As this offseason draws to a close, all remaining hopes for a significant move by the Minnesota Twins have dwindled. First-year general manager Jeremy Zoll did not sound optimistic about a potential big trade before the season. However, according to Dan Hayes of The Athletic, recent news suggests that trade activity is picking up.
According to Hayes, Twins utilityman Willi Castro and pitcher Chris Paddack have been discussed in a potential deal and and President of Baseball Operations Derek Falvey confirmed that the talks around both players have picked up as spring training approaches.
"You don't know where things are going to land," Falvey said. "But I can tell you we've had more active conversations in the last couple of weeks than we've had prior. Hopefully, it's a signal of the same thing that we have some traction on a few different ideas and concepts especially as teams start to turn. Some to the trade market, some to the free-agent market... I'm hopeful there's still some opportunity there."
Twins fielding calls for Chris Paddack, Willi Castro ahead of spring training
Hayes reports that Castro was "asked about often" by other MLB teams. The versatile Castro is owed $6.4 million dollars next season, which is also the last year on his current contract and he creates a sell-high opportunity coming off his first All-Star season in 2024.
Trading Paddack also makes sense for the Twins with David Festa and Zebby Matthews in the pipeline, but his injury history could be a road block in a deal. Paddack has had Tommy John surgery twice including a second operation in 2022 and the Twins could save $7.5 million if they can find a trade partner.
Right now, the Twins' only moves have been trading Jovani Morán to Boston for Mickey Gasper and acquiring former top prospect Diego Cartaya from the Dodgers, and selecting Eiberson Castellano from the Rule 5 draft. The Twins have not signed a single MLB free agent, and that was one of the reasons David Schoenfield of ESPN gave Minnesota an F grade for their offseason.
The Twins have been rumored to target last year's $130 million payroll for this season but currently have a $140 million estimate according to FanGraphs. While Hayes says the Twins are not required to shed payroll, making a deal involving Paddack, Castro or Christian Vázquez – who is owed $10 million next season – would give them a chance to make a bigger move.
Hayes also pointed out that the Twins also have a history of moves in late January signing free agents Josh Donaldson, Carlos Santana, J.A. Happ, Logan Morrison, Lance Lynn, Marwin Gonzalez and Donovan Solano after Jan. 22.
It's unlikely that the Twins will pull off a substantial trade before the start of the 2025 season, but it is encouraging that there are discussions. While no deal is forthcoming, and the details of such talks could be minimal at best, some discussions are better than none.