The Minnesota Twins are hanging around in the AL Central and the AL Wild Card races this season, sitting just 2.0 games back in the division and just 1.0 game back in the Wild Card.
While they've been a club many associate with being trade deadline sellers, with Joe Ryan and Byron Buxton two popular trade targets, the Twins aren't looking likely to sell. Rather, they might be buying.
In fact, according to Alden Gonzalez of ESPN, that's exactly what the Twins are doing. Before the All-Star break, the Twins are reportedly trading for 3.82 ERA Toronto Blue Jays reliever Tommy Nance in a deal to improve their bullpen.
Twins to trade for Tommy Nance from Blue Jays
"NEWS: The Twins, in the thick of the playoff race and looking to beef up their bullpen, are acquiring RH Tommy Nance from the Blue Jays, sources tell me and @JeffPassan," Gonzalez reported Friday afternoon.
Minnesota is adding to its bullpen and trading for Nance, the 35-year-old right-handed reliever from the Blue Jays. The reigning AL Champions are sending a veteran reliever to the Twins to improve their postseason odds this year.
Nane, the right-handed reliever, has a 3.82 ERA this season across 32 appearances with a 1-2 record, 0.3 bWAR, 34 strikeouts, a 120 ERA+, a 4.20 FIP, and a 1.273 WHIP across 33 innings.
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Since the Twins needed reliever help, with only Yoendrys Gomez, Andrew Morris, and Kendry Rojas posting better ERA marks than Nance's 3.83 ERA this season, the addition of this veteran Blue Jays righty will be a big help for Minnesota.
The 46-48 Twins might be under .500 this season, but in a weak American League, they have a legitimate chance to make the postseason.
Instead of selling, like many would've expected, the first trade the Twins made before the August 3 deadline isn't shipping someone out, but rather adding a reliever to improve their odds of a postseason push this season.
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