Trading core stars this summer might be the only path for the Twins

It has been two seasons since the Minnesota Twins last made the postseason. Since then, their record has gotten a bit worse, and that could be the case again this season. 

They finished with a 70-92 record last season and did not do much over the offseason to bring in better players. It will be on the core stars, especially Joe Ryan, to keep this team competitive. 

He will serve as the team's ace this season with Pablo Lopez on the IL. Lopez will miss the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in February. 

MORE: MLB analyst sets the tone for what could be a forgettable season for the Twins

Trading core stars this summer might be the only path for the Twins

It's going to be tough for the Twins to be competitive this season. However, that does not mean there is no point in playing this year. 

The team has some exciting pieces waiting in the wings, and could add to that if they choose to during the summer. They could trade a few of their stars for good prospects and continue to rebuild, per Bleacher Report's Tim Kelly. 

"Getting more impact pieces if they trade some combination of Joe Ryan, Byron Buxton, Bailey Ober and Royce Lewis this summer would help the Twins continue to feel like they are building a future contender."

Now, some fans may not be too happy to hear this, but it is something that they may need to prepare themselves for. They could very well see someone like Buxton suiting up for a new team after the deadline. 

However, Buxton does have a full no-trade clause in his contract that runs through 2026. So, trading him could be complicated. 

This season will certainly test new manager Derek Shelton, who became the 15th manager in franchise history. He will have some important decisions to face when we get into the nitty-gritty of the season.

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