Twins need trio of star hitters to stay healthy
Why it matters: With waning fan interest following last season's September collapse, the Twins need a big year to put butts back in Target Field seats and eyeballs on TV broadcasts.
The big picture: Despite fan frustrations over ownership spending and the TV situation, this appears to be a pretty good team.
They're slight favorites to win the mediocre American League Central division, and if they can make the playoffs, the field could be wide open as no team in the AL is projected to win more than 89 games.
They have a strong and deep rotation of starting pitchers and a bullpen that, if healthy, could be lights out.
Yes, but: Their lineup is shaky and their top three hitters — Correa, Buxton and Lewis — are major injury concerns. They combined to play only 270 out of 486 games last year.
Lewis will begin the season on the injured list with a hamstring strain.
Catch up quick: This year's roster is remarkably similar to last year's. Longtime right fielder Max Kepler left for Philadelphia and they added journeyman outfielder Harrison Bader on a modest contract.
Zoom out: For many fans, the more intriguing storyline of the season is not what happens on the field but in the owner's suite.
The Pohlad family put the team up for sale last fall. Hopes that the deep-pocketed Ishbia brothers would buy the Twins were dashed when they chose to pursue the rival Chicago White Sox instead.
A recent report in The Athletic said the team is still on the market and there's buyer interest, but that the Pohlads are holding out at a $1.7 billion price.
The other side (of the river): St. Paul Saints fans should be excited about the season. They'll get to watch some of the Twins' best prospects in years, including slugger Emmanuel Rodriguez and pitchers David Festa and Zebby Matthews.
A potential mid-season call-up of phenom Walker Jenkins also looms.
Nick's prediction: The Twins will go 87-75 and win the division thanks to strong pitching. Their weak lineup will cause them to lose in the first round of the playoffs.
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USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
MLB trade grades: Who won the biggest deals on deadline day?
Major League Baseball's 2025 trade deadline featured a flurry of big deals, including some genuinely stunning swaps like Carlos Correa returning to the Houston Astros and the San Diego Padres adding Mason Miller to their bullpen. The Minnesota Twins traded 10 players from their 26-man roster in the span of 24 hours, while the Arizona Diamondbacks and Baltimore Orioles were also big sellers at the July 31 deadline. In addition to the deal for Miller, the Padres got Ryan O'Hearn and Ramon Laureano from the Orioles, two of the top bats available as they seek to chase down the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West. The New York Yankees remade their bullpen with separate trades for relievers David Bednar, Camilo Doval and Jake Bird. We break down all the deals from deadline day: Carlos Correa trade grades Houston Astros receive INF Carlos Correa, $33 million; Minnesota Twins receive LHP Matt Mikulski Houston brings Correa home after a few years apart, getting the Twins to eat a huge chunk of the two-time World Series champion's salary. He'll move to third base with his one-time replacement Jeremy Peña at short and while Correa hasn't performed consistently since departing, it's a lower-risk move for the Astros in a deal that should make everyone happy. This was Minnesota's one and only chance to get out of the Correa contract. Kudos to them for seizing the opportunity, a pure salary dump that admits defeat on the once-marquee free agent signing. Mason Miller trade grades San Diego Padres receive RHP Mason Miller, LHP JP Sears; Athletics receive SS Leo De Vries, RHP Braden Nett, RHP Henry Báez and RHP Eduarniel Nuñez It's quite a coup getting both the game's most dominant closer and a guy with four years of club control remaining after this season. Miller, 26, is generally untouchable in the ninth inning and in two seasons as A's closer has nailed down 48 of 54 save opportunities, an 89% conversion rate on par with Hall of Famers Trevor Hoffman and Mariano Rivera. The cost? It's huge. De Vries is the most significant international signing the Padres have had this decade, no small honor, and he's consistently been challenged – and succeeded – at levels where the average player is four to five years older than him. Put simply: Not many 17-year-olds flash power and speed in stateside A ball and go on to the Arizona Fall League, as De Vries did in 2024. While Miller's controllable years mean the Padres can flip him in future seasons for either immediate help or to galvanize their system, it still stings to trade a potential (likely?) franchise player for a reliever. The deal begs one dark question: Will any of their young stars make it to Las Vegas, should they ever complete their ballpark there? It's yet another step back at the big league level for the A's in a five-year cycle of utter desiccation that hastened their move from Oakland. And it's perhaps not a coincidence that Miller was dealt months before he entered the first of four years of salary arbitration. – Gabe Lacques Camilo Doval trade grades New York Yankees receive RHP Camilo Doval; San Francisco Giants receive Jesus Rodriguez, Trystan Vrieling, Parks Harber, Carlos De La Rosa Doval is having a nice bounce-back season and is under team control through 2027, completing a complete overhaul of the Yankees' bullpen beyond 2025 after adding David Bednar and Jake Bird earlier in the day. Definitely could have gotten more for the 2023 National League saves leader if they had waited until the winter – unless he tailed off down the stretch. Griffin Jax trade grades Tampa Bay Rays receive RHP Griffin Jax; Minnesota Twins receive RHP Taj Bradley Tampa Bay officially gives up on Bradley, one of the top prospects in baseball a few years ago, after giving him a pretty shot in the rotation over the past two years. Jax hasn't looked like himself this year, but he's a proven high-leverage arm the Rays need in the AL wild-card race. Bradley is only 24 years old, under team control through 2029 and hasn't been bad by any stretch of the imaginaton. Pretty decent gamble here. Merrill Kelly trade grades Texas Rangers receive RHP Merrill Kelly; Arizona Diamondbacks receive LHP Kohl Drake, RHP David Hagaman, LHP Mitch Bratt. With Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi and now Kelly, watch out if the Rangers get into the playoffs. Kelly, who played in Korea from 2015-2018, is having the best season of his career at age 36 and brings some postseason pedigree having gone 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA in four starts across Arizona's run to the World Series in 2023. Holding a ton of trade chips this month, Arizona has been frustrated by the slow market. Having already unloaded Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suarez, the Diamondbacks get three prospects in exchange for Kelly, a free agent at the end of the season. Drake was the Rangers' No. 5 prospect and has a 3.10 ERA in 16 minor-league games this season. Ryan O'Hearn, Ramon Laureano trade grades San Diego Padres receive 1B/OF Ryan O'hearn, OF Ramon Laureano; Baltimore Orioles receive RHP Boston Bateman, INF Brandon Butterworth, INF Cobb Hightower, INF/OF Victor Figueroa, RHP Tyson Neighbors and RHP Tanner Smith. San Diego dramatically improved its lineup with the deal for two of the top bats on the market, having already acquired catcher Freddy Fermin from the Royals earlier in the day. The Padres really should push the Dodgers in the NL West over the next two months and have to be considered one of the top World Series contenders Rather than finding separate buyers, the Orioles packaged two of the top bats on the market and received six prospects in return – all of whom were just drafted in 2024. José Caballero trade grades New York Yankees receive INF/OF José Caballero; Tampa Bay Rays receive OF Everson Pereira and PTBNL or cash. Caballero, who led the AL with 44 steals in 2024 and has 34 this year, is a nice addition for a Yankees team that ranks in the middle of the pack for stolen bases. The trip to join his new teammates was an easy one with the Rays already in the Bronx, Caballero merely switching clubhouses. Tampa Bay has enough guys who can run and the roster spot was helpful as the Rays made deals on deadline day. Jake Bird trade grades New York Yankees receive RHP Jake Bird; Colorado Rockies receive 2B Roc Riggio, LHP Ben Shields. Hours after agreeing to a deal with the Pirates for closer David Bednar, the Yankees further fortified their bullpen with with the 29-year-old Bird, under team control through 2028. With a 4.73 ERA this season and even career home-road splits away from Coors Field, Bird doesn't have quite the upside as other relievers on the market this week, but the Yankees acquire a reliable – and cheap – arm to the middle relief corps. Colorado is in a race to avoid the worst record in MLB history, but decided to trade its best relief pitcher who currently costs just about nothing. They'll save a few million in Bird's arbitration years, but dealing the right-hander was definitely not somethign the Rockies needed to do. Jesús Sánchez trade grades Houston Astros receive OF Jesús Sánchez; Miami Marlins receive RHP Ryan Gusto, INF Chase Jaworsky, OF Esmil Valencia The AL West leaders needed outfield help and find it in the 27-year-old, already a veteran of six seasons. Sánchez presumably will step into the strong side of a left field platoon in Houston, which had been giving regular outfield starts to Taylor Trammell. Doesn't look like a huge move now, but can't you picture Sánchez lacing an RBI double at Daikin Park in October? Good move from a fiscal perspective with the outfielder making $4.5 million and scheduled for an annual raise through 2027. Phil Maton trade grades Texas Rangers receive RHP Phil Maton; St. Louis Cardinals receive LHP Mason Molina, RHP Skylar Hales, international slot money. Texas bolsters its bullpen with the veteran right-hander who has enjoyed a fine 2025 season as a high-leverage arm in St. Louis. Two prospects and the international money is a nice return as they've fallen out of contention. Cedric Mullins trade grades New York Mets receive OF Cedric Mullins; Baltimore Orioles receive RHP Raimon Gomez, RHP Anthony Nuñez, RHP Chandler Marsh. Adding Mullins is nice for the Mets, giving them a plus defender in center field to phase out the glove-first Tyrone Taylor. He's a rental but with his power-speed combination, Mullins could be a huge contributor down the stretch as New York tries to fight off Philadelphia for first place in the NL East. Mullins' time with the Orioles ends 10 years after the club drafted him in the 13th round. It's certainly not the way Baltimore wanted to say goodbye to their longtime outfielder, but the Orioles got two of the Mets' top 30 prospects in Nunez (No. 14) and Gomez (No. 30). David Bednar trade grades Yankees receive RHP David Bednar; Pittsburgh Pirates receive C/1B Rafael Flores, C/1B Edgleen Perez, OF Brian Sanchez. The Bombers bolster their bullpen for the stretch run and beyond, landing the two-time All-Star reliever who will be under team control through 2026. The 30-year-old's addition is huge considering Devin Williams and Luke Weaver are free agents at the end of the season. Holding one of the last relievers remaining on the market in the hours leading up to the deadline, you might have expected the Pirates to get more in this deal for a controllable All-Star. Flores ranks as the Yankees' No. 8 prospect according to but he's already 24 years old and has struggled since his promotion to Class AAA (.677 OPS in 10 games). Perez is 19 years old and has had a tough season in Class A (.209 average in 301 AB) but scouts hope his bat will catch up with his glove behind the plate. Harrison Bader trade grades Philadelphia Phillies receive OF Harrison Bader; Minnesota Twins receive OF Hendry Mendez, RHP Geremy Villoria. Philadelphia gives up basically nothing to get one of the game's better defensive center fielders, who should provide some pop for an outfield that desperately needs some. Bader has an .809 OPS in 31 career postseason games. Might as well get a couple of projects in exhange for a rental outfielder. The 21-year-old Mendez ranked as the Phillies' 12th-best prospect and has an .808 OPS in 85 Class AA games this season. Signed as an international free agent this past winter, Villoria is just 16 years and old and recently made his pro debut with 19 strikeouts through five starts. Kyle Finnegan trade grades Detroit Tigers receive Kyle Finnegan; Washington Nationals receive RHP Josh Randall, RHP R.J. Sale Finnegan isn't Mason Miller or Jhoan Duran or Ryan Helsley, but the 33-year-old is a great addition to Detroit's bullpen as a veteran with ninth-inning experience, saving 86 games over the past three seasons for the middling Nationals. An All-Star in 2024, Finnegan has only given up three home runs in 34 games this season and could take some save chances from Will Vest, who has 2.53 ERA in 16 saves for the Tigers in 2025. The least-sexy closer on the market, Finnegan netted the Nationals a pair of pitchers with Randall ranking as Detroit's No. 15 prospect, according to Shane Bieber trade grades Toronto Blue Jays receive RHP Shane Bieber; Cleveland Guardians receive RHP Khai Stephen. Toronto is going for it! Bieber, the 2020 Cy Young winner, still hasn't pitched in the majors since undergoing Tommy John surgery early in 2023 and hit some speedbumps in his rehab but the Blue Jays get a high-upside starter who is under team control through next year. Bieber has a $16 million team option (with a $4 million buyout) for 2026, which could end up looking like a steal. Bieber gets traded before making his Cleveland return, a huge bummer for fans 30-year-old right-hander who was drafted by the organization in 2016. A second-round pick last year, Stephen was considered one of the Blue Jays' top five prospects and is 9-1 with a 2.06 ERA in 91 ⅔ innings across three levels this season, currently in Class AA. Unfortunate that the Guardians had to let him go, but a nice return in the one-for-one swap. Paul Sewald trade grades Detroit Tigers receive RHP Paul Sewald; Cleveland Guardians receive player to be named later. Sewald is injured and expected to return in September, so this is a move the Tigers are making for October. The 35-year-old had a 4.70 ERA in 18 games this season, but his underlying numbers look better than that with a 4.07 FIP, 1.174 WHIP and 4.5 strikeouts per walk. PTBNL for an injured reliever? Why not. Eugenio Suárez trade grades Seattle Mariners receive 3B Eugenio Suarez; Arizona Diamondbacks receive 1B Tyler Locklear, RHP Juan Burgos and RHP Hunter Cranton. They got the top hitter available and it's telling that the Mariners liked Suárez enough to bring him back after less than two years apart – despite his struggles in Seattle. That puts a ton of pressure on the slugger who is a free agent after the season. Mariners third basemen have totaled just five home runs and 35 RBIs this season, bottom-five in the majors in both categories, so it's a move they had to make. Pretty good return, plucking three of Seattle's top 20 prospects in Locklear (No. 9), Cranton (16) and Burgos (17). Locklear, 24, will likely find himself getting a run-out in Arizona's lineup sooner rather than later. The first baseman made his big-league debut last season and has nothing left to prove in the minors (.316/.401/.552, 19 HR, 82 RBis in Class AAA). Jhoan Duran trade grades Philadelphia Phillies receive RHP Jhoan Duran; Minnesota Twins receive C Eduardo Tait, RHP Mick Abel Dave Dombrowski seized on his opportunity to get 2½ years of one of the best relievers in baseball in exchange for just a pair of prospects. It's a huge addition for the Phillies, with Duran presumably assuming the ninth-inning role and taking a ton of pressure off the club's other high-leverage guys. Philadelphia has the 27-year-old flamethrower under team control through 2027. It's hard to believe that this is the best return the Twins could have gotten for the most desirable reliever on the market. That said, Tait is only 18 years old and rising fast on prospect boards, while Abel is a good candidate for a post-hype bounce back. Ke'Bryan Hayes trade grades Cincinnati Reds receive 3B Ke'Bryan Hayes; Pittsburgh Pirates receive LHP Taylor Rogers, SS Sammy Stafura Surprising move for Cincinnati, which is buying fairly low on Hayes, who remains one of the best defensive third basemen in the game. Maybe Hayes will benefit from a move to Great American Ball Park, one of MLB's most hitter-friendly parks? It's certainly a lower-risk move for the Reds taking on the remainder of Hayes' salary – $30 million from 2026-2029 plus a $6 million buyout for 2030 – but third base isn't usually a position that you're willing to sacrifice offense at. Cincinnati manager Terry Francona said Hayes "might be the best defender in baseball," but wasn't as bullish on his new third baseman's bat. "We know where the hitting has been," Francona said. "Sometimes a change of scenery − I don't want to get too far ahead because I've barely talked to him but he seems excited and we're excited to have him and see where it goes." It's naive to believe the Pirates will seriously reinvest the Hayes savings into winning games in the years to come, but the club cleared itself of a long-term deal with a guy who didn't turn out to be what they expected. Credit where it's due for Pittsburgh investing in Hayes with an eight-year, $70 million extension back in 2022 – and maybe they're giving up too early on the 28-year-old at a low annual cost – but the deal nets $36 million in savings after the 2025 season. That said, the Pirates probably could have gotten a better return this winter. The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Padres acquire Ryan O'Hearn, Ramón Laureano
The 2025 MLB trade deadline has passed. Follow along for live reaction and analysis after an active week around the league. Getty Images Getty Images Houston selected Carlos Correa with the No. 1 pick in the 2012 draft and witnessed him blossom into one of the faces of its current golden era, leading the team to a 2017 World Series title. Correa won American League Rookie of the Year honors in 2015 and started an ascension to superstardom. He became one of the most influential voices inside Houston's clubhouse, helping to shepherd it through the fallout from the electronic sign-stealing scandal in 2020 and 2021. Getty Images Astros fans are no strangers to Carlos Correa but here's an update on how he's performed this season: .267/.319/.386 slash line 92 OPS+ Seven home runs and 31 RBIs .282 expected batting average (83rd percentile) 91.1 mph average exit velocity (73rd percentile) 47.4% hard-hit percentage (79th percentile) 29.8% chase rate (34th percentile) Fielding run value (36th percentile) 27th percentile in range Getty Images The Astros are 'working hard' to acquire Dylan Cease from the Padres, source tells The Athletic. No indication at this point that a deal is close. Getty Images The Minnesota Twins have been the most aggressive sellers on the market. They've made four trades, and including two for long-term assets that seemed unlikely to move just a few days ago. Here's who they've traded away. S P Chris Paddack — Free agent this winter — Free agent this winter RP Randy Dobnak — Team option (to be declined) — Team option (to be declined) OF Harrison Bader — Mutual option — Mutual option RP Jhoan Durán — Arbitration eligible through 2027 — Arbitration eligible through 2027 SS Carlos Correa — Signed through 2028 (with club options through '32) The Twins could still make a splash by trading any one of SP Joe Ryan, SP Pablo López or RP Griffin Jax, but even without dealing another long-term asset, the Twins could still make several moves in the next hour and a half. INF Willi Castro, LHP Danny Coulombe, 1B Ty France, and C Christian Vázquez are all heading to free agency this winter. The Twins could trade any of all of them... and sure enough, Coulombe was just dealt, per our Ken Rosenthal . Getty Images Source confirms: Rangers are acquiring LHP Danny Coulombe from the Twins. This was first reported by ESPN. Getty Images Astros are acquiring outfielder Jesús Sánchez from Marlins, source tells The Athletic . Getty Images A Twins source told me two hours ago after Brock Stewart was traded: "There's definitely more coming." I'd like to nominate that for Understatement of the Year. Getty Images Wow. The Astros swooped in to bring back a familiar face for the second time in three trade deadlines. In 2023, they pulled off a stunner by bringing back Justin Verlander from the Mets at the trade deadline. Two years later, it's another key figure from the 2017 World Series run returning to Houston — Carlos Correa. A major-league source confirms to The Athletic that Astros close to acquiring Carlos Correa from Twins. Correa will play third base for the Astros, replacing the injured Isaac Paredes. He won 2015 AL Rookie of the Year and the 2017 World Series as a shortstop during his first stint in Houston. Like any team, the Mets will always keep looking, but barring something unexpected, they may be done may be done from a big acquisition standpoint after accomplishing what they set out to do, people familiar with their plans said. It's an impressive deadline for president of baseball operations David Stearns and his front office. The Mets acquired right-handed relievers Ryan Helsley and Taylor Rogers, left-handed reliever Gregory Soto and center fielder Cedric Mullins without relinquishing a blue-chip prospect. Getty Images With two hours to go til the deadline, these names — all of whom have been connected to rumors for weeks — are still on the board: Ryan O'Hearn, Mitch Keller, Luis Robert, Sandy Alcantara, Edward Cabrera, Griffin Jax, Joe Ryan, Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Dylan Cease, Marcell Ozuna, Zach Eflin, Charlie Morton, Bryan Reynolds, Andrew Heaney, Ramon Laureano, Jarren Duran, Steven Kwan. I fully suspect this post to age like an avocado left on the countertop. Buckle in... Getty Images Here's how the Yankees bullpen shapes up after their latest flurry of moves: David Bednar , RHP , RHP Devin Williams , RHP , RHP Luke Weaver , RHP , RHP Jake Bird , RHP , RHP Tim Hill , RHP , RHP Jonathan Loaisiga , RHP , RHP Ian Hamilton , RHP , RHP Also in the mix: Brent Headric k, RHP; Yerry De Los Santos , RHP; JT Brubaker k, RHP; , RHP; Injured list: Mark Leiter Jr. , RHP , RHP Injured list: Fernando Cruz, RHP GO FURTHER Yankees keep stockpiling relievers by adding Jake Bird from Rockies The Dodgers are sending James Outman – who two years ago finished third in NL Rookie of the Year voting – to Minnesota as part of the Brock Stewart trade. The center fielder's stock has fallen since then, as some of the strikeout issues that littered his minor league scouting reports have come to pass. He still struck out 30.3 percent of the time this season in Triple A and was effectively just a defense replacement and a pinch runner on the current big league roster. The Dodgers are seeking outfield help, but it appeared clear that Outman was no longer part of the solution. So they're using him to help get a controllable reliever at a lower cost than some of the other options on the market. Imagn Images Yankees sending 2B Roc Riggio and LHP Ben Shields to Rockies, source tells The Athletic . first had the return. Getty Images Continuing a frenetic, all-in deadline day, Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller surrendered a pair of young pitchers with loads of club control in order to acquire a new starting catcher in Freddy Fermin. Ryan Bergert, a rookie, and Stephen Kolek, a second-year big-leaguer, supplied valuable innings this season for a Padres team that has missed veteran starters Michael King and Yu Darvish for chunks of time. With the departure of the young right-handers, the Padres could opt to keep Dylan Cease, barring a big offer for the pending free-agent starter. The Padres, according to people familiar with their thinking, are still determined to acquire a left fielder before 6 p.m. ET, with Baltimore's Ramón Laureano among the possibilities. Since the start of Thursday, Preller already has traded elite shortstop prospect Leo De Vries, Kolek and pitching prospects Bergert, Braden Nett, Henry Baez and Eduarniel Núñez. He still has some interesting minor leaguers left to offer, including catcher Ethan Salas and pitchers Boston Bateman, Kash Mayfield and Miguel Mendez. Getty Images Here are a few numbers to catch you up on what the Mets are acquiring when it comes to Cedric Mullins: 229/.305/.433/ slash line 15 home runs 14 stolen bases .216 expected batting average (4th percentile) .361 expected slugging percentage (18th percentile) 36.1% hard-hit percentage (22nd percentile) 83rd percentile in range 80th percentile in sprint speed
New York Times
2 hours ago
- New York Times
Anonymous player rips Twins
The 2025 MLB trade deadline has passed. Follow along for live reaction and analysis after an active week around the league. Getty Images One Minnesota Twins player just told The Athletic : 💬 'Now no one wants to stay if they are selling like this.' The Blue Jays woke up on deadline day seeking more bullpen help, starting pitching depth and potentially a bat. After acquiring Shane Bieber, they are not done, a league source said, with two hours until the deadline. At the very least, bullpen remains a priority. Though the Jays asked on Mason Miller, they were priced out by the Padres' massive offer, a source said. Duran was seen as more attainable, with Toronto holding the top prospects to acquire him, but he's now the Phillies closer. Other top relief options continue to fall off the board — including David Bednar to the Yankees — but many arms remain. Getty Images Houston selected Carlos Correa with the No. 1 pick in the 2012 draft and witnessed him blossom into one of the faces of its current golden era, leading the team to a 2017 World Series title. Correa won American League Rookie of the Year honors in 2015 and started an ascension to superstardom. He became one of the most influential voices inside Houston's clubhouse, helping to shepherd it through the fallout from the electronic sign-stealing scandal in 2020 and 2021. Getty Images Astros fans are no strangers to Carlos Correa but here's an update on how he's performed this season: .267/.319/.386 slash line 92 OPS+ Seven home runs and 31 RBIs .282 expected batting average (83rd percentile) 91.1 mph average exit velocity (73rd percentile) 47.4% hard-hit percentage (79th percentile) 29.8% chase rate (34th percentile) Fielding run value (36th percentile) 27th percentile in range Getty Images The Astros are 'working hard' to acquire Dylan Cease from the Padres, source tells The Athletic. No indication at this point that a deal is close. Getty Images The Minnesota Twins have been the most aggressive sellers on the market. They've made four trades, and including two for long-term assets that seemed unlikely to move just a few days ago. Here's who they've traded away. S P Chris Paddack — Free agent this winter — Free agent this winter RP Randy Dobnak — Team option (to be declined) — Team option (to be declined) OF Harrison Bader — Mutual option — Mutual option RP Jhoan Durán — Arbitration eligible through 2027 — Arbitration eligible through 2027 SS Carlos Correa — Signed through 2028 (with club options through '32) The Twins could still make a splash by trading any one of SP Joe Ryan, SP Pablo López or RP Griffin Jax, but even without dealing another long-term asset, the Twins could still make several moves in the next hour and a half. INF Willi Castro, LHP Danny Coulombe, 1B Ty France, and C Christian Vázquez are all heading to free agency this winter. The Twins could trade any of all of them... and sure enough, Coulombe was just dealt, per our Ken Rosenthal . Getty Images Source confirms: Rangers are acquiring LHP Danny Coulombe from the Twins. This was first reported by ESPN. Getty Images Astros are acquiring outfielder Jesús Sánchez from Marlins, source tells The Athletic . Getty Images A Twins source told me two hours ago after Brock Stewart was traded: "There's definitely more coming." I'd like to nominate that for Understatement of the Year. Getty Images Wow. The Astros swooped in to bring back a familiar face for the second time in three trade deadlines. In 2023, they pulled off a stunner by bringing back Justin Verlander from the Mets at the trade deadline. Two years later, it's another key figure from the 2017 World Series run returning to Houston — Carlos Correa. A major-league source confirms to The Athletic that Astros close to acquiring Carlos Correa from Twins. Correa will play third base for the Astros, replacing the injured Isaac Paredes. He won 2015 AL Rookie of the Year and the 2017 World Series as a shortstop during his first stint in Houston. Like any team, the Mets will always keep looking, but barring something unexpected, they may be done may be done from a big acquisition standpoint after accomplishing what they set out to do, people familiar with their plans said. It's an impressive deadline for president of baseball operations David Stearns and his front office. The Mets acquired right-handed relievers Ryan Helsley and Taylor Rogers, left-handed reliever Gregory Soto and center fielder Cedric Mullins without relinquishing a blue-chip prospect. Getty Images With two hours to go til the deadline, these names — all of whom have been connected to rumors for weeks — are still on the board: Ryan O'Hearn, Mitch Keller, Luis Robert, Sandy Alcantara, Edward Cabrera, Griffin Jax, Joe Ryan, Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Dylan Cease, Marcell Ozuna, Zach Eflin, Charlie Morton, Bryan Reynolds, Andrew Heaney, Ramon Laureano, Jarren Duran, Steven Kwan. I fully suspect this post to age like an avocado left on the countertop. Buckle in... Getty Images Here's how the Yankees bullpen shapes up after their latest flurry of moves: David Bednar , RHP , RHP Devin Williams , RHP , RHP Luke Weaver , RHP , RHP Jake Bird , RHP , RHP Tim Hill , RHP , RHP Jonathan Loaisiga , RHP , RHP Ian Hamilton , RHP , RHP Also in the mix: Brent Headric k, RHP; Yerry De Los Santos , RHP; JT Brubaker k, RHP; , RHP; Injured list: Mark Leiter Jr. , RHP , RHP Injured list: Fernando Cruz, RHP GO FURTHER Yankees keep stockpiling relievers by adding Jake Bird from Rockies The Dodgers are sending James Outman – who two years ago finished third in NL Rookie of the Year voting – to Minnesota as part of the Brock Stewart trade. The center fielder's stock has fallen since then, as some of the strikeout issues that littered his minor league scouting reports have come to pass. He still struck out 30.3 percent of the time this season in Triple A and was effectively just a defense replacement and a pinch runner on the current big league roster. The Dodgers are seeking outfield help, but it appeared clear that Outman was no longer part of the solution. So they're using him to help get a controllable reliever at a lower cost than some of the other options on the market. Imagn Images Yankees sending 2B Roc Riggio and LHP Ben Shields to Rockies, source tells The Athletic . first had the return. Getty Images Continuing a frenetic, all-in deadline day, Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller surrendered a pair of young pitchers with loads of club control in order to acquire a new starting catcher in Freddy Fermin. Ryan Bergert, a rookie, and Stephen Kolek, a second-year big-leaguer, supplied valuable innings this season for a Padres team that has missed veteran starters Michael King and Yu Darvish for chunks of time. With the departure of the young right-handers, the Padres could opt to keep Dylan Cease, barring a big offer for the pending free-agent starter. The Padres, according to people familiar with their thinking, are still determined to acquire a left fielder before 6 p.m. ET, with Baltimore's Ramón Laureano among the possibilities. Since the start of Thursday, Preller already has traded elite shortstop prospect Leo De Vries, Kolek and pitching prospects Bergert, Braden Nett, Henry Baez and Eduarniel Núñez. He still has some interesting minor leaguers left to offer, including catcher Ethan Salas and pitchers Boston Bateman, Kash Mayfield and Miguel Mendez.
