And now, reporters covering the team are bracing for more of the same this offseason. What else should we expect out of a Pohlad ownership group that’s been on a mission to cut expenses since they announced a $30 million payroll cut, following the 2023 season, which produced their deepest playoff run since the early 2000s.

Shortly after the roster deconstruction this summer, Joe Pohlad & Co. pulled the “For Sale” sign from Target Field, meaning he and his penny-pinching family members will remain in control of the Minnesota Twins for the foreseeable future.

Royce Lewis opens up about fear that MN Twins may trade him

Not only does that have the fans feeling extremely uneasy about the organization’s future, but the players in the clubhouse too. At this point, no player can feel safe. Even guys like Royce Lewis, who two years ago was untouchable. Minnesota’s 2017 No. 1 overall draft pick has never been afraid to speak his mind to media.

This week, he cut open a vein on his offseason mentality in an interview with MLB.com’s Matt Leach. In the lengthy piece, Lewis tells the MLB insider that he’s bracing for a career-altering phone call at some point this offseason, and that he’s treating every at-bat with the MN Twins as if it may be his last.

“It was a good one. You never know if it’s going to be your last at-bat here [as a Twin] or what. You never know. I just wanted to enjoy it.”

“It has [crossed my mind I could be traded], but we don’t know what direction [the front office will go]. I can’t control anything. I’m just here and enjoying my time with my teammates and the guys here.

Because I grew up playing with all these guys, so [being traded] would be a weird situation. It would almost be like, I grew up with one family then all of a sudden, ‘Hey, I’m going to college.’”

Royce Lewis – MLB.com

In 2025, Royce Lewis reached 100 games played in a single-season for the first time of his four-year MLB career. While his .241/.289/.399 line is not pretty, it looks better when you realize that he slashed .216/.281/.302 prior to the All-Star Break.

If the Twins look to continue their talent teardown this offseason, like most expect, he will be one of the more intriguing talents for potential trade partners to consider. Not only is Lewis a former No. 1 pick with a ton of untapped talent, but his stock is down right now.

Potential trade partners salivating over Royce Lewis?

That could make him one of the more attractive “on sale” items available, if indeed our Pohlad penny-pinching fears are realized this offseason. Because the Twins no longer have a bullpen to speak of. And outside of starting pitchers, Lewis is the most talented player for teams to chase, if seeking an impact stick for their infield.

In the right situation, there’s little doubt Royce would return to the phenom he was on pace to be, prior to the 2024 season. In 2023, Lewis owned a 149 OPS+ in 58 games. He hasn’t been that guy for some time, but the 26-year-old still shows plenty of flashes that he still could be.

ROYCE LEWIS GRAND SLAM pic.twitter.com/hevjXt4LTp

— CJ Fogler 🫡 (@cjzero) August 23, 2025

Lewis made just $1.63 million this season, as a first-year arbitration-eligible player. Even with a 91 OPS+, he should get close to double that in arbitration next season. The Twins third baseman has made substantial strides defensively, and his offense improved exponentially in the second half of the season.

If the Minnesota Twins trade Royce Lewis and he returns to anything resembling the blossoming superstar he was just two years ago, it could go down next to the David Ortiz release as one of the worst front office decision in franchise history.

Lewis says he returned to Minnesota Twins lineup too soon

Royce Lewis also revealed in his interview with MLB.com that, after suffering a hamstring injury during Spring Training, he returned to play sooner than his body was ready. Lewis’ first game of the season was a May contest against Baltimore.

At the time, Minnesota was 15-20. Shortly after his return, the Twins temporarily saved their season with a 13-game winning streak that vaulted them back into early wildcard contention. Even that early, players were already sensing where the front office was going, if the season went south… which it eventually did.

“I came back way too early trying to make a push with the guys we had because we knew what the fortune was if we kept losing. Then ultimately we ended up trading away [10] guys. Once that happened at the Deadline, I was really bummed that I just came back a little too soon. My body wasn’t necessarily fully trusting…my mind, my body were off. So it sets you back, and then you have 75 at-bats where it’s kind of building up Spring Training timing again.”

Royce Lewis – MLB.com

Hopefully Lewis can finish the final week strong and have a normal offseason. Ideally, he will have no setbacks during the winter, as he prepares for a 2026 regular season that may or may not be played in a Minnesota Twins uniform.

Trading a fan-favorite and budding superstar when his stock is down would be one of the riskier decisions this team could make over the next few months. Then again, it’s only risky if the goal is to win baseball games. And the Pohlads have proven time and time again that is nowhere near the top of their priority list.

After taking two of three against the Boston Red Sox over the weekend, the Twins have extended that win streak to four back at Target Field this week against the Red Sox’ AL East rival, the Baltimore Orioles. On Wednesday, the now 16-20 Twins will go for a sweep in that series.

Let’s not get too optimistic here, but the Minnesota Twins scored nine runs on Tuesday, behind a 3-for-4 night (HR, 3 RBI) from Carlos Correa that raised his season average to .233. Royce Lewis and Willi Castro have rejoined the team, as well. And Byron Buxton is on fire.

BUCK TRUCKING HIS WAY TO HIS 8TH HOME RUN pic.twitter.com/DQbEzSObZf

— Twins.TV (@twinstv) May 7, 2025

Jim Bowden ready to pull the plug on Minnesota Twins season

But don’t tell that to former MLB general manager, Jim Bowden, who’s ready to pull the plug on the 2025 MN Twins season. On Monday, the GM turned writer/insider at The Athletic wrote about ‘five trades he’d like to see’ happen.

In his No. 1 trade proposal, not only did Jim tell the Twins to blow it all up before the MLB trade deadline, but implores them to do it sooner than later… like this month. So, who should be first to go, according to Bowden? One of their top organizational assets, 28-year-old starter, Joe Ryan.

The Trade: Orioles acquire RHP Joe Ryan from Twins for LHP Cade Povich, 1B Coby Mayo and RHP Michael Forret

The Orioles need an ace if they want to contend in the American League East and return to the postseason. Enter [Joe] Ryan, who can step into that role for them.

The Twins did little this past offseason. It’s time for a roster reset.

In return, the Twins would get back [Cade] Povich… [who] needs to improve the command, control and finish on all his pitches, but he should develop into a solid mid-rotation starter. He won’t be arbitration-eligible until 2028.

The Twins also would get [Coby] Mayo, who made his major-league debut last year and was just recalled by Baltimore. Mayo, 23, can play either infield corner, has home run power and is major-league-ready.

The sleeper in this trade proposal is [Michael] Forret, 21, a 14th-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft…This year, he’s been a full-time starter at High-A Aberdeen, tallying a 1.66 ERA over five outings with 29 strikeouts in 21 2/3 innings.”

Jim Bowden – The Athletic

Joe Ryan is a big chip for Minnesota Twins

Joe Ryan was acquired back in 2021 for the ghost of Nelson Cruz and and, as Bowden mentions, he’s under contract through 2027. He holds a 2.93 ERA with 47 strikeouts and only 5 walks through seven turns in the rotation. Joe’s 40 innings pitched are far and away the most on the Twins staff so far.

Joe Ryan was solid for the Twins today as he got five strikeouts in his first start of the season. pic.twitter.com/DYrVyecyra

— Ted (@tlschwerz) March 29, 2025

Ryan’s ceiling is that of a Cy Young pitcher. Yes, the Twins will have to pay him in the next couple of years. But they can worry about that when new owners roll in, which should happen way before the 2027-28 offseason.

Related: Glen Taylor Won’t Talk About His Interest in Buying the Minnesota Twins… For Now

The blueprint for Bowden’s proposed trade is a weird one. Why would the Orioles, who have now lost two-straight to the Twins and sit at 13-21 on the season be buying right now, while we sell? And why in the heck would they take back Cade Povich as the featured return asset?

Povich — who Minnesota dealt to Baltimore in a trade for Jorge Lopez in 2023 that now looks like a mistake — has a 5.55 ERA and 5.02 FIP across his first 23 major league starts. On Tuesday, though, he made Bowden look really bad when he allowed 5 earned runs on 6 hits (6 IP) Tuesday night in a blowout loss vs his former team.

Watch it fly, Carlos! 🚀 pic.twitter.com/hksqFUqyof

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) May 7, 2025

Since making his MLB debut in 2024, Cade Povich hasn’t been the same guy as he was down on the farm, in either the Minnesota Twins or Orioles organizations. At the minor league level, Povich posted an 11.7 K/9 ratio. In the big leagues, that has dropped to a 7.3.

Cade Povich… and Coby Mayo to the MN Twins, you say?

If you want to believe in this deal having legs, then — like Bowden — you have to really love Orioles prospect Coby Mayo, who currently owns a .087/.192/.087 slash line in his first 52 major league plate appearances.

While he’s off to a slow MLB start, the 23-year-old third baseman proved himself as a prospect, posting a .286 batting average and .918 OPS in the minors. Mayo entered the 2025 season as a top-15 prospect, according to multiple national lists. His long-term position is expected to be first base.

It's an extremely small sample size, but Coby Mayo has DESTROYED lefties in AAA so far this year.

In 17 AB: .529/.579/1.471, 4 HR, 9 RBI 🔥

If Brandon Hyde gives him consistent playing time, we could see a breakout season from Coby Mayo in the majors 👀pic.twitter.com/LRNkZvPm3m

— Baltimore Sports Fan (@88OriolesFan88) May 3, 2025

But let’s be real. Digging themselves out of what is still a 6.5 game gap between the MN Twins and AL Central leading Detroit Tigers will require a herculean effort the rest of the way. It’s certainly still possible, but it will be anything but easy.

If the Minnesota Twins opt for a shake up…

Though I don’t like the proposed Bowden deal at all, that doesn’t mean the Minnesota Twins roster doesn’t need change. Derek Falvey opted against doing so this offseason, but things can’t continue to trend like this. If the Twins decide to open up shop as trade deadline sellers, Pablo Lopez is way more likely to go than Ryan. Bailey Ober, too.

It could be hard to find trade value for negative assets like Christian Vazquez and Carlos Correa, but Jhoan Duran or even a resurgent Chris Paddack would likely interest buyers. Oh, and here are some highlights of Michael Forret, who Jim Bowden called “the sleeper” in his proposed deal.

Top 50 Orioles prospects countdown:

#8) RHP Michael Forret: A 14th round pick out of the JUCO ranks in 2023, Forret has quickly established himself as one of the top prospects in the system.

