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Minnesota Twins: Five potential bullpen targets at the MLB trade deadline

By Chris Schad

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 28: Will Smith #13 of the San Francisco Giants shakes hands with Buster Posey #28 after they won their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Oracle Park on June 28, 2019 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 28: Will Smith #13 of the San Francisco Giants shakes hands with Buster Posey #28 after they won their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Oracle Park on June 28, 2019 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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DETROIT, MI – MAY 3: Closer Shane Greene #61 of the Detroit Tigers pitches against the Kansas City Royals during the ninth inning at Comerica Park on May 3, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. Greene recorded his 13th save in the Tigers 4-3 win. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – MAY 3: Closer Shane Greene #61 of the Detroit Tigers pitches against the Kansas City Royals during the ninth inning at Comerica Park on May 3, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. Greene recorded his 13th save in the Tigers 4-3 win. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

Shane Greene – Detroit Tigers

In-division trades continue to become more popular, which is good for the Twins because it should open up more options. In the American League Central, there have been few relievers that have been as dominant as Detroit Tigers reliever Shane Greene has been this season.

Unlike the previous names on this list, Greene doesn’t profile as a big time closer for the Tigers despite 22 saves. He doesn’t strike batters out at a high rate with 32 strikeouts in 31 innings in 2019. What he does do is provide a nice bridge thanks to his ability to get opposing hitters to pound the ball into the turf at a 52.5% ratio via Fangraphs.

Like Yates, Greene is under team control through 2020, but the Tigers are also in a different spot than the Padres are. Detroit is a team that’s in a full rebuild and will be looking to bolster their farm system in any way possible. That should make the 30-year old expendable and a potential longer term option for the Twins.

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