The Minnesota Twins won 101 games last season. It was only the second time the franchise reached the century mark in victories (102 in 1965). In 2019, they fell, yet again, to their postseason nemesis New York Yankees in the ALDS. What can they do this season to bolster their roster and finally get over the hump in the playoffs?
Minnesota Twins (20-12, Tied for First Place)
Entering today, the Twins were in a three-way tie for first place in the AL Central. Will they make any moves before Monday’s trade deadline? With an abundance of talent and a shot at a World Series ring, there is reason to believe the Twins are in a position to make a major deal and acquire a player. The offseason saw them bring in Josh Donaldson on a 4-year/$92 million deal. They also traded for Los Angeles Dodgers right-handed starter Kenta Maeda. This signaled a willingness to spend money and also acquire talent to get them their first championship since 1991.
Players They May Target
Mike Clevinger
Yes, he pitches in the division and the Cleveland Indians may also be reticent to trading within the Central. This is still a great fit though for both teams. The Twins get an excellent starter who is under control through 2022. Clevinger will turn 30 in December and only has 523.1 innings on his arm. The Indians will surely want a few bats from Minnesota. The Twins would likely have to part with someone like Trevor Larnach or Alex Kirilloff along with a second-tier prospect and a couple of lower-level projects. It is a small price to pay for a guy with a career ERA of 3.20 who strikes out 10 batters per nine innings.
Taylor Williams
The 29-year-old righty has six saves for the Seattle Mariners and although his ERA is a bit unsightly at 6.39, it is due mostly to giving up five ERs in two-thirds of an inning on Thursday to the San Diego Padres. Overall Williams has 18 Ks in 12.2 innings and has only allowed one HR. The Twins could use the bullpen depth and if they aren’t willing to give up any of their higher-end prospects, Williams could be a solid addition.
Josh Hader
If Minnesota wants to go crazy then this is the man to go out and get. It will cost a top prospect as Hader has been arguably the best reliever in baseball since 2017. He doesn’t become a free agent until 2024 and has proven to be durable. The Twins may need to move a young starter like Jhoan Duran or Blayne Enlow and an infielder such as Nick Gordon or Travis Blankenhorn.
Twins Trade Deadline Approach
The Twins can go for it as they have plenty of prospects to acquire multiple players. Hader will cost a few prospects but, realistically, he may be in Minnesota for a package of Duran, Gordon, and Ryan Jeffers. Either way, the Twins need to make a move as they fight for the division. The lineup is still solid albeit with injuries to Donaldson and Mitch Garver. As they say, you can never have enough pitching. The Twins should certainly heed those words.
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Main Credit Image: Embed from Getty Images
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