Alex Kirilloff was recalled from the Minnesota Twins after Jorge Polanco was placed on the 10-day IL due to lower back tightness. With the MLB Trade Deadline coming up in a month and a half, AK will need to step up if he wants to stay in the Land of 10,000 Lakes for a long time.

I get that it’s still early, and we can’t write off Kirilloff yet. I still think he’ll be a good player, but moving on from him might be the best move for the Twins right now.

Minnesota needs more relievers and a starting pitcher, and AK could be a centerpiece for that trade. Right now, his stock isn’t high, but if he continues to struggle or his wrist is still bothering him, then his value will continue to trend in the wrong direction.

Kirilloff is a former first-round pick and MLB Top Prospect. Someone will look to trade for him if he’s available. In 59 games last season, he was an All-Star in the making. However, in 10 games this year (11 after a pinch-hit on June 19), he’s struggled heavily.

This season his battling line is .167/.219/.167. He’s yet to hit an extra-base hit, which is concerning. However, he was incredible in Triple-A and proved to everyone that he can still be that player we expect him to be.

In 35 games in St. Paul, he was hitting .359, with 10 home runs and 32 runs batted in. He had an on-base percentage of .465 and an OPS of 1.106.

The talent is there, and it looks like the wrist isn’t bothering him. AK has made it clear in the past that the pain is something he can play with, and he’s feeling optimistic about the whole thing. There is another procedure, but it’s more serious, and he’s hoping to not have to undergo that.

There’s hope that he can put his struggles to the side, but if he can’t do that, then trading him might be the best option. It’s still early enough that he has value.

This could be a similar Miguel Sanó situation. At one point he too had trade value, but Minnesota held onto him for too long and is untradeable at this point.

Kirilloff could eventually find himself in that position if he continues to struggle and isn’t able to stay healthy. Minnesota will be looking to add another starter at the trade deadline, and AK might be the centerpiece of a trade if he doesn’t make the most of his opportunity.

The Twins are trying to contend and put together a competitive team, but it would be even better if Kirilloff is a part of it and not as a trade candidate.