The Twins had excessive hopes for the 2021 season. These hopes have been dashed, constantly and painfully, over the previous few months.

We’re now per week into July and the membership remains to be double-digit video games beneath .500 — they’re 35-50 after a loss Wednesday, in final place within the AL Central behind the Tigers and Royals — and it’s time for a change. 

The Twins have 5 gamers scheduled to be free brokers after the season — gamers with that sort of contract standing are at all times commerce potentials — and several other gamers beneath contract/management for a few extra seasons who can be very enticing to potential contenders in 2021 and 2022. 

MORE: All-Star snubs: 11 gamers who ought to’ve made AL, NL squads

Let’s check out 5 Twins who may very well be moved within the subsequent couple of weeks, and the place they may wind up. Andrelton Simmons and J.A. Happ may very well be moved, too, however there isn’t an enormous marketplace for a shortstop with a 70 OPS+ or a starter with a 6.09 ERA, so we’ll deal with these different 5 gamers. 

Jose Berrios, SP

Contract standing: Arbitration-eligible for the ultimate time in 2022, free agent after 2023

Must know: No Twins participant would deliver again an even bigger return than Berrios, an ace-type who may step proper into the highest few spots of just about any contender’s rotation. The groups that attempt to commerce for Berrios are the groups that really imagine they’ll win the World Collection, with Berrios being one of many last items. The suitable-hander is a two-time All-Star who at present has career-best marks in ERA (3.36) and FIP (3.46) and — oh, yeah — has a 2.45 ERA in three begins for the reason that sticky-stuff ban went into impact. 

Potential vacation spot: Padres. Look, right here’s the factor: If the Twins do make Berrios obtainable, they’re not buying and selling him until they’re blown away by a proposal. As a result of in the event that they don’t get what they need now, they might maintain him and commerce him within the offseason, or attempt to signal him to an extension, or simply let him pitch out his contract once they attempt to contend once more in 2022. So not solely do you need to have a look at groups that need an ace-type pitcher, however ones which have the prospects essential to make a deal occur. The Padres have each the motivation and the prospects. The Dodgers may very well be too, relying on what occurs with Trevor Bauer.

Taylor Rogers, RP

Contract standing: Arbitration-eligible for the ultimate time in 2022, free agent after 2023

Must know: Within the historical past of baseball, I’m fairly positive there has by no means been a contending workforce totally happy with its bullpen heading into the commerce deadline. They don’t all swing trades for aid arms, however they no less than kick the tires. Rogers has been tremendous dependable for the Twins, posting a 2.75 ERA in 187 aid appearances for the reason that begin of the 2018 season. He’s a lefty, too, with 50 strikeouts and as many saves as walks — seven of each — in 35 2/3 innings this 12 months. 

Potential vacation spot: A’s. The Bay Space’s kelly inexperienced workforce may use assist in the later innings, and Rogers appears like an amazing match. He gained’t be low-cost in his last 12 months of arbitration — he’s making $6 million this 12 months — nevertheless it’s additionally doable the A’s may commerce for him now, then transfer him once more within the offseason to keep away from paying his increase for 2022.

Nelson Cruz, DH

Contract standing: Free agent after 2021

Must know: He’s a DH solely, in fact — he simply turned 41 and hasn’t performed within the subject since 4 video games in 2018 — which limits his suitors to American League groups. However that’s actually the one draw back to Cruz, who’s as constant of a hitter and energy supply as there is within the recreation. He’s proper round a .300 batting common once more, with 18 homers and a 162 OPS+.

Potential vacation spot: White Sox. Yeah, numerous of us have linked Cruz to the A’s, and perhaps it’s a bit of laborious to think about the Twins and White Sox — AL Central rivals — making a deal like this. However the White Sox have been crushed by accidents to their sluggers and wish offensive assist, particularly now that DH Yermin Mercedes stopped hitting and has been despatched to the minors. 

Michael Pineda, SP

Contract standing: Free agent after 2021

Must know: Pineda missed time with elbow irritation, however returned from the IL to work into the sixth inning on Wednesday towards the White Sox. He wasn’t nice — 12 hits, 5 earned runs — however a bit of rust after a layoff isn’t a horrible factor. In his first 11 begins of the season, Pineda had a stable 3.70, with 8.2 strikeouts per 9 and a couple of.4 walks per 9. He’s not essentially a man you commerce for hoping he’ll begin Sport 2 of a postseason sequence, however he’s the kind of man who may very well be acquired with no huge prospect value to assist a workforce survive the subsequent couple of months and get into the postseason. 

Potential vacation spot: Rays. Simply appears like he’ll wind up someplace like Tampa Bay or San Francisco, doesn’t it? Possibly the Cardinals throw out a feeler?

Hansel Robles, RP

Contract standing: Free agent after 2021

Must know: Robles leads the Twins with eight saves in 10 alternatives, nevertheless it’s unlikely the workforce that trades for him would instantly give him the ninth-inning function. He’s a great arm so as to add to a contender’s bullpen, although. He does have nearer expertise — the eight saves this 12 months and 23 for the Angels in 2019 — and has 36 strikeouts in 37 innings this 12 months, with a 4.38 ERA that jumped up just a few notches with a tough stretch for the reason that final week or so of June. 

Potential vacation spot: Phillies. Two issues have been true of the Phillies for the previous a number of years — they’re at all times round .500 and so they’re at all times in want of bullpen assist. Similar’s true in 2021; they entered play on Wednesday with a 41-42 file, however they’re solely 4 video games behind the Mets within the NL East. Robles wouldn’t value a ton, and can be price a glance.