The Minnesota Twins were in pursuit of pitching at the trade deadline. They needed bullpen help as well as starting pitching help. The market didn’t have a ton of options, but a divisional foe cost them a pair of starting pitchers.
Detroit Tigers thwart multiple Minnesota Twins plans
Where the Minnesota Twins were going to get a starting pitcher remained to be seen. The market didn’t present a ton of options, and ownership had knee-capped the front office with payroll constraints. They did look to work with a divisional Detroit Tigers squad, but the ask was never realistic. Then, a deal between the Tigers and New York Yankees fell apart, and things got worse.
Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports that Minnesota had their eyes set on Yankees starter Nestor Cortes. Although the left-handed pitcher is not a free agent until after the 2025 season, his modest $3.95 million salary in 2025 would only incur a slight arbitration boost next year. When a deal with Detroit for Jack Flaherty fell through though, Cortes was off the table.
One other possibility for the Twins hinged on Flaherty landing with the Yankees , sources said, which potentially would have freed up left-handed starter Nestor Cortes . But when medicals prompted the Yankees to back out on a preliminary agreement to trade for Flaherty, Cortes was no longer available.
Dan Hayes on Jack Flaherty costing the Twins Nestor Cortes
New York was looking to upgrade their rotation. Gerrit Cole just hit the injured list again. Apparently they saw Flaherty as a boost. Due to a back issue though, the Yankees were unwilling to go through with the agreement. No longer having a surplus in the starting rotation, Cortes was off the table for the Twins.
Related: Detroit and Chicago Got Hung Up on by Minnesota Twins
Swapping salaries made sense for Minnesota Twins
With no intentions to add salary, the Minnesota Twins acquiring someone like Nestor Cortes would have come at a cost. That may have been Max Kepler, the expendable outfielder making the most money. An opportunity to shed the remaining balance of Kepler’s $10 million this season would have been a likely part of any Cortes deal. Of course, as something of a negative asset, at least a prospect or two would have gone in the deal as well.
It’s unclear if the Twins pivoted to Flaherty before or after the deal with New York fell apart, but they were never given a realistic chance to acquire his services either. Starting pitching commanded a premium at the deadline, and the light returns were handed to divisional teams unwilling to work with Minnesota.
The rest of the way the Twins will rely on the depth they have built internally. David Festa is now already in the rotation. Randy Dobnak has been promoted as a long man in relief. Zebby Matthews could be an option at Triple-A, and Louie Varland may be called upon before a late-season return to the bullpen. No matter what, the Twins tried to thread needles at the deadline and the hole closed.
Related: Report: Minnesota Twins Tried to Trade for Yusei Kikuchi
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