MINNEAPOLIS — With his name among those mentioned as Major League
Baseball’s non-waiver trade deadline approaches, Kyle Gibson is
slated to start Tuesday night against Cleveland at Target Field.
Gibson (5-7, 3.42 ERA) has been among the Minnesota Twins’ more
consistent performers this season and with two more seasons of team
control, he’s been an attractive target for contenders looking to
bolster their rotations for a stretch run.
Twins Pitcher Kyle Gibson
Minnesota, which comes into Game 2 of the series eight games behind
the Indians in the AL Central, has been an active seller over the
last few days. Shortstop Eduardo Escobar was first, going to
Arizona late last week. Then Ryan Pressly was dealt to Houston and
Zach Duke to Seattle.
The Twins swung another deal Monday, moving right-hander Lance Lynn
to the Yankees and still have until 2 p.m. Tuesday to entertain
offers on the rest of their players — including Gibson.
“I don’t know if expect is the right word,” manager Paul Molitor
said when asked if more moves were coming. “Just kind of holding
steady until something else … if news comes across, you know
we’re talking. Obviously, teams are out there trying to do a lot of
things, the teams that are trying to make acquisitions.
“I wouldn’t say it’s an expectation. I’m just like everybody else,
not sure which way it’s going to go and which way teams are going
to decide to do this. Who they are going to try to pick off, who
might be available.”
Cleveland’s front office will be working the phones ahead of the
deadline, too. Outfield help is high on the wish list and the team
is believed to be among those checking in on the availability of
Nationals’ superstar Bryce Harper.
Minnesota Twins
Reports have also linked the Indians to Detroit’s Leonys Martin and
Nick Castellanos, Cincinnati’s Billy Hamilton, Toronto’s Curtis
Granderson and Derek Dietrich of the Marlins.
“I don’t want to get too in-depth in what they’re talking about
trade-wise,” Cleveland manager Terry Francona told MLB.com. “That’s
why I try to be pretty consistent. The guys we have, I never, ever
want to be like, ‘We need that,’ because that’s going to directly
tell somebody out in the clubhouse (I don’t think they can get the
job done). And I don’t feel that way.
“Like I’ve said, if we make a trade that helps us, good. If we
don’t, good, because I feel like (the front office) already helped
us.”
Cleveland sends right-hander Trevor Bauer to the mound Tuesday.
Bauer struck out 10 and held the Pirates scoreless over seven-plus
innings in his last outing and has been one of the best road
starters in baseball this season, posting a 2.64 ERA in 11 starts
away from Progressive Field.
In eight career appearances (seven starts) at Target Field, Bauer
is 2-2 with a 4.46 ERA and 4-7 with a 4.84 mark in 17 career
appearances (16 starts) against the Twins.