5 Blue Jays players the Twins should call with trade proposals for.
While the Minnesota Twins have recovered from a poor start to the season, the Toronto Blue Jays have gone the opposite route.
There are contradictory speculations about Toronto’s future, but it appears that the Jays will sell some components around the trade deadline. Big-ticket players with years of control, such as Vladdy Guerrero or Bo Bichette, are unlikely to be sold, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t components available at the right price.
The Twins’ financial status is not suitable to taking on major contracts and more money as a result of the Bally sports scandal. Like it or not, the Twins will have to improve intelligently and on the margins. They have the components, potential, and depth to do this. Fortunately, the Twins have plenty of mid-level choices to consider, especially on this underachieving Blue Jays club, which may be easily available.
Five Blue Jays players. The Twins should target at the trade deadline.
Yusei Kikuchi
The Twins desperately need beginning pitching help.
It’s an almost non-negotiable addition that must be done by the deadline, a big cry from where things were this time last year. Chris Bassit and Kevin Gausman may not be choices because to the hefty contracts the Twins would have to take on, as well as Toronto’s reluctance to sell players with control.
Yusei Kikuchi’s contract is about to expire, and the Twins need a lefty starter to balance out their primarily right-handed rotation. With Pablo Lopez’s troubles and Chris Paddack’s recent injury, now is the moment to act. Kikuchi is on an expiring contract and, despite his ups and downs this season, has a track record of major league success. Although his 4.54 ERA is not very outstanding, he performed effectively last season, posting a 3.86 and presently leading the league in games started.
He’s dependable and will provide stability down the stretch for a Twins team that needs to add another starter before October.
Kevin Kiermaier
I’ve mentioned it before, but the Twins need a backup plan for Byron Buxton.
Buxton has been excellent this season, but the Twins have removed the DH training wheels and allowed him to play center field. Thus far, so good. However, there is a history of harm, and Minnesota should be prepared just in case. Manuel Margot has not been a viable offensive or defensive option, therefore it’s time to seek outside the organization, unless you believe in DaShawn Kiersey’s Triple A stats. Kiermaier is safe and dependable, and while his offense has been subpar, his defense remains among the best in the game.
Given that the Jays have already released him this year, the price should be reasonable.
