Chris Paddack recently returned from a stint on the injured list. Given that he’s still recovering from his second Tommy John surgery, this wasn’t unexpected. His absence gave top pitching prospect David Festa an opportunity to pitch at the big-league level, but it didn’t go well for Festa. With the rookie’s struggles and the veteran’s inconsistent track record, that rotation spot remains uncertain.
Simeon Woods Richardson has been a tremendous asset for the Twins this season, providing stability at the back of the rotation and alleviating depth concerns. His performance has positioned him as a strong Rookie of the Year candidate and has helped offset a difficult season for Louie Varland. However, the Twins are keen to strengthen their rotation further to avoid relying too heavily on Woods Richardson and Paddack maintaining their current form.
To achieve this, the Toronto Blue Jays might be a prime trade partner. While the Twins aren’t considering bringing back José Berríos and Alek Manoah is out after elbow surgery, there are still three Jays starters who could be valuable additions for the Twins:
Yusei Kikuchi
Earning $10 million in the final year of a $36 million deal, Kikuchi has outperformed his 4.12 ERA. He has posted some of the highest strikeout rates of his career and has his lowest walk rate. With a 3.62 FIP and experience pitching in the postseason against Minnesota in the wild card round last year, Kikuchi could be a strong addition to the Twins’ rotation.
His cost would likely be relatively modest given his current numbers, salary, and impending free agency. Minnesota could absorb more of his remaining salary to reduce the prospect return, if they can manage to persuade the Pohlad family to open their wallets. While he wouldn’t be a top option in Rocco Baldelli’s rotation, he could effectively slot in behind Bailey Ober.
Chris Bassitt
Bassitt’s situation is more complex due to his contract. He is under team control through 2025, with a $22 million salary next year. Although this isn’t an outrageous amount for a quality starter, Falvey has never paid a pitcher even $20 million per year, making it a significant financial commitment.
Bassitt has been remarkably consistent, posting a 3.43 ERA through 18 starts this year, with a 3.76 FIP. He’s reliable for nearly 200 innings, averages around a strikeout per inning, and consistently keeps the team in positions to win. Like Kikuchi, he isn’t a top-of-the-rotation arm but would be a dependable option in a playoff series behind Pablo López and Joe Ryan.
Kevin Gausman
The biggest name among the trio, and a former Cy Young winner, Gausman is owed $23 million each of the next two seasons. Toronto might be willing to offset some of this cost in exchange for better prospect capital. The Twins haven’t made a deal for a starter of this magnitude since acquiring Sonny Gray from the Cincinnati Reds, and they were buying low on him. The acquisition cost for Gausman would be quite high.
While Gausman hasn’t been as dominant this season as in previous years, his 3.86 FIP is significantly better than his 4.64 ERA. He’s allowing more hits and home runs, but his strikeouts and command remain strong. At just 33 years old, there’s potential for the Twins to help him regain top form, as his pitching profile aligns well with their organizational strategies.
