The New York Mets have traded left-handed reliever AJ Minter to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for two minor league prospects.  One of baseball’s most dependable left-handed relievers is on the move as the Mets begin their fire sale.  The Twins, on the other hand, add help to an underperforming bullpen as they make a run for a postseason spot.  

In what has been an utter disappointment of a season for the Amazins and what seems like a wave of the white flag, trading Minter signals the start of a fire sale in Queens as more trades seem to be on the horizon.  With their record now sitting at 47-63, playoff hopes keep slipping down the drain, and with mounting injuries, the Mets will look to reshape their payroll along with building up their minor league farm system.  

Minter is known to be one of the most reliable left-handed relievers in all of baseball.  Minter was drafted out of high school by the Detroit Tigers but chose to attend Texas A&M. The Atlanta Braves then drafted him in the 2nd round of the 2015 MLB draft, and he made his MLB debut with the Braves on August 23rd, 2017.

During his time in Atlanta, he was a very good and highly reliable late-game relief pitcher.  In his eight seasons in Atlanta, Minter posted a 3.28 ERA with a franchise-record 108 holds.  He served as a primary setup man and occasionally closed out games, racking up 31 career saves and triple-digit holds while missing plenty of bats with a mid-90s fastball and an elite cutter.  Minter thrived under pressure with a stellar 2.88 career playoff ERA and was a crucial part of Atlanta’s 2021 World Series Championship run.  

In January 2025, Minter would sign a two-year, $22 million contract with the Braves’ divisional rival, the New York Mets.  The Mets signed Minter because he was a smart, high-upside addition to the bullpen, and they were looking to keep adding to a team that was two games away from a World Series appearance.  Adding Minter to the bullpen gave them another trusted arm.

Minter looked amazing in his first 13 appearances with the Mets, posting a 1.64 ERA, but his first season with the Mets would be cut short; he suffered a torn left lat muscle in April 2025 and required season-ending surgery.  In 2026, he returned to the mound in May 2026 with noticeably decreased velocity compared to his pre-injury days.  Despite the diminished velocity, he adapted to elite execution, beginning the 2026 season with 14 consecutive scoreless appearances.  Though he’s had a late-July slide, logging a 6.00 ERA over his final nine games before being traded, his baseline efficiency remains excellent, striking out 20 batters while walking just two over 23 innings.  

Minter now joins a Twins team that is looking to make a push for the postseason.  He bolsters their bullpen, which lost their left-handed reliever Anthony Banda to a left lat strain that required season-ending surgery.  Adding a pitcher like Minter, who is known to be reliable and has playoff experience, is what the Twins need to help push for the postseason and give them an edge.  Across 23 appearances this season, Minter has posted a 2.35 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP.   

Who are the Mets Prospects in Return?

Bruin Agbayani

In return for Minter, the Mets acquired 19-year-old shortstop Bruin Agbayani and 23-year-old corner infielder Billy Amick.  

Agbayani is the son of former Mets fan-favorite outfielder Benny Agbayani, who famously hit a walk-off home run in the 13th inning of Game 3 of the 2000 NLDS.  He was drafted by the Twins in the 6th round of the 2025 MLB Draft out of St. Louis School in Honolulu.  Agbayani was the Hawaii Gatorade Player of the Year.  He’s a shortstop who currently stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 215 pounds.  

Even though his father batted right-handed, Bruin is a left-handed hitter who is viewed as a hit-over-power prospect with exceptional hand-eye coordination, quick bat speed, and innate bat-to-ball feel.  While contact is his primary asset, he possesses enough physical frame and raw pull-side pop to project decent extra-base power in the future. 

Drafted as a shortstop, scouts widely agree that he lacks quick hands, elite defensive actions, and extensive range necessary to stay at the position long-term.  He has split time at second base, shortstop, and third base in Single-A.  Ultimately, he’ll likely play second base, though a transition to a corner outfield spot is possible if his range limits him on the dirt.  

His development has been limited due to injuries, as he’s missed significant time with a thumb injury, and his 2026 season was limited to just 10 Single-A games after a right shoulder injury in mid-May forced him to undergo surgery.  

Coming over to the Mets, he brings a high-floor offensive profile, as the Mets’ farm system has heavily valued on-base percentage and contact under David Stearns.  His infield versatility gives the Mets long-term utility options as they figure out his permanent defensive home.  Being the son of Benny Agbayani is also fun to hear, as the hope is that he will give the same impact that his father did for the Mets

Billy Amick

Along with Agbayani, the Mets acquired another infield prospect in Amick.  He was ranked the No.21 prospect in the Twins system by MLB Pipeline prior to the deal.  The 23-year-old right-handed hitting corner infielder was drafted in the second round of the 2024 MLB Draft out of the University of Tennessee, where he served as the starting third baseman for their 2024 National Championship team. 

Amick comes into the Mets organization with heavy profiling as a high-risk, high-reward power bat, as he possesses legitimate plus raw power.  He’s spent the entire 2026 season parked at Double-A Wichita, where he’s launched baseballs, slugging 23 home runs with 72 RBIs in over 379 plate appearances with a slash line of .217/.338/.482.

One of the risks with Amick is that he’s a big swing-and-miss hitter.  As a result of struggling primarily with in-zone whiffs and breaking-ball recognition, he carries a heavy 28.5% strikeout rate in Double-A this season.  In terms of his glove, he has an average arm and decent reactions, but his below-average speed and quickness mean he may ultimately slide across the diamond to first base or designated-hitter long-term.

Compared to Agbayani, Amick is closer to the big leagues, as he’s 23 and could join the Mets as late as 2027.  Defensively, he brings depth, as you can stick him at either corner of the infield.