Mets trade A.J. Minter to Twins for prospects Billy Amick and Bruin Agbayani

The New York Mets have officially pivoted to a full-scale rebuild, beginning a deadline fire sale on Thursday night by trading veteran reliever A.J. Minter to the Minnesota Twins. In exchange for the left-handed arm, the Mets acquired two infield prospects, Billy Amick and Bruin Agbayani, signaling a shift from offseason aggression to a strategy of unloading veterans for long-term youth.

The move comes as the Mets sit with a 47-63 record, the second-worst in the National League, according to Sporting News. With postseason hopes fading, the front office is moving players who do not have a future with the club or those who could leave in free agency for nothing after the season.

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For the Minnesota Twins, the acquisition provides a battle-tested weapon to stabilize a bullpen described as woeful by Aol. Minter, 33, brings a World Series ring from Atlanta's 2021 title run and a 2.88 ERA across 20 career postseason appearances, as reported by Yahoo Canada. Minter entered the deal with a 2.35 ERA over 23 games for the Mets and led all major league pitchers with at least 20.0 innings in strikeout-to-walk ratio at 10.00, according to KAAL TV.

The financial terms of the deal are relatively modest. Minter is in the final season of his contract, earning $11 million; Yahoo Canada notes that MLB.com estimates the Twins would owe slightly more than $3.5 million if no cash was included.

The Return: Amick and Agbayani

The Mets' return consists of two young infielders who, while raw, provide the team with fresh assets. According to AOL, both are ranked in the Twins' top 30 prospects via MLB.com, with Amick at 21st and Agbayani at 29th.

• Billy Amick (23): A second-round pick in 2024 out of Tennessee. The corner infielder has posted a .251/.368/.463 career minor-league slash line. This season with Double-A Wichita, he recorded 23 home runs and 72 RBIs in 86 games, per Newsday.
• Bruin Agbayani (19): A lefty-hitting infielder and the son of former Mets outfielder Benny Agbayani. Drafted in the sixth round of 2025 out of St. Louis School in Honolulu, Agbayani has a .263/.432/.316 slash line over 15 minor-league games. He has dealt with recent injuries, including a right thumb strain and a right shoulder strain that has kept him on the IL since May 16, according to Newsday.

This trade serves as the first domino in a wider effort to liquidate veteran assets. The Mets are now viewed as obvious sellers by TSN. Other names reportedly on the block include Clay Holmes, Brooks Raley, Luis Robert Jr., and Tyrone Taylor.

The front office is navigating different levels of leverage. Veteran reliever Luke Weaver is a high-value target for contenders like the Milwaukee Brewers, according to Yahoo Sports. Unlike other candidates, Weaver is under team control through the 2027 campaign. He has posted a 1.88 ERA and 44 strikeouts over 43 innings this year, giving the Mets the ability to sell high rather than rushing a deal.

The most urgent tension involves starting pitcher Freddy Peralta. Despite a disappointing season featuring a 4.99 ERA and a 6.85 ERA in July, Peralta remains a sought-after asset due to his 2025 All-Star pedigree and swing-and-miss ability. The Mets provided a clear signal of his imminent departure by scratching him from his scheduled Friday night start against the Miami Marlins, Sporting News reported.

Peralta's value is complicated by his contract status, as he is set to enter free agency following the season. Nevertheless, the Mets are reportedly seeking a significant return. According to The Athletic, via Sporting News, New York has sought a package that includes a top-100 prospect and additional talent in preliminary discussions.

The team now faces a hard deadline of Monday at 6 p.m. Eastern to determine if they can secure that top-100 prospect for Peralta or if his declining mid-season form will force a compromise.

Roster Adjustments and Strategic Value

The trade became official on Friday, July 31, forcing the Minnesota Twins to reorganize their roster. To accommodate Minter on the 40-man roster, the Twins transferred right-handed pitcher Cole Sands to the 60-day Injured List; Sands had previously been placed on the 15-day Injured List on Tuesday due to a right elbow strain, according to KAAL TV. The Twins announced that a corresponding 26-man roster move would follow on Saturday, August 1.

While the Mets accepted two prospects for Minter, they hold more leverage in potential deals for Luke Weaver. According to Yahoo Sports, Weaver is under team control through 2027, whereas other trade candidates may leave in free agency. This contractual security, combined with Weaver's 1.88 ERA in 41 appearances this year, could fetch a return significantly better than the one New York received from Minnesota.

The Mets' transition is further highlighted by the volatility of their rotation. Freddy Peralta was acquired from Milwaukee in the offseason alongside Tobias Myers for prospects Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat, but his 4.99 ERA this season has accelerated the club's desire to move him, according to Sporting News. He has attracted interest from the Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves, Tampa Bay Rays, and Milwaukee Brewers, while the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks have also scouted him.

The front office must now determine if a suitor will meet their demand for a top-100 prospect. With the MLB trade deadline arriving Monday at 6 p.m. Eastern, the next step for the Mets is to finalize the value of Peralta before his window of tradeability closes.