3 Biggest Trade Deadline Questions for Twins
By Jared Kish
The Minnesota Twins have been one of the best teams in baseball this season. Sitting in first place in the AL Central, the Twins have built a nice seven-game lead over the division rival Cleveland Indians. They have been remarkable winning despite not having the most skilled roster in the league-- which means they can still improve and strike fear in the hearts of the rest of the AL's contenders. Here are three big questions that the Twins need to address at the trade deadline in order to get even stronger.
1. Do They Chase Craig Kimbrel?
The Twins don't have the best bullpen in baseball, as no true big-name guys are hanging out at the back end to slam the door shut on opponents. The starting pitching has been great, but this team is still one standout reliever away from a complete pitching staff. A perfect signing could arrive in the form of Craig Kimbrel, who is somehow still a free agent. His cost drops with each passing day, steadily increasing the number of teams who could be in on him.
2. Buyers or Sellers?
Its hard to say if the Twins will be buyers or sellers come this year's deadline. Since they are sitting in first place, the Twins know they have the talent to win ballgames. However, if they make it into the playoffs, do they have a strong enough team to go anywhere against a team like the Astros or Yankees? One possible move they could make is to try and acquire a slugger who could join Nelson Cruz and CJ Cron in the lineup. The Twins already have speed, so a power upgrade should be considered.
3. What Would it Take to Trade Jonathan Schoop?
With the recent call-up of Luis Arraez, the Twins should think about trading Jonathan Schoop. The new Twins second baseman has seven hits and is batting .583 in just four games so far. If he continues to perform above his "true" level of ability, the Twins should look to cash in on him for a high price. Schoop is a solid player that can bring back some decent prospects to help the Twins in the long run if they so choose.