Full episode: https://t.co/kxv8gh7Q8g pic.twitter.com/xJoXVFQy2J

— The Verge- An Orioles MiLB Podcast (@TheVergePod) February 16, 2025

Those three losses over the weekend dropped the Twins down to fourth in the AL Central, behind only the lowly Chicago White Sox, who finished the 2024 season with the worst record (41-121) in Major League Baseball since the 1962 Mets (40-122).

Chicago White Sox in town with cure for Minnesota Twins

Thankfully, those bottom-dwelling South Siders arrived in the Twin Cities Sunday with a much-needed get-right opportunity for the struggling home Twinkies. Not only did the 2024 White Sox help their division rival Twins get back on track multiple times last season, but they’ve already helped steer the Twins’ 2025 ship back in the right direction already once this year.

Earlier this month, after suffering an opening series sweep in St. Louis at the hands of the Cardinals, Minnesota flew to the South Side of Chicago to get right, which they did, taking two of three on the road vs the Sox. Since then, the Twins have gone 5-11. In other words, this series couldn’t have come at a better time.

Related: MN Twins Manager Rocco Baldelli Sitting on Top of Hot Seat List

The Twins’ biggest problem has probably been the batting lineup. That said, there is plenty of blame to go around. No team’s pitching staff has a worse WPA (win probability added) than Minnesota’s -1.6. The starting rotation has been disappointing, but the bullpen (somehow) has been even worse.

Jhoan Duran named selling Twins’ top trade candidate

If the Minnesota Twins don’t find some wins against the White Sox this week, then parlay that into a better run of baseball, this team is on the fast track to being one of the first trade deadline sellers in the American League.

Given how much talent is on the Twins’ 2025 roster, the rest of the MLB would love nothing more than to see Minnesota continue their nosedive. Among those who buying teams would have the most interest in, is flamethrowing right-hander, Jhoan Duran, who’s already drawn trade interest recently.

In fact, MLB insider David Schoenfield (ESPN) has Duran as the most obvious trade candidate on a talented roster full of valuable assets that would probably hit the market, should the MN Twins’ continue to lose games like they have to start this season.

“The Twins had the best preseason projection of this group but haven’t played well so far. If they’re out of the running, they could make the trade deadline a lot more interesting if they’re willing to deal some of their controllable players, such as Duran. As a rookie in 2022, he looked as if he would turn into one of the league’s top relievers. It hasn’t quite happened, but he still throws 100 mph and could be added to the late-inning pitching mix for a playoff team. From Minnesota’s perspective, even though Duran is under team control for two more years, he’s making $4.125 million this year and will get a raise next year — which, for the Twins, might mean he becomes a trade candidate.”

David Schoenfield – ESPN

Duran is off to a nice start this season. Through 10 games, the flamethrowing righty has a 0.96 ERA and owns a 9/4 K/BB ratio across 9 1/3 innings. He has allowed only one run all season, on four hits. Of course, Duran only has one save on the season… but that’s a Minnesota Twins problem, not a Jhoan Duran problem.

Duran, 27, doesn’t isn’t due to hit free agency until 2028, but — as Schoenfield notes — the Twins would love to cut out some of the $4+ million owed to him in 2025, a number that is sure to jump again in 2026, when he takes his next jump in arbitration.

Jhoan Duran, 100mph Fastball and 98mph Splinker, Overlay.

That's fair. 🤣 pic.twitter.com/yo0EY8faV7

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 6, 2025

A buying team needed to add heat and playoff experience to the bullpen would love to get its hands on a high-end reliever like Jhoan Duran, whose only now entering the prime of his career. It’s disappointing to think that a dominant reliever making $4 million this year and under $10 million by 2027 is too rich for the Twins, but that’s reality under Pohlad ownership.

Minnesota has also seen Duran somewhat reinvent himself. His 100.1 mph average fastball velocity is a career low, but he’s adjusted to throwing more of his offspeed pitches like the slider, knuckle-curve and even a brand new sweeper.

It can be tough to get a major return haul in any trade for a reliever, but the Twins would have plenty of suitors for Duran, which would help drive up his price at least a little bit.

If selling, the MN Twins will have multiple trade candidates

But if the MN Twins continue to fall out of contention, then we can expect a lot more talent to be dealt at the deadline than just Durant. In that case, Falvey would probably blow the whole thing up, especially if Carlos Correa agrees to waive his no-trade clause..

Related: Brutal Collision Lands Former Minnesota Twins Fan Favorite in Houston Hospital

Among those at the top of the Twins seller list, even ahead of Correa, would be Chris Paddack, Harrison Bader and Christian Vazquez, veterans who do not have term remaining on their contract after this season.

Rocco Baldelli and Derek Falvey need to figure out how to turn their 2025 sinking ship around fast or this will be the reality Minnesota Twins fans are living in for the next 5 months, more concerned about who is being traded away than what is unfolding on the baseball field.

You can only ‘cry wolf’ so many times, before promises ring hollow on a fanbase growing more apathetic every summer. My MN sports fan 6th sense is tingling. It’s starting to feel like the Twins are planning an offseason yard sale on their roster. The focus? Unloading the best and most expensive players, in order to allow “more flexibility”. If true, standing front and center when potential buyers walk in, is a slightly used Carlos Correa.

Related: Hulu Live TV Price, Plans and Bundles: Is It the Right Choice for Minnesota Sports Fans?

