Following stunning fire sale, rebuilding Twins visit Guardians
The Minnesota Twins begin a three-game series at the Cleveland Guardians on Friday night. Who they have in uniform remains to be seen after trading 10 of the 26 players on their roster over the past two days.
Twins right-hander Joe Ryan (10-5, 2.82 ERA) will start against Guardians right-hander Gavin Williams (6-4, 3.51) in the American League Central Division matchup.
The rest of the roster is in flux after Minnesota stunned the baseball world by dealing shortstop Carlos Correa to the Houston Astros, closer Jhoan Duran and outfielder Harrison Bader to the Philadelphia Phillies, two more position players and their next four-best relievers elsewhere.
'We have a lot of work to do to acclimate ourselves to what their roster will be,' Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said. 'Our focus is to move forward with the players we have.'
The Twins also sent $33 million to Houston to convince it to take the three years and guaranteed $96 million remaining on Correa's contract. Their total return netted eight legitimate prospects and a handful of marginal big leaguers.
'There are moves and decisions that we have to make in this game that are the best for the team,' Minnesota manager Rocco Baldelli said.
The Twins also placed All-Star center fielder Byron Buxton on the injured list with left ribcage inflammation. The 11-year veteran was one of a few Twins not on pins and needles before the deadline, having earned a no-trade clause by spending his entire career with the franchise.
'I'm a Minnesota Twin for the rest of my life,' Buxton said during the All-Star break. 'That's the best feeling in the world, knowing I'm walking into the clubhouse and it's going to say Twins for the rest of my life.'
Ryan will be charged with picking up the pieces following the fire sale, but he has taken the loss in four of his last five starts against the Guardians. He is 3-4 with a 2.58 ERA in 10 career appearances versus Cleveland.
The first-time All-Star is coming off a loss to the Washington Nationals on July 26, when he gave up five runs, four earned, in five innings.
The mood in the other dugout will be much more upbeat as the Guardians resisted multiple inquiries about All-Star left fielder Steven Kwan, choosing to make a push for the postseason. Cleveland is three games out of the final AL wild-card spot.
'We're really excited that Steven will continue to be here with us going forward,' Antonetti said. 'We have a profound appreciation for what he brings to our team on the field and in the clubhouse.'
Williams is 3-2 with a 3.24 ERA in six starts against the Twins, splitting a pair of games this season. The 6-foot-6, 250-pounder has been victimized by the bullpen of late, taking three no-decisions -- thanks to extra innings -- in his last four outings, along with one win.
The Guardians traded former AL Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for pitching prospect Khai Stephen. Bieber is roughly two weeks away from returning to the majors after Tommy John surgery.
Former Cleveland executive Ross Atkins, now with Toronto, was persistent in making it happen.
'Ross continued to reach out, and check in and express interest,' Antonetti said. 'I think the first time we talked was back toward the end of June, early July. Because of technology, teams were able to have a pretty good read on where 'Beebs' was in his rehab.'
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