Derek Falvey is looking to throw for the Minnesota Twins before the trade deadline. A quality starter could be the most important addition down the stretch. One that the front office has previously expressed interest in may be more available than initially anticipated.
Insider suggests price could be in Minnesota Twins wheelhouse
Pablo Lopez has started to look like himself again. Joe Ryan has improved this season. Bailey Ober might be the most underappreciated starter in baseball. That marks the end of the certainty for the Minnesota Twins’ starting rotation.
Simeon Woods Richardson is an unproven rookie, while Chris Paddack is injured. Another great arm is essential for the postseason. Bob Nightengale, a contributor for USA Today, discussed the ever-changing market for 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.
Prior to the 2022 season, Minnesota has been connected to Kikuchi as a free agent. He signed a three-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. This final year will pay him $10 million, with the Twins only responsible for a prorated amount of it. Money has been the focus as Minnesota’s deadline approaches, but prospect capital is also important.
Kikuchi has a 7.75 ERA in his last eight outings, but his 4.74 FIP is far more promising. He’s BABPI’d to death (.398) yet still strikes out a lot of batters.
The most appealing aspect of acquiring him is his 3.64 FIP this season. A forward-thinking franchise, like as Minnesota, acquiring him may unlock something great down the road.
Minnesota Twins could get Yusei Kikuchi on the cheap
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If Nightengale is to be believed, Kikuchi’s greatest expense may be money. Of course, this is hardly ideal for a poor-claiming organization. Derek Falvey, on the other hand, would be thrilled to land that type of starter without having to give up a top 15-20 prospect. Kikuchi is a rental, and he is moving in the wrong direction at the wrong moment.
Minnesota is not the type of team that would be put off by Kikuchi’s recent performance. It may be the ideal storm. The Twins’ farm system is among the greatest in the entire sport.
Minnesota will not make an acquisition that requires one of its six top 100 prospects. If they can trade from depth with someone further down the prospect ladder, the transaction may become a coup.
