If fans had to guess which two Twins are untouchable in trade talks, most would probably say Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano.
Buxton is one of them but Sano isn’t the other, according to FanRag’s John Heyman.
“The Twins are said to be open to dealing just about everyone with a couple notable exceptions. Buxton isn’t going anywhere,” Heyman wrote. “They’ve also told folks Max Kepler will be staying.”
Kepler hit .235 with 17 homers, 63 RBI and 20 doubles last season. He flashed his potential numerous times, including a 2-homer, 7-RBI game against the Rangers and a 3-homer, 6-RBI game against the Indians.
Sano, meanwhile, hasn’t lived up to his potential. He struck out an alarming 178 times in 437 at-bats last season (40.7%) and hasn’t been making consistent contact with the ball again at this spring. Through 13 games in Florida he’s struck out 16 times in 35 at-bats.
Sano’s power potential is through the roof, but his strikeout rate and defensive liabilities might make Kepler a more appealing core player for the long haul.
