Mets make trade, begin trade deadline activity by sending reliever to Twins

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New York Mets reliever A.J. Minter is heading to the Minnesota Twins, according to multiple reports Thursday, possibly signaling the beginning of what could be a large selloff by the struggling Mets before the Aug. 3 trade deadline.

According to multiple reports, prospects Bruin Agbayani and Billy Amick are headed to the Twins.

The Mets — and the rest of MLB — will have plenty more moves in store over the next four days. The Minter trade was a fairly obvious move.

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It gives the Twins, who are one game out of the third and final American League Wild Card position, a reliable left-handed reliever. Minter is 1-1 with a 2.35 ERA in 23 games this season.

Minter missed most of 2025, and the beginning of 2026, with a left lat injury that required surgery. When healthy, he’s been one of the National League’s most reliable southpaws out of the bullpen over the last six years.

Since his 2017 debut with the Atlanta Braves, Minter is 25-30 with a 3.18 ERA across 420 appearances. He has limited opponents to a .227 batting average in his career while averaging more than a strikeout per inning.

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For the Twins, Minter will join veteran Taylor Rogers and Kody Funderburk to form a potent trio of left-handers behind closer Yoendrys Gomez.

It’s the kind of small move that could be a difference-maker in a tightly contested American League Central. The Twins (55-55), Cleveland Guardians (56-54) and Chicago White Sox (57-51) are separated by three games atop the division.

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For the Mets (47-63), there’s a case to be made for trading everyone outside of franchise outfielder Juan Soto. Minter, right-handed starter Freddy Peralta, and left-handed reliever Brooks Raley are due to be free agents at the end of this season.

That makes them the most likely players to be traded with even a shred of competence on the field.

Peralta is a two-time All-Star and more likely to impact his acquiring team after he’s traded. He might be among the best starting pitchers to change teams in the coming days. For now, the Mets kicked off their deadline activity by dealing from their bullpen — a small but potentially impactful move as the playoff picture takes shape.

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