After losing 11-4 to the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday, the Minnesota Twins are in last place in the American League Central with a 14-20 record. There's still time for the Twins to turn their season around, but many signs point toward the team being sellers at this summer's Trade Deadline.
While it's still relatively early in the season, it's never too early to speculate which players could be dealt at the deadline.
3 early candidates for Twins to move at Trade Deadline as 2026 struggles continue
SP Joe Ryan
Ryan's name was rampant in trade rumors in the offseason and last summer. We may finally see the Twins deal Ryan, who is under team control through the 2027 season, this summer.
MLB.com's Mark Feinsand asked 20 MLB front-office members whom they thought would be the biggest name moved by the Aug. 3 Trade Deadline. Joe Ryan tied with Washington Nationals shortstop C.J. Abrams for the second-most votes with three, while Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara received four votes.
If the Twins trade Ryan, they should receive an attractive haul of prospects. In seven starts this season, Ryan has a 3.76 ERA (2.96 FIP) with a 25.2% strikeout rate and 5.8% walk rate over 38 1/3 innings. The righty sports a career 3.79 ERA with a 27.5% strikeout rate and 5.7% walk rate across 679 2/3 innings.
C Ryan Jeffers
If I were Twins general manager Jeremy Zoll, I'd do my best to extend Jeffers, who has an outstanding .301/.410/.494 (150 OPS+) slash line with four homers and 21 RBI this season. Catchers who can hit as well as Jeffers don't just grow on trees. Since making his MLB debut in 2020, Jeffers has slashed .242/.326/.423 (107 OPS+) with 72 home runs and 244 RBI over 540 games. The Twins catcher has been a solid framer this year and has successfully used the ABS challenge system to help the Twins win games.
Unfortunately, it seems unlikely that the Twins would be willing to extend Jeffers, who is set to be a free agent at the conclusion of this season. And unless Minnesota unexpectedly turns its season around, Jeffers would probably want to play for a team that would give him a better chance to win. Given the scarcity of strong-hitting catchers, Jeffers should be highly sought-after this summer.
1B/DH Josh Bell
Bell signed a one-year, $7 million contract with the Twins in the offseason. He has a mutual option for 2027, but those are rarely exercised.
Bell, 33, began 2026 hot but has cooled down significantly, lowering his season slash line to .218/.304/.336 (77 OPS+). Hopefully, he can heat up and increase his trade value as the season progresses. The Twins wouldn't receive a top 100 prospect for Bell, but they could at least get a minor leaguer with MLB potential if several teams are interested in the first baseman this summer.
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