Carlos Correa + New York trade rumors starting to rumble…

Insiders around the MLB feel weird about the Minnesota Twins, too. That’s why, on Saturday, MLB insider Joel Sherman (New York Post) called for either the New York Yankees or New York Mets to swing a blockbuster trade to land Correa in The Big Apple.

Structurally, the Twins don’t work. Their three key positional pieces — Correa, Buxton and Lewis — are injury prone. The trio started together just 26 times last year. Keeping that nucleus intact leaves Minnesota too vulnerable to playing too often without one or more of them.

Financially, the Twins don’t work well. The Twins, with uncertainty about their local TV deal, slashed payroll about $30 million in 2024 to around $125 million and plan to be roughly at that level this year. But they signed Correa at a $33.3 million average for six years with the belief that payrolls would be $150 million-ish or more.

Joel Sherman (New York Post)

So… wow. I’m going to mostly ignore the fact that it only took one phone call from a New York reporter for Twins president of baseball operations, Derek Falvey, to sing like a songbird. In Sherman’s report, more of which is below, we found out that (a) last season’s player payroll cuts were 100% due to uncertainty surrounding the Twins’ television contract with Diamond Sports Group. It was not about “rightsizing” the budget of a failing business model.

Twins PoBO Derek Falvey blindsided by player payroll cuts

Also, Sherman reveals that (b) the Minnesota Twins’ front office was as blindsided by the Pohlad payroll cuts as fans were. When the Twins re-signed Carlos Correa for $33 million per season, Falvey & Co expected to be operating with a future player payroll budget of $150 -$160 million.

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

Had the Twins PoBO known Twins ownership was going to cut player spending that drastically, there is no way they would have considered bringing Carlos Correa back. You just don’t pay one player $33 million dollars, when you have 40 other players to fit into a $120-130 million budget.

For months, we have heard Derek Falvey spew lies to local reporters about how thankful he is for the Pohlad family. How Minnesota Twins owners have given his front office everything it needs to build a World Series roster.

Related: MLB Teams are Supposedly Interested in Oft-Injured Minnesota Twins Starter

Now, in mid-November, we find out that was all bologna… which brings us back to an overarching question, looking forward to 2025. Do the Twins really have a tight budget problem? Or… do they have a Carlos Correa problem? Because those are two very different things, even if both are caused by cheap owners.

Minnesota Twins invite trade offers for Carlos Correa

Oh, you think I am letting my imagination run wild? That I am getting hysterical and starting conspiracy theories? What if I told you that the author of this NYP article actually talked to — and got direct on-record quotes from — Minnesota Twins PoBO Derek Falvey for his story? Because he did, and the on-record quote sounds more like a sales ad.

“If they came at us, we’re open-minded to anything,” Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said. “Obviously Carlos has a full no-trade clause. We love him. We’re always open-minded when teams hit us on all of our players. We’ve been hit on Carlos before, we’ve been hit on Byron [Buxton] before, we’ve been hit on Royce [Lewis] before. That’s not shocking to anybody, but we hold an extremely high bar to even start that conversation, and I still feel like those guys are critical to our success.”

Check Out: How to Watch the New York Mets Without Cable in 2025

Twins president Derek Falvey (as relayed by the New York Post)

We all know that front offices around professional sports are constantly talking to each other about different players. They make it known who they lo like, and who they don’t. Trade ideas are floated, interest is gauged. These things probably happens all the time.

Derek Falvey isn’t supposed to say the quiet part out loud…?

But the first rule about superstar trade talks, is that you never talk publicly about superstar trade talks. And you absolutely do not go on record with a major national media outlet about those conversations. Then, in the next breath, I love how Falvey pretty much tells everyone reading ‘oh, and we are also taking calls on Byron Buxton and Royce Lewis, too’.

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

Maybe Derek Falvey should just put Correa, and other highly paid Twins, onto Facebook Marketplace. That would be sure to drum up more interest. ‘Superstar Shortstop (and others) for Sale – Past injury issues but works GREAT when healthy‘

Just think about how insane that above quote is from Falvey. For example, Minnesota Timberwolves president of basketball operations, Tim Connelly has made a few stunning trades in his day. Never has he gone on-record (with a NY media tabloid) and openly welcomed other teams to call on Anthony Edwards.

Look at what happened with Karl-Anthony Towns, before he was shipped him out of town. Even KAT was in complete shock when gangster Tim rolled up and told him he had been traded, (four minutes prior to when the deal was reported on Twitter, by Shams).

Minnesota Vikings General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who has made some media mistakes in his day, would never be caught talking on the record with reporters about all the trade offers he is kicking around with other NFL GMs, regarding Justin Jefferson. Maybe these calls do take place. If so, however, they are kept under wraps.

Minnesota Twins fans should brace themselves for Correa’s exit

Unless, of course, you are inviting more teams to call with more trade offers. Then, it would make sense to go to one of the biggest tabloid media outlets in the world, trying to spread the trade rumors. That’s what a team who can no longer afford their $33 million superstar would probably do.

Related: Justin Jefferson + Anthony Edwards Throwback Reshoot Photos are Finally Here

So… if you are a Minnesota Twins fan who enjoys Carlos Correa, I have some bad news for you. He probably won’t be in your favorite team’s uniform by the time Spring Training rolls around. At least, not if Derek Falvey and the Pohlads can help it.

