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MN Twins Make Underwhelming Trade for Infielder
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- MN Twins Make Underwhelming Trade for Infielder
Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Twins made a second move of substance last week when they signed catcher Victor Caratini to a two year deal. That put the current roster makeup in flux, and begs the question of whether a trade may be coming .
They still have yet to address a bullpen that was gutted at the trade deadline . With Spring Training now less than a month away , they really need to get the ball rolling.
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Derek Falvey pulled off an overnight trade with the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, but there isn't much reason to expect it to move the needle.
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Tristan Gray joins Minnesota Twins in minor trade
Minnesota has already added depth infielders Oswaldo Arcia and Ryan Kreidler this offseason. They grabbed another one in the form of Tristan Grey.
Small overnight trade: The Boston Red Sox are acquiring catching prospect Nate Baez from the Minnesota Twins for utilityman Tristan Gray, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 21, 2026
Gray will be 30 this season and was a 13th round pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2017. He has played in parts of three big league seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays, Miami Marlins , and Oakland Athletics . In November, the Red Sox acquired him in a trade with Tampa Bay for Luis Guerrero .
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The entire big league sample size is just 47 games. Last year, in 30 games with the Rays, he batted .231/.282/.410 with five home runs and three home runs. He has been used almost dead even at each of the four infield spots.
The offensive production isn't much better at the minor league level either. Gray owns a career .241/.313/.456 in over 800 games . He did have an .805 OPS at Triple-A Charlotte ( Chicago White Sox ) in 72 games last year.
Gray has a minor league option remaining and should be expected to start in St. Paul. Nate Baez was a 12th round pick by Minnesota in 2022 and is now 24 years old. He spent time at Double and Single-A last season . Splitting time as a catcher and first baseman, Baez represents organization depth.
Curious shuffling for MN Twins
The desire to add Gray is interesting. Losing Baez doesn't do much, even for an organization not ripe with catching depth. However, there aren't exactly big league ready options at Triple-A, and that's why Jhonny Pereda and Mickey Gasper had to play for Rocco Baldelli down the stretch .
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Caratini's presence and the acquisition of Alex Jackson , help to alleviate that reality a bit. It still remains possible that a trade involving Ryan Jeffers could materialize, however.
The Minnesota Twins are stacking a lot of lackluster infield options behind their questionable starters. If grabbing Gray was a priority, then hanging onto Ryan Fitzgerald may have simply been the more desirable path. He was just outrighted by the Los Angeles Dodgers , cleared waivers, and will be stashed at Triple-A.
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