With the trade deadline just under two weeks away, teams across MLB are still evaluating whether they’ll be buyers or sellers. The Minnesota Twins are no exception.
After three straight not-so-good losses, they look more like sellers than buyers. However, there are still 12 games between now and the Aug. 3 deadline. If they go 8-4 in that stretch, they’ll find themselves a game above .500 and in a better spot to add.
Unlike some years, Minnesota’s needs revolve around only one thing: pitching. They’ll need as much relief help as they can get. However, it looks like Mick Abel and David Festa will be out for the rest of the season. So, they may need at least one more starting pitcher as well if they want to have any chance to land a ticket to the postseason.
There may be more buyers at the deadline than usual. The Twins may be limited on which teams they can call to add at the deadline. But with relief pitching being their biggest need, some teams may be more willing to make a ‘retooling trade’ with one of their relievers rather than only sell.
Here are three names the Twins could potentially look into to bolster their pitching staff without having to give up too much of their future.
Jason Adam, RHP San Diego Padres
Many moons ago, Jason Adam was a Twins farm hand after they traded Josh Willingham to the Kansas City Royals for him in 2014. However, he reached free agency and signed with the San Diego Padres without ever pitching for the Twins.
Since 2022, Adam has been one of baseball’s most dependable relievers. He’s made the 11th most relief appearances in that stretch (298) and owns the lowest ERA (2.12) and WHIP (0.96) among active pitchers.
Adam has pitched decently over 36 appearances this season. He’s posted a 2.51 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 35.6% chase rate on his pitches, 16.4% strikeout rate, and 6% walk rate. While Adam’s strikeout numbers aren’t what they used to be, his 6% walk rate is the lowest of his career.
He will be a free agent after this season. The Padres have gone 5-5 in their past 10 games, and if things get any worse over the next two weeks, he’ll be one of the most sought-after relievers at the deadline.
However, the Twins are better positioned than most teams to acquire Adam because of what they can offer the Padres. The Swinging Friars have depleted their farm system of MLB-ready or near-MLB-ready outfielders at Triple-A. Meanwhile, the Twins have an excess of outfield depth between the majors and Triple-A St. Paul, which could make them a more enticing partner for the Padres.
Adam is in his age-34 season and a free agent after next year, so it’s not like the Twins will have to trade Emmanuel Rodriguez for him. However, fellow Saints outfielders Hendry Mendez, Gabriel Gonzalez, and even Kala’i Rosario could be good fits for a Padres team in need of finding left field help for 2026 and beyond.
Luke Weaver, RHP, New York Mets
The Mets are the only potential trade partner on this list who are definite sellers at the upcoming deadline. They are having a Mets-like season filled with injuries, bad moments on the field, and a 42-59 record as a result.
Luke Weaver has been one of the standouts in a dismal Mets bullpen this year. He owns a career-low 2.03 ERA, .157 opponents’ average, 0.83 WHIP, 34.2% chase rate, 7.1% walk rate, and 27.9% strikeout rate through 38 relief appearances this year.
Many teams in need of relief help will want Weaver this deadline, knowing the Mets are going nowhere. Still, he’ll come with a higher price tag than most relievers because New York signed him to a 2-year, $22 million deal through 2027. The Mets owe $12.5 million of the $22 million on his contract next season. If the Twins pursue him, he’d be their highest-paid reliever in franchise history.
Still, the Twins need a reliever of Weaver’s caliber for the end of this season and next year. He’d certainly draw a higher return than Adam, but Weaver would fit the ‘go big or go home’ type of relief target on this trade market.
Weaver could swing the Twins bullpen in a better direction down the stretch. By acquiring him, they wouldn’t be relying on rookie Andrew Morris and breakout candidate Yoendrys Gomez to pitch the eighth and ninth innings.
Casey Mize, RHP, Detroit Tigers
When the Tigers called the Twins up last season for starting pitching help at the deadline, Chris Paddack didn’t exactly work out for them. Paddack pitched to a 6.32 ERA in 12 games with the Tigers, who moved him out of their rotation and into their bullpen.
What does Paddack have to do with Casey Mize’s availability on the trade market? Just that it may give the Tigers cold feet about making another trade involving a starting pitcher with a division rival.
If the Tigers don’t trade Tarik Skubal ahead of his free agency season, then Casey Mize will be their most sought-after trade chip this deadline. The No. 1 overall pick in 2018 is having a career-best season, pitching to a 2.79 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, .213 opponents’ average, 25.6% strikeout rate, and 5.9% walk rate over 15 starts.
Like Skubal, Mize is entering free agency next season, and that makes him the best fit for the Twins’ rotation needs down the stretch. They’ll need a dependable arm to pitch down the stretch with Joe Ryan, Taj Bradley, and Bailey Ober, especially after Zebby Matthews had his worst start of the year against the Chicago Cubs on Sunday.
Adding Mize would also allow them to be more flexible with how they use Connor Prielipp down the stretch, so he doesn’t exceed a workload that puts his arm health at risk. Mize would warrant a high trade package. However, not nearly as high as Skubal’s would be if he remains available, or if Mize had another year on his contract.
The Twins are only a game and a half up on Detroit in the AL Central, and the Tigers could pass Minnesota soon. Still, if the Twins get hot and the Tigers slump, then there’s a world where Mize trade talks might become a reality.