People who have played with Correa will tell you he is obsessed with winning and trying to make the Hall of Fame — both clearer shots with a New York team, especially if the Twins suggest that his contract at their current payroll will lead to at least a soft rebuild — a message to not use his no-trade clause as a preventative measure.

Correa’s remaining contract and dubious durability — let’s call it a probable 120-ish games a year — works far better with a team like those in New York with a $300 million-ish payroll to work around it than a $120 million-ish allotment.

Joel Sherman (New York Post)

Let’s be honest. The Twins’ marriage with Carlos Correa doesn’t make sense anymore. He wants to play in the postseason year-after-year, and make World Series runs. Meanwhile, the Pohlads want to cut off player spending to a number that’s below league average, then brainwash fans into thinking they care about winning. Those two approaches do not align.

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

Minnesota Twins need a front-rotation starting pitcher at MLB trade deadline

But once you get to the playoffs, pitching wins. Just look at the All-Star game. When the best pitchers face the best hitters, pitching will usually win out. In a seven game series, that truth becomes even more evident.

Even if Pablo Lopez recovers from one of the worst halves of a baseball season in his young career and Joe Ryan proves he can be a top-3 starter for an entire 162 game season, the Minnesota Twins will fall one bona fide starter away from having a truly trustworthy playoff rotation.

Related: Minnesota Twins Trade Deadline Needs Ranked

Of course, options are rather limited to begin with. Trade deadline sellers do not give away their best starting pitchers. In fact, starters are without a doubt the most expensive asset to buy this time of year. That’s a problem when your owners are trying to cut back on costs.

That’s why we have seen the Twins connected to Toronto Blue Jays starter, Yusei Kikuchi, a 33-year-old lefty with a 97 mph fastball. He could slide into the 3rd rotation spot and not cost an arm or leg in prospects or salary.

Nathan Eovaldi may be best option available to Twins at deadline

But there is another starter out there who would fit what Minnesota needs even better than Kikuchi. His name is Nate Eovaldi, a 34-year-old veteran righ-hander with the Texas Rangers. Entering the break, he held a 2.97 ERA, 1.043 WHIP, 133 ERA+ and 3.58 FIP in 97 innings pitched.

Nathan Eovaldi's 2Ks in the 5th. pic.twitter.com/itPSL1A4db

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 3, 2024

The Texas Rangers are currently four games under .500. They sit five games back of the Mariners in the AL West, 7.5 games back in the AL Wildcard race. If they trip out of the 2nd half gates, the 2023 champs could officially put a “For Sale” sign out.

If that happens, Nathan Eovaldi fits what the Twins need almost too perfectly. Yes, his numbers this season are outstanding and he’s been good his entire career. But if president of baseball operations Derek Falvey wants proven postseason experience that won’t cost a Walker Jenkins type trade package, there is no starter on the market better suited for that role than the 2008 11th round pick out of Alvin High School (TX).

Even better in the postseason…?

Nate Eovaldi has logged 79.2 playoff innings during his career, between three different runs with the Boston Red Sox and, in 2023, with the Rangers. In those near 80 innings, he has a 9-3 record, with a 3.05 ERA, 1.042 WHIP and 9.3 SO/9. He’s pitched in three ALCS and two World Series. Last postseason in Texas, he went 5-0 on their way to a championship.

Nasty. Nate.

Nathan Eovaldi ended #Postseason with a 5-0 record and a 2.95 ERA 😳 pic.twitter.com/phPZXG8VqE

— MLB Europe (@MLBEurope) November 2, 2023

No doubt Eovaldi will be available, if the Rangers start selling off pieces of last season’s championship clubhouse. Minnesota wants a rental and Eovaldi seems to fit that bill perfectly, if they are willing to pay up a bit more than what they’d have to for Kikuchi… but he may not be a rental after all.

Nate Eovaldi’s contract

It’s worth noting that he may not fall under the “rental” category, though. With another 62 innings (needs 300 innings total between 2023 and 2024), Eovaldi’s contract would vest for next season, according to Spotrac.com, which would give him a 2025 player option worth $20 million. If he doesn’t pitch another 62 innings, his contract can be bought out for just $2 million.

If it’s difficult to find a front-end starter anywhere on the trade block, even if you’re willing to pay some of the absurd bounties being demanded by the team trying to sell them, how in the world are the Minnesota Twins going to find one in the clearance aisle?

Related: Twins Projected to Pass Guardians in AL Central

Admittedly, it won’t be easy. “Frustrating” does not properly describe how fans should feel knowing the billionaire owners of their favorite baseball team weren’t willing to take a small haircut on revenue for a year or two, even if it meant keep the core of a World Series roster together. Remember, Sonny Gray is the exact starter that they are now searching for.

Nathan Eovaldi won’t be cheap, but he won’t cost Walker Jenkins or Brooks Lee. If the Minnesota Twins are going to improve their playoff rotation before the deadline, I cannot imagine there will be a better (realistic) option available to them.

Our beloved Twins are currently an American League wildcard team, at 54-42. They’ll enter Saturday’s restart with an 84% chance to make the playoffs and 4.5 games back of the AL Central leading Cleveland Guardians.

