The clock is ticking for the Twins to make a move that helps them down the stretch, with the Aug. 1 trade deadline fast approaching. Minnesota has an abundance of rotation arms and that’s leading to interest across the league, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal.
“The interest in their starters appears to stem from the lack of quality pitching available, and teams trying to conjure exchanges of major leaguers to fill the void,” Rosenthal says.
With Chris Paddack on the way back from Tommy John surgery, the Twins have Pablo Lopez, Sonny Gray, Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober, Kenta Maeda, Dallas Keuchel and perhaps Paddack for the stretch run. Keuchel needs to be brought up to MLB level by the Aug. 1 trade deadline or he can opt out and sign with another team.
That’s certainly a long list of available rotation arms and the Twins can’t use them all unless unpredictable injuries occur.
The Twins just signed Pablo Lopez to a long-term deal after trading for him in the offseason, so Lopez is a no-go. Joe Ryan (27) and Bailey Ober (28) are still young enough and haven’t even hit arbitration so it would be hard seeing the Twins being willing to part with either.
That leaves Gray, Maeda, Keuchel and Paddack as options to be moved. Maeda has been lights out since returning in late June, having posted a 2.48 ERA with a 34.4% strikeout rate and 8.6% walk rate in his six starts.
Gray meanwhile has hit a rough patch with a 4.75 ERA over his last five starts, though as Rosenthal writes, “it’s difficult to imagine how a trade of say, Sonny Gray, would make them better.”
Gray, however, is a free agent after the season. Will the Twins take their chance to deal him for a positive return rather than risk losing him for nothing this winter? Bringing him back would probably cost at least $20 million per year.
Paddack was signed to a three-year deal after his injury last season, so the Twins appear to have some faith in him being a part of their medium-term plan.
Another factor worth considering is the 24 runs Ryan has allowed in his last 28 innings. He’s posted big strikeout numbers but teams are smashing the ball when they make contact.
The trade deadline hits at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
