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Three Weaknesses the Minnesota Twins Should Address Before MLB Trade Deadline
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- Three Weaknesses the Minnesota Twins Should Address Before MLB Trade Deadline
Matt Blewett-Imagn Images
Through their first 55 games of the 2025 season, the now 25-20 Minnesota Twins are playing at an 88-win pace. They used a 13-game winning streak to get back on track, after a brutal start to the season.
Entering Friday, the Twins trail the Detroit Tigers by six games in the AL Central, but if the season ended today, they'd be a playoff team (WC2). Just like most other teams, this time of year, Minnesota is far from a perfect team.
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Team president Derek Falvey — who now runs both the baseball and business sides of the organization — still has a couple months before the Major League Baseball July 31 trade deadline hits. That's exactly two months and one day for the Minnesota Twins to make themselves better.
Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
It remains to be seen how much the active selling of the team might impact the Pohlads' willingness to add talent between now and July 31. Will they play it cheap, as to not put the organization into a deeper financial hole than it already is? Or, could they use the deadline to add talent that might help them net a playoff run able to woo buyers.
But if ownership is willing to play ball, there are certainly avenues for the MN Twins to get better.
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The Minnesota Twins need more from first base.
This offseason the Twins opted against paying an aging Carlos Santana more money, after he won a Gold Glove in 2024. Now back in Cleveland , Santana is giving the Guardians exactly what he did Minnesota last season — a high-end defensive first baseman whose 2025 slash line of .254/.363/.384 (114 OPS+) looks very similar to his career numbers.
To replace Santana, Falvey hit the open market, where he found Ty France on the clearance rack for a miniscule $1 million . While he has been worth that underwhelming salary, his overall production has left plenty to be desired.
TY FRANCE!!!!! WALK-OFF HOME RUN!!!! 🚀 pic.twitter.com/fEUPS0OSiw
— Twins.TV (@twinstv) May 24, 2025
Let's start with the positives. France has already racked up 30 RBI, which reflects just how good he has been in the clutch. With runners in scoring position this season , France has a .382 batting average and .843 OPS.
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Without runners on, however, Ty France has struggled, slashing a brutal .225/.295/.351 (.606 OPS). Smash those together and France's underwhelming .677 OPS and 91 OPS+ isn't good enough.
Related: Pohlads Want Us to Believe MN Twins Sale is "Closer to the End"
Yes, France was worth the minimum investment Minnesota made in him, but if the Twins want to be a real contender in the AL, they need more out of that right corner infield spot. The 30-year-old seven-year veteran was signed as an insurance policy for the Minnesota Twins at first base.
At the time, they hoped either Jose Miranda or Edouard Julien would cement themselves into the lineup as much more than what France has been. Instead, both guys are in the minor leagues. That means, if the Twins want more out of first base, they'll have to hit the open market.
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How about we finally get that right-handed bat for the outfield?
It took time and a bunch of injuries for Carson McCusker to get his first big league opportunity. Once he did get his call up, the 6'7″ right-handed giant of an outfielder was used only sparingly, before he was optioned back to triple A earlier this week.
Clearly, McCusker wasn't the answer Minnesota was looking for in the outfield. In fact, they never really gave him an opportunity to crush MLB pitchers like he has in the minors all spring. Instead, if the Twins want to add a right-handed outfield bat to help power them to the playoffs, they'll need to find it on the trade market.
When the roster is healthy, the right-handed hitting Byron Buxton is flanked by combinations of Matt Wallner , Trevor Larnach , Willi Castro and Harrison Bader . Castro is a switch-hitter, but he plays more infield than outfield.
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Bader — who is having a career year offensively, slashing .276/.359/.433 (122 OPS+) — is the only righty hitter among that regular corner outfield group. The Twins signed the soon-to-be 31-year-old, not for his prowess at the plate, but for his incredible defense, which has paid off multiple times already this season.
A ridiculous play by Harrison Bader and Joe Ryan loves it! pic.twitter.com/rAk8vFRxVf
— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) April 27, 2025
But this is the first time he has ever been a positive asset offensively. Can the MN Twins really trust him to keep it going for the next four months? Seems awfully risky. History tells us not to hold our breath on the Twins bringing in more outfield helpt, however.
Related: Young Minnesota Twins Star Down on His Luck and Confidence
Since Rocco Baldelli took over as manager, the Minnesota Twins have needed a bigger right-handed threat in the corner outfield. Yet, for years, Falvey has never had much interest in addressing it.
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If this is they year he finally moves on addressing that weakness, there should be plenty of options available. Every MLB trade deadline, the market is flooded with corner outfielders and relief pitchers. We'll see if the Twins decide to take a swing this time around…
One more arm for the MN Twins bullpen… please?
The Minnesota Twins have one of baseball's best bullpens. Really, the pitching staff as a whole has been incredible. There isn't a ton of room to replace arms with the potential to generate upside.
However, there are always relievers available on the trade market and shoring up the underbelly of the bullpen makes sense. Danny Coulombe was placed on the injured list largely due to what he attributed to his age. Kody Funderburk has taken over the left-handed reliever role, but has given up nine runs on 14 hits in just nine innings.
Danny Coulombe is a big loss for the #MNTwins bullpen.
In addition to having a 0.00 ERA in 16 2/3 innings, Coulombe also stranded 10 of 12 runners he inherited from other pitchers to save their ERA.
Coulombe is second to Jhoan Duran in Win Probability Added for Twins relievers.— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) May 18, 2025
There isn't an immediately logical option on the farm to promote as either a left-handed reliever, or bullpen arm as a whole. Jorge Alcala is definitely the low man on the totem pole in the bullpen, and he owns a 6.52 ERA (4.05 FIP). He has given up just one run over his last six outings (7 IP), but always seems like just a pitch or two away from disaster.
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Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax have been arguably the best one-two punch this season. If there's a way to add another leverage arm among the group of Cole Sands , Brock Stewart , and Louie Varland , then Minnesota should do it.
