Twins add A.J. Minter as Mets begin sell-off: MLB Trade Grades

Twins get: LHP A.J. Minter

Mets get: INF Bruin Agbayani and INF Billy Amick

Mets: B
Twins: B

The Mets sell-off has begun in earnest, and they start with a name we’ve heard bandied about the trade rumor whisper mill for weeks now. Minter originally signed with the Mets before the 2025 season on a two-year deal, and was brilliant for 11 innings in 2025 before season-ending surgery on his left lat. He has a 2.35 ERA and just two walks in 23 innings this year, but he has only 20 strikeouts and a 4.02 FIP, suggesting he is one of the few Mets for whom luck hasn’t been capricious.

Minter should help a Twins bullpen that entered play Thursday ranked 24th of 30 teams in fWAR from relievers. They do already have Kendry Rojas and Kody Funderburk pitching well from the left side, but relief help is relief help.

In return, the Mets will get two of the Twins’ top 30 prospects. MLB.com has Agbayani (yes, that’s Benny’s kid) at No. 29, while Keith Law had him unranked on his Twins list, which only ran 20 deep. Amick was No. 21 on MLB’s list and No. 19 for Law.

Amick has done what Law said he needed to do in his age-23 season: Establish that his bat has pop. Amick has 23 home runs and an .820 OPS in Double A. (He also has 108 strikeouts in 379 plate appearances, so there’s room for growth.) Agbayani is still just 19 and has only 74 plate appearances as a pro after being drafted in the sixth round in 2025.