5 Blue Jays players the Twins should get on the phone with trade offers for

Whiel the Minnesota Twins have managed to bounce back after a rough start to the season, the Toronto Blue Jays have gone the other direction.

There are conflicting rumors about Toronto's future, but it looks like the Jays will selling some pieces at the trade deadline. Big ticket players with years of control, like Vladdy Guerrero or Bo Bichette, are unlikely to be moved but that doesn't mean there aren't pieces to move at the right price.

Realistically, the Twins financial situation is not conducive to taking on big contracts and extra money due to the Bally sports fallout. Like it or not, the Twins are going to have the improve smartly and around the margins. They have the pieces, prospects, and depth to do this. Fortunately, there are plenty of mid-level options the Twins can look at, particularly on this underachieving Blue Jays team that could be easily available. 

5 Blue Jays players the Twins should target at the trade deadline

Yusei Kikuchi

The Twins badly need starting pitching help.

It’s an almost non-negotiable add that must be made at the deadline, which is a far cry from where things were this time last year. Chris Bassit and Kevin Gausman might not be options considering the larger contracts the Twins would have to take on, as well as Toronto’s hesitancy to trade guys with control.

Yusei Kikuchi is on an expiring contract, and the Twins need a lefty starter to balance out a heavily right-handed rotation. With the struggles of Pablo Lopez and the recent Chris Paddack injury, it’s time to act. Kikuchi is on an expiring deal and, while he’s had his ups and downs this season, has a track record of big league success. Although his 4.54 ERA is less than impressive, he pitched well to a 3.86 last season and is currently leading the league in games started.

He’s reliable, and will hold steady down the stretch for a Twins team that needs to add another starter before October.  

Kevin Kiermaier

I’ve talked about this already, but the Twins need a safety net option for Byron Buxton.

Buxton has been awesome this year, but the Twins have taken the DH training wheels off and let him play center field. So far, so good. But there is a track record of injury, and Minnesota needs to be prepared just in case. Manuel Margot has not been that option offensively or defensively, so it’s time to look outside the organization unless you believe in DaShawn Kiersey’s Triple A numbers. Kiermaier is safe and reliable, and while the offense has not been good, his defense remains among the top in the league.

Considering the Jays already waived him once this year, the price tag shouldn’t be high at all.