Minnesota Twins are MLB trade deadline renters, not buyers

That should make the Twins obvious buyers at the MLB trade deadline, but that’s not necessarily true. The Twins are more like renters, especially in the starting pitcher market. According to a Dan Hayes piece in The Athletic on Thursday morning, “Rumblings around the organization would suggest the Twins are interested in acquiring a rental starting pitcher.“

This ‘rent-only’ approach is the opposite of what we have seen from Twins PoBO Derek Falvey, in the past. But with ownership in full penny-pinching mode, a rent-first mindset is really the only option. Believe it or not, good starting pitchers are expensive and they aren’t all that easy to find.

Which they do, and they may even be honing in on a possible target. Yusei Kikuchi is a 33-year-old left-handed starter for the Toronto Blue Jays. Media reports have him likely to be moved, before the deadline. Hayes is not the first MLB reporter to link Kikuchi to the Twins, either.

Yusei Kikuchi, 97mph ⛽️ pic.twitter.com/i5vRvyDuUu

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 28, 2024

Thursday morning, Yusei Kikuchi was the only name mentioned in Dan Hayes piece, at the Athletic. He wrote that the Twins needs and possible target positions include (1) a front-end starting pitcher, (2) bullpen help and, if it falls in their lap, (3) a proven postseason bat that can plugged into an already potent lineup as a DH or 1B or Corner OF.

Are the Twins targeting Yusei Kikuchi?

Yet, Kikuchi is the only trade target mentioned by name. “The [Twins] could target Toronto left-hander Yusei Kikuchi, who is striking out 9.9 batters per nine innings and will be a free agent after the season.”

Related: Minnesota Twins Trade Deadline Needs Ranked

Kikuchi is in the final year of a 3-year contract that he signed with the Jays in 2022. It pays him $10 million total this season. Whichever team he is dealt to will be on the hook for less than half of that, which is music to Pohlad ears.

So, not only is Yusei a high-end starting pitcher rental option, but he’s also left-handed (which the Twins do not currently have in their rotation), and he’s cheap, at < $5 million.

• Yusei Kikuchi 2024 Stats: 4-8 W/L | 106.0 IP | 4.42 ERA | 91 ERA+ | 3.68 FIP | 1.302 WHIP

Most Strikeouts by Lefty
Blue Jays Franchise History

1. Robbie Ray (Aug 25, '21) 14
2. Yusei Kikuchi (Tonight) 13
Ted Lilly (Aug 23, '04) 13
Robbie Ray (2 times) 13 pic.twitter.com/YPIayqmEWz

— Chris Black (@DownToBlack) July 10, 2024

Any further questions on why Falvey might be interested? Kikuchi’s numbers won’t make you doubletake, but he’s following up the best season of his career, in 2023, with yet another impressive 2024. Remember, when you are shopping the clearance aisles, there aren’t usually a lot of really great options.

Related: Twins Projected to Pass Guardians in AL Central

Given the financial shackles restraining this Minnesota Twins’ front office, landing Kikuchi would be a miracle move by Falvey. He would immediately slide into the third slot of a future 2024 Twins playoff rotation.

And that is exactly what this team need, to make a World Series run feel realistic. Assuming they don’t have to give up a top prospect to get him, moving on Kikuchi is a no brainer.

But, the season does not end today. On the contrary, it will not end for another 112 games, after today. So, the question becomes, how are the Twins going to improve their roster between now and then, so they can catch the Guardians? Or, at the least, remain atop the AL Wildcard race?

Minnesota Twins will be buyers at the MLB Trade Deadline

Former MLB general manager (now one of the most plugged-in MLB insiders in the business), Jim Bowden (The Athletic), has good news for fans in Minnesota, CONFIDENTLY noting that the Twins WILL be buyers before the trade deadline, not sellers.

The Twins are going to be buyers at the deadline and not sellers. They need to get Royce Lewis back from the IL, have Byron Buxton stay healthy and keep Carlos Correa healthy as well. Then they need more consistency from their younger hitters such as Alex Kirilloff and Edouard Julien. They could use another hitter and more starting pitching depth for the rest of the way. I still view them as a legitimate contender in the AL Central.

Jim Bowden – The Athletic

Well, the July trade deadline is creeping closer and, soon enough, we will start to see teams across the league start to wheel and deal. While it’s nice to hear Jim so confidently proclaim the Twins as buyers, many fans are (rightfully) skeptical.

Remember, this is the same organization that, following their most successful season in two decades, decided to cut payroll by $30 million during the winter. Why should we believe that the Pohlads will loosen their wallets now?

Well… maybe just Pete Alonso renters

I don’t have that answer, but Bowden brought more proof that the Twins will buy at the deadline, linking them to New York Mets 1st baseman slugger, Pete Alonso, the 29-year-old 3x All-Star and 2x Home Run Derby champ. There’s one caveat, though. Pete isn’t really up for sale. He’s up for rent.

Any team interested in trading for Alonso will understand he’s just a “rental” for the rest of the season and probably will re-sign with the Mets in the offseason. Teams where Alonso could fit include the Astros, Mariners, Guardians, Twins and even the cross-town Yankees.

Jim Bowden – The Athletic

I expect the Minnesota Twins to be linked to a lot of trade block 1st basemen over the next month or two, if they really are going to be buyers. They need to add pop to their lineup and that’s the best place to do it. Adding a guy like Alonso would allow way more flexibility with the lineup.

Related: Different Twins Top Prospect Flies Up ESPN Rankings in Latest Update

But mostly, he would add pop that we haven’t seen in this market since Nelson Cruz left… arguably longer. Alonso has produced over 100 RBI in three of his four full MLB seasons, including 118 last year and 131 the season prior. He hit 53 home runs as a rookie in 2019 (.941 OPS) and 40+ in each of the last two seasons.

