Mets Trade A.J. Minter to Twins for Prospects Amick and Agbayani

The Minnesota Twins acquired left-handed reliever A.J. Minter from the last-place New York Mets in exchange for infielders Billy Amick and Bruin Agbayani.

The New York Mets traded left-handed relief pitcher A.J. Minter to the Minnesota Twins on Thursday night in exchange for minor league infielders Bruin Agbayani and Billy Amick. Minter, 32, joins a Minnesota bullpen that currently ranks among the worst in Major League Baseball despite the team sitting only one game behind the Cleveland Guardians for the final American League wild card spot. The Twins also trail the first-place Chicago White Sox by three games in the AL Central, supported by an offense that has recorded the most runs in the American League.

Minter arrives in Minnesota with a 2.35 ERA across 23 appearances and 23 innings of work during the 2026 campaign. His performance this year follows a 2025 season largely lost to a lat muscle tear that required surgery, limiting him to just 11 innings. Statistical data shows Minter’s average fastball velocity has decreased from 94.5 mph last year to 93 mph this season. Consequently, his strikeout rate has fallen from 32.6% to 21.7% since his late May season debut.

Details of the Prospect Return

In exchange for the veteran southpaw, the Mets received 23-year-old infielder Billy Amick, who was a 2024 second-round draft pick out of the University of Tennessee. Amick is currently slashing .217 with 23 home runs and an .820 OPS through 86 games at the Double-A level. Joining him is 19-year-old Bruin Agbayani, the son of former Mets outfielder Benny Agbayani. The Twins selected the younger Agbayani in the sixth round of the 2025 draft out of a Hawaii high school. Agbayani has been sidelined by a shoulder injury since May 12, appearing in only 10 games this season.

Mets Roster Liquidation Begins

This transaction marks the initial move in an expected veteran sell-off by the Mets before Monday’s trade deadline. New York currently occupies last place in the National League East despite entering the year with World Series aspirations. The organization is expected to listen to offers for several impending free agents, including right-handed starting pitchers Clay Holmes and Freddy Peralta. Left-hander Brooks Raley is also a likely trade candidate following his 1 2/3 scoreless innings in New York's 4-2 victory over the Miami Marlins on Thursday.

Reflecting on the trade climate after the win against Miami, Raley noted the organization has been great to him and expressed thankfulness for his teammates while acknowledging the reality of the upcoming deadline. The Mets originally signed Minter to a two-year, $22 million contract prior to the 2025 season, which included a player option for 2026. Before his tenure in New York, Minter spent eight seasons with the Atlanta Braves, where he maintained a 3.28 ERA over 348 2/3 innings and secured a 2021 World Series championship ring.

Minnesota’s Postseason Push

By acquiring Minter, the Twins seek to stabilize a pitching staff that has struggled to match the production of their league-leading offense. Minter is slated to reach free agency this coming offseason, making him a short-term rental for a Minnesota club fighting for postseason positioning. The Mets, meanwhile, are pivoting toward the future by acquiring players with long-term club control as they move away from their veteran-heavy roster construction. Jeff Passan of ESPN first reported the agreement between the two clubs as the Monday evening deadline approaches.