Twins Could Trade Khadim Diaw for Bullpen Help
On November 3, 2026, a proposed offseason plan for the Minnesota Twins called for considering a trade of catching prospect Khadim Diaw for a controllable reliever who could help the 2027 major-league team.
Diaw, 22, hit .306 with a .417 on-base percentage and .452 slugging percentage, adding nine home runs in 107 games at Cedar Rapids’ High-A affiliate and Wichita’s Double-A club in 2026. He walked 56 times and struck out 71. MLB Pipeline ranked him ninth among Minnesota’s farmhands, with catchers Vahn Lackey and Eduardo Tait placed ahead. Diaw reached a higher level than either this season, giving him a potential path to contribute sooner.
The trade argument rests on Minnesota’s catching depth and its need for pitching. The Twins could seek a reliever able to handle important middle innings in 2027 and remain under team control after that season. Diaw’s progress makes him a meaningful asset, but the proposed deal would let the club address a different roster need without starting negotiations with its top prospects.
There are reasons to keep him. Catcher may be the position where Diaw’s bat offers the most value, while a move to the outfield would put him in a crowded group that includes Buxton, Jenkins, Rodriguez and Keaschall in an early 2027 roster projection.
Minnesota’s immediate catching plan also remains unsettled. Victor Caratini is under contract for 2027, and Ryan Jeffers received a qualifying offer on November 2, 2026, with until November 17 to decide. The team should establish how it will cover the position before trading Diaw, particularly because Lackey and Tait are still developing.
Any return would need to be substantial, not merely a marginal reliever or an attempt to land a star with Diaw alone. The Twins should weigh the full package, salary and expected contribution. If no meaningful pitching upgrade is available, Diaw’s potential remains a reason to keep him.