Minnesota Twins trade target Ken Giles dealing with elbow issues

The Minnesota Twins search for pitching has rumored to be crossing the border, but an elbow injury could cause the club to shy away from a deal.

The Minnesota Twins search for pitching continues leading up to the trade deadline and as they draw closer one potential suitor is the Toronto Blue Jays. Earlier in the week, there was a report that the Twins would be interested in a package deal to acquire starter Marcus Stroman and closer Ken Giles, but those talks may have hit a snag thanks to some injury news.

Giles spent some time on the injured list earlier this year with elbow inflammation, but the left-hander only spent the minimum of 10 days on the list before being activated. Just when it seemed like he would be in the clear, he went to get a massage during the All-Star break and returned dealing with nerve irritation in the same elbow according to Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoya.

The Blue Jays closer spun a different tale when he talked to reporters prior to Toronto’s game with the New York Yankees on Saturday, who are also one of his suitors. According to TSN’s Scott Mitchell, Giles said he felt his elbow get “tingly” playing catch returning from the All-Star break and the Jays were playing it day-to-day to make sure things didn’t get worse.

In either scenario, neither activity should be strenuous enough to suddenly have problems with your elbow. If Giles’ elbow acts up during a massage or a game of catch, what’s it going to feel like during a normal outing?

The situation played itself out on Saturday afternoon as Giles was not used in a save situation in the Blue Jays’ 2-1 victory over the Yankees. Instead, Daniel Hudson went 1 1/3 innings to earn the save. Although Giles is still listed as day-to-day, it still has to be a concern.

With Stroman also being on the shelf recently with a shoulder injury (although he is scheduled to start for the Blue Jays on Sunday afternoon), it has to at least raise eyebrows for the Twins, who seem prepared to ship several prospects to Toronto or any other city with an arm they could use in their bullpen. If these injury issues are enough of a concern, it’s possible that the Twins might take their business elsewhere.