The Minnesota Twins made one of the boldest moves at this year’s MLB trade deadline. They reshaped their roster and their entire future pipeline by dealing away 10 major league players—some of them pretty important contributors.
In return, the Twins got several young arms, led by three starting pitchers who’ve already turned heads in Class AAA. The players Minnesota traded have already made an impact with their new teams, with results all over the map. It’s a massive shift and, honestly, it feels like the franchise is betting big on a new direction.
Impact Acquisitions: Pitching Prospects Shine Early
The deadline’s biggest headline for Minnesota came from three promising starters: Mick Abel (from the Jhoan Duran trade), Taj Bradley (from the Griffin Jax trade), and Kendry Rojas (from the Louie Varland trade). The Twins wasted no time getting them onto the mound.
In their first Class AAA outings, Abel, Bradley, and Rojas combined for just one earned run allowed over 16 innings. Their command and composure stood out, especially for guys so new to the system. It’s way too soon to make predictions, but the early signs look good for rebuilding the pitching depth.
Building a New Rotation Core
Minnesota’s front office clearly sees Abel, Bradley, and Rojas as the future core of their rotation. Abel brings a blazing fastball and a steep delivery angle. Bradley leans on his sharp secondary pitches. Rojas, meanwhile, uses deception and late movement to keep hitters guessing.
Put together, they might just be the backbone of a staff built to compete for a while. That’s the hope, anyway.
Departures Making Waves Across the League
Twins fans are eyeing the future, but the guys who left are already making noise elsewhere. Ten major leaguers moved on, and their first weeks in new uniforms have been a mixed bag—some thriving, others still finding their footing.
Carlos Correa’s Hot Start in Houston
Carlos Correa landed back with the Houston Astros in a partial salary dump. He’s hitting .346 with a .931 OPS in his return, which is pretty impressive.
Oddly, Houston’s just 2-4 in games he’s started, and he’s playing mostly third base instead of his usual shortstop spot. Not sure anyone saw that coming.
Relief Pitchers Thriving and Struggling
- Jhoan Duran – Two clean innings, two saves, and a dramatic entrance for the Philadelphia Phillies.
- Griffin Jax – Notched two holds in three outings for Tampa Bay, including striking out the side to get out of a bases-loaded jam.
- Louie Varland – Gave up just one run in three innings for Toronto, though it came at a tough moment and cost his team the game.
- Brock Stewart – Had a rough go with the Dodgers, taking a loss to St. Louis and giving up another run in a later appearance.
- Danny Coulombe – Dominant so far for Texas: one hit, no runs, four strikeouts over three innings. Can’t ask for much more.
Starters and Position Players Adjusting
Chris Paddack flashed both potential and inconsistency in Detroit. He looked great in his debut but then struggled badly in his second start, which happened to be against his old team.
Among position players, Willi Castro hasn’t found his swing yet, but he’s still helping with his glove and versatility. Harrison Bader is off to a slow start, though he did hit a memorable clutch homer for his new squad. And Ty France? He’s on fire in Toronto, batting .353 with a .950 OPS since the trade.
The Balancing Act of Contention and Rebuild
The Twins face a real challenge: can they stay competitive while these young pitchers develop? A lot of former players are thriving with other teams, which only adds to the pressure.
Fans are watching, probably with a mix of hope and suspicion, to see if this gamble works out or if Minnesota gave up too much now for a maybe later. Right now, the front office seems all-in on high-upside pitching and rebuilding the franchise’s core.
No one can really say how this will shake out for a few years. Still, it feels like Minnesota might’ve just planted the seeds for a pretty exciting rotation down the line.
Here is the source article for this story: Randball: So how are those ex-Twins doing with their new teams?
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