The Minnesota Twins have accelerated the dismantling of one of this season’s most disappointing teams, entering the final hours before Major League Baseball’s non-waiver trade deadline.
The Twins traded relief pitcher Zach Duke to the Seattle Mariners and starting pitcher Lance Lynn to the New York Yankees on Monday before their game against Cleveland, three days after dealing popular infielder Eduardo Escobar to Arizona and relief pitcher Ryan Pressly to Houston.
The Twins acquired first baseman/outfielder Tyler Austin and right-handed pitcher Luis Rijo for Lynn and $2 million toward the remainder of the right-hander’s $12 million salary. The Twins sent $75,000 with Duke to the Mariners toward the rest of his $2.15 million salary, with right-handed pitcher Chase De Jong and infielder Ryan Costello coming in return.
The 26-year-old Austin is the most advanced of the arriving players. He joined Aaron Judge on Aug. 13, 2016, as the first teammates to hit a home run in their first major league at-bats in the same game . Austin never became a regular with the Yankees, though, despite plenty of opportunity at first base. He hit .223 with eight homers, 23 RBIs and 53 strikeouts in 121 at-bats for New York.
