The Minnesota Twins are acquiring left-handed reliever MLB Trade Rumors from the New York Mets in exchange for minor league infielders Bruin Agbayani and Billy Amick, according to reports. The transaction marks an early move ahead of Major League Baseball’s trade deadline, as the 47-63 Mets begin a sell-off while the 55-55 Twins look to fuel a playoff push.
Twins Acquire Reliever A.J. Minter From Mets
Minter, a 32-year-old 10-year veteran, brings postseason experience to Minnesota, having won a World Series ring with the 2021 Atlanta Braves. His start to the 2026 season was delayed after he underwent lat surgery last year, requiring a full calendar year to recover. Across 23 appearances this season for New York, Minter has pitched to a 2.35 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. He signed a two-year, $22 million contract with the Mets ahead of the 2025 season and is set for free agency following the conclusion of the current season.
Addressing Minnesota’s Bullpen Needs
Upgrading the bullpen was a clear priority for the Twins, according to general manager Jeremy Zoll, who stated on Tuesday that the front office was preparing to buy. Minnesota’s relief corps entered play Thursday ranked 24th out of 30 teams in fWAR.
Minter is expected to take over the role previously held by Anthony Banda as the top left-hander in the Twins’ bullpen. Banda was lost for the year in June due to a left lat strain. Minter joins a late-inning mix that includes Yoendrys Gomez and Andrew Morris, alongside other left-handers Kendry Rojas and Kody Funderburk. This deal represents the second bullpen addition for Minnesota this month, following a trade that brought in right-hander Tommy Nance from Toronto in exchange for minor league catcher Ryan Sprock.
To clear a 40-man roster spot for Minter, the Twins can transfer Cole Sands, who is slated for season-ending arthroscopic elbow surgery, to the 60-day injured list. Without cash considerations, the Twins will take on just under $3.5 million in salary for the stretch run, moving their approximate payroll from $101.4 million to roughly $105 million.
The Prospect Return for New York
In return for Minter, the Mets receive two prospects from the Twins’ system:
* Billy Amick: Ranked as Minnesota’s No. 21 prospect by MLB Pipeline, the 23-year-old infielder was selected in the second round of the 2024 draft out of Tennessee. Playing at Double-A Wichita, Amick has slashed .217/.338/.482 with 23 home runs and 72 RBIs across 86 games this season. * Bruin Agbayani: Ranked as the Twins’ No. 29 prospect by MLB Pipeline, the 19-year-old infielder was selected in the sixth round of the 2025 draft out of a Hawaii high school. Agbayani is the son of former Mets outfielder Benny Agbayani, who played for New York from 1998 to 2001. Agbayani has spent his career in Low-A, appearing in 10 games this season for Class-A Fort Myers while being sidelined since mid-May due to thumb and shoulder issues.
For the Mets, trading Minter provides salary relief, saving them just over $8 million if executed without cash considerations. According to reports, the Minter trade is likely the opening move for New York, with further potential trades involving players such as Freddy Peralta, Clay Holmes, Brooks Raley, and Luis Robert Jr. anticipated before the deadline.
Worth a look