He’s never had an OPS lower than .817 and over half of his young career he’s carried an OPS over .860. The worst season of his career was in 2021, when he managed just 94 RBI, 37 homers and a .869 OPS.

Pete Alonso goes deep for his 11th homer of the year! 🐻‍❄️ pic.twitter.com/jaI3Nc7D9J

— MLB (@MLB) May 22, 2024

But… Pete is having the worst season of his career (.236 BA, .779 OPS) and the Twins would have to be willing to part with one of their top-5 prospects, to have any chance at actually landing a guy who is practically guaranteed to sign back with the Mets in the offseason.

Related: Manuel Margot Stinks but Twins May Still Win That Trade, Thanks to Rayne Doncon

A slow-moving free agent market meant that really good players were available deep into the offseason at a fraction of their value but, even after they made most of their TV money back thanks to signing a 1-year TV deal with the Bally Sports devil, and the Pohlads said no.

So, why would they say yes now, even if they only have to pay half of Pete Alonso’s contract (probably about ~$10M) of these contracts? I’ll believe it when I see it.

The moves Twins President Derek Falvey has made this offseason have seemingly led to adding another pitcher to the starting rotation. In particular, the money Minnesota saved by trading Jorge Polanco will likely be used to add another arm in the rotation.

Related: Minnesota Twins Sign Top Cuban Prospect Yandro Hernandez

But it was reported Friday that Twins are still looking to beef up their rotation. Bobby Nightengale (Star Tribune) says president of baseball operations, Derek Falvey, is open to whichever benefits the Twins more, whether it be a smaller move to add depth at the back-end, or something bigger that lands them more of a “frontline” starter.

It’s not impossible that Scott Boras comes calling for a one-year deal on one of his remaining free agent superstars, like what happened with Carlos Correa ahead of the 2022 season, but that seems highly unlikely, given their self-imposed salary restrictions.

Unlikely to fit a top free-agent starting pitcher into the budget, their best chance to add a frontline starting pitcher is likely through a trade and it would probably require parting with one of their top prospects in addition to any major leaguers.

Bobby Nightengale – Star Tribune

Minnesota Twins Frontline Starting Pitching Targets

The likelier scenario, if the front office goes big-game hunting, is that it takes place on the trade market by using Max Kepler (more on him later) and a top prospect or two for a front-line starter. Minnesota could is also open to rounding out its rotation with a more cost-effective option, either via trade or free agency.

The Twins have rarely pulled off blockbusters for big-name players in recent years. It has not been the mid-market organization’s MO. But with experts around the MLB loving this version of the Twins, that could very well change. Here’s a look at a couple high-end targets for Minnesota.

Dylan Cease, Chicago White Sox

Trading within the division is rare. It’s also something we’ve seen more in Major League Baseball compared to other major professional North American sports. Minnesota would likely have to pay more of a premium to acquire Cease from the White Sox. That complicates things. But we do know that the Twins have checked in on Cease multiple times this offseason.

Would Chicago have interest in Kepler? It’s an open question given where the team is right now. Instead, the Twins send out multiple top-end prospects for Cease while recouping some minor leaguers in a separate Kepler trade ahead of Opening Day.

• Dylan Cease stats (2023): 7-9 record, 4.58 ERA, 1.42 WHIP

These numbers were not on par with what we saw from the former American League Cy Young runner-up in 2022. He posted a 2.20 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 3.10 FIP while striking out 227 batters in 184 innings that season. A return to form for the 28-year-old righty has to be expected.

Cease would take over the ace spot in Minnesota, headlining an awesome rotation that also includes Pablo Lopez, Joe Ryan and Bailey Ober as mainstays. He could also push either Chris Paddack or Anthony DeSclafani to more of a long man role, expanding depth and stretching innings from the bullpen in the process.

The cost might be an issue here. It was reported back in January that Chicago was demanding the Cincinnati Reds’ top-three prospects in return for Cease. That’s laughable. That’s not happening. Given that MLB.com has Cincinnati with the fifth-best farm system and Minnesota ranks 17th, the haul of minor leaguers would be real.

Top prospect, outfielder Walker Jenkins, is likely a no-go here. Instead, shortstop Brooks Lee and pitcher Marco Raya would have to headline a deal for Cease.

Shane Bieber, Cleveland Guardians

This is a similar situation as Cease. Although, Bieber has had more consistent success than his AL Central counterpart. He also has one more season of team control than Cease, something that would loom large for an organization like Minnesota.

What we do know is that Bieber is also coming off a down season. He pitched to a 6-6 record with a 3.80 ERA and 1.23 WHIP in 2023. Compare that to a 13-8 mark with a 2.88/1.04 spilt in 2022, and there has to be a bit of concern. But we also expect a return to the mean here. From 2019-22, the 28-year-old righty posted a split of 2.91/1.05 with a FIP of 2.95. Those are better numbers than Cease.

A deal of this ilk might actually force Minnesota to move off Jenkins. It seems like a strong unlikelihood. Instead, Lee with a ton of other prospects would likely be in the cards. That’s especially true with Royce Lewis manning shortstop in Minneapolis.

