Given the Minnesota Twins’ self-imposed financial limitations heading into the 2025 season, they must get creative to improve their on-field product. There aren’t many glaring holes on their projected roster. Still, there’s a lingering belief that last year’s epic collapse calls for a shake-up.
Could that lead the Twins to call the Seattle Mariners about another significant off-season trade? Both clubs have high-end talent, expensive set pieces, and notable areas of depth. Instead of waiting for the dust to settle after the high-end free agents settle their business, the improvements may come from a wider-scoped transaction.
What the Mariners Could Offer
The Mariners narrowly missed out on postseason action last year. However, with many returning pieces, the club should be hopeful for another competitive run next season. Their calling has been, and will likely continue to be, their superb starting rotation, which is the envy of the league.
They have a projected starting five that consists entirely of playoff-caliber arms. They also have former top prospect Emerson Hancock and Logan Evans, another top-10 organizational prospect who just came off an impressive season at Double-A.
However, going back to their established MLB starters, they have three players who have received Cy Young award votes over the past two years. Luis Castillo is a 32-year-old multi-time All-Star with some of the best raw stuff in his repertoire and has for the last few years. Logan Gilbert has emerged as one of the best arms in the league after pitching 208 innings of 3.23 ERA ball as a 27-year-old. And George Kirby? He might be the best of the bunch, with a career 3.23 ERA and a 7.6 K/BB ratio over his first three seasons at the game’s highest level.
After that three-headed monster of a playoff rotation, the Mariners have two of the most intriguing back-of-the-rotation options. Bryce Miller had a brilliant 2.94 across 31 starts last year. Meanwhile, Bryan Woo had a late start to his 2024 campaign but rattled off 22 starts of 2.89 ERA ball to close the year. Miller and Woo are under team control for the next five seasons, which kicks their value up a notch.
Seattle has some other intriguing assets, but they are probably not in the cards for the Twins at this time due to financial limitations or just a lack of need at specific positions. They include veteran outfielder Randy Arozarena and All-Star catcher Cal Raleigh. Therefore, we’ll keep the focus on that eyebrow-raising starting rotation.
What The Twins Could Offer
If Seattle makes those pitchers available for the Twins to try and acquire in a trade, they would be justified in asking for a king’s ransom in return. Depending on the specifics of the package, it will likely include multiple top prospects or established, young players with significant upsides. That could be a hefty price to pay, but it’s one that the Twins could potentially afford in the right deal.
Walker Jenkins is a global top-five prospect who could reasonably land atop most lists by mid-season and even find himself knocking on the cusp of the big leagues in 2026. I would expect him to be nearly untouchable, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he were the first offer. After that, Minnesota’s No. 2 prospect is outfielder Emmanuel Rodriguez, who will find himself at Triple-A in the first half of next season and is a global top-35ish prospect.
Luke Keaschall is soon-to-be on many of those same lists, although elbow surgery in late-July could delay that glow up. Nevertheless, he had a fantastic first two years in professional ball. He hit a combined .300/.419/.482 between three levels as a defensively versatile 21-year-old.
Brooks Lee is another young player the Twins could dangle in a swap for one of Seattle’s frontline starters. He struggled against MLB pitching in the second half of last season. However, that could be due to a nagging shoulder injury and a rushed promotion through the minor leagues. He still looks the part of a versatile top prospect who could fit nicely in a top-loaded Mariners lineup for the next five-plus years.
Simeon Woods Richardson could be a nice secondary piece in such a deal. He just completed a surprisingly strong rookie season as a 23-year-old. Woods Richardson should be looking at an increased workload in 2025, and the Twins might feel like now is a good time to buy high on the young pitcher.
Of course, the trump card could be superstar infielder Royce Lewis. His name has the most star power, and the M’s would probably love to plant him at third base next to Julio Rodriguez in the lineup for the next four seasons. Any Lewis trade must bring back Gilbert or Kirby, who are arbitration-controlled, while the Mariners signed Castillo to a mega-contract.
Would it still sting to see Lewis don another team’s uniform? Absolutely. But that’s the price of poker. I’m curious if the Twins will use their many chips at the dollar blackjack table or with the high rollers.
