Minnesota Twins: Ranking the Twins’ 3 Biggest Trade Needs
Minnesota Twins Position of Need No. 3: Third Base
I’ll start off with the position the Twins don’t really need as much, but the team could use an upgrade. Gio Urshela has had some clutch at-bats and made some spectacular plays, but the team is worse when he’s playing.
His OPS of .694 is worst of the ten starters and his OPS+ is the second worst. Outside of Nick Gordon and Jose Miranda, every other player who has played more than seventeen games has performed better offensively. The fact that Miranda is their only other option at the position is brutal as well (even if he has been better over the last month).
If they feel comfortable with that duo, I would understand if the Minnesota Twins chose to ride with the pair and not spend valuable assets to make a move at this position. Even with his defensive issues, Miranda is expected to be the guy at third for right now.
If not, utility man Jon Berti, Brandon Drury, and Josh Rojas are low cost guys that wouldn’t even cost a top prospect from the team. There are immediate upgrades out there, even if they aren’t elite upgrades that the team might want. Again, this position isn’t a desperate need, but making a small addition could make this slight weakness into a strength.
Minnesota Twins Position of Need No. 2: Starting Pitcher
Some Twins fans may say that this is the biggest position of need, and I can understand why. The Twins rotation has been badly beaten up by injuries, and has had to rely on Chris Archer, Dylan Bundy, Devin Smeltzer, Cole Sands, and Chi Chi Gonzalez. That won’t work in the playoffs.
The reason that this position lands at number two on this list is because of the way that playoff rotations work. In the playoffs, teams need three starters for each series (maybe four if you have a fourth you’re confident in). The Twins are pretty close to having those three guys, and if they go into the playoffs with the rotation as is, it’s not the absolute worst thing that could happen.
Sonny Gray has looked like an ace all year (when he’s been healthy). and his peripherals back up his success. He’s a game one starter for a playoff series that you can have total confidence in. For your number two starter, Joe Ryan is a stellar option. He may not be an ace, but he’s a definite frontline starter. After those two there’s a big question mark.
Bailey Ober’s numbers suggest he’s a very good fourth starter, and could be the guy in a playoff game if needed, but he’s probably not the best bet. Dylan Bundy shouldn’t be on the roster, let alone starting a playoff game. Chris Archer and Devin Smeltzer (especially after his last few starts) are shaky AT BEST. That means another starter should be added.
In the true playoff starter market, Frankie Montas is probably out of the question. The Twins don’t have the prospect capital to bring him to Minnesota without raiding their system, and they likely won’t do that. Luis Castillo is probably a similar situation. That’s unfortunate, but there are definitely guys that the Twins could go out and get that would be a huge boost to the rotation.
I’ve talked at length about why Tyler Mahle is the best answer, and after the Twins made a deal to get Sonny Gray from the Reds, I’m sure another trade could be made. He should be the clear top target for the Minnesota Twins. If the Phillies truly bottom out before the deadline, Kyle Gibson could be a solid option as well.
If they opt to go the cheaper route (which isn’t a bad plan), Chad Kuhl, Drew Smyly, Jose Quintana would all be solid additions that would all be big upgrades over Archer, Bundy, and Smeltzer, but probably not the guy you want to give the ball to in Game 3. It’s a thin market, so there aren’t a ton of options.
Again, a starter isn’t the most desperate need the team has when it comes to the playoffs. The team might be just fine without one. I believe in Bailey Ober. With that being said, the team should be better than just fine, so adding a starter is still important, even if to replace the guys at the back end right now.
Minnesota Twins Position of Need No. 1: Relief Pitcher
Now this is a position that the team desperately needs. The Twins have a duo in Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax who are playoff quality relievers, but the rest of the pen has a lot of question marks. Caleb Thielbar, Emilio Pagan, Joe Smith, and Danny Coulombe are best used as middle relievers due to those question marks.
Jovani Moran and Thielbar can be high-leverage guys as well, but the Twins need another high-leverage guy or two as well, even if it’s not a closer. Lucky for the Twins, the market is flooded with them.
Lou Trivino of the Athletics, Mark Melancon of the Diamondbacks, and Mychal Givens of the Chicago Cubs would all be cheap additions who would look good in Minnesota. If you’re looking for higher end guys who have performed this year, Tanner Rainey of the Washington Nationals, Daniel Bard of the Colorado Rockies, and Matt Moore of the Texas Rangers would serve well.
The bottom line for the Twins is that they need to add a couple of bullpen arms and possibly a fifth starter if they’re looking to truly compete in the playoffs this year. They could do it without having to give up major talent if they wanted, or they could go all out. As the deadline slowly marches closer, we’ll see which way they decide to go.
Next. Minnesota Twins: What Royce Lewis’ second ACL tear means for the Twins. dark