Twins Show Poise in Winning Deadline

For weeks we’ve heard talk of the big names. Madison Bumgarner, Will Smith, and Noah Syndergaard were all assets expected to be moved at the July 31 trade deadline. Because the Minnesota Twins are one of the best teams in baseball they were consistently linked to the best gets, and so too were every other major market. In the end, that trio went nowhere, but it’s in how Minnesota executed on their moves that makes the maneuvering something to get behind.

Without hammering out more thoughts on Sergio Romo, it’s hard to see that move as anything but a come up. I already wrote about the move when it happened over the weekend, but they turned a guy who was going to be lost during the Rule 5 draft into a strong reliever and an equal or better prospect. Knowing the goal was relief help, Derek Falvey struck early on the former Marlins close.

As the deadline neared on Tuesday afternoon, apprehension began to set in. Hours faded away, they turned into minutes, and the 3pm CT mark came and went. Then there was a tweet Darren Wolfson sent simply saying, “Stay tuned.” As long as deals are finalized with the league office prior to the cutoff, they go through. Having not yet been reported, Minnesota was in fact making a move.

All along it was thought that Smith was the San Francisco Giants reliever on his way out of town. Stringing together some victories of late however, Bruce Bochy’s club is going to make one more run and held onto their top starter and reliever. In doing this, Falvey likely pivoted to what can be argued as a better get.

Sam Dyson is a 31-year-old reliever with closing experience. Having familiarity with Thad Levine from his Texas days, Dyson closed out 38 games for the Rangers in 2016. This year he’s posted a 2.47 ERA 2.74 FIP 8.3 K/9 and 1.2 BB/9. He doesn’t still throw upper 90’s like earlier in his career, but he sits in the middle and doesn’t give up free bases. Under team control through next season as well, this move plays into the future.

Will Smith: 2.72 ERA 2.77 FIP 6.0 H/9 1.2 HR/9 2.1 BB/9 12.8 K/9 1.2 fWAR FA 2020

Sam Dyson: 2.47 ERA 2.74 FIP 6.9 H/9 0.5 HR/9 1.2 BB/9 8.3 K/9 1.1 fWAR FA 2021

Well done #MNTwins

— Ted (@tlschwerz) July 31, 2019

Going into the deadline I opined that the Twins could do no worse than two relievers with a starter pushing someone to the bullpen as gravy. None of the big relief names moved and Dyson represents the best arm to switch teams. Outside of Chris Martin, who is an impending free agent, Romo likely comes in above the rest as well.

If you find yourself disappointed that the likes of Thor, MadBum, or Greinke won’t be in the home dugout any time soon I’d like to offer some perspective. First and foremost, neither of the first two players switched teams. The Mets asked for the most important player on the Twins roster in the middle of a season, while the Giants we’re holding a big name with declining performance back for a king’s ransom.

Houston did well to land Greinke, and coming in after the buzzer he certainly provided the big bang to end the day. The former Diamondbacks starter would’ve been an ideal candidate for Minnesota as adding salary is certainly an avenue they could’ve went down. He would’ve helped to solidify the rotation and also is under contract. He is 35-years-old though, and most importantly had a full no-trade clause. It was his choice where he went, and that wasn’t here.

Almost as what the Twins got at the deadline is what they held onto. With the big names floated for weeks, so two were prospects like Royce Lewis, Alex Kirilloff, Brusdar Graterol, and Trevor Larnach. Falvey added talent in the most necessary part of the roster without giving up a single top 20 prospect. Lewin Diaz was the highest ceiling moved, and he was unquestionably buried behind some better depth. Jaylin Davis is having an incredible 2019, but it’s come out of nowhere and again is in an area of depth.

You want to see a team start to push chips in when a window opens, but you must be certain that it isn’t just cracked. The Astros have made waves the last two seasons now in the midst of a third straight 100 win campaign. The Cubs traded Gleyber Torres in a final piece World Series move after winning 97 games the year prior, and are now looking at a fifth straight 90 win campaign. Those types of moves are risky but were beyond substantiated.

