Category: Trades

Minnesota Twins 2025 Offseason Moves: Eric Orze Trade, Alex Jackson Addition, and Ownership Uncertainty

Eric Orze
Jacob Kisting

The Twins first move early this off-season was on November 18th when they traded with Tampa Bay to acquire 6’4″ right-handed reliever Eric Orze and sent minor league pitcher Jacob Kisting a 6’5″ right-hander to Tampa in return. Kisting was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 14th round of the 2024 MLB June Amateur Draft from Bradley University (Peoria, IL). Trading Jacob Kisting shows the Twins are willing to move younger assets for immediate bullpen help. Tampa Bay acquired Orze from the Mets last winter in the trade that sent center fielder Jose Siri to New York. Tampa used Orze as an up-and-down middle innings arm. The former fifth-round pick tossed 41 2/3 innings of 3.02 ERA ball across 33 appearances. His 22.5% strikeout percentage and 10.7% walk rate weren’t as impressive, but he missed bats on a strong 13.2% of his offerings overall. Orze’s profile—solid ERA, decent bat-missing ability, but middling strikeout/walk rates—suggests he’s more of a depth stabilizer than a high-leverage arm. This is probably just the first of many moves the Twins will make to try to rebuild a bullpen they decimated when they traded off Griffin Jax, Louis Varland, and Jhoan Duran at the trade deadline this past season.

Payton Eeles

Additionally, the Twins acquired veteran catcher Alex Jackson from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for minor league infielder Payton Eeles. Jackson presumably becomes part of the mix for the club’s backup catcher role, an opening that results from Christian Vazquez‘s free agency.

The Twins have cut payroll so there is no reason to think they will spend money now, but, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the payroll between $120 million-$130 million going into the 2026 season. The two early moves might be a sign the Twins are diving in the pool earlier this season to try to acquire players. Relievers without big league deals and something to prove should be standing in line to sign with Minnesota. If the Twins hit on some relievers and the team struggles they can flip these guys and get something in return.

Lewin Diaz

The Twins still have a hole to fill at first and I would like to see them go after Lewin Diaz (who just turned 29) who was in the Twins minor league system before being traded Miami in 2019 at the trade deadline for Sergio Romo, Chris Vallimont and a PTBNL. Since then he was picked up by the Pirates, Orioles, Braves and Nationals but he has not played in he big leagues since he left Miami. After being cut lose by the Orioles he has played in Mexico and Korea. This past season in Korea in 629 PA’s he hit .314 with 50 home runs and 158 RBI while walking 60 times while striking out 100 times. He committed just 4 errors.

I am disappointed that the Twins have not yet named who their two new investor groups are. It will be interesting to learn who they are and what they have to say about the state of the Twins. It might be some time before we learn what impact these two new ownership groups have on how the Twins are run and if they are in this for the long haul or just in it to get a quick return on their investment when the Twins do get sold. Their intentions—long-term stewardship vs. short-term profit—could shape the franchise’s trajectory more than any single roster move.

July 2025: The Fire Sale That Redefined Twins Baseball

Ownership-Driven Upheaval In late July, the Minnesota Twins executed one of the most aggressive roster tear downs in franchise history—trading away 10 of 26 active players in just 72 hours. But this wasn’t simply a baseball decision. It was a directive shaped by ownership. A money grab by the Pohlad ownership.

With the Pohlad family actively pursuing a sale of the team, the front office was tasked with slashing payroll and clearing long-term commitments. The result: a fire sale that prioritized financial flexibility over short-term competitiveness. Carlos Correa’s contract was offloaded. Controllable relievers were moved. Rentals were shipped out. And the clubhouse was left with a skeleton crew and a pipeline of prospects.

This log documents the trades not as speculation, but as record—marking a pivotal moment in Twins history.

July 29 The Twins opened the deadline period by trading starters Chris Paddack and Randy Dobnak to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for catching prospect Enrique Jimenez, a promising teenage talent already showing advanced framing and plate discipline.

July 30 Minnesota sent closer Jhoan Duran to the Philadelphia Phillies in a deal headlined by right-handed pitching prospect Mick Abel and catching prospect Eduardo Tait. Abel, nearly MLB-ready, adds power to the rotation. Tait offers high upside behind the plate.

