Trade Kyle Farmer, Jorge Polanco, and/or Max Kepler
Even before the payroll was reduced, the value of Minnesota getting involved in the trade market was being hyped up. As soon as the Twins picked up affordable options on Jorge Polanco and Max Kepler, trade rumors started getting kicked up over where they might go and how flipping them could improve the roster elsewhere.
It didn’t stop with just Kepler and Polanco. Minnesota also tendered Kyle Farmer, who is projected to make around $6.6 million next year and is another prime trade chip for the Twins to flip. Christian Vazquez could be considered here as well, although he’s a clear fourth behind those other three guys.
With the payroll slashed, using the trade market to help find starting pitching makes sense, and the trio of Farmer, Kepler, and Polanco make up great value in a market that isn’t robust with free agent bats. If any of those guys were on the market, they’d be near the top of free agent wish lists, which is why Minnesota is expected to use them to acquire pitching. So far it’s been slow going, as the typical chaos of the Winter Meetings didn’t result in any big rumors popping up about where they could land.
Again, this was partly due to the Winter Meetings being uncharacteristically slow this year, but it only further emphasizes how important the next few weeks will be for the Twins. Trades did happen, and rumors were kicked up; Juan Soto was dealt for a bevy of pitching talent, while Tyler Glasnow rumors starter to heat up.
The Twins must be active in the trade market the way they were hyped up to be earlier this offseason. Waiting for the right deal worked last year, but it’s a fine line to walk between holding out and holding on too long.