Minneapolis – Chris Paddack has made a habit of staying off social media, especially as trade rumor season picks up in July. Things remained the same this morning, even after his agent called him to let him know the Minnesota Twins would likely trade him by the end of the day.
Then, as the Twins starters were working on their pregame bullpens, the news came in that Paddack was going to the Detroit Tigers, along with longtime Twin Randy Dobnak, for minor league catcher/first baseman Enrique Jimenez.
“Rumors are rumors until it happens,” Paddack said as his eyes began to water. “Definitely a lot of emotions. World just got twisted upside down, to say the least. It stinks. This business is out of our control sometimes.”
“It’s always hard when you have to sit across from a guy who’s worked hard for you, been a good teammate all the way through, and just been a good, solid member of the organization,” said Twins manager Rocco Baldelli.
“So I’ve certainly enjoyed all my time with Chris, and I also had to let him know that he’s going to be traded, he’s going to be a Detroit Tiger, and he’s going to be out there pitching for a different team soon. So there isn’t anything easy about it.”
The clubhouse was in a quiet, somber setting as the news came across the league. Paddack has been close with several of his Twins teammates over his four seasons in the organization, especially Brooks Lee, who he said became his go-to fishing partner since his call-up last year.
“I’ve created some really good relationships with the young guys in here, so I’m hoping that they can teach the next group of guys that come through this clubhouse of the expectations it takes to be a Twin,” said Paddack. “I’m going to miss my fishing partner over there, Brooks. The Land of 10,000 Lakes was good to me, but I’m excited for the new opportunity.”
The Twins had Paddack as their scheduled starter for Tuesday, but now they anticipate using a bullpen game for their second game in the series against the Boston Red Sox. Paddack may be gone from the Twins clubhouse, but they will be reuniting with him in a week, because the Twins will be in Detroit for their second series of their upcoming road trip.
MLB.com has already listed Paddack as the starter for the Tigers getaway game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday, which would potentially line him up as the starter for Game 1 against the Twins next Monday. While it may be a bit awkward for Paddack to face his former team so quickly after being traded, he’s not all too worried about the emoticons going into the game for both sides.
“I mean, any opportunity in the big leagues with the big league uniform on, whether it’s against former teammates or new ones,” he said, “it’s something I’ll look forward to if I do get that opportunity to pitch against these guys in a week, but I’ve got to get ready for the Diamondbacks.”
MLB.com lists Jimenez as Detroit’s No. 14 prospect. He has played in 48 games with the Tigers FCL team, posting a .250/.339/.440 slash line with six home runs, 32 RBI, and 42 strikeouts in 192 plate appearances.
Dobnak last pitched for the Twins organization on Sunday afternoon as the bulk pitcher in St. Paul’s 10-9 victory over the Worcester Woo Sox. Dobnak had a 7.12 ERA in 60 ⅔ innings on the season with St. Paul. However, his last moment in a Saints uniform will be a high note. He escaped a bases-loaded jam in the top of the seventh, allowing them to mount a comeback.
Paddack officially ends his Twins tenure after making 45 career appearances, 43 as a starter, with a 4.88 ERA, a 1.31 WHIP, and 190 strikeouts. He spent more time in Minnesota than in San Diego, but he missed most of 2022 and 2023 recovering from his second Tommy John surgery.
He returned in time at the end of the 2023 season just in time to help the Twins in their playoff push for the AL Central, pitching two scoreless outings against the Houston Astros in the ALDS.
Paddack’s postseason memories with the Twins will never leave his memory. Still, he was also very grateful for the extension he received from them following his second Tommy John surgery in 2022. It’s a risk most teams aren’t always willing to take on players, and that’s why Minnesota will always hold a special place in his heart.
“The Twins gave me an opportunity through my second Tommy John that I’ll never forget,” he said. “They signed me to an extension, a three-year deal, that I know you’re flipping a coin with. You don’t know what you’re getting back. And the fact that I was able to contribute in ’23 when we have our fun run meant so much to me because that was in the back of my head every single day in Fort Myers.”
