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Rosenthal Buying MN Twins’ Deadline Plans… with One Major Caveat
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- Rosenthal Buying MN Twins’ Deadline Plans… with One Major Caveat
Jordan Johnson-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Twins were supposed to be Major League Baseball's biggest seller this summer, for the second-straight trade deadline. But in recent weeks, those inside the Twins organization have rebuffed those ideas, as did their superstar Byron Buxton .
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Meanwhile, at 44-47 and fresh off their first series victory in the Bronx since 2014, the Twins continue to hang around in the American League Wild Card race ( 1.5 GB ) and could even take over second in the AL Central , if they can beat up a Cleveland Guardians team that will come to Target Field fresh off two-straight losses to the White Sox .
After their success in the Big Apple over the weekend , not only are the Twins forcing their way back into the postseason conversation, but national pundits are suddenly starting to rethink their trade deadline vision for Minnesota.
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Most recently, MLB insider like Ken Rosenthal started buying what Twins decisionmakers ( Tom Pohlad ) are selling, writing Monday morning at The Athletic that, unless they fall out of postseason contention between now and August 3, the MN Twins will act as buyers at the upcoming MLB trade deadline.
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Why? Because Tom Pohlad wants to appease , not further enrage, the fanbase.
The Minnesota Twins, coming off their first series win at Yankee Stadium since 2014, look increasingly unlikely to sell. They are only 1 1/2 games back in the race for the third AL wild card, and their new control person, Tom Pohlad, is motivated to win over his players and win back fans.
Remember, when Tom took over for his younger brother this offseason, he told reporters during his first press conference that Joe Pohlad failed fans when he divested in the team at the peak of their success in 2023, which is why he is no longer a part of the family baseball business. Then, he all but vowed to re-invest when the time was right.
Clearly, Tom — who was adamant during spring training that the 2026 Minnesota Twins had enough talent to compete for the playoffs — sees the upcoming trade deadline as an early opportunity to payoff those promises.
Related: Pohlad Eyeing MN Twins Trade Deadline as Huge Get-Right Opportunity…
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At the same token, it doesn't sound like Twins brass is delusional over what their chances of pushing for a World Series actually are. In all likelihood, they aren't going to mortgage their best prospects to retrieve a No. 1B starter next to Joe Ryan or blowup one of the best farm systems in baseball to fix the many holes they have in their bullpen.
MN Twins planning to flip Ryan Jeffers at trade deadline
Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Instead, the first move to reel in the pitching help they so desperately need, if they are going to stay competitive, not just through July, but into October, they will shop starting catcher Ryan Jeffers, who's about to return from the injured list and whose contract is up at the end of this season.
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Rosenthal believes there are multiple AL East teams interested in Minnesota's 29-year-old catcher, specifically naming the Yankees and Rays as likely pursuer's, which could create the perfect deadline of bidding war the Twins need to land some high-end pitching help — likely in the bullpen.
One player the Twins could move regardless of their standing is catcher Ryan Jeffers, who is on a rehabilitation assignment as he works his way back from a left hamate fracture. Jeffers is a potential free agent who could bring back bullpen help, and the Twins could replace him with Victor Caratini and Alex Jackson .
Speculation persists that the New York Yankees will pursue Jeffers. The Tampa Bay Rays are another team interested in catching help, creating the possibility of an AL East bidding war.
Related: MN Twins Trade for Pitcher with Assignment Clause
On its face, Minnesota Twins fans might wonder how their team can consider themselves deadline buyers if they are selling one of their most productive players. That's a fair question, considering Jeffers was running right next to Byron Buxton in most offensive categories prior to his injury.
During his first 37 games of the season , Ryan Jeffers was playing the best baseball of his career — hitting .295 with a .949 OPS (163 OPS+), 7 homers and 26 RBI. It's very possible we see the former 2nd round draft pick back in the MN Twins lineup as early as Tuesday, too.
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Checking in on Ryan Jeffers' rehab assignment…
Jeffers started a rehab assignment over the weekend in St. Paul. So with the Twins back in town to start a series against the Guardians tomorrow — and the Saints leaving St. Paul for a week down in Iowa, a return now would make sense.
If you were wondering how Ryan Jeffers has been feeling in his first games back with the Saints — in his 11 plate appearances over the weekend, he had 5 hits (1 HR), batting .455 with a 1.273 OPS and 9 total bases. He even caught 5 innings on Sunday.
These two guys were teammates…this year. Now they face each other and @Ryan_Jeffers8 greets his former teammate @simeon_woods with a solo blast to left. It's Jeffers first homer on Major League rehab and his 9th career homer in a Saints uniform pic.twitter.com/v0ZCAy3Yj9
— St. Paul Saints (@StPaulSaints) July 4, 2026
Ryan Jeffers is now 2-for-2 after smacking this ball off the RF wall for a double
This is Jeffers' 2nd rehab game so far; The backstop went 2-for-4 at the plate with 2 singles in yesterday's game https://t.co/W1aNsvXU9n pic.twitter.com/mF2y3tpiIF— Cai Rogers (@cai_rogers7) July 4, 2026
But when you take a deeper look, trading Jeffers makes a ton of sense. Not only would it allow the Minnesota Twins to find the bullpen help they so desperately need, but it would also allow them to get something back for one of their best assets, before he walks away this offseason in free agency.
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Why trading Jeffers makes sense for Minnesota Twins
On top of that, the Twins probably feel emboldened to to move Jeffers because, since he has gone on the IL, backups Victor Caratini (and Alex Jackson have been playing extremely well.
Caratini's season-long numbers (.238 BA, .705 OPS) won't blow you away. However, he does have 7 homers, 34 RBI and 21 runs scored in 66 games. And he's been getting better as the season goes on, batting .325 with a .996 OPS (5 HR, 15 RBI) since the start of June ( 23 games ).
Victor Caratini is having a RED HOT June! 🔥
He crushed this ball 426 ft to CF.
No. 7 on the season for VC. #MNTwins | #MLB | #ChaseTheFight pic.twitter.com/czufHAXpt2— Talkin' Twins (@TalkinTwins) June 30, 2026
In 50 at-bats this season either DHing or backing up Caratini, Twins depth catcher Alex Jackson has showed that he's more than competent as the main backup, batting .300 with 4 RBI and 6 runs scored (.747 OPS, 107 OPS+).
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