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Twins Trade Rumors: Minnesota eyeing Joaquin Benoit deal

By Josh Hill

Jun 7, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres pitcher Joaquin Benoit (56) pitches the ball in the 11th inning against the Washington Nationals at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Stan Liu-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 7, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres pitcher Joaquin Benoit (56) pitches the ball in the 11th inning against the Washington Nationals at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Stan Liu-USA TODAY Sports /
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The MLB trade deadline is rapidly approaching, and the Twins look like they’re going to be buyers on relievers before all is said and done. 

Every year at the trade deadline in baseball, there are names kicked around that begin to sizzle thanks to the trade buzz they garner. It’s not a guarantee that these names end up helping the team who trades for them, but that doesn’t stop the hype from building.

More often than not, these names belong to pitchers and the year relievers are a hot commodity to teams looking to replicate what the Kansas City Royals did last season. The Royals had a lockdown bullpen that shutdown the final three innings of games in the postseason, and it’s a formula that has made relievers top targets at the trade deadline this year.

The Minnesota Twins weren’t expecting to be contenders this season, but they are and it has them looking to shore up their bullpen issues before August begins.

According to Jon Morosi from FOX Sports, the Twins and Padres have had discussions about relievers Joaquin Benoit and Shawn Kelley.

The Twins are very familiar with the work of Benoit, as he used to pitch in the division with the Detroit Tigers. Kelley is another pitcher garnering buzz on the trade market and could be a cheaper option for Minnesota to acquire to bolster their bullpen.

San Diego has gone into full seller mode as the deadline nears, but darling Benoit isn’t a new idea. There have been rumors that the reliever could be dealt as far back as last year’s deadline which means there’s no guarantee he gets moved this week. Then agin, the Padres have had plenty of time to consider a deal, and being in full seller mode could motivate them to dump him and grab some of the prospects the Twins tend to develop into serviceable starters.

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