Neal: It’s official … Twins will be sellers

Twins President Derek Falvey is a loquacious yet tight-lipped executive. He’s savvy at providing content without revealing his plans.

That’s fine. In this case, it’s better to focus on his actions and not his words.

On Sunday, Falvey was noncommittal about his approach to the trade deadline. On Monday, Falvey acted. And now Chris Paddack and Randy Dobnak are members of the Detroit Tigers.

With one move, the white flag is hoisted, and taps are playing as the Twins’ wild-card hopes are nearly dashed. It signaled what this week will look like — one during which pending free agents will be moved while waiting to see if someone will overpay for the Twins’ most coveted, under-control players.

The year began with a lingering bad taste of a 2024 season during which the Twins crumbled down the stretch. Their efforts went into getting off to a fast start in 2025, which didn’t happen. The 13-game winning streak in May was a tease. There have been more injuries, blended with maddening lack of production from core players. Losing had-to-have-it series against Miami, Colorado and Washington this month sealed their fate.

More moves are expected this week, as there should be. Trading a starting pitcher amid the current state of the rotation — with Pablo López and Bailey Ober injured and manager Rocco Baldelli resorting to bullpen games — tells it all.

Paddack, a capable back-end rotation arm, was hit with the news while he drove to the ballpark before the series opener against Boston. He later made phone calls to make sure his new team was on board with him going through with his scheduled bullpen session Monday, which he received clearance to do.

How many times will this scene be repeated this week?

“We haven’t even gotten to Thursday yet,” Baldelli said, “and you know, we’ve had to already call Chris in and let him know [he’s been traded]. So again, it is emotional. It’s not like a very normal day.”

Baldelli now will be tasked even more to keep a clubhouse focused as trade talks leak into the media this week. I believe the scene involving Paddack will be repeated a few more times before Thursday’s deadline.

One thing Falvey has made clear is that he abhors straddling at the deadline. And this is a great time to see what’s available and move on from guys who likely won’t be back next year anyway. Teams, regardless of market size, get out of salary commitments if they aren’t in contention.

The Twins likely weren’t bringing back Paddack. And the fact that they were able to include Dobnak, who is making $3 million in the final guaranteed year of his contract, means the Twins will save about $3.5 million in salary. Since Detroit is taking on salary — especially in agreeing to take on Dobnak’s — that affects the return.

Let’s look at the rest of the free agents-to-be in Twinstripes, and how appealing they are to teams.

Ty France hasn’t hit like a first baseman and therefore has no value. Christian Vázquez has even less. I don’t expect them to be moved.

Castro, Coulombe and Bader form the group of pending free agents Falvey has a good chance of trading this week. The three players still under control for two years — Joe Ryan, Griffin Jax and Jhoan Duran — would land better players. The Phillies have had four scouts on Jax and Duran over the last month, including their top assistant. If I had to pick one, I would deal Jax and keep the younger Duran.

Ryan? I would have to be overwhelmed to move him. He should be part of the future, and should be signed to a long-term contract. The Twins could always move him during the offseason if the sides can’t settle on a number.