Twins linked to potential trade for Blue Jays starter ahead of deadline

Let year the Minnesota Twins were rumored to be interested in a number of different potential trades ahead of the deadline, but opted to stand pat.

That would unfortunately be a precursor to the team’s offseason plans, as the frugalness of ownership handcuffed the front office from meaingfully adding to the roster. As the Twins enter the second half of the season in a position to overtake the AL Central and march toward another postseason run, plans might have changed.

Minnesota not adding starting pitching help in the winter has created a situation now where they might end up being active at the trade deadline. Similar arguments could be made about finding right-handed hitting last summer but that need didn’t move the needle at all.

Fortifying the starting rotation for October is a different beast, though.

Twins linked to Blue Jays starter as potential trade target ahead of deadline

The Athletic’s Dan Hayes dove into what the Twins might do as the deadline approaches and mentioned not only that there are rumblings the team is looking at trading for starting pitching but name-dropped a potential target.

“Rumblings around the organization would suggest the Twins are interested in acquiring a rental starting pitcher, something they’ve avoided doing in the past. The team could target Toronto left-hander Yusei Kikuchi, who is striking out 9.9 batters per nine innings and will be a free agent after the season,” Hayes noted.

Before anyone gets too excited, this isn’t the first time fans have been baited and switched by false promises. A quiet winter began with very loud rumblings that the Twins were looking to use Jorge Polanco as trade currency to land front-line starting pitching help, but that ended with a whimper.

Rather than trade Polanco for someone who could meaningfully help replace Sonny Gray’s production, the Twins salary dumped Polanco and sheepishly added Anthony DeSclafani to replace Kenta Maeda. Not only was this a total reverse on what fans had been pitched, but DeSclafani was ruled out for the season before Opening Day arrived.

It’s exciting to hear that the Twins could potentially be active at the deadline, but this was an entirely avoidable situation. Rather than spend money, Minnesota will need to cash-in prospects to land a top starter and it won’t be cheap.

Minnesota has experienced a youth movement and the talent pool in the farm system is deep, but losing someone like Luke Keaschall might end up costing more in the long run than a few million dollars out of the Pohlad’s pocket.

We’ll have to see what happens, as not only were fans misled this winter but the rumors last season ended up going nowhere as well. There’s a clear need, one that likely makes the difference between a good team and a World Series contender, and these next days are going to be critical in terms of what team Minnesota ends up being.

More Minnesota Twins news and rumors