears.

At the All-Star break, Joe told a member of the Boston Red Sox media that the trade rumors he has been involved in excite him, and that he’d love an opportunity to play for a contender. Could the Minnesota Twins be that again in the near future? Without Joe Ryan to help anchor the rotation, that’s a difficult question to answer.

Lots of other Minnesota Twins make The Athletic’s trade deadline big board

As mentioned at the top of this article, it wasn’t just Joe Ryan who showed up on The Athletic’s trade deadline big board for the Minnesota Twins. They landed six total names. Some are to be expected but there are names that we haven’t heard floated as much, previously.

Jhoan Duran checks in at 6th. Like Ryan, he would be an expensive controllable asset. The Dodgers, among other teams, have checked in on the MN Twins closer. His high-leverage bullpen mate Griffin Jax shows up at 10th overall.

Jhoan Duran, 101mph Fastball and 98mph Splinker, Overlay.

Good luck. 😯 pic.twitter.com/NeJkELwvUd

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 26, 2025

After that, we get to the players who have less control beyond 2025. Will Castro, who will be a free agent this offseason, is listed 24th. He represents a high-quality utility piece that could provide value to virtually any team he lands on.

Outfield free agent signing Harrison Bader is ranked 30th, and starting pitcher Chris Paddack landed the Mr. Irrelevant spot, capping off The Athletic’s trade deadline bigboard at No. 50. His last start against the Dodgers may have teams lining up for a relatively inexpensive addition over the next week.

Related: Minnesota Twins Demanding Insane Return for Talented Relievers

Maybe most interesting Twin who made the list is Trevor Larnach, who slid in at No. 42. Both he and fellow corner outfielder Matt Wallner appear to have flatlined. Larnach is a 28-year-old former first round pick who owns just a .243/.313/.408 slash line this season.

His 97 OPS+ is not far from the career 101 OPS+ mark. Since being selected 20th overall in the 2018 MLB Draft, Larnach has never quite lived up to expectations, after leading the Beavers to a National Championship, in his final year in Corvallis.

It’s fair to wonder what level of confusion a team sale presents the Twins front office. That said, they have done nothing for the better part of the last three years. At this point, it’s time to pick a path.

With the Pohlads already down bad with fans, Target Field was getting emptier. Meanwhile, Players were getting anxious, Baldelli was on the hot seat and former MLB general managers were writing up crazy trade proposals to “relieve” the Twins of their biggest (and most expensive) stars.

Fast forward a month and a half, two weeks removed from a 13-game win streak that launched them back up the American League standings, the now 32-27 Twins have won two-straight in Sacramento vs the orphan Athletics and now appear on a playoff path.

It’s not all positive, though. Pablo Lopez is expected to go on the injured list, after leaving Tuesday’s win vs the A’s with shoulder tightness. Not to mention, the Twins arrived in Sacramento having just lost two of three in Tampa and Seattle, to kick off their 10-game road trip.

Jeff Passan out on the Minnesota Twins at MLB trade deadline

So… are the 2025 Minnesota Twins now considered buyers? That would be good news, being they have plenty of weaknesses that could use work. When it comes to MLB insiders, few are more plugged in than ESPN’s Jeff Passan, who recently took a look at the entire landscape of the league, as we inch ever closer to the July 31 trade deadline.

When Passan got to the Minnesota Twins, you could almost hear the MLB insider hit the proverbial brakes on his keyboard. Officially, he has the Twins listed as “holders”, which means they won’t be sellers… but their improved playoff position is unlikely to make them buyers either.

What to know: The Twins were down bad after April and proceeded to win 13 consecutive games starting May 3. Following a streak-snapping loss, they ripped off three walk-off wins in a week. This is a team that, when healthy, has more than enough pitching and is perhaps a bat or two shy from giving Detroit a run for its money in the AL Central.

But that’s not the Twins’ deadline style. Risk aversion is their modus operandi. Status quo is their state of play. Even if they’re squarely in the playoff mix, they are not the sort of team that historically adds impact-type players at the deadline. So they need Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa to remain on the field and Royce Lewis to find himself and Matt Wallner to evolve into a middle-of-the-lineup force. External help beyond small additions here and there just isn’t the Twins’ way.

