With the Twins sitting just a half-game out of the AL Central lead as June draws to a close, the team’s place in the standings has at least partially modified its approach to the trade deadline, GM Thad Levine tells MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. While the focus remains on the future, Minnesota is also taking account of the fact that there’s a real possibility of reaching the postseason in 2017.
Though the club’s general assessment of its roster and timeline hasn’t changed substantially, Levine suggests, the performance — and perhaps also the opportunity created by a tightly-bunched American League — has impacted the calculus. “I think it leaves us contemplating buying, and that’s how the season has impacted our decision-making.”
That said, fans shouldn’t expect significant win-now moves. As Levine explains, the Twins’ imperative of sustainable contention could potentially dovetail with an effort to improve the current roster. “We’re probably not going to be inclined to spend lavishly on short-term assets,” he says, “but we would be very open to spending aggressively on assets that we could use to propel our team forward this year and for years to come.”
Lower-cost rental pieces could be considered, of course, but it makes sense that the club isn’t interested in paying top dollar for such assets. “I don’t think we view it as we’re just one piece away and we’re not looking to finish off this club,” says Levin. “We’re looking to continue to build this club. We have a lot of core pieces that have a chance to be part of something special in the future, but we’re cognizant that we’re going to need to add to that core.”
Looking at the Twins’ depth chart, there likely isn’t a lot of room for major changes on the position-player side of the equation. Minnesota has received mostly solid production out of its regulars and reserves, and is rather committed to most of those players.
The pitching, though, is another story. Outside of veteran Ervin Santana and youngster Jose Berrios, the rotation has produced middling results and ugly peripherals. And though there are a few relievers throwing well — closer Brandon Kintzler, in particular — there’s surely room to upgrade there as well.
It’ll obviously be quite interesting to see what kinds of options Levine and chief baseball officer Derek Falvey pursue. Speculation on particular players would be just that at this point, but most of the conceivable possibilities can be found in our latest ranking of the top 50 trade deadline candidates (and the many other players listed there). No doubt their level of aggressiveness will depend upon how the standings look at the end of the month. Payroll — both this year and in the future — will also be a consideration; the Twins entered the season with about $108MM on the books, close to the highest rate the organization has carried.
twins should let the market cone to them. they did be interested in almost every pitcher and just see what the best value is for them. thier staff is so bad anything could help.
Yankee rebuild let’s call it that
Young controllable stars like Gleyber and Clint are the PRIZES in baseball
Sell high, buy low on your Andrew millers and chapmans
Calling either of those players ‘stars’ does a complete disservice to all the young players actually thriving in the big leagues.
To customcrown’s point, even Judge is still just a star in the making. Let’s not slap that “star” term on anyone and everyone with potential.
Continued consistency from Santana and Berrios could really put them in an interesting position. The combination of Mejia and Gibson at the back end of the rotation has been *solid* of late, so it looks like another consistent middle of the rotation guy could put them in a really nice place. Lots of those on the market, but most seem to be rentals (Lynn, Garcia, Dickey). Should be a fun deadline this year.
Addison Reed if Mets break everything down.
He’s a free agent at season’s end and, as one of the best relievers on the market, would come with a rather substantial asking price.
If the twins want to contend for a playoff spot they need 1 starter and one late inning guy (closer or set up) and maybe a lefty reliever. Maybe a buy low guy like sonny gray who you wont have to sell the farm for and control for 2.5 years. And with 25 million coming of the books this offseason they can take on some money in a trade for a guy like Robertson and or shields i know trading in the division but why not make the call
Tell them to call Phillies for neshak and hellickson. Won’t cost much and both will help twins
As a flyball pitcher, I think Hellickson would play even better in a spacious park like Target than he has in Citizens Bank.
Target Field is tied with the Reds ballpark for most HR’s allowed this year. It’s pretty neutral most of the time, but definitely not a pitcher’s park.
The defense is what’s helping the pitchers.
I really like this idea for the twins they can afford done salary and it won’t cost much. best idea I’ve scene so far
I agree with you entirely. I think the Sonny Gray move is the one that could catch some traction as long as Billy doesn’t try to fleece us for more than he is worth right now. These 2 new execs stick to their guns and wont overpay for something that could potentially hurt us in years to come. They will get some pieces that could potentially help out, but wont sell the stadium for those said pieces.
