The Tampa Bay Rays converted former Minnesota Twins right-hander Griffin Jax to a starter back in late April. He's been very good in his new role, recording a 3.16 ERA with a 26.9% strikeout rate and 6.9% walk rate over 82 2/3 innings. Even so, most would say that the Twins won the Jax trade with the Rays, as Taj Bradley, Minnesota's return in the deal, has arguably been the Twins' best starting pitcher besides Joe Ryan this year and is under team control through 2029.
Bradley has posted a 3.76 ERA and 2.1 fWAR in 131 2/3 innings with the Twins this year. Meanwhile, Jax, who has been worth 1.1 fWAR in 2026, will be a free agent at the end of the 2027 season, and with the looming lockout, who knows if we will even play a full season, if one at all, next year.
Unfortunately, the Rays just placed Jax on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to Aug. 6) due to discomfort in his right elbow. MLB.com's Luke Olson reported that Jax thinks the worst-case scenario has been avoided. Rays manager Kevin Cash backed up that statement, saying the elbow injury appears to be “non-ligament-related.” Jax is expected to see a doctor for more testing.
It seems Jax avoided a UCL tear based on what he and Cash said. But that doesn't mean the injury isn't serious. When the Twins placed right-handed starting pitcher Mick Abel on the injured list with right elbow inflammation in late April, the injury initially didn't seem serious. However, after multiple setbacks and eventually undergoing arthroscopic surgery, Abel is most likely out for the remainder of the season. Not that Jax's fate will be the same as Abel's, but it's difficult to predict how an elbow injury will ultimately affect a player.
Griffin Jax deal is one of many Twins-Rays deals that Minnesota cleary won
If Jax ends up missing a significant amount of time, it will further prove that the Twins won the Bradley trade with the Rays. A popular saying around the baseball world is "never make a trade with the Rays." Well, it looks like the Rays should never make a trade with the Twins.
In addition to the Jax-Bradley deal, there are two other notable Twins-Rays trades from this decade that Minnesota appears to have won. First, the Twins acquired Ryan, who is one of the top pitchers in baseball when he's at his best, from the Rays for half a season of Nelson Cruz. Second, Minnesota acquired right-handed reliever Yoendrys Gómez from Tampa Bay for cash this past May. Since joining Minnesota, Gómez has posted a 1.80 ERA with 15 saves and 37 strikeouts over 35 innings.
There's still time for Jax to return from the IL and help the Rays in their pursuit of a championship this year. And, assuming there's a 2027 season, he could be a key part of that team as well. Regardless, Twins fans should be very happy their favorite team has Bradley in the rotation through 2029.
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