Fansided

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

They could be open for business, so let’s deal

By Ian Slate |
Minnesota Twins v Toronto Blue Jays
Minnesota Twins v Toronto Blue Jays / Vaughn Ridley/GettyImages
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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. 

One (or maybe two) of their relievers

The Twins have had a good bullpen this year, but as all baseball fans know you can never have too many arms back there. The Blue Jays have some arms that could bolster the pen which is even more crucial with the starting rotation questions that have been magnified in recent weeks.

Chad Green is the best option here, a guy who has proven he can pitch on the biggest stage in New York and is having a good season for Toronto. During his Yankees prime, he was utilized as a multi-inning reliever, an opener, a set-up man, and an “any inning” fire-extinguisher. He can fill pretty much any role the Twins might need and has the versatility and experience to thrive.

Green has been fantastic this year pitching to a 1.88 ERA. He’s due to make $10.5 million next year on a club option the Blue Jays have already picked up, which could mean they plan to hold onto him. If willing to deal, he’s a guy that has flown under the radar and wouldn’t be an immense contract to take on next year like Gausman or Bassit’s might be. 

Here's a potential wild card option: Nate Pearson.

We’ve heard about Pearson for years since he was a mega prospect starter known for throwing gas. Those days are over and he’s been moved to the pen since (although he still throws gas) where he’s had mixed results. This year it has not been pretty, as he’s pitched to a 5.54 ERA in 39 games.

However, he oozes velocity and there’s a world where he could turn into a dominant late-inning reliever. It may not be likely at this point and it could easily blow up in the Twins face, but if it works, the team could be set up for the playoffs with a mega bullpen consisting of Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax, Brock Stewart, Jorge Alcala, Pearson (and Chad Green maybe?).

It’s heavily right-handed but we’re hoping Caleb Thielbar can’t figure things out and make a really impressive bullpen. I’m probably dreaming too big but it could make the Twins legitimately dangerous playoff contenders, with quite possibly the best bullpen in baseball, without breaking the bank. 

Honorable Mention: Justin Turner 

This one is kind of a “how much do you believe in Carlos Santana” question. Santana has actually been pretty solid, hitting .241 with 14 home runs and a 112 OPS+ compared to Turner’s .228, five, and 91. The upside with Santana is that his first base defense grades out well, helping him accumulate his 1.4 WAR thus far.

All of this points to Santana being a better option down the, but if you don’t believe it will last and would rather take a chance on Turner’s postseason experience, the Twins could look to pick him up at a low cost.

Realistically, he can’t be any worse than Kyle Farmer and if it doesn’t work out it wouldn’t be that difficult to cut bait.  

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