To anyone not named Jim Bowden, it seems that the need for the Minnesota Twins at the Major League Baseball Trade Deadline is obvious. With Pablo López out for 8-12 weeks and Zebby Matthews also sidelined with a shoulder strain, the Twins' pitching staff is suddenly looking thin. That idea is lost on Bowden, who does not have the Twins bolstering their rotation at the deadline. Instead, Bowden has the Twins in the market for an offensive upgrade.
While stating that the Twins' biggest need is for a left-handed hitter, Bowden identifies Miami Marlins outfielder Kyle Stowers as the perfect trade target for Minnesota.
"He can play either outfield corner and won’t be arbitration-eligible until 2027. The prospect price would be costly, but might be worth it if the Twins can find the right match with Miami," Bowden writes for The Athletic.
That is where we draw the line with Bowden listing Stowers as the perfect deadline target for the Twins. The context of the Twins being a contender needs to be accounted for when talking about the deals they may make at the deadline.
Kyle Stowers is far from the Twins' perfect deadline target
The Detroit Tigers have already run away with the division lead in the American League Central, and the Twins are among seven teams vying for the final Wild Card Spot. In other words, the Twins are in contention but likely not to the extent that they would push all of their chips to the middle of the table when it comes to the prospects they would be willing to give up at the deadline.
Bowden isn't entirely wrong, however, with the Twins needing a boost on offense. In a broad sense, Stowers, with 10 home runs and 128 wRC+, would be a welcome addition to the Twins' lineup. That said, being under team control until 2030, the Marlins likely will be willing to hold onto Stowers unless they are given an offer they can't refuse. The Twins aren't in a position to make that offer this season. Not to mention, if the Twins were in a position to make such an offer, it would likely be for Marlins pitcher Sandy Alcantara.