Minnesota should win 100 games this year but it comes on the heels of a losing season. This core looks the part of a team that should be a Postseason and World Series contender for at least the next five seasons. They have no less than 15 players that are impact talent and will be 32-years-old or under four years from now. Rocco Baldelli’s 25-man roster is good enough right now to beat anyone in the Postseason. In 2020 and beyond, some of the additional depth can be turned into more talent, as the opportunity stays present.

To summarize the past few weeks that led up to a frenzied couple of hours today, Derek Falvey and Thad Levine showed poised perfection in how they handled talent acquisition. The big league club got substantially better. The farm system did not get any worse. Sustained winning is still a probable outcome and the team from Twins Territory is as dangerous as it’s ever been.

The Dreaded Middle Ground

As the 2017 trade deadline quick approaches, the Minnesota Twins find themselves in what amounts to a less than enviable situation. Despite losing a franchise record 103 games a year ago, the turnaround has put them near the top of the AL Central. At 49-50 on July 26, they find themselves 4.5 games back in the division race. That makes decision making that much more critical.

Thus far, the Twins have suggested they will be buyers of long term assets, yet their only move has been to acquire two month rental, Jaime Garcia. The aforementioned Garcia gives the club a nice starting boost while surrendering Huascar Ynoa doesn't hurt them to any real extent. While the trade in and of itself doesn't hurt the club, it doesn't signify any real stance on how they'll approach the rest of the year.

Beginning on July 26, 30 of the Twins final 64 games come against teams with losing records. The bulk of that competition hails from the AL Central, thanks to poor efforts from the White Sox and Tigers. They do get the Athletics, Blue Jays, and Padres down the stretch as well, so there's plenty of opportunities for wins. On the flip side of that coin, both the Cleveland Indians and Kansas City Royals have a similar amount of divisional games left.

Despite the exciting results thus far in 2017, the realistic expectation is that this current Twins club isn't a playoff contender. There's always an argument to be made that going for it when the opportunity presents itself makes sense; after all, anything can happen if you can simply get in. For Paul Molitor's club though, it's virtually division championship or bust. The hometown nine is currently three games out of the second Wild Card, and the Yankees aren't going anywhere. They'd need to be better than the Royals, Rays, and Mariners to be a real player for that final entry into a one-game playoff.

As the rest of the trade landscape takes place, Minnesota finds themselves in an enviable position even if they stand pat. The club is bolstered by a young contingent of players that are under team control, and can be counted on to contribute, for many years to come. A lineup with Sano, Kepler, and Buxton seems to be one that will continually be run out year after year.

Wading in the middle ground, the Twins have some expendable assets. They could probably garner some sort of return for the likes of Ervin Santana, Brian Dozier and Brandon Kintzler. Of that group, only Kintzler is a free agent after the year, and the former two are likely unaffected trade-wise if dealt over the winter.

Right now, the reality for Minnesota is that their internal core is one that already exists. At this point, taking the next step has to come from supplementation. By spending on a couple of free agents, whether through the rotation or the lineup, the Twins 25 man can rise to the next level. There isn't that next top tier prospect ready to provide an immediate impact, and allowing the group to be bolstered by a credible big leaguer or two is something that could put the current contingent over the top.

The fact of the matter is that the middle ground isn't an entirely enviable place to be. Fans void of a winner for some time will be clamoring for the club to make a realistic run. Sacrificing what 2018 appears to be doesn't seem like a solid tradeoff. Playing good teams like the Dodgers, will expose the Twins as the lopsided run differential club they are, but they'll have plenty of wins to grab the rest of the way. Expect an up and down final couple of months, but know that 2017 isn't the spectacle you've been waiting for.

Antony Makes Waves At Deadline

The dust has settled and the Minnesota Twins have wrapped up the 2016 Major League Baseball trade deadline. In total, the interim GM Rob Antony made three moves, two of which were completed on the final day.

First and foremost, the Twins flipped 2016 "All Star" Eduardo Nunez to the San Francisco Giants for Adalberto Mejia. Nunez was playing well above expectations this season for the Twins and needed to be moved. He fits as a utility guy on a winning team, and that's what the Twins were able to do with him. In getting Mejia back, the club picked up a top 100 prospect. That's something that would never have been expected to start the year, but the sellers have been doing well for themselves this season.

