Many major publications view Jhoan Duran as a top trade candidate this summer. Another reliever who will likely see themselves on another team by late July is the only lefty in Minnesota’s bullpen.
Twins fans ready to say goodbye to left-handed relief pitcher Danny Coulombe by MLB trade deadline
Although the Twins would not receive a return for Coulombe that is nearly as good as what they could get for Duran, they could definitely receive one or more prospects with promising potential in exchange for their lone left-handed reliever. Many playoff contenders, such as the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees, need bullpen help and could inquire about Coulombe, who has only allowed two runs, both in June, all season.
Even if a team doesn’t necessarily want to acquire a lefty reliever but wants someone who is effective against right-handed batters, Coulombe still checks that box. In 10 ⅔ innings against right-handed batters, Coulombe has 0.94 WHIP and a .175 opponent batting average.
Obviously, the Twins and their fans still hope the team makes a turnaround and starts to look like postseason contenders again, but that is unlikely. Coulombe’s contract expires after this season, and he’s only making $3 million this year. If the Twins are not confident they will make the playoffs, they must maximize the value they can get from Coulombe, which would likely be in the form of a trade. Playoff contenders tend to get desperate near the trade deadline if their biggest need is a relief pitcher, and the Twins could potentially receive some high-upside prospects for Coulombe, who has posted 1.1 bWAR with 24 strikeouts and just four walks across 20 ⅔ innings in 26 outings this season.
Minnesota Twins set to play series finale against Seattle Mariners
Game 4 of the four-game set between the Minnesota Twins and Seattle Mariners is scheduled to commence at 12:10 p.m. CT on Thursday at Target Field. The probable starting pitchers for the series finale are right-handed pitchers Simeon Woods Richardson for the Twins and Emerson Hancock for the Mariners.