Minnesota Twins: Top 3 Moves the Twins made in 2021

Minnesota Twins Best Move No. 3: Trading Jose Berrios at the deadline

At the 2021 trade deadline, Jose Berrios currently had a year and a half left on his current deal with the Twins. Over 6 years, Berrios appeared in 136 games, posted a 4.08 ERA, 781.1 IP with almost as many Ks (779) and an ERA+ of 107 and was in the midst of the best season of his career.

By looking at the numbers, Berrios was just a tad above average, but on the closer side to average. The Twins had a decision to make: trade the best starter they’d developed since Johan Santana or move him to avoid losing him in free agency. In my opinion, this made the deal a no brainer for the Twins.

The Twins made the executive decision to move Berrios while there was still some value in how much of his contract he had left. Hindsight is 20/20 but the extension that Berrios was offered by the Blue Jays seems like a price tag that the Twins would not (or at least should not) want to pay for a pitcher of his caliber.

Aside from saving themselves a ton of money on the extension, the Twins also received two prospects in Austin Martin and Simeon Woods-Richardson. Both are top prospects and should be seeing time in the majors within the next two years.