Minnesota Twins: Potential trade partners for Ervin Santana.

The Minnesota Twins are already finding themselves amongst trade rumors. The Yankees and Astros could prove to be valuable trade partners.

As the Minnesota Twins continue to be a relevant team in the 2017 season, one topic continues to come up, and that is Ervin Santana. On one hand, we are are all amazed by his strong start and want to see it continue to propel the Twins into a postseason birth.

On the other hand, there is the question if, long term, it would be best to send him out in a trade. Jim Bowden tweeted some interesting thoughts Wednesday on the potential of a Santana trade.

Thad Levine told us in terms of trade market they are focusing on teams w/ best farm systems & legit. contenders (my guess Santana NYY&HOU)
— Jim Bowden⚾️🏈 (@JimBowdenGM) May 10, 2017

As you can see in the tweet, Thad Levine is checking out the market. Which hopefully all general managers do throughout the year. What is more interesting is that Bowden speculates two possible trade partners for the Twins in the New York Yankees and Houston Astros.

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So who could Levine have his eyes on in a trade with either the Yankees or Astros? Below is a list of each teams prospects that are featured on MLB.com’s 2017 Prospect watch Top 100.

Yankees:

#2 Gleyber Torres SS

#20 Clint Frazier OF

#32 Blake Rutherford OF

#40 Jorge Mateo SS/2B

#70 James Kaprielian RHP

#71 Justus Sheffield LHP

#100 Chance Adams RHP

The above list of Yankees’ prospects led the way for a #2 farm system ranking at the beginning of the season. If that wasn’t enough for intrigue, this list also has strong links to the Twins front office.

Frazier and Sheffield were acquired from the Indians in the Andrew Miller deal last season. Seems very possible that Falvey would have some good insights, if not also fondness, for the two as players.

Sheffield would seem to be a prospect the Twins would want to target in a Santana deal so that they would get some pitching back as they deal a pitcher away. Sheffield was the 31st overall pick in 2014, with a fastball in the 92-94 mph range and has been clocked as fast as 96 mph. MLB.com gives him the upside of a No. 3 starter.

Considering the Twins lack of a long term, impact shortstop it seems likely they would ask about SS/2B Mateo as well. The Yankees could even view him as expendable since acquiring Torres from the Cubs, who is the #2 prospect on this list. Mateo’s greatest tool is his speed graded at 80, but MLB.com also says his power is underrated and sometimes overlooked.

Astros:

#17 Francis Martes RHP

#30 Kyle Tucker OF

#47 David Paulino RHP

#75 Derek Fisher OF

#76 Forrest Whitley RHP

#99 Franklin Perez RHP

The Astros did not make the top 10 for preseason farm system rankings, but they still have a good collection of talent. And plenty of what the Twins need, pitching.

It would likely be a tough sell for the Twins to be able to get Martes in a deal for Santana, but Pauline may be someone they can ask for. Pauline throws a fastball anywhere from 92-96 mph regularly and has been clocked as high as 98 mph.

Whitley is another interesting option. He is only 19 years old and appears to have high upside as he develops. Whitley’s fastball sits around 92-95 mph and has reached as high as 97. While he has a curveball and slider, it is his change up that MLB.com mentions as an advanced pitch considering his young age.

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While at this time all of this is pure speculation, it is interesting to see what Falvey and Levine might have as options when it comes to trading Santana. Those two will be faced with weighing Santana’s value to the team now versus how trading him may help fuel the team in the future. It will be fun to see what happens, and especially if Falvey calls on any of his former guys in the Yankees system.

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