On deadline day, Antony started out by dealing one of three players I opined were "must move" types. Fernando Abad was a shrewd pickup by former GM Terry Ryan, and had played himself into an ideal situation for Minnesota. Owning a sub 3.00 ERA and dominating lefties on the year, he gets to head to a playoff team and be a solid left-handed option for them. In return, the Twins get a guy they drafted back in 2009. Pat Light throws nearly 100 mph and has strikeout stuff. Unfortunately his control has been pretty awful, but he could show up in the Twins pen as early as 2016.

Then there was the biggest move of the day for Minnesota. After being linked to the Los Angeles Angels all winter regarding Trevor Plouffe, the two clubs finally worked out a deal. This one however was focused solely around pitchers. The Twins shed Ricky Nolasco and his ugly contract, but had to throw in former top prospect Alex Meyer as well. In return, they get major league starter Hector Santiago, and Triple-A reliever Alan Busenitz.

On the surface, I really dislike the final trade. Nolasco has been horrible for the Twins, and getting rid of his contract is a big plus. However, I still am of the belief that Alex Meyer has been poorly handled by the Twins and has more ability than he's been given the opportunity to show. Regardless, Hector Santiago is a nice parting gift from the Angels, and is a decent back end big league starter. He gives up way too many homers, but he's also got peripherals that are better together than what Nolasco has offered Minnesota.

If the Angels are able to fix Meyer, which requires him being healthy and consistent, than this trade could look pretty bad. It's been met with a ton of praise in the twittersphere, and shedding Nolasco's contract is the big reason for that. At this point, it appeared Meyer wasn't going to get a shot with the Twins long term anyways, so I can work through my own demons in accepting the deal.

To wrap up what the Twins did, we have to touch on the two pieces that were on my "must move" list and stayed put. Both Kurt Suzuki and Brandon Kintzler had little to no value for Minnesota now or going forward, and Antony failed to capitalize on that. Suzuki is a free agent at season's end, and being one of the hottest hitting catchers, should have been dealt for any return possible. Removing Kintzler from the 25 man would've given Minnesota the opportunity to promote Chargois, and now it appears that will have to wait.

At the end of the day, Rob Antony's first (and likely only) trade deadline is going to draw positive reviews from most. I'll consider myself in the lukewarm to positive group. I'm glad the Twins moved Nunez and Abad, but think it's a pretty big miss not to unload both Suzuki and Kintzler. I can get behind the Nolasco deal if Meyer is really cooked, but can't yet bring myself to believe that.

If this is Antony's one audition in doing this thing for real, he didn't take any steps backwards. His returns were about as expected in the sellers market. Regardless, the landscape for the Twins going forward is a very mediocre team that needs to see what it has for the year ahead. Continue to promote from within, and get those you're going to rely on a year from now ready.

Understanding The Twins Tradeable Assets

As the July 31st non-waiver trade deadline quickly approaches, the Twins are in position to be buyers for the first time since at least 2010. With 50 wins under their belt, the next handful of games will go help to determine just how aggressive the Twins should be, and where they need help the most. With three glaring holes, the Twins have a couple of options to consider.

I'd still make the argument that bullpen help is the Twins biggest need, and it should undoubtedly come with the lowest acquisition cost. However, if Minnesota wants to address the issues behind the plate or at shortstop, a higher profile solution is likely going to be the target. In those cases, the assets sent away will also be of the heightened ceiling variety.

Minnesota has one of the deepest farm systems in all of baseball, but how do we quantify what players fall where. Let's take a look.

The Untouchables

I think it probably goes without saying who's in this grouping. Led by Byron Buxton, the Twins also would consider Miguel Sano a lock for this title. Rounding out, and being right on the edge of this territory is Jose Berrios.

Buxton is currently shelved, but looked every bit the best prospect in baseball in his romp through the minor leagues. His bat was always going to take some time at the big league level, but it was pretty apparent to see his influence on the Twins outfield.

Sano has started his big league career with a bang. In his first 13 games he's slashed .326/.558/.992 with four doubles, two home runs, and 19 RBI. His power stroke is incredibly impressive, and he;s going to contribute at the plate for a very long time.

