Twins Could Help Cubs with Multiple Offseason Needs
After a season in which they finished fourth in the AL Central with a record of 70-92, the Minnesota Twins may be ready to enter a rebuild. Earlier this month, Jeff Passan reported that they are likely to trade either Joe Ryan or Pablo López this offseason. Passan also mentioned outfielder Byron Buxton as a name that could be involved in a trade this winter. The Cubs could fill two needs with one trade if Minnesota is indeed willing to deal two stars.
Ryan was one of the most sought-after names at the trade deadline, with the Boston Red Sox reportedly coming close to a deal for the right-hander. He posted a 3.42 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 2025, logging 194 strikeouts in 171.0 innings of work. Although the Cubs showed interest in his services, the trade cost was far too steep. He still has two years of arbitration left before reaching free agency, which could lead to similarly expensive asks from the Twins if the Cubs attempt to re-enter negotiations this offseason.
Injuries limited López to just 75.2 innings last season, the least he’s thrown in a full season since his rookie year in 2018. The 29-year-old was brilliant when he was on the mound, with a 2.74 ERA and a 32.1% chase rate that was in the 87th percentile across baseball. He boasted a 6.4% walk rate, which was among the best in the sport. His command has driven immense success throughout his career when he’s healthy.
Lopez signed a four-year, $73.5 million extension with the Twins in 2023 that keeps him under team control through the 2027 season. He’s earning just under $22 million — if traded, both his actual and luxury tax salaries would be $21.75M — which is an extremely affordable contract given the current market for free agent pitchers. For context, that’s less than Shōta Imanaga will earn in 2026 via the qualifying offer. The combination of his relatively low cost and two more years of control will increase his trade value, but López remains an interesting option for teams needing starting pitching.
Buxton was healthier than usual in 2025, playing in a total of 126 games. He was one of the best players in baseball, earning 5.0 fWAR, a 136 wRC+, and a career-high 35 homers. He hits for power and is also among the fastest players in the game, flashing 100th percentile sprint speed of 30.2 feet per second. His 53.8% hard hit rate was in the top 4% of MLB, tying his career best from 2021.
Buxton has three more years under team control at an average annual value of just over $15 million, making him incredibly valuable even if he doesn’t continue to perform at 2025 levels. The one caveat is that he has a no-trade clause, but it’s reported that he’d be willing to waive it for a move to a contender if the Twins are looking to rebuild.
Kyle Tucker‘s likely departure has been, and will continue to be, a hot topic when discussing the Cubs’ offseason. They will need to replace his production in the outfield, which is why a corner outfielder has been named as one of their top priorities. Jed Hoyer has several holes to fill on the roster before spring training begins, with starting pitching and a corner outfielder standing out as the two biggest opportunities to improve their projections.
If free agency is deemed too expensive, pivoting to the trade market is a perfect solution that still allows the front office to invest in the future without inflating payroll too much. Hoyer’s farm system may not be extremely deep at the moment, but there are still several valuable pieces that could be of interest to teams such as the Twins when it comes to trading for big league talent.
