Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
After losing game one of their series over the weekend to the Athletics, the Minnesota Twins responded like they have throughout the first 100+ games of the 2026 season — with back-to-back victories Saturday and Sunday, to again pull them within a game of .500, at 53-54.
Now, Derek Shelton & Co. will enjoy the off-day Monday just one game back of Cleveland in the AL Wild Card race. Up next is three games vs another 2026 AL bottom-feeder, the 45-62 Kansas City Royals. And just in case you weren’t paying attention, the MLB trade deadline is exactly one week from today.
With just six games between now and August 3, it would take a colossal one-week collapse for the Minnesota Twins to wash completely out of the American League playoff race. Thus, it’s decision time for GM Jeremy Zoll and managing owner, Tom Pohlad.
Are the MN Twins going to buy or sell at the MLB trade deadline?
Pohlad has all but promised on multiple occasions that the Twins will act as buyers before the deadline, if they are in position to do so. And if you take MLB insider (and former GM) Jim Bowden (The Athletic) at his word, that’s exactly what Minnesota plans to do.
Per Bowden, the Twins are showing zero interest in trading Joe Ryan or Byron Buxton before August 3. Instead, Bowden’s sources around the league tell him that when Minnesota calls, they are indeed talking like buyers, not sellers.
Joe Ryan and Byron Buxton will NOT be dealt at the trade deadline, says @JimBowdenGM.
“I’m being told that neither one is going. In fact, the Twins are buyers right now.” pic.twitter.com/3SOqei7SXZ
— GM Territory (@GMTerritory) July 27, 2026
Trey Bowden: “Are the Twins going to trade either Buxton or Ryan at the deadline?”
Jim Bowden: “No. Absolutely not. I’m being told neither one is going. In fact, the Twins are buyers right now. They feel like they’re in the race, as well. They feel they have a chance at the Wild Card. Jeremy Zoll, the general manager, is out there looking for bullpen help. They’re trying to make this bullpen better. They feel like they can compete to the very end.
So they want to hold onto Joe Ryan and Bailey Ober and the starting rotation they have. They feel it’s good enough to contend and get to a playoff spot. So all of the rumors you are hearing…I’m being told no. I’m being told no. So that’s kind of where that stands. Until someone tells me differently, I’m only going to believe the executives that give me the information.”
Related: MN Twins Best Trade Chip Just Got More Expensive
Twins still hyper-focused on finding bullpen help
There have been too many moments recently where they Minnesota Twins have been in danger of flipping from hopeful buyers to unhappy sellers. However, it’s pretty clear at this point that Pohlad has made up his mind.
Zoll’s assessment (per Bowden), that the Twins’ starting staff is good enough to push for the playoffs, may be correct. Still, should they actually make the postseason, Minnesota could really use an additional front-line starter who’s worthy of starting a playoff game. That doesn’t appear to be on the radar, unfortunately.
Still, as long as they find legitimate bullpen help, Byron Buxton remains healthy and Joe Ryan returns to form, after a couple of difficult starts, there’s no doubt the MN Twins can hang in the AL Wild Card race, which is littered with mediocrity.
Mentioned in this article: Byron Buxton Jeremy Zoll Joe Ryan MLB Trade Deadline Tom Pohlad
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