The Minnesota Twins are positioning themselves as buyers ahead of Major League Baseball's trade deadline, with a clear objective to strengthen the team's bullpen. General Manager Jeremy Zoll announced the team's intention Tuesday, stating their goal is to "make it a reality" to play meaningful games in September.
The Twins currently hold a 54-54 record after a recent comeback victory over the Kansas City Royals. They are currently trailing the Cleveland Guardians by a half-game for the final American League wild-card position. Zoll emphasized the team's focus on acquiring pitching reinforcements.
"We're going to focus on finding ways to improve the bullpen and that'll be a clear focus," Zoll said, according to the Star Tribune. He also indicated openness to other strategic moves, noting that the trade market is still developing this year.
Zoll's declaration suggests that players who might have drawn interest from other teams, such as pitcher Joe Ryan, are likely to remain with the Twins. He also addressed speculation surrounding catcher Ryan Jeffers, a pending free agent, stating that there was minimal interest in trading him and that the team is committed to keeping its core group together.
The Twins are set to continue their series against the Royals on Wednesday.