Minnesota Twins: Top 25 RP Trade Candidates for the Twins to Target

The Minnesota Twins remain atop the American League Central, holding a solid lead over the Cleveland Guardians. The team is buoyed by a strong (though often inconsistent) offense and the ability to cruise through a weak division.

Unfortunately, if the team wants to compete in the playoffs and end their streak of 18 consecutive playoff losses, they need to go after three or four positions to upgrade the team. To help look at some options, we’re going to pick some players the team can go after.

When looking at different players, we aren’t looking at players from contending rosters, so all current contenders and most potential contenders were off limits (the Seattle Mariners are in contention, but still have a pair of relievers on here). We’ve checked in on third basemen, first basemen, starting pitchers and it’s time to check in on the Twins’ biggest need: relief pitchers.

We rank the Top 25 Relief Pitchers for the Minnesota Twins to go after before the trade deadline.

Third base and first base are both positions that would be more luxuries than necessities, and the Twins could attempt to skate by without adding a starter, but the team can’t be a real contender (or maybe even make the playoffs) without addressing the major issue that is their bullpen.

The Twins only have three legitimate relievers that you can trust in big situations: Griffin Jax, Jovani Moran, and Jhoan Duran. Duran is a closer-level talent (if the Twins would ever use him that way), Moran has been excellent, and Jax is a solid seventh inning setup man. The issue is the pitchers around them.

Caleb Thielbar had a rough start to the year, and is walking too many batters to be consistent (though his peripheral numbers are good). Tyler Duffey has bounced back after a rough start (but is still not trustworthy). Jharel Cotton walks a ton of batters, so his outings are always up and down. Trevor Megill is a question mark. Emilio Pagan needs to be off the roster.

When Joe Smith, Jorge Alcala, and Danny Coulombe come back, the Twins’ bullpen will be a little more consistent, but the team should still add another reliever or two to help solidify things and improve the pen.

When looking at different pitchers, we only included arms that were under contract through 2025 (with one exception) and are likely to be traded. With so many options on the market, we put together a list of the 25 best arms the Twins should consider, and we start with lower end pitchers.

Minnesota Twins Trade Targets No. 25-No. 18: Middle Relievers

The first eight names on this list are all solid arms that the Minnesota Twins could add for cheap this season. They’re all solid pitchers who would be great in the middle innings and help get the Twins from the starter to Jax and Duran in a playoff game. The Twins could add any of these arms for a relatively cheap price, so they’re each worth considering.

25. Garrett Richards, Texas Rangers, RHP

A former starter, the Boston Red Sox moved Garrett Richards into a swingman role in 2022, and working as a reliever has really helped him out. This year, Richards has posted a 3.29 ERA that’s backed up by good peripheral numbers and a stellar fastball and chase rate. Richards isn’t a free agent until 2024 either (club option for 2023), so he’d be worth a look.

24. Amir Garrett, Kansas City Royals, LHP

Amir Garrett is the perfect example of a reliever the Twins should consider despite his slow start. He has a 5.85 ERA, but a 3.62 FIP, 3.55 xERA, 5.0 H/9 and a 9.90 K/9, so there’s something to like. He’s not a free agent until 2024, and the Royals likely won’t be ready to compete until then. If the Twins want a cheap, but talented arm, Garrett’s a good option.

23. Chris Stratton, Pittsburgh Pirates, RHP

Chris Stratton is in a similar boat to Amir Garrett in that he’s a really talented arm who’s struggled this year. Stratton’s been excellent since arriving in Pittsburgh, and though his ERA and WHIP are high this year, Stratton’s underlying numbers suggest he could use a change of scenery. A free agent in 2024, he’d be a good and inexpensive player for the Minnesota Twins to take a stab at.

22. Rowan Wick, Chicago Cubs, RHP

In 2019 and 2020, Rowan Wick was one of the best relievers for a Chicago Cubs team that won the National League Central. Since then, he’s struggled a bit, but his strikeout numbers are good, and like Stratton, he could probably benefit from moving to a different team. He’s not a free agent until 2026 though, so it might be expensive. The Twins should still ask regardless.

21. Carl Edwards Jr., Washington Nationals, RHP

Another reliever with some velocity, Carl Edwards Jr. has had a solid bounceback season for the Nationals this season. His ERA of 3.72 is a little worse than his xERA (2.61) and xFIP (3.51), but he’s striking out batters at an 8.69 K/9 rate. Similar to Peralta, he’s a free agent after the year, and the Nationals are hosting a fire sale, so he likely would be a solid, but cheap addition to the team.

