Another Starting Pitcher the Minnesota Twins Must be Calling On
The Minnesota Twins need a front-rotation starting pitcher if they are going to convince anyone they are a legitimate World Series contender. Yes, the Twins’ high powered lineup will more than likely belt its way to the MLB postseason, especially if the new and improved infield featuring Brooks Lee and Royce Lewis can stay healthy.
Minnesota Twins need a front-rotation starting pitcher at MLB trade deadline
But once you get to the playoffs, pitching wins. Just look at the All-Star game. When the best pitchers face the best hitters, pitching will usually win out. In a seven game series, that truth becomes even more evident.
Even if Pablo Lopez recovers from one of the worst halves of a baseball season in his young career and Joe Ryan proves he can be a top-3 starter for an entire 162 game season, the Minnesota Twins will fall one bona fide starter away from having a truly trustworthy playoff rotation.
Of course, options are rather limited to begin with. Trade deadline sellers do not give away their best starting pitchers. In fact, starters are without a doubt the most expensive asset to buy this time of year. That’s a problem when your owners are trying to cut back on costs.
That’s why we have seen the Twins connected to Toronto Blue Jays starter, Yusei Kikuchi, a 33-year-old lefty with a 97 mph fastball. He could slide into the 3rd rotation spot and not cost an arm or leg in prospects or salary.
Nathan Eovaldi may be best option available to Twins at deadline
But there is another starter out there who would fit what Minnesota needs even better than Kikuchi. His name is Nate Eovaldi, a 34-year-old veteran righ-hander with the Texas Rangers. Entering the break, he held a 2.97 ERA, 1.043 WHIP, 133 ERA+ and 3.58 FIP in 97 innings pitched.
