Derek Falvey is seeking pitching for the Minnesota Twins prior to the trade deadline. A quality starter could be the most impactful addition down the stretch. One that the front office has already showed interest in with could be more available than originally expected.
Insider suggests price could be in Minnesota Twins wheelhouse
Pablo Lopez has begun to look like himself once again. Joe Ryan has elevated this season. Bailey Ober might be the most underrated starter in baseball. That’s where the certainties end for the Minnesota Twins starting rotation.
Simeon Woods Richardson is an untested rookie, and Chris Paddack is hurt . Another quality arm is a must for the postseason. USA Today columnist Bob Nightengale touched on the ever changing market for the Toronto Blue Jays Yusei Kikuchi.
The Toronto left-hander was never being confused for Dave Stieb, but those high-end prospects they hoped to get in return vanished with Kikuchi going 2-5 with a 6.87 ERA in his last 12 starts.
The Blue Jays had told teams in the past week they were not going to listen to offers for Yusei Kikuchi until he made his Friday start. Now, they’re listening.
Minnesota was linked to Kikuchi as a free agent prior to the 2022 season. He signed a three-year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. This final year is paying him $10 million, and the Twins would be on the hook for just a prorated portion of that. Money has been the focal point as the deadline approaches for Minnesota, but prospect capital matters as well.
Kikuchi owns a 7.75 ERA across his last eight starts, but his 4.74 FIP is much more promising. He’s being BABPI’d to death (.398), and still striking out a ton of batters.
Related: Insider Names Three Available Starters for Minnesota Twins
His 3.64 FIP on the season is the greatest allure in acquiring him. A forward thinking organization like Minnesota getting their hands on him may unlock something special down the stretch.
Minnesota Twins could get Yusei Kikuchi on the cheap
If Nightengale is to be believed, the greatest expense for Kikuchi may be financial. Of course that’s not ideal for an organization claiming poor . However, Derek Falvey would be ecstatic to land that type of starter and not part with a top 15-20 prospect. Kikuchi is a rental, and he’s trending in the wrong direction at the wrong time.
Minnesota isn’t the sort of team to shy away because of Kikuchi’s recent results. It may present the perfect storm. The Twins farm system is among the best across the entire sport.
Related: Minnesota Twins Want to Rent, Not Buy… and They Appear to Have a Top Target
There isn’t an addition that Minnesota will make that should require one of their six top 100 prospects. If they can deal from depth, and someone further down the prospect ladder, the deal could become a coup.
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