Less better be more for the Minnesota Twins
The Twins stood pat at the trade deadline, for everyone's sake let's hope it pays off.
By Billy Porter
I hate to admit it, but I was right. The trade deadline came and went with no fanfare for the Minnesota Twins.
Absolutely zero.
Sometimes they say less is more and the Twins front office of “Flavine” hopes to have a long future in Minnesota, less certainly better be more.
Why the reason for the trade hesitancy? Last year the Twins trade deadline turned out to be disastrous in hindsight. The Twins got Tyler Mahle and his injured elbow from the Reds for Spencer Steer. Since then, Steer has had a breakout season for Cincinnati while Mahle gave the Twins one quality start before his elbow gave out. Mahle needs Tommy John surgery, will be a free agent at year's end, and has likely pitched his last game for the ballclub.
The Twins also swapped Yennier Cano (my once-hidden gem) for All-Star closer Jorge Lopez. Fast forward a year and it's Cano who is the All-Star while Lopez has already been traded again, looking to revitalize his career since stumbling upon arriving in Minnesota. Of course, we can't forget the trade of fan favorite Luis Arraez for Pablo Lopez at the season's start.
It feels like Twins fans are letting their feelings finally relent as Lopez made the All-Star and has had a strong second half to this point.
It's likely as easy as the Twins front office wasn't willing to depart with top prospects such as Brooks Lee or Austin Martin this year. Perhaps this is a sneak peek for next year's roster make up. In the end, last year they gave too much for too little in return.
Whatever the case or rationale, the Twins stood pat at the trade deadline and didn't opt for any potential upgrades. I can't disagree with keeping young talent so we'll just have to root for the team we got. Hopefully, it's enough to make a playoff push and the promised return of talent like Royce Lewis, Alex Kirilloff, and Byron Buxton pays off.
It's hard to overstate the extreme importance of this whole gamble working out for top brass, as Twins fans are losing patience with the current regime.