The Twins beat the Indians 5-4 on Mitch Garver’s walk-off RBI double in the bottom of the ninth inning Monday night, which might’ve been Brian Dozier’s final game with the Twins.
The win puts the Twins within eight games of Cleveland in the division, but Minnesota has all but waved the white flag on the season after trading Eduardo Escobar and Ryan Pressly on Friday, and making two more deals – Lance Lynn to the Yankees and Zach Duke to the Mariners – on Monday.
Even more players could be moved before Tuesday’s 3 p.m. MLB non-waiver trade deadline.
MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand says Dozier is a “prime candidate” to be go. Feinsand also says Fernando Rodney, Logan Morrison, Ervin Santana, Addison Reed, Jake Odorizzi and Kyle Gibson could be traded.
Multiple reports have said the Twins will need to be blown away if they’re going to deal Gibson, who is having a breakthrough season as a 30-year-old former first-round pick.
ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick tweeted Monday that there’s still a “strong sense” Dozier will get traded, even though the number of contenders who need a second baseman and right-handed bat are dwindling.
The Red Sox were previously linked to Dozier, but they traded for second baseman Ian Kinsler on Monday. Milwaukee already spent big to get Mike Moustakas from the Royals, so the teams in need of a player like Dozier are few.
The Indians and Giants have been linked to Dozier, although the Giants are 5 1/2 games back and in fourth place in the National League West, and 5 games out in the wild card race.
Dozier went 1-for-4 in Monday’s win, and he singled up the middle in his last at-bat, which very well might’ve been the last at-bat of his career with the Twins.
