Twins open to deal, but won't force one

MINNEAPOLIS -- With one day left before the Trade Deadline, the Twins have yet to make a deal, but general manager Terry Ryan said he's still hopeful he'll get something done before Friday's deadline.

The Twins, who entered Thursday one game ahead of the Orioles for the second Wild Card spot, are still more likely to add relief help rather than make any drastic moves. But Ryan did say he's open to trading for impending free agents, and not just players under contract past this season.

"I have every intention of trying to improve this club," Ryan said. "That's the objective. But obviously we haven't done one yet. But it doesn't mean that we won't. I would like to do something. But you don't want to force one."

Twins manager Paul Molitor, though, said he's not worried about whether the Twins make a move, as he's more focused on trying to get his team out of its recent rut since the All-Star break.

"Experience has taught me you're going to hear a lot of things, whether you're a player or a fan or a manager," Molitor said. "You just kind of wait and see if anything transpires. I know some guys are paying attention more than I think is healthy. As long as they can separate it from when they go out and play, it's not a big deal. You've got to learn to just go with what you have. You can't start trying to anticipate things that might happen because then you just have to deal with the disappointment."

The Twins have watched the division-rival Tigers start selling off assets, as they traded ace David Price to the Blue Jays and closer Joakim Soria to the Pirates. It could help extend Detroit's window in the coming years, as they received several highly touted prospects, including left-hander Daniel Norris.

Minnesota will also have to deal with the Blue Jays' big additions of Troy Tulowitzki and Price next week, as they head to Toronto for a four-game series that starts on Monday.

But the Twins are trying not to worry about what other clubs are doing, even if those moves could have an effect on them going forward. Right fielder Torii Hunter, who played with the Tigers from 2013-14, said he understands what Detroit general manager Dave Dombrowski is doing, but wouldn't say if he was surprised the Tigers are selling.

"You have to give to get," Hunter said. "Most teams that want to win now, they go for now. Dombrowski is looking to the future. They've got Miguel Cabrera, they've got Anibal Sanchez. So they're looking for now, and the future. But if you're going to go for the win, you have to sacrifice. You have to give to get."

Hunter added that he hopes the Twins do make a move, but that they'll have to move on if nothing transpires before Friday's deadline.

"Hopefully something happens but it's getting late so we'll just have to see," Hunter said. "If nothing happens, we still have to go out there and do our thing and continue to play and dig a little deeper and try to figure it out."