Hopefully the team is safe in those regards. Neither of them is Bill Smith
Better hurry up or Cleveland is gonna run away
What about Hanley at third? He did show good progress at first base. Plus keeping him busy during the game could help his bat! Might be worth a look I think. And lets not forget he has experience at the position (albeit short and ill-fated). He was in a different frame of mind when the Marlins moved him there to make room for Reyes. Here it’s an added opportunity, not so much a forced move.
Hanley has played exactly 2 games all year in the field (at 1B). He is injured and restricted to DH duties only this season, good luck using him at 3B.
are you serious??? Hanley at third for the Twins???? We have conceivably the starting 3rd basemen for the AL in the upcoming all star game. I would think that would not be an option and if it is, I would hope that Thadd and Falvely resign after they make that deal. We have 3 solid bats sitting in the minors, not mention Vargas not getting enough at bats. I think pitching is the priority and I am very happy that the leaders have came out and stated their intentions. They are being responsible. Which is a great thing when building a long term winner.
Trading for Hanley would make literally no sense what so ever, we have possibly the best 3B in the AL right, or at least one of the top 3, Mauer isn’t going anywhere so they couldn’t put him at 1st, even if they could dump Mauer he’s a much better defensive 1B and is ok offensively. so Hanley wouldn’t even be an upgrade. That would leave DH open and not that the twins have HoF’ers at DH right now but they also don’t have a dying need for one either. Again, no matter what the Twins traded for Hanley it would be a terrible move.
If Hanley could play third, I think the Red Sox would have tried that by now…
He has played third
He can play third
He is just too far gone to play short
I’ve got to disagree, padresfan. Harley’s agility and focus in the field have been in steady decline since that last season with the Dodgers. Good chance the true diagnosis behind Hanley playing only DH is some combination of “bad glove, poor range, and ‘who cares’ attitude.”
Who cares is the prime factor
Look at the all star voting
I think they should attempt to move Escobar, Grossman or Dozier for a pitcher. Not enough at bats for everyone and I think those are the “older” guys that would fetch a decent prize. Granite can come up and be the 4th outfielder and Vargas can DH leaving only one guy that really needs at bats out of the lineup. Or if your sold on Granite move Rosario into the fold for available players.
So many fridge teams looking to add. All need pitchers, and there are few available. Should be a very expensive trade line.
Lol! Twins making the playoffs lol!!!
I mean, the fact that they weren’t expected to be that good for another year or two is the reason that they are only interested in looking at long-term additions.
Also, they’re currently a half game out of first place, and have been in first place for 43 days of the 76. Which means they’ve been in first more than they haven’t.
I don’t expect them to hold on because Cleveland is better than they’re playing, but we’re 5 game short of halfway through the season and they’re far better than they were given credit for. Not seeing much to laugh at.
Kluber is doing his standard mid-season dominance and the rest of the Indians will follow suit soon. Twins will only make it through a WC I think.
Robertson in Bullpen and Hellickson or Lynn in the rotation would be good additions.
I find it funny that the article is about the Twins seeking long term acquisitions and yet people keep naming off rental player like Neshak and Hellickson
I guess people tend not to read before commenting.
They gotta have their eye on a guy like Gray unless his price deems too expensive. Lots of control left there.
Yea idk what kind of return gray would get but romero and gonsalves have to be untouchable. If gordon is the only major prospect with 2 other peices i would not mind that cause short stop is by far the deepest postion in the organization
The only prospect I’m curious about it Gordon
I mean he is another Gordon
Dwight and dee
All the reports I’ve seen is that though they have him in short in the minors… he is better suited to move to 2nd
On another side of things…. Could you imagine the half brothers (Gordon) as a double play combo?
8I like gordon a lot but both lewis and wander Javier have a lot more upside then him at short. Then you have palacios who is having a break out year after being hurt. vielma who was spliting time at short with gordon before he got called up to AAA who has a plus glove. polanco has been holding his own with the glove so all of that would gordon expendable in a package for good controlable stater no way they give him up for a bullpen arm
I was not talking about acquiring him
I’m just curious about him
Another Gordon
But one good bullpen arm would take a lot more of the twins farm
Contenders get nervous and want the prices before the other guy gets it