Deadline news is already filling timelines.

Nationally, the baseball world is talking about the Rafael Devers trade, and fans are beginning to settle into trade deadline season. Locally,the Twins are struggling, perhaps in need of a jolt, all while playing the Cincinnati Reds. Taken all together, the elements of this weeks baseball headlines can belong in their own boxcars in the same train of thought. 

There are many articles already out there, depending on the sports outlet of your choosing, suggesting which players might be on the market, who the buyers might want to buy and the price it might take to buy them. The national writers are telling us about the players the Twins could go after to bolster the at times anemic offense. The local writers are telling us not to hold our breath.

The last couple of years have been uninspiring, and trades have been few and far between. The money has been an issue, and if he debt is as reported, monetary investment at the deadline is unlikely. The pitching staff seems to be getting picked off man by man, but prices for starting pitchers have been extremely expensive from a prospect standpoint. It's easy to see why the local writers don't seem to think Minnesota will do anything.

Lets consider the more optimistic version, though. You know, the one of people that haven't spent their best years trying to find a reason for hope in Minnesota men's sports. The Twins need bats, which are generally less expensive in both prospects or monetary expenditure. A solid hitter would likely play in the corners, somewhere, alleviating someone like Trevor Larnach against lefties, or simply providing depth so Willi Castro doesn't have to do everything. And played correctly, will address the team's greatest weakness all season, run production.

A look at the Reds is a good lesson for the Twins, regardless of how they choose to proceed. The trade that Twins fans still look back on with derision was the one that sent multiple prospects to the Reds for Tyler Mahle. Mahle struggled with injury for his entire time in Minnesota, while Spencer Steer and Christian Encarnacion-Strand have played on the Major League Roster. 

While the execution wasn't great. the damage was also not that great. Mahle has been good with the Rangers now that he has his health, showing that the Twins probably sought the right guy. Meanwhile, Steer and Encarnacion-Strand haven't been all that revolutionary. Steer has been better, even as this year has been down, and it seems unlikely he would have been able to leapfrog Royce Lewis at third. Corner Outfielders have starters, and simpy need someone to augment those spots, and Steer isn't that kind of player. What I am saying is that neither would have really changed the Twins roster had they stayed in Minnesota. Not for the better (or the worse), anyways. 

But Mahle would have helped in 2023, with health. Sure, money might not be there, but the Twins are fighting in a sloppy AL Central once again, and the front office, even with the headwinds against them, should try to be bold.

And Minnesotans should probably prepare to be disappointed.