By Dan Hayes, Ken Rosenthal and Cody Stavenhagen
The Minnesota Twins’ sell-off is underway. The Twins are trading pitcher Chris Paddack to the Detroit Tigers, according to multiple team sources. Paddack is the first of several players the Twins are expected to deal over the next four days.
One of six impending free agents on the Twins’ roster, Paddack is 3-9 with a 4.95 ERA in 21 starts this season, striking out 83 batters over 111 innings. Finally recovered from his second Tommy John surgery he had in May 2022, Paddack is demonstrating his good health with improved fastball velocity and by making every start this season.
The Tigers will add depth to their rotation as they gear up for what they hope can be a deep playoff run. Detroit has an ace in Tarik Skubal and capable pitchers in Casey Mize, Reese Olson and Jack Flaherty. But they have lacked a fifth starter since Jackson Jobe tore his UCL earlier this season. Paddack gives the Tigers a reliable option and could allow them to move others such as rookie Troy Melton to the bullpen. One additional plus for the Tigers: Paddack looked electric pitching in relief for the Twins late in 2023, including striking out six over 3 2/3 scoreless innings in the postseason.
Though he’s struggled to miss bats this season — his 6.4 strikeouts per nine is a career low — Paddack still can occasionally flash swing-and-miss capability. He’s a strike-thrower who has walked two or fewer batters in 19 of 21 starts this season. The low walk rate has helped Paddack limit opponents to two or fewer earned runs in 12 of 21 starts.
After he experienced elbow inflammation and fatigue in accruing 88 1/3 innings in 2024, Paddack made a point of throwing every day the past offseason, whether playing catch, throwing off a mound or tossing a football. As a result, Paddack’s stuff has been far more consistent in 2025 and he’s made every start.
Following a disappointing June and July, including a 3-6 stretch since the All-Star break, the Twins have moved from being unclear about which direction they’re headed to firm sellers. The club also is expected to trade outfielder Harrison Bader, super utility man and reigning team MVP Willi Castro and lefty reliever Danny Coulombe before Thursday’s 5 p.m. CT deadline.
Whether or not the Twins will consider dealing any of their arbitration-eligible players is the biggest question going forward.
(Photo: Matt Krohn / Imagn Images)
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