The 54-42 Twins enter the second half of the 2024 season sitting a dozen video games over .500 and in possession of the second Wild Card spot within the American League. After falling behind each the Guardians and Royals early within the yr, they’ve leapfrogged Kansas Metropolis (54-45) and sit a manageable 4 and a half video games again of Cleveland (58-37) for the division lead. They’re lining as much as act as clear consumers on the deadline, and Dan Hayes of The Athletic experiences that Minnesota want to add one other arm within the rotation — probably a rental.
Including a starter who’s solely managed by way of season’s finish is wise for the Twins however a departure from the kinds of rotation arms they’ve focused at latest commerce efforts. It’s value remembering that Twins possession slashed payroll meaningfully this previous offseason, slicing down from 2023’s mark of round $155MM to this season’s Opening Day mark of about $127.5MM. That got here amid uncertainty concerning the way forward for the Twins’ tv contract with Bally Sports activities, and on condition that the eventual decision was a one-year deal to stay with Bally, it’s not shocking that the membership would possibly favor to keep away from committing substantial wage to the 2025 books within the type of buying a extra controllable arm. (Though to be clear, there’s no indication possession could be staunchly against including to the ’25 books.)
A brief-term stopgap within the rotation is wise for causes past the 2025 payroll, in fact. The Twins might at present use some further innings within the again half of the rotation, the place Chris Paddack has had an inconsistent season as he pushes his workload again to ranges he hasn’t seen since 2019 in what’s his first season again from a second profession Tommy John surgical procedure. Rookie right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson has loved a breakout yr however is 23 innings shy of final season’s whole of 118 1/3 innings. Bringing in a veteran arm would supply some stability behind the staff-leading trio of Pablo Lopez, Joe Ryan and Bailey Ober.
Including to the attraction of a rental, the Twins’ whole slate of 2024 rotation choices is managed/signed past the present season. Lopez is signed by way of 2027. Ryan and Ober are controllable through arbitration by way of that very same yr. Paddack is signed by way of 2025 and presumably received’t have as many workload considerations subsequent yr. Woods Richardson can’t attain free company till the 2030-31 offseason.
The group’s high two pitching prospects, David Festa and Zebby Matthews, are each within the higher minors and could possibly be within the combine for begins subsequent yr as properly. (Festa has already made his MLB debut in 2024, although he’s been hit laborious in a pair of spot begins.) That doesn’t even embody hometown righty Louie Varland, who opened the season because the Twins’ fifth starter however has fallen behind Woods Richardson and Festa on the depth chart. He’s nonetheless beginning in Triple-A for now, however there’s been loads of hypothesis about an eventual transfer to the bullpen for the previous high prospect.
Hayes lists Toronto lefty Yusei Kikuchi as one identify the Twins “might” goal, although it’s not clear simply but whether or not the 2 events have had any significant discussions in regards to the southpaw. Kikuchi is within the ultimate season of a three-year, $36MM contract and is broadly anticipated to be traded, with the Jays buried by 14 video games within the AL East and solely sitting marginally higher within the Wild Card hunt (9 and a half video games out).
The 33-year-old Kikuchi has logged 106 innings of 4.42 ERA ball with a pointy 26% strikeout fee and glorious 5.8% stroll fee that belie his pedestrian earned run common. After a tricky first season in Toronto, he’s confirmed to be a strong pickup in years two and three of the deal, thanks largely to his revamped curveball. That stated, he’s hit a tough patch of late, stumbling to a 6.00 ERA in his previous 9 begins (45 innings). His strikeout and stroll charges have remained glorious, however a longstanding challenge with dwelling runs has as soon as once more reared its head; Kikuchi has been tagged for 11 round-trippers in that point (2.2 HR/9).
Detroit’s Jack Flaherty is probably the most extremely regarded rental arm more likely to be in the marketplace, although he’d probably command a prospect of notice and the Twins would possibly balk at sending a touted farmhand to a division rival. Washington’s Trevor Williams could be among the many extra clearly accessible rental arms in the marketplace had been it not a for a flexor pressure that’s sidelined him since late Might. There are a variety of potential rental arms who might hit the market within the days forward, relying on how their respective groups play. The Reds (Frankie Montas), Rangers (Michael Lorenzen, Andrew Heaney), Pirates (Marco Gonzales, previous good friend Martin Perez) and Giants (Alex Cobb) are all inside 5 video games of a playoff spot however might make some sell-side strikes in the event that they fall right into a dropping streak popping out of the break.