Related: Derek Falvey Says Minnesota Twins are Still Working on More Potential Moves

Minnesota Twins Depth Starter Options

Not to take the excitement away from Twins fans. But this seems to be the likelier scenario. There is at least one interesting mid-rotation arm that could potentially be had on the trade block. A couple cost-effective free agents could make sense, too.

Noah Syndergaard, Free Agent

A report from Jon Morosi of MLB Network included the Twins as a potential landing spot for this injury-plagued former All-Star. Syndergaard could be had on the cheap given his struggles with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Cleveland Guardians a season ago (6.50 ERA, 1.39 WHIP).

At 31 and having made all of 45 starts since the end of the 2019 season, it’s hard to fathom the Twins’ brass having a ton of confidence in Syndergaard making a real impact.

However, there is another point to look at here. The American League Central promises to be bad once again in 2024. Why not see if Syndergaard can make an impact early in the season? It won’t cost you too much as it relates to an on-field product in the division.

If the signing provides to be futile, a new trade market for starting pitching would have opened up by then. Simply put, Minnesota is not going to lose the division within the first couple months of the season.

Michael Lorenzen, Free Agent

Lorenzen, 32, would likely cost more from a financial perspective than Syndergaard. But he also has more of a recent track record of success. An All-Star last season, he pitched to a 3.58 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in 18 starts with the Detroit Tigers. Lorenzen then struggle after being dealt to the Philadelphia Phillies (5.51 ERA, 1.46 WHIP).

In reality, Lorenzen would likely slide into the No. 4 spot in Minnesota’s rotation. Given how slow the MLB free agent market has played out for pitchers of his ilk, this could also be a cost-effective option for the Twins.

Related: Minnesota Twins Players are Starting to Trickle into Fort Myers for 2024 Spring Training

Jesús Luzardo, Miami Marlins

Let’s be clear. This is not necessarily based on any reporting linking the 26-year-old Luzardo to Minnesota. Instead, it’s what I envision being an absolutely perfect fit. The former Oakland Athletics top prospect is under team control for the next three seasons. He’s just now hitting his prime and absolutely does have ace stuff.

After some early-career struggles, Luzardo has rounded into form over the past two seasons. That span has seen him pitch to a 3.52 ERA and 1.15 WHIP while striking out a studly 10.6 batters per nine innings. So, why would the Miami Marlins part with him? They have an excess of pitching and are looking for hitting.

It really is that simple. Luzardo has also been mentioned as a trade candidate throughout the summer months. And there’s no better relationship between front offices in the league right now than the Twins and Marlins, after the Lopez/Arraez deal worked so well for both teams last offseason.

This scenario could include Kepler heading to Miami with a couple mid-level prospects mixed in. That is to say, youngsters ranked in the middle of the Twins’ top-30 prospects. Outfielder Jose Rodriguez comes to mind as an option.

Related: Minnesota Twins Sign Top Cuban Prospect Yandro Hernandez

But as is often the case, since Derek Falvey took over as Twins’ president of baseball operations, that doesn’t mean the team’s front office is finished wheeling and dealing. According to Bobby Nightengale (Star Tribune), the Twins are still looking to beef up their starting rotation, and open to adding more right-handed hitting outfield depth.

The Twins are still searching for more pitching depth — like many teams — and there is room to add a righthanded-hitting outfielder.

Bobby Nightengale – Star Tribune

Minnesota Twins still open to adding front-line starting pitcher

When it comes to the type of starting pitcher the Twins might be interested in, Nightengale Jr. reports that they’re open to adding either (a) more rotation depth or (b) a higher-end “frontline” option; the latter of which would have to come via trade, as the team still plans to cut payroll.

In other words, there are still some big fish on the trade block and the Twins haven’t stopped being interested.

Payroll estimates have the Twins at around $120 million and Derek Falvey, Twins president of baseball operations, said they were still looking to add to the roster after signing Santana and Jackson to one-year contracts. The club carried a team-record payroll above $155 million last year, and it might drop by around $25 million.

Unlikely to fit a top free-agent starting pitcher into the budget, their best chance to add a frontline starting pitcher is likely through a trade and it would probably require parting with one of their top prospects in addition to any major leaguers.

Bobby Nightengale – Star Tribune

Remember, Max Kepler is still on the Twins’ roster and his trade value is expected to be higher than what Falvey got back for Jorge Polanco (which was a lot). If a team comes along — White Sox (Dylan Cease), Guardians (Shane Bieber — with the right pitcher and they’re willing to take back Kepler, along with a big prospect package, a deal could very well still happen.

Related: Royce Lewis May Have Leaked Minnesota Twins City Connect Jerseys

It’s worth noting, however, that both of the above teams are in the AL Central, which could make completing a deal more difficult. Nonetheless, we know the Twins have checked on Cease in the past and we know Cleveland is willing to work with anyone, if you give them the right price on one of their trade block pieces.

At this point, given all of the talk around payroll cuts and the Pohlads going back to their wallet-tightening ways, it’s difficult to imagine a scenario in which the Minnesota Twins make a blockbuster move before they leave Fort Myers for Minneapolis.

But in reality, given how many Spring Training transactions this front office has made inthe past, it’s always been more likely that a big deal would happen later, rather than earlier. It’s clear Falvey plans to add another arm to the rotation, or at least to battle for a rotation spot. How good that pitcher will be, I don’t think they have any idea yet. It all depends on what kind of offer or trade talks they happen to fall into between now and Opening Day.