Minnesota Twins: Ranking the 10 Worst Trades in Franchise History

No. 10: Minnesota Twins give up Teufel for nothing

The Trade: Minnesota Twins trade 1B Pat Crosby (minors) and 2B Tim Teufel (7.4 WAR) to the New York Mets for OF Billy Beane (-0.8 WAR), P Joe Klink (-0.3 WAR), and P Bill Latham (-0.3 WAR).

Year: 1986

Result: -8.8 WAR

Analysis: Prior to the 1986 season, the Twins had finished fifth in their division and were looking to get the most out of their right-handed second baseman, who they thought would be replaceable due to Steve Lombardozzi and his mini 28 game breakout the year before.

In addition, the Twins wanted to start a better defender than Tuefel, so he was shipped off to the Mets for a couple of top prospects. This trade worked well for the Mets, as Teufel plugged a hole at second and the team won the World Series that year as the 1986 Miracle Mets.

The Twins were right about Lombardozzi, as he was good defender and helped the Twins win the World Series in 1987, but the players they received went on to be very unproductive. Latham and Klink combined for just 19 games in Minnesota while Beane was a huge disappointment in his 102 games.

No. 9: Minnesota Twins give up on a centerfielder early

The Trade: Minnesota Twins trade OF Aaron Hicks (9.1 WAR) to the New York Yankees for C John Ryan Murphy (-0.5 WAR).

Year: 2015

Result: -9.6 WAR

Analysis: In 2015, the Minnesota Twins had several really solid young outfielders in Byron Buxton, Robbie Grossman, Max Kepler, Eddie Rosario, Miguel Sano (remember when the Twins tried to put him in right field?) and Aaron Hicks.

Because Byron Buxton was going to be the center fielder of the future, Rosario and Sano were corner outfielders, and Grossman and Kepler were depth guys, Hicks was the odd man out. The Twins thought it wise to trade him away for Murphy, the supposed Twins catcher of the future.

This trade has been a disaster that will continue to get worse, as Hicks has blossomed into a very good center fielder in New York, often killing the Twins at times (watch the video below), while Murphy flamed out immediately in Minnesota and now is in Pittsburgh. This one still hurts.

No. 8: Minnesota Twins get robbed by the Yankees

The Trade: Minnesota Twins trade P Roger Erickson (1.1 WAR) and C Butch Wynegar (10.7 WAR) to the New York Yankees for P Pete Filson (3.5 WAR), INF Larry Milbourne (-0.5 WAR), P John Pacella (-1.8 WAR) and cash.

Year: 1982

Result: -10.6 WAR

Analysis: Another deal, another good plan, another batch of disappointment. The Twins traded Butch Wynegar because they had another couple of catchers in Tim Laudner and Dave Engle who they believed would become better (which in all fairness, they did make a couple All-Star teams).

That being said, the return for Wynegar was similar to the return for Tim Teufel: disappointing. Pacella and Milbourne both provided negative value, and while Filson was a decent reliever, his worth wasn’t half what Wynegar provided after his career bounced back in New York.

No. 7: Minnesota Twins lose an icon

The Trade: Minnesota Twins trade 2B Rod Carew (17.4 WAR) to the California Angels for C Dave Engle (3.9 WAR), P Paul Hartzell (0.4 WAR), P Brad Havens (0.3 WAR), and OF Ken Landreaux (1.8 WAR).

Year: 1979

Result: -11.0 WAR

Analysis: After alienating the Twins top player of the 1970s, the team was forced to find a way to trade Rod Carew. Because of this, the Twins were put in a hard spot with almost no leverage, and that led to them losing a Hall of Famer for virtually nothing.

To be fair, Dave Engle was a solid player, and Hartzell, Havens, and Landreaux all provided positive wins above replacement, meaning the Twins got four positive players. Unfortunately, no player involved was worth even a quarter of Rod Carew.

Carew put together a 17.4 WAR and made six All-Star teams with the Angels, making the Twins look even worse for alienating Carew. Alas, this trade was nothing compared to the other gaffes coming on this list.

No. 6: Minnesota Twins give up on a center fielder early….again

The Trade: Minnesota Twins trade OF Carlos Gomez (12.9 WAR) to the Milwaukee Brewers for SS J.J. Hardy (1.3 WAR).

Year: 2009

Result: -11.6 WAR

Analysis: After just three years of watching Carlos Gomez disappoint as the centerpiece of the Twins’ trade of Johan Santana (we’ll get to that one later), the team shipped him off to the Brewers for shortstop J.J. Hardy.

Hardy was a former All-Star just a year removed from a 24 homer season, and the Twins thought they were getting a good deal. Instead, Gomez turned into a two-time All-Star and Gold Glove winner who received MVP votes.