Berrios is the lone member of this club yet to make his big league debut. Worrying some projectors with his small 6'0" frame, Berrios has continued to impress in 2015. Recently earning a promotion to Triple-A, the Puerto Rican owns a 3.49 ERA and a 9.4 K/9 across two levels this season. Of the three players, only Berrios could be had for the perfect deal. Acquiring a shortstop like Troy Tulowitzki, or a catcher such as Jonathan Lucroy, it would seem to reason Berrios would be the starting point.

The Ceiling Types

After the big three, the Twins top prospects take on somewhat of a different look. Rather than presenting an already projectable cornerstone type of talent, the Twins have three first round picks that still have the promise of being an organizational influencing talent going forward.

Considering first those drafted by the Twins, we come across both Nick Gordon and Kohl Stewart. Gordon has scuffled at times for Low-A Cedar Rapids, but that was expected. He's seen as an All Star caliber shortstop with Gold Glove ability. His bat will take time, but he recently put together a nice 17 game hit streak in which he slashed .333/.360/.417.

Stewart has been a little bit more disappointing in 2015. After working through a throwing program to strengthen his arm in the offseason, the results haven't provided what would have been hoped. The Texan owns a respectable 3.26 ERA but has struck out batters at just a 4.6 K/9 clip while walking 3.3 per nine. Long term, there's still plenty to hope for here, as he's just 20.

Lastly in this group is a first round guy that the Twins traded for. Alex Meyer was at one time regarded as a top of the rotation starter. He's since been demoted to the bullpen and owns a 7.56 ERA since being sent back to Triple-A after 2.2 IP with the big club. He's 25 and needs to turn things around soon, but the Twins could be motivated to allow him to do so somewhere else.

Moving on from ceiling prospects generally is going to involve a significant return. Outside of Meyer being 25, these types have development and projectability often on their side. Knowing they could be an organizational calling card in a few years makes them incredibly valuable.

The Poker Chips

Creativity aside, this definition does justice for virtually all of these players. Depth of the Twins farm system aside, most of these types are going to be players the Twins hope to cash in on in one way or another. Most organizations around baseball have these types of players down on the farm, but the Twins simply have more of them at their disposal. Flaws here or there provide boom or bust material, but they are definitely not just a throw in to any deal either.

I mentioned the Twins have plenty of poker chips at their disposal, and the names span Stephen Gonsalves, Jorge Polanco, Adam Brett Walker, Max Kepler, Jake Reed, and Nick Burdi. With each of those mentioned having different strengths and weaknesses, the Twins can get creative in any deal they would be putting together.

Of the grouping, you'd be hard pressed not to suggest Polanco is the cream of the crop. A projectable bat who will hit at the next level, he's a second basemen forced to play out of position, and he's not very good at it. Polanco has already debuted with the Twins, but he was recently promoted to Triple-A. He's hit .300/.341/.397 across two minor league levels this season. The issue is that he's committed 23 errors in just 77 games, and it's only going to get tougher at the next stop. Big name deals will likely take a long look at Polanco as well.

Max Kepler and Stephen Gonsalves would probably be argued to have some of the higher values at this level as well. Both are players many organizations have similar types to, but the Twins have watched them succeed to great lengths in 2015. Kepler owns a .336/.415/.528 line at Double-A and has looked ready for a promotion for some time. Gonsalves was promoted to High-A earlier this season and owns a 2.50 ERA in seven starts since his callup. He's a lefty and he stikes people out (10.1 career K/9 in 185 minor league innings).

Both Reed and Burdi are types the Twins would likely rather not trade, but would have hoped to see more from. College relievers expected to help the big league club this year, Burdi has been demoted back to High-A while Reed has struggled since starting strong at Double-A. They could be targets in a deal, but no doubt that Minnesota would rather see them put it together for their own pen.

One of the most talked of names this year has been Adam Brett Walker. He defines poker chip in the greatest sense. Known for his impressive power stroke, Walker has mashed 25 longballs at Double-A this season. The problem is, he's striking out at an incredible rate down on the farm (138 K and just 26 walks). He's got an incredibly long way to go before he's Mark Reynolds or Chris Carter at the big league level, and at 23, he may never make it.

