Minnesota Twins: Grading the Twins trade deadline moves (and non-moves) one month later
While a majority of the Minnesota Twins moves and decisions at the trade deadline are to be decided, the Twins had some hits and misses throughout.
The Minnesota Twins had an eventful run-up to last month’s MLB trade deadline. For the first time in nearly a decade, the Twins were legitimate contenders at the annual player swap and with this year being the first time there has been one universal deadline to make deals, anticipation was high for a big move that would put the Twins over the top.
While the big move didn’t happen, the Twins still made some interesting decisions leading up to the deadline. Some of those moves built even more pent up frustration from the negative side of the fan base, while others simply have a concern as the Twins’ giant lead in the American League Central evaporated in the month of August.
One month after the deals and decisions were made, there’s still plenty of times to get things sorted out. However, in the world of instant analysis, it’s hard not to see how each move has impacted the Twins and how they (and the decisions that didn’t result in a move) could impact their season moving forward.
The Sergio Romo trade
Twins acquired: RHP Sergio Romo (0-1, 3.86 ERA in 11 2/3 innings since deadline), RHP Chris Vallimont (2-2, 3.63 ERA at High-A Fort Myers)
Marlins acquired: 1B Lewin Diaz (.198, 7 HR, 13 RBI at Double-A Jacksonville)
The Twins’ first bullpen move was a solid one, although it didn’t have the name recognition of someone that had been in constant rumors leading up to the deadline. In Romo, the Twins were looking for a reliever with playoff experience and as an added bonus, he had closed out games for the San Francisco Giants during their last two of three World Series titles this decade.
The Twins were never expecting Romo to close out games, although he has three saves since coming over from the Miami Marlins, but he’s given Rocco Baldelli a dependable arm to use in close games. That’s something the Twins didn’t have down the stretch and with Romo’s presence in the clubhouse adding some leadership and personality, it seems like the Romo trade has been a solid move so far.
The added bonus with this trade was the addition of starting pitching prospect Chris Vallimont. Prior to the deal, the Twins had plenty of young starting pitching talent in the lower levels of the minors and Vallimont has been solid if not spectacular addition at High-A Fort Myers in four starts.
It could be another year or two before the 22-year old reaches the major leagues, but for a deal that only required first baseman Lewin Diaz (who was probably going to be exposed to the Rule 5 draft next winter), getting a solid prospect and a piece to help a postseason push is a great move.
Grade: B+
The Sam Dyson trade
Twins acquired: RHP Sam Dyson (1-0, 7.56 ERA in 9 1/3 innings)
Giants acquired: RHP Prelander Berroa (0-1, 11.32 ERA at Low-A Salem-Keizer), OF Jaylin Davis (.347, 10 HR, 27 RBI at Triple-A Sacremento), RHP Kai-Wei Teng (2-0, 1.23 ERA at High-A Augusta)
If there was a thing as great keyboard entertainment, the lead up to the trade deadline on July 31 as the Twins appeared to be dead silent right up until the final minutes. Just after the deadline had passed (and Twins fans were ready to burn down Target Field), news broke that the Twins had acquired reliever Sam Dyson from the San Francisco Giants.
At the time, the move was one of the best in the majors at the deadline. With the only other major move being Zack Greinke being shipped to the Houston Astros (and you could probably add the trade that added Franmil Reyes and Yasiel Puig to the Cleveland Indians), the Twins were the one team that actually added to their bullpen woes.
In theory, this should be a great deal considering Dyson was having a great year for the Giants (4-1, 2.47 ERA in 51 innings) before being shipped to Minnesota. Ever since he got off the plane, the results have told a different story.
Dyson had two nightmare outings to start his time with the Twins, allowing six earned runs in 2/3 of an inning before being placed on the 10-day injured list with biceps tendinitis. Since returning, he has settled down, allowing two earned runs (both on home runs) in 8 2/3 innings while holding opposing hitters to a .218 average.
The long balls are a little concerning since Dyson only allowed four during his time with the Giants, but if Dyson can turn things around during the month of September, this grade has a chance to go up with the minimal cost it took to acquire him.
Grade: C
Not trading Byron Buxton for Noah Syndergaard
Buxton since trade deadline: 2-for-5, 2B
Syndergaard since deadline: 2-2, 4.34 ERA in five starts
The biggest rumor during the trade season was that the Minnesota Twins were hot on the trail of New York Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard. The dream of acquiring the man they call “Thor” was a great one for Twins fans as it would give another top pitcher to pair with their ace Jose Berrios and duel with the other playoff contenders in the American League.
While many thought the Mets would simply roll over and get what they could for Syndergaard, that just didn’t happen. As the deadline got closer, word spread that the Mets wanted a mega-deal for their superstar pitcher and that would include parting with established major league talent.
As part of that game plan, the Mets wanted Byron Buxton from the Twins as the centerpiece of any deal for Syndergaard. In a vacuum and extreme hindsight, it seems like a great deal now as Buxton has played in just one game since the deadline due to a left shoulder subluxation and recently had a setback in his rehab.
The issue here is that the deal wasn’t going to be Buxton-for-Syndergaard straight up. The Mets also wanted top prospects in addition to Buxton. Such a deal would have made 2019 a all-or-nothing mission for the Twins and slammed any long-term window they have shut.
With the Twins’ struggles in the rotation (and specifically the struggles of Berrios), it would have been great to land Syndergaard, who has been solid outside of a 10-run blow up against the Chicago Cubs on Aug. 28. With the price the Mets were asking, however, the Twins made the right move to pass.
Grade: A
Not making a trade for Marcus Stroman
Stroman since deadline: 1-1, 4.91 ERA in five starts
Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen became the Twins’ ultimate foil at the trade deadline, as he seemingly went from seller to buyer overnight. With the Mets’ sudden turnaround since the deadline, it seems like he made the right decision, but that doesn’t excuse the Twins from what went down in the Marcus Stroman sweepstakes.
When the deadline rumors began to pile up, there was a rumor that gained steam that the Twins were interested in a package deal with the Toronto Blue Jays that would send Ken Giles (who has allowed two earned runs in seven innings since the deadline) and Stroman to Minnesota.
Once Giles’ elbow issues became a factor, that seemed to dissolve, but planted the seeds for a potential deal for Stroman. According to The Athletic’s Dan Hayes, Toronto general manager Ross Atkins asked for either Royce Lewis or Alex Kirilloff in exchange for Stroman and the Twins balked.
Although the Twins felt they could put together an attractive offer that was more in their price range, they never heard back from Atkins, who shipped Stroman to the Mets for two prospects (Anthony Kay and Simeon Woods Richardson) who weren’t even in Baseball America’s Top 100 Prospects list.
The strange part is that it seems like the Twins asked the Jays to reach out, but got ghosted before he was shipped to New York. For what it’s worth, Stroman has just one quality start since becoming a Met (and the Mets are 4-1 in those starts), but probably would have added insurance in case the starting rotation completely fell apart.
Next. Projecting a Twins postseason rotation. dark
With Stroman under control for next season however and three starters due to be free agents, the Twins should have tried harder to land the right-hander.