Another Starting Pitcher the Minnesota Twins Must be Calling On

The Minnesota Twins need a front-rotation starting pitcher if they are going to convince anyone they are a legitimate World Series contender. Yes, the Twins’ high powered lineup will more than likely belt its way to the MLB postseason, especially if the new and improved infield featuring Brooks Lee and Royce Lewis can stay healthy.

Minnesota Twins need a front-rotation starting pitcher at MLB trade deadline

But once you get to the playoffs, pitching wins. Just look at the All-Star game. When the best pitchers face the best hitters, pitching will usually win out. In a seven game series, that truth becomes even more evident.

Even if Pablo Lopez recovers from one of the worst halves of a baseball season in his young career and Joe Ryan proves he can be a top-3 starter for an entire 162 game season , the Minnesota Twins will fall one bona fide starter away from having a truly trustworthy playoff rotation.

Related: Minnesota Twins Trade Deadline Needs Ranked

Of course, options are rather limited to begin with. Trade deadline sellers do not give away their best starting pitchers. In fact, starters are without a doubt the most expensive asset to buy this time of year. That’s a problem when your owners are trying to cut back on costs.

That’s why we have seen the Twins connected to Toronto Blue Jays starter, Yusei Kikuchi , a 33-year-old lefty with a 97 mph fastball. He could slide into the 3rd rotation spot and not cost an arm or leg in prospects or salary.

Nathan Eovaldi may be best option available to Twins at deadline

But there is another starter out there who would fit what Minnesota needs even better than Kikuchi. His name is Nate Eovaldi, a 34-year-old veteran righ-hander with the Texas Rangers. Entering the break, he held a 2.97 ERA, 1.043 WHIP, 133 ERA+ and 3.58 FIP in 97 innings pitched.

The Texas Rangers are currently four games under .500. They sit five games back of the Mariners in the AL West, 7.5 games back in the AL Wildcard race. If they trip out of the 2nd half gates, the 2023 champs could officially put a “For Sale” sign out.

If that happens, Nathan Eovaldi fits what the Twins need almost too perfectly. Yes, his numbers this season are outstanding and he’s been good his entire career. But if president of baseball operations Derek Falvey wants proven postseason experience that won’t cost a Walker Jenkins type trade package, there is no starter on the market better suited for that role than the 2008 11th round pick out of Alvin High School (TX).

Even better in the postseason…?

Nate Eovaldi has logged 79.2 playoff innings during his career, between three different runs with the Boston Red Sox and, in 2023, with the Rangers. In those near 80 innings, he has a 9-3 record, with a 3.05 ERA, 1.042 WHIP and 9.3 SO/9. He’s pitched in three ALCS and two World Series. Last postseason in Texas, he went 5-0 on their way to a championship.

No doubt Eovaldi will be available, if the Rangers start selling off pieces of last season’s championship clubhouse. Minnesota wants a rental and Eovaldi seems to fit that bill perfectly, if they are willing to pay up a bit more than what they’d have to for Kikuchi… but he may not be a rental after all.

Nate Eovaldi’s contract

It’s worth noting that he may not fall under the “rental” category, though. With another 62 innings (needs 300 innings total between 2023 and 2024), Eovaldi’s contract would vest for next season, according to Spotrac.com , which would give him a 2025 player option worth $20 million. If he doesn’t pitch another 62 innings, his contract can be bought out for just $2 million.

If it’s difficult to find a front-end starter anywhere on the trade block, even if you’re willing to pay some of the absurd bounties being demanded by the team trying to sell them, how in the world are the Minnesota Twins going to find one in the clearance aisle?

Related: Twins Projected to Pass Guardians in AL Central

Admittedly, it won’t be easy. “Frustrating” does not properly describe how fans should feel knowing the billionaire owners of their favorite baseball team weren’t willing to take a small haircut on revenue for a year or two, even if it meant keep the core of a World Series roster together. Remember, Sonny Gray is the exact starter that they are now searching for.

Nathan Eovaldi won’t be cheap, but he won’t cost Walker Jenkins or Brooks Lee. If the Minnesota Twins are going to improve their playoff rotation before the deadline, I cannot imagine there will be a better (realistic) option available to them.

More must-reads:

• Minnesota Twins Want to Rent, Not Buy… and They Appear to Have a Top Target
• Twins Division Rival Among Many Teams Calling on Red-Hot Matt Wallner
• Gleeman Has Little Faith in Minnesota Twins at Trade Deadline

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