The Twins are down a starting pitcher after Chris Paddack landed on the 15-day injured list because of a forearm strain after the All-Star break, and their starting rotation’s 4.44 ERA is the eighth highest in the major leagues.
Twins will be seeking pitching help as trade deadline nears
The starting rotation has issues, but as President of Baseball Operations Derek Falvey says, “Everyone is always looking for pitching.”
The Minnesota Star Tribune
July 23, 2024 at 7:39PM
It’s safe to say, with the trade deadline approaching next Tuesday, bolstering the pitching staff will be a priority as the Twins’ front office negotiates possible trades.
“It has to be,” said Twins shortstop Carlos Correa, who has messaged manager Rocco Baldelli about possible trade targets. “I feel like our lineup is really good, especially when we’re healthy. I think we’re a top-three lineup in baseball. Everybody needs pitching.”
Despite sitting four games behind the Cleveland Guardians in the American League Central standings entering Tuesday, the Twins have an 80% chance of making the postseason and a 37% chance of winning the division, according to FanGraphs’ projections.
“We’ve been focused on [pitching],” Derek Falvey, the Twins’ president of baseball operations, confirmed. “Everyone is always looking for pitching, right? If there are ways to add to your pitching group because of the realities of health and some of the challenges you deal with, that would be a hope in terms of how you navigate this.”
No trade is imminent, Falvey said, but the Twins have the prospect capital to swing a deal with one of baseball’s best farm systems. They’ll have some major league position player depth when Royce Lewis, Jose Miranda and Correa are activated from the IL, creating another potential avenue for a trade.
But they will have to balance some financial restrictions — they cut $35 million from their payroll last offseason — in their deadline talks.
An added wrinkle: There aren’t many clearly defined sellers. There are only three National League teams more than four games out of a playoff spot.
“There are a lot of high-level discussions, and I know it feels quite approximate to the deadline, but in baseball hours and terms, it’s an eternity and a lifetime between now and then,” Falvey said. “There are a lot of teams that think a good week probably gets them right back into the mix if they’re outside looking in right now. They want to give themselves every opportunity to have that kind of week.”
The Twins have shown at least preliminary interest in Toronto lefthander Yusei Kikuchi, a free agent at the end of the season. There is difficulty completing intra-division trades, but the Chicago White Sox have two of the best pitchers available with lefty Garrett Crochet and righthander Erick Fedde.
Adding to the bullpen is always a possibility for contending teams. The Twins have a strong late-inning group featuring Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax and Jorge Alcala, and Brock Stewart is slated to return from the IL this week.
“I had a lot of ideas I heard in Cooperstown this weekend,” Falvey said after he watched Joe Mauer’s Hall of Fame induction. “A lot of folks: Fans, former players, staff and otherwise, they love the Twins and they just want to kick around ideas, think about how we could make the team better, which is a lot of fun.”
Etc.
* Lewis struck out twice in three at-bats as he began his rehab assignment during the St. Paul Saints’ 3-1 loss to Omaha at CHS Field on Tuesday. Louie Varland pitched six scoreless innings with seven strikeouts. Miranda is scheduled to start his rehab assignment Wednesday.
* Kody Funderburk, put on the 15-day injured list Sunday with a left oblique strain, sustained the injury while playing catch Saturday. Oblique injuries can take more than a month to heal, but Funderburk is hopeful it won’t be a season-ending injury. “I want to be smart about it, but I also really want to help this team,” he said.
* Carlos Santana has swiped 16 bases since the last time he was caught stealing in 2018, extending his streak Monday when he somehow dodged a tag from Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner. “You can’t teach that,” Baldelli said. “You’ve got it, or you don’t. That’s how it is. He has it. He’s learned a lot over the years. Sometimes you’re safe, and sometimes you’re out until you’re safe again.”
* Lefty reliever Steven Okert will start Wednesday against the Phillies. David Festa is expected to be called up and will likely pitch multiple innings.
The eight Twins headed for arbitration are Royce Lewis, Joe Ryan, Jhoan Duran, Bailey Ober, Ryan Jeffers, Willi Castro, Griffin Jax and Trevor Larnach.
