MLB insider puts two more potential trade targets on the Twins' radar
The list of players the Twins might trade for continues to grow as the deadline nears.
The MLB trade deadline is quickly approaching, and the Minnesota Twins are among the teams expected to be active when it arrives.
Minnesota is gaining ground on Cleveland in the AL Central and could take over first place in the division as soon as next week. The Twins have a weekend series in Detroit while the Guardians need to play an angry Phillies team that Minnesota just beat.
It's the long game that the front office is looking at, though. With serious questions surrounding the team's pitching situation, it seems almost certain that a trade will be made before the deadline passes next week.
Twins list of potential trade deadline targets continues to grow
The Athletic's Jim Bowden answered a handful of trade deadline questions in his latest mailbag, among them was one asking what the Twins might look for in the next week. We've heard a few names consistently tossed out, but Bowden threw a few more into the ring for good measure.
The Twins have always been willing to trade from their strong farm system and I could see them acquiring a starting pitcher like Yusei Kikuchi of the Blue Jays, Austin Gomber of the Rockies or Tyler Anderson of the Angels.
Minnesota trading for pitching help is something we've heard before, but Gomber and Anderson are new names. There hasn't been a concrete list of targets revealed by the Twins, merely indications that the front office is on the prowl for some pitching help.
What the help ends up being is also sort of up in the air.
Starting pitching feels like a rather obvious need, but Dan Hayes threw out the idea that Minnesota should look at solidifying the bullpen at the deadline. With Caleb Thielbar pretty much cooked, and Kody Funderburk hurt, the Twins adding a left-handed reliever makes sense.
Filling the No. 3 starter role might make a little more sense, although Minnesota has internal options it could use to once again stand pat at the deadline.
Zebby Matthews is the hottest prospect in the farm system right now, rising all the way up to Top 100 status. He's in St. Paul right now, knocking on the door of a promotion, and the Twins could decide to audition him rather than make a trade. As for the bullpen, David Festa and Louie Varland could get the nod there, as well as Chris Paddack depending on what happens.
Either way, the Twins pretty much need to make a move at the deadline if they want to seriously compete in October.
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