Jeff Passan – ESPN

It’s a sad-but-true reality. Last year before the MLB trade deadline, the MN Twins were 59-48 and sitting just 1.5 games back of the division-leading Guardians. Instead of making manager Rocco Baldelli’s life easier, with some legit deadline reinforcements, general manager Derek Falvey acquired Trevor Richards from the clearance rack.

Richards went on to pitch in 10 games for the 2024 Twins, posting a 4.15 ERA, before he was designated for assignment. If the Pohlads weren’t willing to help Falvey out last year, why would anyone expect them to do it this summer, especially when it currently looks like the 2025 Minnesota Twins will be in even worse position.

Related: Three Weaknesses the Minnesota Twins Should Address Before MLB Trade Deadline

Unless the Pohlad family is willing to go even further in the red than the $300-$400 million they already are or they find a buyer who is willing to take big losses during the first couple years of ownership, the front office’s hands will be tied.

Twins could still move Chris Paddack

This offseason, the Minnesota Twins had multiple opportunities to dump Chris Paddack’s $7.5 million salary via trade. Instead, they chose to keep him, since no trade partners were willing to offer anything for The Sheriff that could help their future outlook as a baseball team.

After a slow start, it appears that was the correct decision. Along with his trade deadline doubt in the Twins, he crowned Chris Paddack as the one player they could deal, should they decide to deal between now and July 31. Of course, that would be more of a selling move, being he has a 2.17 ERA in his last 10 outings (58.0 IP).

Chris Paddack has been fantastic across his last 10 starts:

58 IP, 14 ER, 14 BB, 46 K

Can’t buy run support as of late, but a remarkable turnaround for a guy who began the year fighting to hold onto a spot in the #MNTwins rotation.

pic.twitter.com/Zjfg79jfd3

— Hunter Shelton (@HunterShelton_) June 1, 2025

There’s still almost two months until the MLB trade deadline. If Chris Paddack is still pitching like he has been,he’d be one of the most valued assets on the market. Would that be enough for a competitive Minnesota Twins team to trade away a high-end starter they could use during a playoff run?

Related: Pablo Lopez Injury Update is Not Good News for MN Twins

It is funny to think that the Twins would sell, given their early-season turnaround. Heck, even Bowden is on that now. He recently listed nine teams as sellers and doesn’t have the Minnesota Twins among them. Two and a half months of of a Major League Baseball season is not enough to make season-long determinations.

And now, they’re selling. Longterm, that’s good news. But in the interim, it has the Pohlads even more sensitive toward spending. Because of their financial limitations, Twins president Derek Falvey pretty much ignored the free agent market for almost the entire offseason.

There were trade rumors that connected the Minnesota Twins to some intriguing talent on that market, but nothing ever materialized. At the time, we had a pretty good idea of the players Falvey was dangling out on the trade market.

In essence, the Twins were offering two of their depth veterans — SP Chris Paddack and C Christian Vazquez — both of whom the organization has pegged as overpaid for the roles they currently fill. Catcher Ryan Jeffers’ breakout 2024 season made the 34-year-old Vazquez expendable, especially for a team looking at ways to better allocate the $8 million he’s being paid in 2025.

The same can be said for starting pitcher Chris Paddack. His slot in the back of the Twins’ rotation was reserved going into Spring Training. But the organization’s impressive young starting depth at Triple-A St. Paul allowed Falvey to offer the 29-year-old “Sheriff” and his $7.5 million salary to interested trade partners.

Paddack signed a contract extension with the Minnesota Twins prior to the 2023 season, that was worth $12.53 million. This is the final year of that deal. Because of his injuries, the bulk of cash ($7.5 million) was pushed back into 2025. But for Falvey and the Twins, trading Chris Paddack wasn’t just about dumping salary.

Why the Minnesota Twins chose not to trade Chris Paddack

According to Minnesota Twins insider Aaron Gleeman (The Athletic) on the most recent “Gleeman and the Geek” podcast episode (Patreon subscribers only), the front office thought Paddack could bring back some intriguing talent, on top of some savings. Unfortunately, the offers Falvey would up receiving for the seven-year big leaguer did not allow the Twins to have their cake and eat it too.

While interested teams were willing to take on most, if not all of Paddack’s $7.5 million salary, they were not interested in sending talent along with the cash. That’s why, in the end, Twins decision makers decided not to move the 6’5″ righty out of Austin, TX.

“It is my understanding that the Twins decided that they weren’t going to trade Paddack just to shed the salary. He’s owed $7.5 million this year. They deemed him worth that money, or most of that money. It’s not that they didn’t have some level of trade interest.

