Molitor: Big move not 'necessity' before Deadline

MINNEAPOLIS -- Written off before the season by many, the Twins have played themselves into a position to be buyers as Friday's 3 p.m. CT non-waiver Trade Deadline approaches.

While the Twins, who hold the second American League Wild Card spot, hope to improve before the Deadline, manager Paul Molitor said he doesn't feel a big move is a "necessity."

"You kind of continue to do what you've been doing with that all going on in the periphery. You kind of have gotten to this point of the season juggling the people that you have," Molitor said. "There's been some people coming up and down. You've changed the roster at times. It's a little bit different looking at the team than we saw coming out of Spring Training, obviously, so if pieces get added or they don't, it's just kind of that same process, just involving a different way to get it done."

All around them, teams have made splashy moves. The division-leading Royals have filled needs, adding Johnny Cueto and Ben Zobrist. The Astros, who currently hold the first Wild Card spot, have added Scott Kazmir, and the Blue Jays, who trailed the Twins by three games entering Wednesday's play, added shortstop Troy Tulowitzki.

Twins general manager Terry Ryan has said he doesn't react too much to what other teams are doing, though it catches the eye. But the Twins had lost seven of their last 10 entering Wednesday. Additions, including bullpen reinforcements, could certainly help.

"We're struggling. We've had a difficult 10 days here. We've had about three of these games that looked like could have gone our way. They didn't, unfortunately," Ryan said. "So as you go through it, are you going to be able to get there with what you've got? I would say we could [get to the postseason], but I also would say it would be nice if we could supplement this thing."

Ryan said he wouldn't be against trading somebody on the active roster, though there haven't been rumors about any one player in particular. And even if the Twins don't make a big move akin to their competitors, they still think they're in decent shape.

"We've been holding it down for these last three months," right fielder Torii Hunter said. "So if nothing happens, I think we can kind of hold it down from here, but it's always good to get a nice push."