The Minnesota Twins may consider trading their backstop as the August 3 deadline approaches, depending on their season performance. Currently, they hold a 12-11 record, placing them second in the AL Central.
MLB analyst sets the stage for Twins' backstop to be traded later this summer originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
While we are just in the thick of the new season, it is never too early to think about trade candidates ahead of the August 3 deadline. No team is completely out of it, but some bad starts could have the front office thinking about moving on from some valuable pieces and thinking about next season.
One team that many believed would be sellers at the deadline is the Minnesota Twins. However, they have gotten out to a 12-11 start, putting them in second place in the AL Central.
Now, if they keep this up, they may be buyers rather than sellers at the deadline. But it is a long season, and a bad few series could turn things around.
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If the Twins do hit a bit of a bad stretch, they do have some names that other teams would be calling about. Joe Ryan would likely be the one everyone would be after, but they have some other players that could be on the move.
Taylor Rogers could be seen as a great trade chip as contenders are always searching for relievers. Or, Bleacher Report's Kerry Miller sets the stage for the rare starting catcher trade later this summer.
"With Ryan Jeffers in his final season of arbitration eligibility, though, and the Twins likely to fall out of contention over the course of the next few months, we could see another exception to the rule this summer."
Freddy Fermin was on the rare occasion last year after he was traded from the Kansas City Royals to the San Diego Padres. Ryan Jeffers could be the one to do it this year.
That would make Victor Caratini take on a much larger role behind the backstop and take away from his time at first base or DH.
The MLB trade deadline is set for August 3, 2023.
The specific player referred to as the Twins' backstop has not been named in the article.
The Twins' current 12-11 record may lead them to be buyers rather than sellers at the trade deadline, depending on their performance in the coming weeks.
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