The Twins are selling.
Any question as to the Minnesota Twins’ intentions at the trade deadline evaporated when the team came out flatter than a can of Pepsi left open for a week, dropping six of nine to the Rockies, Dodgers, and Nationals. Fans and media alike knew the team would be sellers in the last days of July.
On Monday, the team made their first move, confirming what everyone already knew.
Twins’ first trade at the deadline sends Chris Paddack and Randy Dobnak to Detroit.
Twins acquire Enrique Jimenez, a rookie-ball catcher, in return. Jimenez adds catching depth to a Twins farm system that was very light on quality catchers. www.startribune.com/twins-trade-…
— Bobby Nightengale (@nightengalejr.bsky.social) 2025-07-28T20:22:24.274Z
The main moving piece in the deal is Chris Paddack, a source of trade speculation since the offseason. While the Twins front office chose not to move him before the season, they have now done so, a timely move given Paddack’s pending free agent status. Detroit, seeking rotation help in their playoff push, has elected to bring him on as a back-end starter.
Originally acquired by Minnesota in 2022 alongside Emilio Pagán in a trade with the Padres for Taylor Rogers and Brent Rooker, Paddack’s Twins tenure included Tommy John surgery in May that year. He ultimately pitched in 45 games for the Twins, starting 43, ending his time at Target with a 4.88 ERA and 4.02 FIP.
Heading to Comerica alongside Paddack is 2019 playoff starter Randy Dobnak. A surprise late-season contributor on the mound for the Bomba Squad, Dobnak signed a five-year, $9.25 million contract extension in 2021, a low-cost deal with high upside if he were able to develop into a long-term starter. While he never did, pitching in just 20 more major league games after his extension, he remained a fan favorite, especially in AAA-St. Paul.
Emergency front office meeting to discuss tribute video, retiring number 23, building a statue, putting him in Saints HOF, naming the next first born after him, and ALL front office members growing fu manch/goatee/bushy beards https://t.co/ien70NVSka
— St. Paul Saints (@StPaulSaints) July 28, 2025
In return, the Twins have acquired 19-year-old catcher Enrique Jimenez, a 2023 international free agent and the Tigers’ #14 prospect. The switch-hitting Jimenez has a .779 OPS in rookie ball this year, and he provides potential to a Minnesota farm devoid of catching talent, especially after the releases of Jair Camargo and Diego Cartaya this week.