July 31 The deadline frenzy hit full speed with a series of rapid transactions:

  • Harrison Bader was dealt to Philadelphia for outfield prospect Hendry Mendez and rookie-league pitcher Geremy Villoria.
  • Brock Stewart headed to the Dodgers, returning big-league outfielder James Outman, a lefty bat with speed and defensive value.
  • Danny Coulombe moved to the Texas Rangers in exchange for hard-throwing Low-A arm Garrett Horn.
  • A package of Ty France and Louis Varland was sent to the Toronto Blue Jays, bringing back outfielder Alan Roden and starter Kendry Rojas, both thriving in Triple-A.
  • Willi Castro, fan favorite and utility wizard, was shipped to the Chicago Cubs for pitchers Sam Armstrong and Ryan Gallagher, each showing mid-rotation potential in Double-A.
  • Reliever Griffin Jax was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays for Taj Bradley, a high-ceiling starter recently bumped down from the majors.
  • And in the biggest move, Carlos Correa was sent back to the Houston Astros after waiving his no-trade clause. Minnesota received Matt Mikulski, a High-A lefty starter with strikeout stuff. Reports also have the Twins paying $30 million of Correa’s contract.

From the Bleachers: A Fan’s Reckoning For fans who’ve lived every pitch, every walk-off, and every heartbreak, the 2025 deadline didn’t feel like strategy—it felt like loss. Entire sections of Target Field emptied out not from attendance, but from identity. Jhoan Duran’s entrance music. Willi Castro’s hustle. Griffin Jax’s quiet efficiency. Correa’s flash, however fleeting. All of it—ripped out at once.

Social media went red with frustration. Some called for boycotts. Others simply grieved. For season ticket holders, it felt like a goodbye written in ink they never held.

But within the uncertainty, there is a stubborn kind of hope—the kind that animates every rebuild. The new names aren’t legends yet, but maybe they will be. And if not? Fans will remember this moment anyway, and mark it—not for what was lost, but for what might one day rise.

You trade to fill your needs

Not drafted out of college, Kerry Ligtenberg landed with the Minneapolis Loons of the independent Prairie League, pitching for $650 a month. In 1996, he was one class away from graduating from the University of Minnesota with an engineering degree and likely leaving baseball behind. But the Atlanta Braves took an interest in him at the urging of Loons manager Greg Olson.

The Braves signed Ligtenberg, and assistant general manager Dean Taylor offered to compensate Olson for the find. Olson was practical enough to ask for what his club really needed — 12 dozen baseballs and two dozen bats. A steal of a deal for the Braves, for whom Ligtenberg went on to make 254 appearances over five seasons.

-credit to Anthony Castrovince

Twins trade Polanco to Mariners

Jorge Polanco

Just before bed time here in Florida on Monday night I saw the news that the Minnesota Twins were in the process of finalizing their trade of Jorge Polanco the switch-hitting second baseman who has been a regular part of the Twins infield since 2016 to the Seattle Mariners for four players, two experienced major league players and two minor league players and cash. The will get right-handed starter Anthony DeSclafani and reliever Justin Topa, and two minor leaguers, outfielder Gabriel Gonzalez and pitcher Darren Bowen. The Mariners will also send cash (rumored to be $8 million) to the Twins, the teams announced.

The Twins second second base job has multiple suitors and the soon to be 31 year-old Polanco was slated to make $10.5 million this season. Polanco was liked by his teammates and his fans alike and will be missed in Minnesota. But I have the feeling that we have not seen the last of the franchise leader in home runs by a switch-hitter and longest-tenured Twins player.

Polanco was signed by scout Fred Guerrero for the Minnesota Twins in 2009. On March 18, 2018, he received an 80-game suspension for testing positive for the banned old-school steroid, Stanozolol. Polanco claimed that he had consumed the steroid inadvertently, as he thought he was taking a simple vitamin supplement in his native Dominican Republic. In 2019, “Chulo” was the first player to hit for the cycle that season. This marked the start of an outstanding first half in which he was the Twins’ best offensive player while they were the best team in the American League. He was in turn elected as the starting shortstop in the 2019 All-Star Game.

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Twins keep transaction wires busy

Michael A. Taylor

The Minnesota Twins are keeping the transaction wires busy. Yesterday, their latest move had them acquiring outfielder Michael A. Taylor who will turn 32 years of age in late March from the Kansas City Royals. Taylor has spent the past two seasons in Kansas City. The rangy right-handed hitting center fielder earned his first career Gold Glove in 2021 and signed a $9MM extension covering the 2022-23 campaigns late in that season. Taylor is known for his glove but his bat isn’t too shabby and he should make a nice back-up for Byron Buxton when he needs time off. Taylor had a 2.5 and 3.2 WAR in his last two KC seasons. Right-hander pitcher A.J. Alexy was designated for assignment to clear a spot for Taylor on the 40-man roster.

