Twins rumors: MLB insider links Minnesota to two top relievers on trade market

We are just hours away from the MLB Trade Deadline passing, but it's still unclear what role the Minnesota Twins will play.

It's possible the team stands pat and doesn't make any further moves. Minnesota traded Jorge Lopez to the Marlins last week, a deal that admitted failure on a blockbuster trade the Twins made at last year's deadline.

How poorly the Lopez trade aged, as well as the Tyler Mahle dud, might force the Twins to approach this year's deadline with caution. That doesn't mean the team won't make any deals -- clearly, given the Lopez trade -- and it doesn't change the fact that Minnesota needs help.

After screaming to a 4-1 start after the All-Star Break, the Twins have regressed in an eerily similar fashion to how the team chased a hot start to the season. This has caused alarm around Twins Territory, with some fans believing the team should give up and sell at the deadline.

That probably won't happen, even with rumors swirling around Sonny Gray's future, but it's clear the Twins need to find another bat and some help in the bullpen.

MLB insider links Twins to top two relievers on trade market

The Twins were named in MLB insider Jim Bowden's latest rumors roundup, as he mentioned them as potential landing spots for two of the top bullpen arms on the market.

Bowden linked to the Twins to San Diego's Josh Hader and Pittsburgh's David Bednar.

Hader has been tangentially mentioned with the Twins in the past, but Bednar is a newbie on the rumor scene. It's actually surprising that it took this long for him to get mentioned, as it's been no secret the Twins are in the market for some bullpen help.

Whatever Minnesota ends up doing, it's likely that the front office will try to avoid paying a big price at the deadline. That's what might hurt the chances of the Twins landing Bednar, as he's pitching lights out right now and has another three years of team control.

Hader, on the other hand, is in the final year of a $14.1 million contract that was negotiated during arbitration. While he doesn't have the sweet team control that Bednar does, Hader is a premium reliever and might cost the Twins a similar price.

The bullpen was an issue for the Twins last season as well, which is what inspired the deal for Lopez. Will Minnesota risk repeating sins of the recent past and make another big trade for a top reliever, or try to find more affordable help like Brooks Raley -- or simply ride out the deadline and see where the chips fall.