In a trade that barely made headlines when it first happened, the Texas Rangers may have just made a move they’ll come to regret — and the Minnesota Twins might have quietly pulled off one of the savviest deals of the season.
Earlier this week, the Rangers traded power-hitting third baseman Jake Burger to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for two mid-tier prospects and cash considerations. While the move seemed minor at first glance, insiders across the league are already questioning the logic behind Texas letting go of a controllable slugger with serious upside — especially during a playoff hunt.
Burger, 28, endured a rocky start to the 2025 season, which included a brief demotion to Triple-A to work on his plate discipline. But since his return on May 12, he’s looked like a different hitter:
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7 home runs
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108 wRC+ over 130 plate appearances
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A renewed confidence at the plate and improved swing decisions
Minnesota Sees What Texas Didn’t
For the Twins, who are dealing with a shaky infield situation following Royce Lewis’ injury, Burger fits a need perfectly — and then some. He brings instant power, playoff experience, and is under team control through 2029 at a reasonable salary.
“This is the kind of move that doesn’t steal headlines,” said an anonymous AL executive, “but come September, everyone might be talking about it. Burger has the ability to change games with one swing — and Minnesota just got that potential on the cheap.”
Why Texas Let Him Go
According to sources inside the Rangers’ front office, the team felt that Burger no longer had a clear role with Josh Jung healthy and the emergence of younger infield talent like Justin Foscue. Still, the decision to offload a power bat with proven upside for marginal returns is puzzling, especially for a team that has struggled to generate consistent offense in key stretches.
“I think they underestimated what Burger could still become,” said a former scout familiar with both organizations. “He was just starting to find himself again.”
This One Might Sting
For a Rangers team still trying to recapture the firepower that led them to the 2023 World Series title, giving up a player like Burger — without a clear need to — could come back to bite.
Minnesota, meanwhile, didn’t just add a bat. They added a potential difference-maker. A clubhouse presence. And perhaps more importantly, a slugger who’s playing with something to prove.
If Jake Burger continues the upward trajectory he’s shown since mid-May, this deal won’t stay “under the radar” for long. It might be remembered as the moment Minnesota turned its season around — and the moment Texas quietly let a dangerous weapon walk away.
