The Twins are one in all a number of “bubble” groups across the league who probably do not know but whether or not they’ll purchase, promote, or do some mixture of each previous to the July 31 commerce deadline. It has been a season of peaks and valleys for a Twins membership that began 4-11 earlier than rallying with a 13-game profitable streak after which floundering by way of a 9-18 June not lengthy after shedding their ace for upwards of three months.
Minnesota is a captivating crew to observe, because the Twins would have some very attention-grabbing leases in the event that they decide to promote but additionally have a deep and gifted farm system in the event that they determine to push for rivalry. They’re 4 video games out of a Wild Card spot and open the second half with sequence in opposition to the Rockies, Dodgers and Nationals. The entire uncertainty with regard to the deadline comes in opposition to a backdrop of an possession group that has minimize payroll over the previous 24 months as they discover a possible sale of the crew.
Report: 47-49 (Playoff chance 23.6%, per FanGraphs)
Different sequence entries accessible right here.
Purchase Mode
Potential wants: Beginning pitching, backup catcher, one other bat, one other reliever
By early June, the Twins ranked among the many sport’s finest pitching staffs. Minnesota pitchers led the majors in stroll charge, Ok-BB%, fWAR and SIERA whereas rating top-five in strikeout charge, ERA and FIP. Prime starter Pablo Lopez went down with a strained teres main muscle on June 3, and the pitching workers shortly started to unravel. Prospect Zebby Matthews hit the injured listing simply days after Lopez, although he is anticipated again shortly after the All-Star Break. Regular veteran Bailey Ober bumped into catastrophic residence run troubles whereas attempting to pitch by way of a hip harm earlier than lastly touchdown on the injured listing. A number of brief begins from the rotation snowballed and took a toll on the bullpen.
Joe Ryan is main the Twins’ workers within the absence of Lopez and Ober. Prospect David Festa has had a pair of terrible begins (eight runs apiece) and 7 first rate ones in any other case. Fifth starter Chris Paddack has struggled. Simeon Woods Richardson was optioned after a poor stretch earlier this season however has supplied a much-needed high quality stretch over his previous six begins: 30 2/3 innings, 1.47 ERA. He is all the way down to a 3.95 ERA on the season (albeit with a 4.40 FIP and 4.65 SIERA).
The Twins might nonetheless use some extra stability within the rotation. Paddack hasn’t carried out effectively and is a free agent at season’s finish. Festa and Matthews had been top-100 prospects earlier than debuting however have been inconsistent. Lopez and Ober are injured. Even Ryan, the present workers chief, missed the ultimate two months of the 2024 season resulting from harm. Minnesota is not prone to purchase anybody with a very lofty wage — not amid a possible sale of the crew and on the heels of an offseason punctuated by payroll limitations — however there are nonetheless choices to contemplate.
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