I think someone you receive in trade would probably be on the 40-man roster.

Hopefully we can get some kind of value from trading away Castro, Bader, France, Vasquez, Paddack, and Coloumbe. We need better SP depth in AAA. We also need a catcher and first baseman. It'll be a serious disappointment if the Twins sit out another deadline and do nothing. Letting all these guys walk and getting nothing in return would be pure stupidity but I wouldn't be surprised. They'll pick up a released reliever off the waiver wire and give us the typical " with Lopez, Ober, Mathews and Keaschal all returning in the second half, we feel we have a real chance to make a deep playoff run"......

Minor league catching depth should be a priority.    I’m less worried about 1B.    Potential options at 1B include Julien, Lewis, Larnach and others who could be  moved there.  

I agree that getting SP or a C back in trade would be ideal. I don't think any of those guys will generate a AAA pitcher or catcher on the MLB cusp. I do think some iteration of the Castro, Paddack, Bader, Coulombe, and France group could generate quality AA or A+ prospects at both SP and C.  We might have to package 2 of them or include either Julien or our own IF prospect to get an AA guy who projects as a mid-rotation SP or a possible catcher, but it is doable. I agree that those two spots are the ones to target.  The important thing to me is to take these expiring contracts and turn them into longer term assets if we can before they become non-assets at the end of the year.  I say this with a heavy heart but saving them for a playoff run this year doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

By the way, there's no reason we couldn't trade one or more of these guys and still re-sign them as FAs in the offseason.  I would be particularly interested in returning Castro, Bader, and maybe Coloumbe. They all seem to like MN and all have thrived on the Twins more than elsewhere. Maybe with a new owner that has a little looser purse strings a re-sign could very well happen. 

I don't understand why everyone is so eager to get rid of France, Bader, Paddack, and Coulombe; they have been among the team's best players. Whom do they have to replace them? (Answer: Nobody.) This reminds me of when the stat-heads said Eddie Rosario would be easy to replace as an every-day LF. And then for years they had no every-day LF. 

Keaschall and Matthews should play (though Matthews will probably be babied), and Julien deserves another chance. Wallner is hopeless and Keirsey can't hit. They have no one to replace Vazquez and he is a good receiver, so they should keep him at a much lower salary. Wait till next year.

36 minutes ago, LA VIkes Fan said:

I agree that getting SP or a C back in trade would be ideal. I don't think any of those guys will generate a AAA pitcher or catcher on the MLB cusp. I do think some iteration of the Castro, Paddack, Bader, Coulombe, and France group could generate quality AA or A+ prospects at both SP and C.  We might have to package 2 of them or include either Julien or our own IF prospect to get an AA guy who projects as a mid-rotation SP or a possible catcher, but it is doable. I agree that those two spots are the ones to target.  The important thing to me is to take these expiring contracts and turn them into longer term assets if we can before they become non-assets at the end of the year.  I say this with a heavy heart but saving them for a playoff run this year doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

By the way, there's no reason we couldn't trade one or more of these guys and still re-sign them as FAs in the offseason.  I would be particularly interested in returning Castro, Bader, and maybe Coloumbe. They all seem to like MN and all have thrived on the Twins more than elsewhere. Maybe with a new owner that has a little looser purse strings a re-sign could very well happen. 

Agree entirely with your assessment but I'd go further to bring in some big upside future talent. I'd trade either Jax or Duran & either Wallner or Larnach. Whichever brings back the most. And my dream trade would include Correa off the books. We never had any business paying one player $37M, nothing against Correa. We need a big market big contender to lose there shortstop in the next few weeks.

Based on what has been suggested so far, Eddie Julien must be lighting up AAA?……I can’t imagine him on Twin’s roster this year nor going forward. He deserves a chance somewhere else but needs to be blended as a throw in with one or two others to get any interesting return.

Adams showed, IMO, nothing to be excited about this past weekend. Stuff isn’t good enough.

I see us continuing to try and compete, at least through August. May then see Martin and/or Emma.

Vazquez may be attractive for a Playoff bound team with an injured 2nd catcher at the end of this month. Return would be an A ball “prospect” at best ……. maybe just $$$?

