Local MLB Insider Reveals Who is on Minnesota Twins Trade Block
As things stand, the Minnesota Twins need to add talent. Everyone in the front office, the revamped coaching staff and most of Twins Territory knows that. The problem is… they don’t have a straightforward way of doing so. The projected big league payroll for 2025 is already $140 million, ten million dollars above next year’s reported budget of $130 million.
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.
— Twins Gems (@TwinsGems) November 7, 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
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.
More About:Minnesota Twins News
You Might Like:
