MLB Insider Reveals Surprising Minnesota Twins Trade Deadline Plans
The 13-game winning streak the Minnesota Twins ripped off back in May suddenly feels like ages ago. In the 20 games they've played since the streak ended on May 18, the MN Twins are below .500, at 9-11. And things haven't been getting better. In fact, quite the opposite, being they are losers in four of their last five.
Worse yet, injuries are starting to pile up yet again, this time in the starting rotation, thanks to the Orphan A's temporary mound at Sutter Health Field in Sacramento sending two starters — ace Pablo Lopez and youngster Zebby Matthews — to the 60-day injured list.
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Given the financial restrictions placed on team president Derek Falvey over the past couple years, how much moving and grooving the Minnesota Twins will able to do over the next month or two, prior to the MLB Trade Deadline, remains to be seen. They definitely have some well-informed doubters out there.
Minnesota Twins searching for lefty bat at MLB trade deadline…
Nonetheless, according to former MLB GM turned insider for The Athletic, Jim Bowden, the Twins still consider themselves to be trade deadline buyers. How does he know?
Well, Bowden recently spoke with some of his old decision-maker friends in place across the league, including those in Minnesota, who revealed to him exactly what the Twins are shopping for, as we inch closer to July 31.
Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images
The Twins have reportedly told Bowden that they are searching for a lefty bat. The former MLB GM suggests three different 27-year-old outfielders they could be targeting — Cardinals, Lars Nootbaar and two Marlins, Kyle Stowers and Jesus Sanchez, tagging Stowers as his favorite.
Minnesota Twins
Biggest need: Left-handed hitter
Possible targets: Lars Nootbaar, Cardinals; Kyle Stowers, Marlins; Jesús Sánchez, Marlins
Favorite target: Kyle Stowers
The Twins are searching for a left-handed hitter and their two best realistic options could end up being Stowers or Sánchez of the Marlins. Stowers is having a breakout season, slashing .280/.347/.479 with eight doubles, 10 home runs, 33 RBIs and a 127 OPS+. He can play either outfield corner and won't be arbitration-eligible until 2027. The prospect price would be costly, but might be worth it if the Twins can find the right match with Miami.
Jim Bowden – The Athletic
One thing is for sure. The Minnesota Twins could certainly use more offense. At 4.25 per game, they rank 18th in Major League Baseball for runs scored. Still, this sudden need for a lefty is interesting, being Emmanuel Rodriguez and Walkers Jenkins are coming up through the system and both play outfield and bat left-handed.
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Both Trevor Larnach and Matt Wallner bat left-handed too. So, we will see if Bowden's information is any good, once we start hearing more over the next month or so, regarding who the Twins are trying to pursue.
If not Kyle Stowers, what about Lars Nootbaar and Jesus Sanchez?
All three of Nootbaar, Sanchez, and Stowers have multiple years of team control remaining. As Bowden alluded to, each of them will require a sizable prospect return, to pry out of their current organization. Among the trio, only Nootbaar (1,426 AB) has displayed any level of consistent big league success.
Jesus Sanchez is batting .262/.342/.402 this season. His career 100 OPS+ makes him exactly league average. Expectedly, his .753 OPS against righties is better than the .696 mark against lefties this year. Stowers owns a career-best 127 OPS+ despite a 92 OPS+ career mark. He is batting .280/.347/.479 while owning neutral splits.
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Lars Nootbaar is in his fifth major league season and has a 113 OPS+ while being better than league average each year. In 2025 he's hitting .237/.341/.379 to generate what would be considered the worst season of his career. He has a .746 OPS against righties with just a .679 OPS against lefties.
Related: Twins Scoop: Zebby Matthews Injury Details and Return Timeline Revealed
Whether it's a lefty bat, righty bat. bullpen arm or more starting pitching help, the Minnesota Twins should 100% be looking to add before the deadline. They've tried to get by with underwhelming moves in recent seasons, and it has proven itself to be a fruitless strategy. Last year's lone acquisition of reliever Trevor Richards, for example, was a complete failure.
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Ownership is still working through the early stages of a sale process that they claim could be complete by the end of the year. They cannot let that stop them from getting better between now and the MLB Trade Deadline. In order to get back to the postseason, and make any sort of playoff noise, the Twins need to upgrade their roster.
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