Evan Sisk
Steven Cruz

In return the Twins part ways with two minor league relief pitchers, LHP Evan Sisk and RHP Steven Cruz. The Twins had acquired Sisk from the Cardinals in the J.A. Happ trade in July of 2021. Steven Cruz was signed as a Dominican free agent in March 2017. Both are relatively young and have strike-em-out ability but have control issues. If one or both can lower their walks then the Royals have got something.

Arraez traded

So after we get home from a local Urgent Care I see on Twitter that the Miami Marlins have traded right-hander Pablo Lopez, top infield prospect Jose Salas and outfield prospect Byron Chourio to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for reigning AL batting champion and Silver Slugger winner Luis Arraez, per announcements from both clubs.

It has been evident of late that the Twins and Marlins were talking about a trade of Pablo Lopez so this is not a shocker by any means but to be honest I was hoping that the Twins center-piece of the trade would be Max Kepler versus Luis Arraez. I know that Kepler alone for Lopez would not probably be enough but I think the Twins could have sweetened the pot a bit.

Luis Arraez

I really like Luis Arraez and I will miss watching him play. He enjoys the game and for me no Twins player is as much fun to watch in the batters box as he was. I really think that the Twins will miss him more than they know, they need his kind of bat in the lead-off spot even though he is not the prototypical lead-off hitter. I think the ban of the shift will also benefit Arraez more than the average hitter. Arraez has his flaws of course like every player, he does not walk as much as you would like but then again how many regulars in the big leagues get more walks than strikeouts? My biggest concern with Arraez has always been is how long his knees will hold up? Defense is also not his strength but he played some pretty nice first base for Minnesota considering it was a new position for him. Maybe the Twins didn’t trade Arraez at peak value but it is always smarter to trade someone a year or two too early versus a year or two too late.

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Twins say a new era is dawning

The Minnesota Twins had a big “to-do” at the Mall of America on Friday, November 18 when the organization announced that a “new era of Twins basball” was dawning with their first brand refresh in 35 years. According to Pat Reusse about 1,500 of the Twins loyalists were in attendance to witness the club roll out a new set of uniforms and modify their TC insignia. It is kind of ironic that the Twins chose the MOA which is where Metropolitan Stadium once stood as the place to roll out these changes.

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Twins & Yankees agree on a blockbuster

Less than two days ago the Minnesota Twins and New York Yankees agreed on a blockbuster trade but Twins and Yankee fans are in a quandary about what to think of the deal. Social sites for both teams seem to be up in arms about the deal with both sides thinking they got the short end of the stick.

The trade in question calls for the New Yorker’s sending 29-year old catcher Gary Sanchez and 30-year old third baseman Gio Urshela to Minnesota for 36 year-old third baseman Josh Donaldson, 27-year old shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa and 24-year old catcher Ben Rortvedt.

It appears that there were multiple reasons to make the trade. The Twins seem to be looking to get out from under the $50 million the team owes Donaldson over the next two seasons and the Yankees have wanted to move Sanchez for some time. It is one of those situations where you swap my problems for your problems. The Yankees were in desperate need of a shortstop and the Twins had just acquired Kiner-Falefa from Texas earlier in the day. So in order for the Yankees to take Donaldson and pay him what he is owed the Yankees needed to get Kiner-Falefa in the deal and they wanted Rortvedt to replace Sanchez. Getting Donaldson and Kiner-Falefa made Urshela expendable and he was on his way to Minnesota.

Gary Sanchez
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Twins deal 2021 first round pick for 2011 first round pick

While most of us have been enjoying our week-end, the Minnesota Twins front office has been hard at work burning up the phone lines looking high and low as they work to improve the team. Today they made their second trade in as many days when they traded their 2021 first round selection (26th over all) RHP Chase Petty to the Cincinnati Reds for RHP Sonny Gray who himself was the Oakland A’s first round selection (18th over all) back in 2011 before moving on to the Yankees in 2017 and finally the Reds in 2019. The Twins also received right-handed minor league reliever Francis Peguero a 24-year old Dominican who pitched in High A ball in 2021.

This is one of those “potential for experience” kind of deals. A type of trade that the Minnesota Twins disdained over they years. In a way it is similar to the Kenta Maeda deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers for prospect pitcher Brusdar Graterol a few years back. The big difference in that deal was that Graterol was big league ready and Petty is straight out of high school and has all of 5 innings of pro ball under his belt. Another trade that comes to mind was the 2010 deal with the Nationals when the Twins traded catcher Wilson Ramos for closer Matt Capps and Twins fans were not happy campers. Capps went on to save 45 games for Minnesota over three seasons. Ramos is still catching in the big leagues after 12 seasons (seven teams) and has two All-Star games and a Silver Slugger on his resume. You just never know how these kinds of trades will work out.

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