Twins Trade Deadline Talk: Acquiring an Ace 

My favorite videos from you are easily these trade videos. Thank you Tom!

Really good video Tom!... as always. Keep up the good work !

It's always nice to have pitching depth, but I don't know how much Kikuchi improves the team. The Justin Steele trade idea is a lot more intriguing to me, though as a huge Emmanuel Rodriguez fan it would be hard to part ways with him. Love me some Brooks Lee too but I think I'd rather keep E-Rod because his ceiling seems higher. That said, I can understand the arguments in favor of keeping Lee, as he's already shown he's more than capable of holding his own at the major league level. Tough decisions to be made for the front office. Won't be surprised if they only end up getting a reliever.

Regarding Kikuchi, you're forgetting about the performance penalty he would take against the Yankees just by putting on a Twins uniform.

Never thought of Steele as available. Would be an amazing get for now and the future. It will take more than ERod imo, a TOR pitcher cost controlled for years takes a package.

would definitely do this Steele trade for emmanuel rodriguez straight up. Wouldn't be enough though imo. Do NOT want Kikuchi.

I also disagree on the compensation. I think if steele is made available it would be the premium guy and quite a bit more.

Rodriguez, Lee, Jenkins are untouchable as far as I'm concerned.

One trade that I will NEVER back down from is trading for Cal Quantrill AND Jalen Beeks from the Rockies for Deshawn Keirsey and Darren Bowen

What about something like this? Toronto packages vlad and kikuchi to mn, mn ships off kepler and santana to other contending teams for whatever mid prospects to free up some payroll and the roster spots and toronto then gets say an alex kirilloff, one of our better pitching prospects like a morris or lewis, cole sands, and maybe an additional piece similar to what tom talked about with a guy like severino.

Cole Sands has been solid, but I’m okay seeing him go if they move Varland to the pen.

This might be a hot take but i’d rather trade Brooks Lee than E-Rod

Steele is basically lefty Sonny Gray. Remarkably similar pitch shapes. Slightly better control but slightly worse pitches. Just depends on what it costs, and its going to cost a lot more than Emmanuel Rodriguez

Rodriguez yes, Lee no. I would rather add more pieces with Rodriguez to sweeten the deal than consider Brooks Lee.

No moves. Our best plan is for improvement of health after some time off. Stewart and Topa are knocking on the door and not to mention Royce. I have had enough of giving away prospects for a ham sandwich. Cough cough Mahle.

Not ready to bail on this year, so I'm not trading Kepler, but don't think this is a 'push the chips in' team either (Correa and Lewis hobbled, who knows how long Byron stays healthy, Pablo/Julien struggling, etc). So I'm not trading Lee who is already helping keep things afloat, and I'm not trading Rodriguez who will be needed to elevate a lackluster OF when Kepler is gone (next year for sure if not during trade deadline). I've seen flash from Larnach and Wallner, but I'm also not ready to lock down spots for them. So no to Steele (who the Twins can't afford down the line anyway). Not excited about a rental either (especially since you are now looking at trading assets for something that was an obvious offseason need), but Paddack looks pretty weak for the back half to me. Plugging in a piece to take some of that load off would be huge. Sands/Severino (and maybe Larnach?) might be a good price.

Kichuchi isn't worth the song and dance. My hunch is the Jays will have Bassitt on the table, but that will take some cajones. Derek, do you have them?

My first question when discussing acquiring a starting pitcher is “What injury is that pitcher’s Team hiding that will result in him pitching twice after the trade and then never playing for the Twins again?” And my first request would be “Are we allowed to have the local 24 hour clinic do the physical because they are more likely to catch an existing injury than any medical staff employed by the Twins.”

Give me steele. Im tired of holding onto top prospects year after year because "look at our window in a couple years". We have a really good top of the farm system and we have a really good team. I love erod, but justin steele is THAT GUY that everyone has been wanting since johan left.

Kikuchi doesn't move the needle for me but I enjoyed your website

Get both 😀

Looking at the rangers Heaney/Lorenzen or Scherzer if Texas wants to pay and he agrees, plus the guys been to the WS a few times

Don't see Steele being moved but I'd do it I'd move e rod over brooks lee tho just because e rod pretty far from the majors & he's extremely injury prone him & Buxton in the same outfield would be fun but can't see either ever playing 100 or more games a year. I value guys more that have proved they can hit mlb pitching . If rather give up multiple less elite level prospects but I agree it likely takes one of either them or walker Jenkins to get them listening. Personally I'd trade for a upgraded #3 it be cheaper plus twins aren't a ace away from beating the Yankees,os,dodgers , Philly of the mlb . Fun idea tho I just don't see twins having the heart to go all in when they are cool just making the playoffs and maybe winning a series. I wouldn't go to crazy at the deadline unless they start beating top teams in the mlb you trade for Steele to win a ws other moves tell us twins aren't thinking ws otherwise you wouldn't care about payroll

It turns my stomach to pick any of them, but the Twins are too loaded on the left side of the infield. One of those guys has to go. Ideally we're talking about a swap for a promising starting pitcher with roughly equal team control; I'm not interested in a half-season rental at all.

Cub will not be in a rebuild so they are keeping Steele. If they were I'd not trade neither Emma nor Lee

Please not E-Rod... The guy is an absolute on base monster. Rare to see players that young who already have that level of plate discipline.

Could Sands ever be stretched out and tried as a starter again?

We definitely should try to trade Oscar Gonzales we have at least 2 OF prospects better than him and if he could be the main piece on a Steele trade it would really make the polanco trade look a lot better.

I like ERod but if that’s all it takes to get an ace you should do it 10/10 times. ERod has flashed a little bit of an injury issue and he’s not really great in the field. Steele gives you a legit good playoff rotation for 3 years. You’ve got enough lineup and offensive prospects that are pretty close. Set that rotation in place.

I get nervous about guys with low velo these days, especially when there's always growing pains from a trade where the guy needs a few months to find his rhythm again. 92 mph fastballs are HR derby meat when not located well or get adjusted to. Joe Ryan can reach 96 and gets smoked when adjusted to.

Lee and Rodriguez shouldn't be available unless its for a legit ace. I wouldn't trade Jenkins for a billion dollars

Call Sands is a player the twins need to hang onto mark my word

Please do give up anymore top prospects

Hope the Rangers keep losing so Eovaldi may become available.

How about getting Jose Berrios back?

Would personally never trade Yunior Severino for a *rental* starter who isn't even on a Cy Young pace. A MiLB Home Run King is more upside than VG Jr. has *right now.* Guerrero has been bad for half his career and mid for most of the rest.