When trading these types of players, it's about adding to your own pocket. Every organization has their own poker chips, but the more you have, the better the odds you are able to cash in. They aren't going to be the lone trade piece, but they're much more than a throw in.

The Long Shots

This set of three players is somewhat interesting as it offers a little bit of everything. There's no doubt some high upside here, but as they ascend towards the big leagues, they could definitely end of being the exciting piece of a deal that went nowhere for their new team.

Starting with the guy having a great year, Chih-Wei Hu has impressed for High-A Fort Myers. Owning a 2.20 ERA across 13 starts, he strikes out a modest 7.9 per nine. In a spot start for Triple-A Rochester, Hu tossed six innings of two hit ball to grab the win. He's 21 and has an exciting ceiling, but there's plenty of development left there.

Jumping up to Double-A, and to a position the Twins need to upgrade, Stuart Turner has been anything but the catcher they believed he could be. A defensive stud who they hoped a bat would develop, Turner is slashing just .247/.317/.351 in 192 minor league games. He could be another organizations Drew Butera right now probably, but Minnesota will need more starting behind the dish.

Rounding out the group is a relative high ceiling type in Amaurys Minier. He's young, 19, and he's raw. Now playing at Elizabethton, Minier is working through some early struggles. He does however have two home runs and 13 RBI in his first 20 games, and he's a prospect many of the national types see as having real power potential.

This grouping could round out a trade either for a big name acquisition, or a lesser, but more immediate need. They have definite value both to the organization and in the form of a trade, but it's hard to say how or when that comes to fruition.

The Meaningful Majors

The Twins are likely going to be buyers at the trade deadline, but that doesn't mean their 25 man roster is off limits (or those who find themselves just squeezed off of it). You won't find Mike Pelfrey or Tommy Milone here (the former has no trade value anyways), but the team controlled types with more to offer definitely will bring a return.

Breaking out as expected this season, Kyle Gibson has been nothing short of spectacular in 2015. Owning a 2.85 ERA across 18 starts, Gibson has also improved his strikeout rate up to 6.2 per nine. His 4.00 FIP could cause teams reason for pause, but he could be equally as coveted as a Berrios type.

Sent to the bullpen, despite being one of the Twins best pitchers, Trevor May would have definite appeal to other clubs. In his last six starts before converting to relief, May owned a 3.23 ERA across 30.2 IP. He also led the Twins rotation in strikeouts. A former top prospect on his own and under team control until 2021, May has plenty going for him.

The white elephant in this pool is the castoff outfielder Oswaldo Arcia. Lacking drive at points this season, Arcia has lit Triple-A on fire. In his last 16 games, he owns a .322/.403/.780 slash line with eight home runs and 19 RBI. It's mind boggling as to why he isn't punching balls out of the park for the Twins, but there's little reason to believe another team wouldn't make use of his services.

Of those mentioned, only Gibson would likely be able to be a feature piece in any big trade. Arcia and may are both great options to pair with some other pieces, but you can bet any suitor will be looking for a bit more. What's important to remember is that while buying, the Twins have some expendable depth even at the highest level.

At the end of the day, the trade deadline is something to approach with a heightened sense of understanding. Nearly every team in the big leagues has the pieces to acquire the same players your favorite team does, knowing which pieces are worth what, and more importantly, which ones aren't worth what you think, is the defining line between fantasy and reality.

Minnesota is entering a critical stretch in deciding what they will do at the end of the month. Don't miss the next handful of games, because it should determine how the end of the Twins summer takes shape.

The Trading Twins: Let Splashes Make Themselves

It's the middle of July and the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline is fast approaching. Teams looking to upgrade for the final stretch of the summer are no doubt plugged in, and for the first time in a while the Twins can count themselves in that grouping. There's no question Minnesota has a few problem areas, but there's really only one that they should be focusing on.

Paul Molitor has done an exceptional job of taking a Twins team not expected to contend, and putting them in the thick of the playoff race. Chasing the Royals in the AL Central, and leading the Wild Card race, the first year manager has impressed in 2015. Lineup construction has been something Molitor has gotten creative with, and having issues at both shortstop and catcher, he's been forced to.

