The Minnesota Twins have some attractive trade chips with the August 3 MLB trade deadline just six weeks away.
While they enter play on Monday with a record of 38-41, the question that remains is whether the Twins are going to sell or not given they're only one game out of the third and final Wild Card spot in a weak American League. They're also 3.5 games back of first place in the AL Central.
Here's where thing stand for Minnesota.
Sources tell Athlon Sports that the Twins' front office would like to move starter Joe Ryan and catcher Ryan Jeffers at the deadline to accelerate the rebuild. However, new owner Tom Pohlad may want to push the envelope and add to the roster due to the weakness of the AL this year.
The Twins currently have the 10th best offense in baseball and the 19th ranked starting rotation. But their bullpen has an MLB-worst 5.22 ERA.
If the Twins are going to make a run and add at the deadline, they would have to improve their bullpen that has also issued 153 walks (6th-most in MLB) this season.
But how Minnesota performs over the next several weeks will likely determine whether they're buyers or sellers.
Should they sell, Ryan ($13 million mutual option for 2027) and Jeffers (free agent after the season) will both be highly coveted pieces.
Ryan has a 5-3 record, 2.99 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 99 strikeouts in 16 starts (87.1 innings). The 30-year-old has a career 3.69 ERA and made the All-Star team for the first time last season. Ryan would be one of the best starting pitchers on the trade market should the Twins make him available.
Jeffers is on the injured list as he recovers from May 20 surgery to repair a broken hamate bone in his left (non-throwing) wrist. That being said, Jeffers, 29, should be back before the deadline.
Jeffers is one of the top hitting catchers in baseball. Before going down with injury, he was slashing .295/.408/.541 with a .949 OPS, seven homers and 26 RBI in 37 games. His right-handed bat would be a perfect fit for the New York Yankees who are reportedly interested in him.
The biggest remaining mystery with the Twins is whether they will move All-Star center fielder Byron Buxton. Buxton has a full no-trade clause in his seven-year, $100 million contract. He is making over $15 million in 2026 and is owed over $30 million combined across the next and final two years of his deal.
Buxton, 32, would have to waive his no-trade clause to be moved to another team. But given the tenor of his interviews, Buxton seems more open to the possibility of a trade than last year. He is out performing his AAV and would likely be open to a larger market that could increase his other revenue streams.
Between Ryan, Jeffers and Buxton, the Twins could shape up to be one of the most interesting teams at this summer's trade deadline. Time will tell regarding if they buy or sell.