They could have shed the whole salary, or at least the vast majority of it, but not gotten anything, or anything of substance in return…They were not closed to the idea of trading him, but it would have to be a “baseball trade.” It would have to be value coming back that we think is sufficient for Chris Paddack, setting aside the salary.”

Gleeman and the Geek

The Minnesota Twins got Chris Paddack as part of the shocking 2022 Opening Day trade that sent then closer Taylor Rodgers to the San Diego Padres, in exchange for Paddack and Emilio Pagan. At the time, Paddack was only two years removed from a rookie season where he pitched 140.2 innings with a 3.33 ERA, 0.981 WHIP and 3.95 FIP.

If Paddack’s struggles continue…

Now in his fourth year as a Twin, the Sheriff has undergone two Tommy John surgeries and has yet to pitch more than 88 innings in a season. That came in 2024, where he posted a 4.99 ERA (4.18 FIP) in 17 starts. That was an improvement on the 27.1 total innings he pitched in a Twins uniform between the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

Three innings
Three homers
NINE RUNS!

The @WhiteSox! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/2YpcL69LTn

— MLB (@MLB) March 31, 2025

We don’t know if Chris Paddack will pitch the rest of the season in a Minnesota Twins uniform. But no matter who he is pitching for, he is throwing for his MLB life this summer. His season didn’t start off on the right foot. Paddack was blown up by the lowly Chicago White Sox on Monday, to the tune of 9 earned runs allowed on 8 hits in just 3.1 innings pitched. It was the Twins’ only loss of that three-game series.

Not only was that first start a bad sign for Chris, it makes the Twins front office look bad too. If he can’t rebound, the MN Twins would have to replace Paddack in the rotation, which would mean designating him for assignment and ultimately eating $7.5 million in salary that — had they dealt him in the offseason — could have been invested elsewhere.

Related: Randy Dobnak Lands Back in MN Twins Organization

With David Festa and Zebby Matthews waiting impatiently in St. Paul, along with all of the other high-end starting prospects the Saints have on roster, Paddack needs to turn things around this weekend vs the Astros. He’s going to have some leash early, but one has to imagine he burnt up about three games worth of that leash in his first disastrous start.

Last season Rocco Baldelli’s starting rotation had plenty of question marks. A cash-strapped front office acquired Anthony DeSclafani. He never appeared in a game. Destined to be relievers, Louie (note, Louis) Varland and Brent Headrick had to work as starters.

The depth is significantly better this time around. That makes it all the more curious Minnesota opted against trading Chris Paddack this offseason. For now, he appears locked into a starting role.

What leash does Chris Paddack have with Minnesota Twins?

I was recently asked why the Minnesota Twins continue to show faith in Chris Paddack. The reason is simple. He makes $7.5 million this season. That doesn’t mean you (or I) have to agree with it. The contract is a sunk cost. Ideally he could have netted some sunflower seeds this offseason.

The MN Twins opted against doing that, and The Athletic’s Dan Hayes said that Paddack is “locked into the rotation.” That shouldn’t be a shock. It doesn’t mean the depth won’t threaten his job, and manager Rocco Baldelli has liked what he has seen thus far.

“It’s exactly what you want to see, but you don’t start smiling yet. That’s the way you want to start a spring training. That’s the way you want to go into the season. No matter how many starters you have in any given moment, or guys you think you can turn to, you’re always on the edge of your seat trying to make sure you’re prepared for anything that could happen to your team.”

Rocco Baldelli (The Athletic)

Depth is the result of the pitching pipeline fans have long clamored for Derek Falvey to replicate from his time in Cleveland. The Minnesota Twins have starting prospects that are both early and late round draft picks. Not all of them profile as an ace, but plenty have safe floors that should be able to find success at the highest level.

Chris Paddack does not have much success to lean on. He has thrown just 93 1/3 innings in two years with Minnesota. The Twins acquired him as an upside play alongside of Emilio Pagan from the San Diego Padres, but they haven’t been able to find any of it.

He has compiled a 5.01 ERA with Minnesota and owns and 87/22 K/BB. He made it back from a second Tommy John surgery only to be shut down with a forearm strain last season. Injuries have marred the vast majority of his career, and ineffectiveness has also been prevalent.

