Hold on tight, Twins fans, because the rumors swirling around this offseason are enough to make your head spin! The Minnesota Twins are potentially facing a massive roster shakeup, and it all boils down to money. After the Pohlads chose to restructure their debt instead of selling the team, the buzz is that they're aiming for a payroll below $100 million. That's a serious constraint, and it could lead to some painful decisions.
If the front office is being asked to slash costs and offload players, does it make sense to embrace a full-on rebuild? If so, expect some major league talent to be packing their bags. MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince recently threw out some hypothetical trades, and let's just say they're... ambitious. He even called them "ridiculous trades." The Twins are at the center of two of these proposed deals, and they involve two fan favorites: Byron Buxton and Joe Ryan.
Byron Buxton to Cincinnati?
Byron Buxton has always maintained he wants to stay in Minnesota. He's said he wants to be "a Minnesota Twin for life." But here's where it gets controversial... Could the Twins' budget constraints and potential sell-off force his hand? If the team is clearly not trying to compete, would Buxton reconsider his stance and waive his no-trade clause? It's a tough question, and one that Buxton himself would have to grapple with.
Castrovince's proposal sends Buxton to the Cincinnati Reds in a three-team trade:
- Reds get: OF Byron Buxton
- Astros get: RHP Brady Singer
- Twins get: SS Tyson Lewis (Reds' No. 3 prospect), OF Mason Neville (Reds' No. 13 prospect), C Walker Janek (Astros' No. 4 prospect), RHP Cole Hertzler (Astros' No. 29 prospect)
Buxton to Cincinnati might seem odd at first glance. He is coming off a season in which he finished 11th in MVP voting. Why would he leave? Well, the Reds are a team on the rise, and Buxton's $15 million annual salary for the next three seasons could be an easier fit for their budget than some of the bigger-name free agents out there. From Cincinnati's perspective, adding a player of Buxton's caliber would be a significant boost to their lineup.
Houston, on the other hand, is always looking for pitching, and Brady Singer, a post-hype prospect, might benefit from a change of scenery and a better organization. It’s a win-win-win… on paper, at least.
From the Twins' perspective, this trade is all about acquiring young talent. They'd be shedding Buxton's salary, which is the second-highest on the team, and loading up on pre-arbitration players. This would undoubtedly please ownership, but is it the right move for the team's long-term success?
Joe Ryan Dealt to Boston?
The other blockbuster trade involves Joe Ryan. Remember at the trade deadline when the Twins were rumored to be considering dealing Ryan? Well, that possibility is back on the table. Castrovince proposes a three-team deal that sends Ryan to the Boston Red Sox:
- Dodgers get: OF Jarren Duran
- Red Sox get: RHP Joe Ryan
- Twins get: OF Zyhir Hope (Dodgers' No. 2 prospect), LHP Jackson Ferris (Dodgers' No. 6 prospect), 3B Chase Harlan (Dodgers' No. 18 prospect), RHP Marcus Phillips (Red Sox's No. 11 prospect)
This trade would reunite the three teams involved in the 2020 deals that ultimately landed Mookie Betts in Los Angeles. And this is the part most people miss... Boston's acquisition of Sonny Gray doesn't necessarily take them out of the market for another starting pitcher. Ryan, who is under team control through 2027 and coming off an All-Star season with a 125 ERA+, would be a valuable addition to their rotation.
For the Twins, this trade is all about building for the future. They'd be acquiring a significant haul of prospects, instantly bolstering their farm system. Given that control, maybe Duran would appeal to the Twins, but, again, we’re operating under the assumption that they’d be going with a full-scale youth movement here.
And this is the part most people miss... The Twins' farm system is already considered one of the best in baseball. Adding this much prospect talent would make it arguably the best in the league. Of course, prospects are just that – prospects. There's no guarantee they'll pan out at the major league level. But this is the path to building a new core.
The Verdict?
Ultimately, these are just hypothetical trades. It's unlikely that either of these specific deals will happen. However, they highlight the very real possibility that the Twins will make some controversial moves this offseason, and it's likely to involve selling off talent rather than bringing it in. What do you think, Twins fans? Would you be willing to trade Buxton or Ryan for a boatload of prospects? Or should the team focus on competing now, even if it means a higher payroll? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
