Blue Jays & Twins Complete Trade — But Not As You'd Expect

In recent years, particularly last season, whenever the Toronto Blue Jays and Minnesota Twins complete a trade, it's the Jays who are the buyers and the Twins who are the sellers. But in a one-for-one deal on Friday, it appears at first glance to be the reverse.

 

It's the Twins who are bolstering their bullpen by acquiring right-hander Tommy Nance and his 3.22 ERA over the last three years.

The Minnesota Twins have acquired RHP Tommy Nance from the Blue Jays. Per @JonHeyman. pic.twitter.com/oOD4sGie2e

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) July 10, 2026

In return, Toronto gets a 21-year-old catcher/infield prospect named Ryan Sprock. He was an 8th round pick by the Twins in the 2025 MLB Draft, and is currently in A-Ball. He's batting .297 with 14 stolen bases in 67 games, with an .855 OPS. He was not among their top 30 prospects coming into the 2026 season. 

Keegan Matheson writes in MLB.com that this trade "should not be viewed through the lens of the Blue Jays 'buying' or 'selling.' Which path they’ll ultimately choose is for the coming weeks to decide.

"Instead, this is best looked at as a 'normal' baseball trade you’d see at any point in the calendar, the Blue Jays moving the out-of-options Nance to add a prospect in Sprock who fits the offensive profile they’ve liked to develop."

Minnesota, meanwhile, unexpectedly find themselves in a playoff race, sitting just one game back of a Wild Card spot, and just 2.0 back of the AL Central Division lead. Their bullpen was significantly weakened last trade deadline, when they moved Louis Varland to Toronto (where he's become a lights-out closer), and Jhoan Duran to Philadelphia (where the long-established elite closer is now leading the NL with 23 saves).