20. Wily Peralta, Detroit Tigers, RHP

With a ERA of 2.25 and an average fastball velocity of 95.6 MPH, Wily Peralta has been excellent so far this year. His xERA and FIP are a bit higher than his ERA (his BB/9 rate of 5.63 likely played a role there), but his ability to be stretched out over a couple innings provides value too. He’s a free agent after this season, so the Tigers are unlikely to ask for a king’s ransom.

19. Jeff Hoffman, Cincinnati Reds, RHP

Only his second year as a full-time reliever, Jeff Hoffman has been one of the few bright spots on a truly terrible team. His ERA is backed up by good xERA and FIP, and he’s striking out 9.49 batters/9. He’s a free agent after 2023 too, so when the Twins try and trade for Tyler Mahle or Luis Castillo (like they should), Hoffman would be a great addition to the deal.

18. Matt Bush, Texas Rangers, RHP

One of the most underrated relievers on the trade market, Matt Bush was the No. 1 Overall Pick in the 2004 Draft. At age 36, Bush is under team control through 2024, and while his ERA (4.05), age, and current IL status are cause for concern, there’s a lot to like here.

Bush’s Baseball Savant page is gorgeous and his average fastball velocity (97.4) is elite. On top of this, his xERA (2.87), FIP (3.87), xFIP (2.94), K/9 rate (12.15), BB/9 rate (2.4), and 1.163 WHIP are all excellent numbers. If the Rangers would let him go for cheap, he’s got excellent stuff and would be a sneaky good pickup for the Twins’ bullpen.

Minnesota Twins Trade Targets No. 17-No. 10: High Leverage Relievers

The next level of relievers is a group of high leverage arms that would be massive upgrades over some of the arms that the Minnesota Twins have. They’d cost a little more, but it’d be worth it to have this level of arm in the pen.

17. Lou Trivino, Oakland Athletics, RHP

At first glance, Lou Trivino might not seem like a great addition. He currently owns a 7.25 ERA, 2.060 WHIP, and 13.7 H/9. Dig a little deeper though, and there’s a lot to like. His FIP is an excellent 2.98 and is backed up by a 2.95 xFIP and 13.7 K/9 rate. His stuff looks very solid though, so if the Twins can get him for cheap, he’s worth scooping up.

16. Mychal Givens, Chicago Cubs, RHP

One of the better relievers on the free agent market this past offseason, Mychal Givens has been very solid again this season. His ERA and K/9 rates are good, and even though his fastball velocity has dropped a little bit, he’s still an very good reliever. Given his reputation and his mutual option for next year, he’ll cost quite a bit, but the Minnesota Twins should check in on if he’s available.

15. Chris Martin, Chicago Cubs, RHP

One of the Atlanta Braves’ key relievers on their championship run last year, Chris Martin has had another strong season. Unfortunately for him, he’s been wasting away in Chicago on a team that isn’t competing. Martin’s not a free agent until 2024 and would likely cost a bit more than some of these other relievers, but he’d be worth it.

14. Tanner Rainey, Washington Nationals, RHP

The second of three Nationals relievers on this list, Tanner Rainey is the team’s current closer. He’s got 11 saves, flings it at 96.9 MPH, strikes out batters at a rate of 11.08 K/9, but he walks batters at a high rate that can sometimes lead to some tough situations. He’s not a free agent until 2026, so he’ll cost a ton, but if the Twins get him, he’ll be fantastic.

13. Kyle Finnegan, Washington Nationals, RHP

Despite having a slightly worse season than Rainey, Kyle Finnegan has slightly better stuff than Rainey and his peripherals are a little bit better, so we have him listed a spot higher. They both reach free agency in 2026 too, so the Minnesota Twins would have to think long and hard about ponying up.

12. Matt Moore, Texas Rangers, LHP

Former starter turned reliever Matt Moore has made himself into one of the best lefties on the market this trade deadline. He walks a lot of batters, but his fastball is the fastest it’s ever been and it’s led to a 2.02 ERA (2.50 FIP) and a stellar 10.35 K/9 rate. If the Rangers will deal the 2023 free agent, the lefty-lacking Minnesota Twins should be interested.

11. Joe Jimenez, Detroit Tigers, RHP 

A former All-Star, Joe Jimenez is in the midst of the best season of his career, boasting some stellar numbers including a 3.34 ERA (2.51 FIP), a 0.944 WHIP, an 11.8 K/9 rate, a 2.1 BB/9 rate, and baseball savant ranks him one of the best pitchers in baseball this year. He’ll cost quite a bit to bring over, especially considering he’s not a free agent until 2024, but he’s having an elite year.

10. Diego Castillo, Seattle Mariners, RHP

If the Mariners are willing to make a deal, Diego Castillo is one of two Seattle relievers that the Twins should be all over. Castillo has excellent stuff and tons of late inning experience, and even though his ERA is high and this season isn’t as good as normal, the Twins should still place a call.