In a move that highlights the willingness of contenders to gamble on future upside, The Athletic’s Jim Bowden has predicted that the Minnesota Twins will trade the oft-injured Royce Lewis to the New York Yankees. The proposed return is a trio consisting of left-hander Henry LaLane, right-hander Cam Schlittler and infielder Oswald Peraza. It could provide the Yankees with cost-controlled depth while signaling a shift in the Twins’ rebuilding trajectory.
Breaking Down the Latest Royce Lewis Trade Speculation
Although Lewis has shown flashes of brilliance, persistent injury concerns have limited his availability. For the Twins, moving Lewis could be a strategic decision to free up roster space and salary, while the Yankees, known for their willingness to take on risk in pursuit of upside, might see him as a salvageable asset if his health improves.
What the Twins Gain
The return package is intriguing. LaLane brings a valuable left-handed arm, Schlittler offers versatility as a right-hander and Peraza is a promising infielder who could strengthen Minnesota’s future defensive plans. LaLane and Schlittler are both top 15 in the Yankees’ prospect rankings.
Schlittler, a 2022 seventh-round draft pick, added velocity to his fastball, working at 93-96 mph and reaching 98. He won High-A South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year honors after topping Yankees prospect pitchers with 154 strikeouts in 120 2/3 innings. He even posted a 3.36 ERA and making a June cameo at Triple-A Scraton/Wilkes-Barre. If he can continue to improve his command and control, he could develop into a No. 3 or No. 4 starter.
LaLane missed almost all of 2024 with a shoulder injury, restricting him to 12 1/3 innings during the regular season. When healthy, LaLnane demonstrates the potential for three plus pitches with possibility control to match. His fastball can sit 93 mph and touch 97, he has advanced feel for a mid-80s change up that fades and sinks. While he has a high ceoling, he worked 123 2/3 innings and six above Rookie ball, in his first four years as a pro.
Yankees’ Perspective
For New York, acquiring an injury-prone but high-upside player like Lewis could be a calculated gamble. If Lewis stays healthy, he adds an impact bat and athleticism to their infield. The Yankees have never shied away from taking risks on talent, and this move could pay off if Lewis reaches his full potential.
Lewis has the talent when he’s healthy enough to play. In 152 career games, he’s hit .268/.327/.497 (126 OPS+) with 33 home runs, 104 RBI and 3.4 bWAR. It’s taken him three seasons to gather those 152 games, though, and he’s dealt with injuries to his oblique, adductor, quad, hamstring and kneee. In the latter case, he’s torn his right ACL twice.
Although he won’t reach free agency until 2029, his high-upside potential is evident when healthy. If acquired by the Yankees, Lewis could take over as their everyday third baseman, potentially pushing DJ LeMahieu into a bench role once he returns from injury.
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