Minnesota has watched as Kurt Suzuki has looked like a backup at best. The regression was no doubt going to come for a guy that had no business playing in the All-Star Game a season ago. The fall has been hard however, and being backed up by even less, the Twins have become incredibly thin behind the dish.

At short, Danny Santana has taken massive steps backward as well. Although Santana was also a prime regression candidate, the Twins haven't watched anyone significantly step up. Right now, the Twins seem best positioned to allow Eduardo Escobar free reign at short for the foreseeable future. While he too leaves plenty to be desired at the plate, there's no denying his upgrade over the scuffling Santana.

Both catcher and short present problems for the Twins going forward. Minnesota has no organizational answers at backstop, and while they may at short, none are a sure thing. Jorge Polanco has been an errors machine and may not stick at the big league level, while Nick Gordon is years away. Both positions need fixing, but the splash doesn't need to be made now.

That brings us to the biggest issue, the Twins bullpen. While a reliever doesn't represent the glorious upgrade that a name like Troy Tulowitzki, Carlos Gomez, or Matt Wieters may, for Minnesota, it's probably the missing link. Following the break, Glen Perkins went on to blow his first save of the season. While he's been the gold standard for both the Twins and the big leagues in 2015, getting to him has been more than an issue.

Brian Duensing has been lights out of late, but went through bad stretches early. Blaine Boyer continues to dance around danger, and J.R. Graham has been exposed at times this season. Trevor May is still figuring out his new role, and Casey Fien has been anything but a sure thing this season. What's more unfortunate than the current situation of the Twins pen, is that upcoming options also are less than enthusing.

At Triple-A Rochester, Minnesota could go to retreads like Michael Tonkin or Logan Darnell. They could call up A.J. Achter, who was a minor league all star this year. They could also turn to Tyler Duffey or Taylor Rogers, both starters that have been solid thus far. Where Minnesota was hoping for relief help though isn't going to happen.

Kicking off the year, it was the Double-A Chattanooga bullpen that employed the Twins flamethrowers. Nick Burdi, Jake Reed, and Zack Jones were all viewed as potential second half options for the Twins. Burdi and Jones have since been demoted to High-A Fort Myers, while Reed has struggled after a strong start. In regards to other options, J.T. Chargois has hit a rough patch, and 2015 1st round draft pick and considered fast mover Tyler Jay has stumbled out of the gates.
It's safe to say at this point the Twins relief help isn't coming from within.

This leads us to the ripple that Minnesota is positioned to make. Rather than the big flashy offensive splash, the Twins need to add help protecting the leads they already have. A rental type isn't who they should be after either. Both Will Smith and Steve Cishek are real options, with team control, that can help the Twins now and in the future. They are back end types with experience and performance to their credit, and Minnesota's late inning ability would be all the better for it.

Acquiring someone like Smith or Cishek may have the Twins giving up a little bit more than a Tyler Clippard type, who's a free agent at year's end. However, no reliever should fleece the organization like that of a catching or shortstop upgrade. With Minnesota looking to compete for the next several years, having this be another season of evaluation for top prospects before making a move could prove vital.

With their current positioning, the Twins should no doubt be eyeing the playoffs. Making sure to get relief help is going to be a must if they want to get there. Allow the big splashes to come at a later date if they need to be made, but for now, go get your bridge arms and ride off into the summer.

Paul Molitor has the Twins within striking distance, now it's time to enjoy the outcome.

The Trades The Twins Should And Should Not Make

Although we are still at the beginning of July, you can bet that the Minnesota Twins and Major League Baseball contenders as a whole, have begun looking for ways to improve their rosters. For the Twins, this seems like uncharted territory given the last four seasons, but here we are. As Minnesota looks to hang into the AL Central, they no doubt need to remain patiently alert.

Terry Ryan and the Twins have rarely had a knack for making big splashes, and that should be counted on as a constant much more often than it shouldn't be. However, knowing this team is still outperforming advanced analytics, sustained winning will likely take other options to continue as a possibility.

