Minnesota Twins fans are facing the reality of what all baseball fans fear this time of year. The realization that your team is not playoff-bound, and it is time to build for the future. The Twins and their fans started the season hopeful, but in a year where everything had to go right, almost nothing did. Injuries to Pablo Lopez, Zebby Matthews, and Royce Lewis stymied any momentum they had. And subpar years by several players like Carlos Correa, Matt Wallner, Bailey Ober, and Simeon Woods Richardson just about nailed the coffin shut.

And when the team came out of the All-Star break and lost its first three series, there was no longer denying the inevitable. With the club on the sale block, it is a hard time to devalue the team. But Minnesota waved the white flag yesterday when they traded pitchers Chris Paddack and Randy Dobnak to the Detroit Tigers for minor league catching prospect Enrique Jimenez. They’ll undoubtedly be more deals to follow, so here is a list of the Twins’ possible trade candidates. The list is led by three of the team’s impending free agents.

Twins Trade Candidates

Time to Say Goodbye

Outfielder Harrison Bader

Bader has been rejuvenated this year playing with the Twins. A former Gold Glove winner who is an elite defensive outfielder, he saw some pop return to his bat this season, while also providing the team with much-needed speed on the basepaths.

Will fit in nicely on a contending team as a platoon outfielder or a starter on a team with a solid hitting lineup. The Philadelphia Phillies were mentioned as a destination early on, but the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees may be in the lead for Bader’s services now. Will likely fetch a mid-level prospect in return.

Utilityman Willi Castro

Castro, a Twins fan favorite, is likely at the end of his tour with the team. He has been a versatile, valuable asset for Minnesota, which has seen a number of injuries in his time here. It is this dynamic that will make him extremely valuable to a contending team. Castro could be headed to the Houston Astros, who have developed a keen interest in acquiring him. The return will likely be a mid-level prospect.

Reliever Danny Coulombe

Coulombe has had an excellent season for the Twins, but a shutdown left-handed reliever is even more valuable to a playoff-contending team. He is 35 and has had some injury issues but has been healthy and effective this season. The New York Mets have been looking for a productive lefty out of the bullpen since the year began, and Coulombe definitely fits the bill. In exchange, Minnesota would only receive a lower-level prospect with no starting potential.

Likely Gone for the Right Price

Closer Jhoan Duran

Many upper-tier teams would love to get their hands on the Twins’ flame-throwing closer. Duran’s velocity is back over 100 mph consistently, but with the team’s record this season, his save opportunities are considerably down. The Dodgers, Phillies, and Toronto Blue Jays purportedly have interest in Duran, who, after this season, still has two seasons of team control left. One of the most in-demand players on the team, Minnesota would insist on two top 100 prospects as return value.

Reliever Griffin Jax

Think of him as Duran-lite. Productive reliever who has been one of the best setup pitchers in the game for the last few seasons. Production has dipped a bit this season, but it would still have good value on the market. Jax’s name has been linked to the Blue Jays, who have a pronounced need for bullpen help. The Twins hope to get two top 100 prospects in the Jax trade, but they would be of lower value than the similar Duran trade.

Teams Can Have Them

Catcher Christian Vazquez and First Baseman Ty France

Both players are free agents at the end of the season, and the Twins would love to unload their salaries and free up some opportunities for younger players in their system. Vazquez and France, unfortunately, have little to no return value.

Possible, but Odds Are Long

Catcher Ryan Jeffers and Starting Pitcher Joe Ryan

A Jeffers trade would earn the Twins a quality prospect in return, but the team’s pipeline of catchers is pretty thin. Ryan would have enormous trade value, but is Minnesota ready to mortgage that much of their immediate future?

What’s Next?

As Thursday’s trade deadline draws near, the team has resigned itself to the fact that they are sellers, not buyers. That is evidenced by yesterday’s Chris Paddack trade. The question now is how much immediate value are they willing to part with in order to build a stronger future. Enquiring minds want to know.