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Minnesota Twins: Five players to think about trading for

By John Geiger II

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 14: A member of the grounds crew for Target Field gets water off the tarp as rain delays the start of the game between the Minnesota Twins and the Seattle Mariners on May 14, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 14: A member of the grounds crew for Target Field gets water off the tarp as rain delays the start of the game between the Minnesota Twins and the Seattle Mariners on May 14, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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Raisel Iglesias- Pitcher, Cincinnati Reds

Heading into the 2018 season, the Minnesota Twins bullpen was thought to be a strength for this team. However, outside of Addison Reed and Ryan Pressly, the pen has been ineffective.

As we get deeper into the season, this will be an area that needs to be addressed. One of the first calls Minnesota should make is to the Cincinnati Reds about Raisel Iglesias. The 28-year-old flamethrower successfully transitioned into the closer role last season and has picked up right where he left off in 2018.

Iglesias has allowed only three runs through his first 20 2/3 innings pitched in 2018. He has 25 strikeouts and eight walks with eight saves while pitching for a bad Reds team.

Why Iglesias makes sense for the Twins

Trading for Iglesias will allow Minnesota to move Fernando Rodney out of the closer role. Rodney has been pitching better as of late and has started to find his groove. However, Rodney is almost 40-years-old and his best days are far behind him.

The big draw in trading for Iglesias is his contract. Obviously, his ability to throw triple digits doesn’t hurt, but knowing the Twins will have him through the 2021 season is a huge draw. Not only that, but he is signed to a very team friendly contract and won’t hurt the Twins payroll flexibility moving forward.

Okay, now let’s take a look at what makes Iglesias enticing on the field. As I stated earlier, Iglesias can touch 100 MPH on the radar gun with decent command. His fastball velocity sits comfortably at around 96 MPH and generates plenty of swings and misses. Iglesias also throws an above-average changeup to go along with a nasty slider that keeps hitters off-balance.

The only issue with trying to trade for Iglesias is the cost that it will take to acquire him. Cincinnati will be asking for a King’s ransom in any prospective deal. Although the Minnesota Twins have a strong Minor League system, it will be risky to deplete the system for a closing pitcher.

Iglesius is a game-changing presence in the back end of the bullpen. However, with the price of acquiring him presumably being through the roof, Minnesota should focus on other available bullpen arms. That leads us to the next player on our list, an under-the-radar righty pitching for Miami.

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