Related: Minnesota Twins Ramp Up Efforts to Improve Royce Lewis’ Defense

This spring Paddack has thrown three innings. Technically he has thrown five. Two innings against Tampa Bay in Port Charlotte don’t count thanks to the rainout. He gave up a home run in that game, and Junior Caminero took him deep twice in his last outing. His 93.3 mph average velocity last season was the lowest of his career.

Realistically it’s getting late early for Paddack. There are younger pitchers with better stuff behind him. Last season the Twins had tough decisions to make due to injuries. If they can stay healthy, there’s no reason to keep running an ineffective veteran out there.

MN Twins have multiple option to replace Chris Paddack

Last season the Twins found themselves scrambling for starters. Right now, that couldn’t be further from the truth. There are almost not enough innings to go around this spring, and that’s bad news for Chris Paddack.

Simeon Woods Richardson is the leader to grab the final starting rotation spot. As a rookie last season he started 28 games and posted a 4.17 ERA across 133 2/3 innings. That production is worthy of a fourth starting spot, and certainly could bump Paddack down a rung.

Beyond Woods Richardson though, the prospects are coming. David Festa made his debut last year and owned a 4.90 ERA across 64 1/3 innings. After two tough outings and a demotion, he returned to post a 3.81 ERA with a 3.15 FIP. Festa has a 7/1 K/BB in 4 1/3 innings this spring.

Zebby Matthews is going to make some noise this year!

The Twins' pitching prospect continues to shine in Spring Training, showcasing increased velocity, sharp stuff, and excellent command.

Hop on the Zebby train before it's too late! pic.twitter.com/Rcqm9Jw2kE

— Pitch Profiler (@pitchprofiler) February 28, 2025

Zebby Matthews also debuted last season. The rookie made nine starts tallying 37 2/3 innings with a 6.69 ERA. He begun the year in Single-A, so the meteoric rise was going to include hiccups. In five innings this spring he has allowed just three hits, no runs, and has a 7/0 K/BB.

Related: Twins Turn to Interesting Choice at Leadoff

Other top prospects will begin at Triple-A St. Paul this season. Travis Adams has already been added to the 40-man roster. Marco Raya joins him there as well. Both Cory Lewis and Andrew Morris will pitch with the Saints, and the former has one of baseball’s most unique pitches.

If there was a way to guarantee health, it might make sense for Minnesota to tell Paddack he doesn’t have it right out of the gate. That’s not going to happen obviously, but he doesn’t have much room for error when there are multiple arms coming to eat his lunch.

That means, we can expect just as much selling this offseason, as we can buying. While that’s not historically a winning MLB equation, it’s the Twins’ lot in life under the Pohlads. So, what fan favorites are Derek Falvey and new general manager Jeremy Zoll looking to trade?

Minnesota Twins trying to salary dump veterans

The Winter Meetings are in full swing down in Dallas, Texas. Sunday night saw a record-breaking deal come in for Juan Soto from the New York Mets. It remains to be seen how active the Minnesota Twins will be this week, but The Athletic’s Dan Hayes confirmed Monday which players are on the trade block.

Let’s start with the names we’ve seen elsewhere. By now, the Twins have made it very, very clear. They would like to unload SP Chris Paddack, UF Willi Castro and C Christian Vazquez to any team willing to take on most of their salaries. Paddack got Hayes’ official “most likely to be moved” award.

“Chris Paddack is the player most likely to be moved. Though his season ended in July, Paddack showed promise over 88-plus innings in 2024 as he returned from a second Tommy John surgery, enough that a team looking for an affordable one-year starting option should come calling.

The Twins also could look into trading [Willi] Castro, an All-Star who can play all over the field and only has one year before he heads to free agency. There’s also the possibility the Twins trade catcher Christian Vázquez, though at this point the team would likely need to eat part of his $10 million salary to make it happen.”

Dan Hayes on the Twins trade candidates (The Athletic)

Chris Paddack’s 4.18 FIP was better than the 4.99 ERA he posted last season. Health escaped him again, but he performed fine, and above that for stretches too. Pitchers are always paid on the open market, so a $7.5 million deal shouldn’t be much for an acquiring team to swallow.

May 19, 2024.

Chris Paddack against Guardians.

8.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 K#MNTwins lose 5-2.

FACT: Paddack completed seven innings twice in 2024. He did this just once between 2020-23. pic.twitter.com/63DCH42GkF

— Twins Gems (@TwinsGems) November 7, 2024

Minnesota may be leery to pay Castro this season after over-extending on utility-man Kyle Farmer. Castro was an all-star, but his 103 OPS with the Twins isn’t notable. He also is a liability in multiple defensive positions.

Vazquez is a stalwart defensively but can’t hit. Danny Jansen’s $8.5 million deal suggest that Minnesota may not have to eat a ton of money though. Realistically none of these players will net anything more than a salary dump. That gives Minnesota financial flexibility, but they have to replace each of them on the 26-man roster.

Related: Injured Twins SP Joe Ryan Reportedly Ahead of Rehab Schedule

Twins floating best young pitchers?

According to Hayes, the Minnesota Twins are also willing to listen on players that wouldn’t be salary dumps. Of course, the ultimate blockbuster trade involving the Twins would include Carlos Correa, but Hayes doesn’t see that as likely this winter.

Instead, Dan points to the pitching staff, where the Twins are apparently shopping three of their best young pitchers, Bailey Ober, Griffin Jax and Jhoan Duran.

“Other possibilities could include trading Bailey Ober, Griffin Jax or Jhoan Duran.“

Dan Hayes on other Twins trade possibilities (The Athletic)

104 mph from Jhoan Duran pic.twitter.com/tnZhWuBgg1

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 14, 2024

It’s hard to see how or why Minnesota would be intrigued by the possibility of flipping Ober or Jax. They have some starting pitching depth, but most of it is untested. The return likely wouldn’t justify how that could set the big league roster back.

Jhoan Duran was a name that Los Angeles inquired about last season, but the Twins understandably asked for the moon. If there is enough belief in the bullpen, then maybe he’s available this time around. What is Minnesota wanting to bring back, with these trade candidates?

Minnesota looking for corner outfield and 1st base help…?

Hayes reports that the Twins are asking for… first base and corner outfielders? While corner OF and 1B are positions of need for the Minnesota Twins, they’re also two of the most easily filled spots on the depth chart. Major League Baseball is full of all ages, sizes and types of corner outfielders and 1st basemen.

Related: Minnesota Twins Gain Additional 1st Round Draft Pick for 2025

Unfortunately, the Minnesota Twins were banking on one or more of Matt Wallner, Trevor Larnach and Alex Kirilloff to develop into the power-hitting LF/RF bat this roster has lacked in recent seasons. Now that they failed to find that guy, they are reportedly looking for one on the trade market.

Still, it wouldn’t make a lot of sense for the Minnesota Twins to entertain a trade that would send one of their best young pitchers out, in order to bring in a proven veteran first baseman or corner outfielder. Hell, they grabbed Carlos Santana off the clearance shelf last offseason, and he delivered a 2024 Gold Glove (and then some) at 1st base.

Sadly, most of the Twins’ logic problems come from a self-imposed spending limit that has recently been tightened by ownership. That’s a tough place to live for any professional baseball team. Then, a month ago, they listed the organization for sale, making the Pohlads much more than just cheap owners.

Now, they are cheap, checked-out owners. Like Michael Scott, when he put in his two weeks as manager at Dunder Mifflin… except more damaging to the company’s brand.

Multiple players on Minnesota’s roster have contracts that kick in at a higher valuation in 2025. That means the same roster gets more expensive across the board. If the Twins are going to swap out players, or add free agents, they’ll need to be active on the trade market. Thankfully it seems there’s early interest in some of the talent they have for sale.

Derek Falvey flipped closer Taylor Rogers, just before Opening Day, a few seasons ago. He picked up Emilio Pagan, as part of the exchange. But the plan also included the a controllable (contract), cost effective starting pitcher with lots of upside. That starter was Chris Paddack, now 28-years-old.

Chris Paddack on the Minnesota Twins trade block

In his time with the Twins, there have been flashes of the upside Falvey saw in this 6-5, 217 lb flamethrower out of Cedar Park High School (TX). Unfortunately, those sparks have been few and far between, because he has been on the shelf dealing with injuries for most of his three seasons in the Twin Cities.

Paddack has pitched less than 120 innings as a Twin. And in 2025, his contract calls for a $7.5 million salary. That makes him very, let’s say… ‘moveable’. Lucky for the front office, MLB insider Bobby Nightengale (Star Tribune) thinks there is some interest around the league in “The Sheriff”.

