Twins Fail to Make Moves at Trade Deadline, Leaving Roster Holes Unfilled
In a disappointing turn of events, the Minnesota Twins did not make any moves at the trade deadline to address their roster weaknesses. Coming into the deadline, the expectations were minimal, with fans hoping for some bullpen help and a right-handed-hitting outfielder. These were easily identifiable weaknesses that the front office failed to address during the offseason.
Leading up to the deadline, several options were discussed, with 12 relievers and 12 right-handed hitters being identified as potential targets. The price tags for these acquisitions were expected to be reasonable, as middle relievers and platoon outfielders are typically not scarce resources. However, when the dust settled, the Twins had done nothing.
The lack of action is perplexing, considering President of Baseball Operations Derek Falvey’s comments just a week prior. He stated that the team was focused on pursuing “complementary pieces” to upgrade the roster. It seemed like a reasonable approach for a team leading the worst division in baseball.
The Twins’ bullpen has been struggling, ranking 13th in ERA and 14th in Win Probability Added out of 30 teams. Despite this, the only move the team made was swapping Jorge López for Dylan Floro. This does little to fortify a bullpen that may not be getting setup man Brock Stewart back from his elbow injury.
On the offensive side, the Twins have been performing well against right-handed pitching but have struggled against left-handers. Their lineup is dead last in MLB with a .658 OPS versus left-handers. Despite this known issue, the front office did nothing to balance the lineup with a right-handed hitter.
Falvey rationalized the inaction by stating that several teams they were interested in made last-minute changes and held onto players, limiting the pool of available options. He also suggested that the Twins were hesitant to make a move that would require bumping a player they liked from the roster.
While there may be some truth to these explanations, the lack of moves is still frustrating. Several useful right-handed hitters and relievers were traded to other teams, with prices the Twins were unwilling to match. It is also hard to believe that they didn’t have a bullpen spot or room in the lineup to spare, considering the underperformance of their veteran hitters.
The front office needs to take a hard look at itself, as they assembled this roster and committed significant financial resources to players who have underperformed. The lack of major-league reliever additions during the offseason and the failure to fix known roster weaknesses at the trade deadline reflect a flawed approach by the front office.
While the AL Central is weak and the division title may very well be within the Twins’ grasp, it is concerning that they failed to make moves to improve their chances in the playoffs. Late-inning outs and facing left-handed pitchers are areas that could be exposed in October, and it is questionable whether the current roster is enough to overcome those challenges.
The lack of action stands in contrast to the Cleveland Guardians, who actively made moves to make their roster worse. It is a head-scratching decision if the Twins believe they can sleepwalk to a division title without any reinforcements. Twins fans are tired of winless playoff appearances and deserve better.
The veteran hitters in the Twins’ clubhouse do need to step up and produce, but the front office should also be held accountable for their decisions. After seven seasons at the helm, there is no excuse for failing to win this division and satisfy the fans’ desire for postseason success. The front office better be right that this roster is enough, or they will face criticism for their lack of action at the trade deadline.