Before the All-Star break, the Twins won five of seven games on a road trip, then lobbied for General Manager Terry Ryan to keep the roster intact instead of dismantling the team at the trade deadline.
A successful week and a few optimistic words don't alter reality: The Twins are marginally better today than they have been at this juncture the past three years, but this is not a good team, nor a promising team. The Twins would have to post a record of 37-31 in their final 68 games merely to reach .500. They might have to finish 43-25 or so to contend for a playoff spot. That is highly unlikely.
The Twins are tied for last place in a mediocre division. If Ryan can trade a player who is not part of the team's long-term plans for value, he should.
Kurt Suzuki has excelled for three months. His value is higher than ever. If Ryan can trade the catcher for a good player or prospect, he should.
Potential trades will occupy the minds of fans for the next two weeks, but there are more important questions facing the franchise:
1. How long can even a franchise known for patience and stability keep key figures in place after four noncompetitive seasons?
While the Pohlads are known for staying the course, they have never before been in this situation, because they have never before lost so many games while playing in a new, expensive, state-of-the-art ballpark. The stakes are higher now because sellouts make the Pohlads so much money, and empty seats cost them so much.
2. Will Ryan keep the job long-term?