“Teams are still in the exploratory stage of trade talks, exchanging team needs, but league sources expect some interest in Twins starter Chris Paddack, who missed the final 2½ months of the season because of a forearm strain. He’s owed $7.5 million in the last year of his contract. Paddack was inconsistent with a 4.99 ERA through 17 starts, but he will be another year removed from his second Tommy John elbow surgery.”

Bobby Nightengale on Chris Paddack trade discussions (Star Tribune)

Realistically any trade of Paddack would be addition by subtraction. His 4.82 ERA with Minnesota isn’t a dumpster fire, but he has thrown just 115 2/3 innings across three seasons. The bar to clear in replacing him is not high, and another organization taking on his modest (in most worlds) salary would provide flexibility for the extra cheap Twins.

Related: Top Twins Prospect Recovering from Thumb Surgery: Here’s What We Know

That salary is not significant when it comes to a back-end starter. Surely, another organization will be willing to take on such a minimal risk, given Paddack throws 100 MPH with nice offspeed stuff. If he can stay healthy, his next team more than likely cashes in on a 2025 Chris Paddack investment.

May 19, 2024.

Chris Paddack against Guardians.

8.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 K#MNTwins lose 5-2.

FACT: Paddack completed seven innings twice in 2024. He did this just once between 2020-23. pic.twitter.com/63DCH42GkF

— Twins Gems (@TwinsGems) November 7, 2024

The thought process behind acquiring the former 8th round draft pick was the right one. Sometimes, even the best plans do not work out, and that’s what happened here. Once a rookie phenom, Paddack’s career has been marred by injury.

It’s illogical to think Paddack would flame out on opportunities before the age of 30, but the clock is ticking. As for the Minnesota Twins, who need high-ceiling starters to compete in training camp, this is clearly another cost-cutting move.

Related: Where Do Minnesota Twins Free Agents Rank Among Peers?

As was the case with Jorge Polanco, Falvey finds himself with no other option than to move somewhat expendable assets, in exchange for salary relief. What will the Twins get back for Chris Paddack, beyond more money in the Pohlads’ pocket? Probably nothing.

Derek Falvey and Rocco Baldelli are both back. So is pitching coach Pete Maki. The hitting coaches were all let go, however, and we can expect a lot of change on the roster, too. Unfortunately, they won’t be spending money to make those changes happen, which means Falvey’s Thad Levine-less front office will look to the trade market.

The Twins are for sale, but the Pohlad family will still be in control this offseason. They have said that payroll won’t decrease further, but a $130 million budget leaves them with no additional money to spend.

Ranking the most likely Minnesota Twins to be traded this offseason

Based on each player’s combination of value, both in-terms of salary and on-field production, here are the ten most likely Twins to be traded this offseason, ranked from least (10) to most likely (1).

10. Randy Dobnak, Starting Pitcher

The story here is well-told. Dobnak did earn his way back to the big leagues last year and posted a 5.59 ERA in just 9 2/3 innings. The walks have been an issue, but he has seen a jump in strikeouts. Minnesota is still on the hook for $4.2 million of the contract, but they’d let him go anywhere else if a team was willing to swallow that for a dart-throw starter.

pic.twitter.com/5rYEvi39sf

— Randy Dobnak (@Dobnak_) July 30, 2024

9. Justin Topa, Relief Pitcher

Minnesota acquired Topa last season as virtually the only usable big league piece in the Jorge Polanco deal. He was supposed to be a high-leverage bullpen arm. That quickly fell apart when he was injured during spring training, and Topa contributed just 2 1/3 innings this season.

Related: Minnesota Twins May Add a Gardenhire to Their Coaching Staff

It makes more sense for the Twins to keep Topa if they believe his health has turned a corner. He is arbitration eligible this year and is projected for just a $500,000 boost to $1.3 million.

8. Matt Wallner, Outfielder

At multiple points last season it looked like the Twins would trade Matt Wallner. Opposing teams called on him at various points but they never pulled the trigger. He posted a 149 OPS+ and was arguably the Twins best hitter. It appears that Wallner is in line to replace Max Kepler in right field.

Those reasons all make it unlikely that he is dealt, but this could be the last chance for the Twins to sell high and get multiple pieces in return. He will make the league minimum in 2025.

