On Skor North’s The Scoop, Doogie Wolfson from KSTP 5 revealed that the Twins are getting inquiries about minor-league outfielder Matt Wallner. After an impressive half-season in 2023, Wallner had a slow start in 2024 and was sent back to the Triple-A St. Paul Saints, where he has since recovered well, posting an .869 OPS over 64 games.
Despite the interest in Wallner, it’s unlikely that the Twins will trade the Minnesota native. With less than a year of service time and Max Kepler’s contract expiring soon, the Twins will need another left-handed bat as early as next year.
Some might argue that the Twins need Wallner now rather than next season. While they’ve performed exceptionally against left-handed pitching (.799 OPS, 2nd in MLB), their performance against right-handed pitching has been merely adequate (.720 OPS, 10th in MLB). Wallner’s left-handed power could be a valuable addition to the lineup in the second half of the season.
Ultimately, the decision will depend on the front office’s assessment of Wallner’s importance versus the Twins’ immediate need for pitching help in both the rotation and bullpen.
