The MLB trade deadline is finally here, and with it comes a final burst of rumors before all of the dust settles and deals get made.
All has been mostly quiet for the Minnesota Twins. While the team has been linked in a handful of rumors, most of those are now irrelevant thanks to other teams scooping up potential targets. Toronto's Yusei Kikuchi and Cincinnati's Frankie Montas were both mentioned as options, but both have since been traded elsewhere.
The question at this point is ultimately whether or not the Twins need starting pitching help as badly as it seems. Pablo Lopez is struggling and there doesn't seem to be a clear cut No. 3 starter to ride into October with.
Bailey Ober has started to make a serious case for that role, though, and the rise of Simeon Woods Richardson has also calmed some fears. Starting pitching isn't as big of a need as it was a few weeks ago, but if the Twins make a move there's still a name out there that makes some sense.
Cal Quantrill boldly predicted to be traded to Twins before deadline
MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince listed off 12 bold predictions ahead of the trade deadline, and went off the radar when mentioning the Twins. There's been buzz around Colorado Rockies starter Cal Quantrill, but it's been sort of overshadowed by guys like Kikuchi, Montas, and Jack Flaherty.
That could present the perfect opportunity for the Twins to strike.
Castrovince writes:
The Twins need a starter but probably won’t break the bank. The Rockies’ Quantrill is a starter who won’t break the bank. Plus, I just looked this up, and -- of the teams against whom Quantrill has pitched at least 50 innings in his career -- the Twins are the one he’s had the most success against (6-0, 2.90 ERA in 12 appearances). So they’ve seen him be good.
Quantrill feels like a classic Twins target, as he's not the flashiest name on the market but he has the tools to add value to the rotation. He's 7-7 with a 4.09 ERA but he's been solid for a Rockies team that has been very bad this year.
He also checks two very important boxes: Quantrill is on an expiring contract and he won't be an expensive addition in terms of a trade package. Minnesota would be wise to hold onto its top prospects given how depleted the trade market is, and especially after how foolish Houston looks for overpaying Toronto to land Kikuchi.
Quantrill is a perfect target because he also represents the thin line between the Twins needing to make a trade and being fine rolling with what they have. He doesn't move the needle a ton, but he'd be a useful addition and an extra arm for the rotation.
Minnesota can afford to make a run with the rotation as it is, but it's also risky considering one injury or dip in production brings the whole plan crashing down. Quantrill provides some insurance, but that also highlights just how little a trade is actually needed considering where things stood last week.
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