MLB Trade Rumors: Minnesota Twins make Josh Willingham available

When the Minnesota Twins signed outfielder Josh Willingham as a free agent before the 2012 season, they looked like they had uncovered a heck of a bargain in the free agent market. Having let Michael Cuddyer go to the Colorado Rockies for more money, the Twins had Willingham for just three years and $21 million.

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After an impressive debut season in Minnesota in which he hit over 30 home runs and drove in over 100, things have fizzled for Willingham in 2013 and 2014. He has shown some signs of life here and there this season, but his production is still down: .208/.360/.403 with eight home runs and 25 RBI.

The nice thing for the Twins is the fact that they can still get some value for Willingham in a potential trade. The possibility for right-handed power is enough that a trade suitor might give up players to acquire him, and from the sounds of things, the Twins are shopping Willingham around with that in mind.

According to Alex Smith of MLB.com:

"The Twins don’t have any Major League assets in the same class as Price, but there are a few players who could be on the move before the month is over. One of them — 35-year-old veteran Josh Willingham — was left out of the lineup against Tampa’s ace on Saturday night."

The Twins are aware, however, that they need Willingham to show some life before they try to trade him. That is the case even with the relative lack of right-handed power across the league.

"If the Twins are “sellers” at the deadline, they’ll need their slugger to flash those kinds of numbers in the next couple weeks.“We’ll just keep mixing it up and see if we can get him going,” Gardenhire said."

Minnesota does not necessarily consider themselves to be in “sellers” mode, but regardless they would probably be better off getting value for Willingham in a trade if they can.