The New York Mets traded left-handed reliever A.J. Minter to the Minnesota Twins on July 31, 2026, receiving minor-league infielders Bruin Agbayani and Billy Amick in return. The deal marks the start of a Mets sell-off, while the Twins shore up a struggling bullpen to bolster their playoff push.
The trade market opened for business in earnest as the New York Mets sent veteran southpaw A.J. Minter to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for a pair of infield prospects, according to reporting from SNY. Minter, who signed a two-year, $22 million contract with the Mets ahead of the 2025 season, joins a Minnesota club looking to secure an American League postseason spot as the August 3 trade deadline approaches.
Minter’s Journey to Minnesota and Bullpen Relief
Minnesota’s front office targeted bullpen help as a clear priority ahead of the deadline. Twins general manager Jeremy Zoll noted the team’s intention to buy during a Tuesday press briefing, acting just hours after Kody Clemens’ walk-off grand slam pushed the club back to a 55-55 record, sitting three games behind the Chicago White Sox in the division and one game out of the final wild-card spot.
The Twins’ relief corps entered the stretch with an earned run average near 5.00, ranking among the bottom tier in the majors. Minter arrives in the Twin Cities with a 2.35 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP across 23 appearances this season, according to Fox Sports. Although he missed most of the 2025 campaign following left lat surgery that required a full calendar year of recovery, he has shown steady control by walking only two batters in his 23 innings this year.
The Prospect Return for New York: Billy Amick and Bruin Agbayani
For the Mets, the deal signals the opening salvo of a broader roster teardown. New York is expected to move several other impending free agents in the coming days, including Brooks Raley, Clay Holmes, Freddy Peralta, and Tyrone Taylor.
In return, the Mets landed two youthful infield bats from the Twins system. Billy Amick, a 23-year-old corner infielder drafted out of Tennessee in the second round of 2024, has spent the season with Double-A Wichita. Amick is slashing .217/.338/.482 with 23 home runs and 72 RBIs across 86 games, though his numbers carry 108 strikeouts in 379 plate appearances, as noted by SNY.
The package also brings 19-year-old infielder Bruin Agbayani to the Mets organization. A sixth-round draft pick in 2025 out of St. Louis School in Honolulu, Agbayani is the son of former Mets fan favorite Benny Agbayani, who hit a memorable 13th-inning walk-off home run in Game 3 of the 2000 National League Division Series. The younger Agbayani has played just 10 games in Low-A due to a shoulder injury sustained in May, posting a .266/.412/.341 slash line.
Financial and Roster Adjustments Across Both Clubs
To accommodate Minter on the active roster, Minnesota must clear a 40-man roster spot. The Twins are slated to transfer Cole Sands to the 60-day injured list following his scheduled arthroscopic elbow surgery. Minter joins a late-inning relief mix in Minnesota that includes Yoendrys Gómez and Andrew Morris, stepping into a primary left-handed relief role previously held by Anthony Banda.
Analytical evaluations of the trade reflect a low-risk move for a contender with glaring bullpen needs. Observers note that Minter’s fastball velocity has dipped to an average of 93 mph and his strikeout rate has dropped, suggesting his sparkling 2.35 ERA benefits from some batted-ball fortune. Even so, his ability to throw strikes without issuing free passes provides immediate stability for a Minnesota pitching staff eager to solidify its standing in the American League playoff race.
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