Revisiting The Minnesota Twins 2025 MLB Trade Deadline Fire-Sale

The Minnesota Twins headed into the 2025 season with high hopes, as they were projected to be one of the better teams in a competitive American League Central division. 

Led by stars Byron Buxton, Carlos Correa, Joe Ryan and Pablo Lopez, Minnesota was expected to be a playoff team. 

Unfortunately for Minnesota, things did not go as planned, as their team leaders dealt with a ton of injuries and the club didn't have the depth needed to remain competitive.

This up and down start for Minnesota left many teams around the league wondering if they would be buyers or sellers at the 2025 MLB trade deadline. With a 51-57 record on deadline day, Minnesota would elect to sell off a majority of their top players to get a haul of prospects/young players in return. 

Minnesota would sell key players such as Carlos Correa, Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax, along with other key arms and position players. 

However, I want to revisit this moment in time, and how Minnesota's prospect haul for Correa, Duran and Jax are looking now.

When Minnesota decided to move off from Correa, it seemed like the front office wanted to part ways with his $33 million dollar yearly salary. Minnesota would trade Correa to his former team, the Houston Astros, for left handed pitcher Matt Mikulski. Mikulski (26) doesn't possess a ton of upside for Minnesota, as he has a career 6.51 ERA across 231.0 minor league innings. 

Trading away Duran got Minnesota their best prospect return by far, with two top 100 prospects in Eduardo Tait and Mick Abel from the Philadelphia Phillies. Tait currently ranks third in Minnesota's farm system, and possesses a ton of upside as a hitter, while being a strong defender. At only 19 years-old, Tait could become Minnesota's catcher of the future. Abel, on the other hand, could make an immediate impact for Minnesota as he logged 39.0 innings with a 6.23 ERA for Philadelphia and Minnesota combined last season. Abel has a high 90's fastball with a very diverse pitch mix, and will definitely make starts for Minnesota throughout the season.

Minnesota didn't stop their fire-sale there, as they also traded top reliever Griffin Jax to the Tampa Bay Rays for promising young pitcher Taj Bradley. Bradley (24), made his MLB debut in 2023 where he posted a 5.59 ERA in 104.2 innings. However, his 2024 season is where he displayed his high upside as a starter, posting a 4.11 ERA with 154 strikeouts in 138.0 innings. Bradley has electric stuff, but struggles to consistently command the strike zone which has stunted his development, hence why Tampa Bay decided to move on from him. Although Bradley would post a 6.61 ERA in six starts for Minnesota, his upside was worth taking a chance on for a rebuilding team. 

Minnesota's front office did a very good job at reestablishing their farm system, while also bringing in high upside MLB ready players. Although Minnesota wasn't expecting to sell off their key pieces heading into last season, they not only got younger, but they raised their celling while doing so.