This trade would stand out as a good deal had the team held on to Hardy, but the Twins moved him to the Orioles where he would become an All-Star again (we’ll talk more about that deal later too). Overall, the Twins lost BIG in this deal.

No. 5: Minnesota Twins trade away a Cy Young winner for almost nothing

The Trade: Minnesota Twins trade P Johan Santana (15.3 WAR) to the New York Mets for OF Carlos Gomez (2.6 WAR), P Deolis Guerra (none), P Philip Humber (-0.1 WAR), and P Kevin Mulvey (-0.2 WAR).

Year: 2008

Result: -13.0 WAR

Analysis: After an excellent eight years with the Twins, Johan Santana was looking for a massive contract extension, and rightfully so. Unfortunately, the Twins didn’t want to meet that number, and Santana’s representatives asked that he be traded by the following Tuesday.

Put in a tough spot, the Twins traded Santana for four of the New York Mets top prospects. The problem was that Guerra, Humber, and Mulvey only played a total of 15 games while Gomez didn’t blossom until he was out of Minnesota.

The only reason this trade falls to fifth is because Santana only was able to put together three strong seasons and a 15.3 WAR before injuries derailed a hall of fame career, saving the Twins from a massive deficit.

No. 4: Minnesota Twins trade away a champion

The Trade: Minnesota Twins trade P Scott Erickson (13.1 WAR) to the Baltimore Orioles. for a player to be named later (OF Kimera Bartee (0.0 WAR)) and P Scott Klingenbeck (-1.6 WAR).

Year: 1995

Result: -14.7 WAR

Analysis: In 1995, the Twins believed that they had gotten the best they could out of Scott Erickson and it was his time to move on. The former rotation leader in 1991 was in the middle of putting up his third straight season with an ERA over 5.00 when he was sent to Baltimore.

In return, the Twins got back two prospects who only played in 28 games in Minnesota. That wouldn’t have been so bad if Erickson hadn’t found his form again in Baltimore and pitched in 200 games over seven more seasons, winning at least 13 games four times.

No. 3: Minnesota Twins trade away a future All-Star.

The Trade: Minnesota Twins trade P Dean Chance (1.0 WAR), P Bob Miller (0.2), 3B Graig Nettles (17.5) and OF Ted Uhlaender (0.4) to the Cleveland Indians for P Luis Tiant (1.2) and P Stan Williams (2.3).

Year: 1969

Result: -15.6 WAR

Analysis: This trade was a big shake-up for the Twins and brought back up two pretty decent players in Luis Tiant and Stan Williams, both of whom helped the team on their run to the 1970 American League West title.

Unfortunately, the problem here is what they gave up, as Chance Uhlaender, and Miller all had some positives left. The real gem though was Nettles. Nettles would turn into a six-time All-Star in New York, but before that he put up incredible numbers in Cleveland (his 17.5 WAR over three years was better than Anthony Rendon‘s mark from 2018-2020).

No. 2: Minnesota Twins finish out the Santana trade

The Trade: Minnesota Twins trade SS J.J. Hardy (15.7 WAR) and INF Brendan Harris (none) to the Baltimore Orioles for P Brett Jacobson (minors) and P Jim Hoey (-0.8).

Year: 2010

Result: -16.5 WAR

Analysis: In 2010, the Twins traded away J.J. Hardy a year after acquiring him for Go-Go Gomez, bringing back two relievers. They made this move to clear room for Tsuyoshi Nishioka, one of the worst signings in team history and the Twins payed for it dearly.

Nishioka flamed out and was gone two years later, while Hardy one three Gold Gloves, a Silver Slugger, and made an All-Star team in Baltimore, making this trade hurt worse. As for the two pitchers the Twins got in return? One never made the majors and the other was out of the league by the end of the next season. Uff da!

No. 1: Minnesota Twins trade for a No. 1 Pick

The Trade: Minnesota Twins trade P Eddie Morlan (minors), SS Jason Bartlett (10.4 WAR), and P Matt Garza (8.5 WAR) to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for INF Brendan Harris (-0.6 WAR), OF Jason Pridie (-0.2 WAR), and OF Delmon Young. (1.0 WAR)

Year: 2007

Result: -19.7 WAR

Analysis: You knew this trade was coming at some point. With the Twins trying to move towards contending in the future, they traded two solid pieces for three very good prospects, including former No. 1 pick Delmon Young.

In Tampa Bay, Bartlett became an All-Star, Garza won ALCS MVP, and the Rays made a World Series in 2008. Meanwhile, Harris and Pridie weren’t worth anything and Young disappointed as the trade centerpiece, despite having a couple decent seasons. All this adds up to being the worst trade in Twins history.