Looking at the proposed names thus far in relation to the Twins, there's some intriguing options, and some less than appealing. How the Twins navigate this month could determine the way in which they deal with the end of it. Here are a few of the possibilities:

Will Smith- LHP Brewers

Smith is up for arbitration in 2016, and is under team control until 2020. At age 25, that makes him immediately someone tied to a higher acquisition cost for a team looking to upgrade their bullpen. On the season Smith owns a 1.47 ERA, 1.74 FIP, and an 11.7 K/9. He probably walks more batters than you'd like out of a reliever (3.5 BB/9) but there's no doubt the strikeout punch would be nice for the Twins pen.

If Minnesota is determined to make a splash of sorts, Smith is probably as far as I would suggest going. He's likely going to net the Brewers a sizable return, and while he should factor into the Twins future plans as well, I'm not sure I'd be for giving up valuable assets here.

Neal Cotts- LHP Brewers

Sticking with the Brewers, Cotts presents a different kind of possibility. At 35, and a free agent after the season, Milwaukee can't be expecting much more than a mid-level prospect in return. Cotts hasn't been lights out as he owns a 3.53 ERA backed by a 4.29 FIP. He strikes out guys at a solid rate (9.3 K/9) but also walks his fair share of batter (3.0 BB/9). Against lefties though, Cotts is more than respectable giving up just a .200/.224/.309 slash line. Also, in his last 18 appearances, he's been virtually untouchable: 19.2 IP 0.92 ERA 21/7 K/BB .217/.289/.232.

This is probably the type of move I would advocate the Twins to make. Right now, the bridge between each night's starting pitcher and Glen Perkins is shakier than a trapeze artist on a tightrope. Cotts isn't your typical LOOGY, and he's proved more than effective of late. If Milwaukee is willing to deal, the Twins should be listening here.

Marlon Byrd- OF Reds

Sure, he's 37 years old, but Marlon Byrd continues to prove valuable through his bat. For the Reds this season, Byrd has slashed .245/.300/.467. With 14 home runs, 32 RBI, and a .767 OPS, Byrd has kept father time at bay. It's not that the Twins offense is too good for a bat like that to play, but instead, that they don't necessarily have a place to put him.

Minnesota's largest position of depth at the major league level right now is in the outfielder. They have the best prospect in all of baseball who will be nearing a return, young players in Aaron Hicks and Eddie Rosario who continue to have value, and a veteran (who has posted similar numbers to Byrd) in Torii Hunter. On top of those mentioned, we haven't even discussed Oswaldo Arcia (who is mashing down in Triple-A Rochester: .412/.44/.824 4 HR 10 RBI in his last 8 games), or 40 man prospect Max Kepler.

It's probably not that Byrd doesn't have value, but adding him may hurt the Twins in the long run more than it helps.

Carlos Gomez- CF Brewers

A retread of a former Twins player has to be thrown in here. After all, Jason Kubel, Matt Guerrier, and Jason Bartlett have all been back through lately. Obviously Gomez is in another league than those guys, but it's worth noting nonetheless. Gomez is an All Star level talent and is hitting .268/.313/.420 in a down year this season. He's got six home runs and 32 RBI for the Brewers, and he continues to track down everything in the outfield.

Forget the fact that an outfield with Gomez, Buxton, and Hicks would never see a flyball drop (ever), but many of the same problems a Byrd acquisition would face come into play here. The Twins outfield is crowded, and is a position of depth more than anything. On top of that, Gomez would likely cost the Twins a prospect like Jose Berrios. Combine that with the fact Gomez is a free agent after 2016, and being a Scott Boras client, likely wouldn't re-sign with the Twins. I don't know how Minnesota could mortgage the future for a year and a half window.

The Twins find themselves in the curious position of being relevant before they expected. While relief help fills a need this season, it should be expected to benefit going forward (after all, internal options are thin at the moment). Going forward though, the Twins have more pressing needs at positions like shortstop and catcher than to be dealing for a boost in an odd area.

With plenty of time left in July, and more importantly games left to be played, things should sort themselves out on the field for Minnesota. If the Twins can keep winning and stay in the thick of the race, adding a lower cost relief option would be a necessary move. No matter how the situation shakes out though, making a big splash or dealing prized prospects likely won't (and shouldn't) be the plan of action.