Matt Wallner last season — .877 OPS
Matt Wallner this season — .885 OPSpic.twitter.com/AQqr4Zf3GD

— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) July 24, 2024

7. Yunior Severino, Infielder

It has been a slow climb through the minors for Severino, but the 25-year-old is on the doorstep. Once an Atlanta Braves prospect before being declared a free agent, he has now flashed two years of power at Triple-A St. Paul.

Severino is limited to first base or designated hitter duties, and his glove isn’t great at the one spot he does play. There is plenty of swing and miss in his game, but he draws walks and hits dingers. Minnesota would deal Severino if they found a big league return in exchange.

6. Jhoan Duran, Relief Pitcher

This would be a big move, but not one the Twins will shy away from if the offer is right. Duran is coming off a down year that was likely impacted by his oblique injury. The Dodgers did call on him during the trade deadline, and Minnesota should ask for a haul.

Related: 3 Minnesota Twins Who Might Switch Positions in 2025

He’s first year arbitration eligible and projected to get a sizable boost up to $3.7 million. If Minnesota can parlay Duran into multiple big-league ready pieces, they probably have to consider it.

Jhoan Duran, Obscene 99mph Splinker. 😲 pic.twitter.com/QICuckfoF0

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 27, 2024

5. Jorge Alcala, Relief Pitcher

There was no arm used in a more confusing way this season than how the Twins deployed Jorge Alcala. He was options and recalled at breakneck speeds, and he was asked to throw plenty despite previous arm issues.

The reliever still posted a career year in spite of that. It doesn’t seem like Alcala is a guy that Minnesota will prioritize, and the easy out is just an unprecedented $55,000 buyout. If he is kept, it will be on a $1.5 million team option.

4. Willi Castro, Utility

If Kyle Farmer hamstrung the Twins unnecessarily last year, then Castro could be that guy this season. Farmer was given a $6.3 million contract through arbitration, something the market would have never produced. Castro, although named the Twins MVP, produced just a 102 OPS+ and is at $3.3 million.

He’s projected for a $6.2 million salary in 2025, and that may be a bit rich for a utility player. Minnesota can tender him a contract, go to arbitration, and try working out a trade in the interim.

3. Alex Kirilloff, First Base/Outfielder

Kirilloff may have sealed his fate with the Twins after disclosing a back injury only after being demoted. He has never stayed healthy, and just once produced an OPS better than league average. He isn’t a candidate to start at first base, as was evident when the Twins signed Carlos Santana.

Related: Minnesota Twins Utility Player a Surprise Finalist for Somewhat New Gold Glove Award

He’s not great in the outfield, and the bat has never lived up to draft projections. This could be a perfect change of scenery situation, and Minnesota probably isn’t jumping at the idea of paying him nearly $2 million in 2025.

Related: Minnesota Twins 1B Carlos Santana Keeps Gold Glove Hopes Alive

2. Chris Paddack, Starting Pitcher

When Derek Falvey dealt Taylor Rogers just before Opening Day in 2022, he did so with the hopes that Chris Paddack could regain his rookie form. We have seen glimpses of it, but he has also been consistently injured.

Paddack has $7.5 million left on his contract, and that’s a lot for a guy who should be a fourth option for the rotation at best. The Twins would willingly offload him to any franchise lining up to eat that salary. He probably isn’t going to return much, but it allows for financial flexibility.

Chris Paddack has a 1.02 ERA in three starts at Target Field this season.

April 10th vs Dodgers: 4.2 IP, 2 ER
April 22nd vs White Sox: 7.0 IP, 0 ER
May 3rd vs Red Sox: 6.0 IP, 0 ER pic.twitter.com/GhDp64D1Jt

— Twins Gems (@TwinsGems) May 4, 2024

1. Christian Vazquez, Catcher

If there’s a player Minnesota would love to move more than anyone, Christian Vazquez is it. Although his 60 OPS+ this season was a career-worst, the biggest problem is his $10 million salary. At half of that or less, the offense is fine with how good of a defender and clubhouse guy he is.

A team with no payroll flexibility can’t carry that number though. Because of his recent performance, the Twins will likely need to include a prospect in order to move Vazquez. This deal is probably going to hurt, but it has to be viewed through the lens of what happens to those dollars.

Am told that Christian Vazquez did turn down a larger offer to join the #MNTwins, thinks they can win.

Certainly hope Falvey and Levine can come through on the blueprint they sold him.

— Ted (@tlschwerz) December 14, 2022