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Here’s the Minnesota Twins best strategy at the trade deadline

By Brad Berreman

MILWAUKEE, WI - JULY 04: Eduardo Escobar #5 of the Minnesota Twins hits a home run in the ninth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on July 4, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI - JULY 04: Eduardo Escobar #5 of the Minnesota Twins hits a home run in the ninth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on July 4, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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The Minnesota Twins aren’t flush with great trade deadline assets, but these five guys should appeal to contending teams.

Even with a win over the Baltimore Orioles Thursday night, a 1-8 road trip through Chicago (both teams) and Milwaukee has put the Minnesota Twins almost equally below .500 (36-48) as they are games back of the Cleveland Indians in AL Central (11.5 games).

So the Twins are clearly going to be sellers as the trade deadline approaches, whether some of the guys in dugout (looking at you, Brian Dozier) like it or not. But they also aren’t deep with great targets for playoff contenders, at least in terms of who would bring back a nice haul of prospects or young, big-league ready players.

If the Twins are able to make trades, they may come right up against the trade deadline and with who they are offering as fallback options for contending teams that didn’t make deals for bigger names.

The Twins may try to act quickly in the coming weeks, or trade talks could linger past the non-waiver deadline into August. Either way, these five guys could be on the move from Minnesota at or near the trade deadline.

Mandatory Credit: Hannah Foslien/Getty Images
Mandatory Credit: Hannah Foslien/Getty Images /

5. RP Zach Duke

After a fairly rough start, with a 5.19 ERA through April, Duke has a 2.01 ERA with 18 strikeouts and two walks over 27 appearances (22.1 innings) since. Overall this season he has a 2.90 ERA and a 9.3 K/9 over 38 appearances.

Duke has delivered just as expected as a southpaw specialist for the Twins, holding left-handed hitters to a .200 batting average and a .472 OPS so far this season. That will appeal to contenders who are bullpen-hungry, and Duke is also on an expiring deal that has him making just $2.15 million this season.

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