If Wallner doesn’t get it together, Emma may get his spot by end of July?

I try to make playoffs with an assumed .500 record by end of July - Playoff roster:

IF: Lewis - CC - Lee - France - Keaschall - Clemens - Vazquez - Jeffers

OF: Bader - Castro - Buxton - Wallner - Larnach

Rotation: Lopez - Ryan - Ober - Festa

PEN: Coulombe - Sands - Topa - Paddack - Varland - Jax - Duran - SWR

Bader - Castro - Coulombe ……if still healthy & performing at ‘25 current levels……they should all be offered fair extension $$. Bader needs another $2.5M on top of his existing deal for next year - push mutual option year to ‘27. Castro should be offered $26M for 3 years. Coulombe is worth extending a year at $3.75M.

Trading these guys for scraps at the deadline to see if somebody else can play is short sighted to me.

I am in the sell camp. I tend to be overly optimist about prospects so want to see what they can do at MLB level. Twins need to see what they have, are the players at AAA just AAAA players that are never going to have an impact at MLB level. Definitely have a need at catcher with Vasquez a FA at end of year. Can Cardenas or Winkel, maybe Camargo handle MLB?  Let's see how Martin, Keaschall, Em. Rod. do they are already on 40 man. Sabato has seemed to put it together finally. I do think Twins will be hesitant to put anyone on 40 man that they don't have to protect this winter, like Eeles. Twins can keep Eeles in system another year without putting him on 40 man this year so will be able to add another player in offseason. 

1 hour ago, Mahoning said:

I don't understand why everyone is so eager to get rid of France, Bader, Paddack, and Coulombe; they have been among the team's best players. Whom do they have to replace them? (Answer: Nobody.) This reminds me of when the stat-heads said Eddie Rosario would be easy to replace as an every-day LF. And then for years they had no every-day LF. 

Wallner is hopeless and Keirsey can't hit. 

I agree that Keirsey can't hit, but Wallner is not hopeless. He has been in a slump, but even so he has a higher OPS than France, as well as Jeffers, Lee, Correa, Lewis, Julien, etc. He also hits the ball harder than any player on the team. I'd suggest he is a Rooker waiting to happen.

JD, Very well thought out analysis.   I would trade Duran, Castro, Paddock because they might actually get something worthwhile, and they can be replaced.  Jax, Varland, Danny C. all pitching so well.  They cannot replace Bader and France production this year at all, especially at their bargain price.  I would hope to keep them both next year.  Bader in the OF vs Wallner/Larnach wins ballgames.  Wallner/Larnach are almost the same guy, except suddenly Wallner can't hit a FB over 93.  I think this is as good as Larnach gets, Wallner needs fixing.  Both can be replaced. Use the above $$ for a complete catcher.  Danny C. gives them their only effective lefty, and he has been their #1 Fireman to get out of a jam - equally effective vs RH batters.  But he's 35, Twins won't get anything for him: keep him and hope he has a couple years left.

I would like to see Eeles take Castros place. 

"What's the Roster and the Lineup On August 1 Forward"

Same as it is now.

Im not a huge fan of fire sales. When 5-7 current rostered players are being moved, I define that as a fire sale.

This organization will make small deals for Class A guys. If you're not bringing Castro back, he's the 1st to go. He's been very good for us and his versatility makes him popular for teams making the playoffs. Paddock is probably the next most likelynto go. He's been solid offensively and defensively; I don't see him being part of the franchise going forward. 

Besides those 2, I think they sit still and run it forward for the most part. Trying to sell the franchise and blowing it up at the same time seems unlikely.

22 hours ago, JD-TWINS said:

Based on what has been suggested so far, Eddie Julien must be lighting up AAA?……I can’t imagine him on Twin’s roster this year nor going forward. He deserves a chance somewhere else but needs to be blended as a throw in with one or two others to get any interesting return.

Adams showed, IMO, nothing to be excited about this past weekend. Stuff isn’t good enough.

I see us continuing to try and compete, at least through August. May then see Martin and/or Emma.

Vazquez may be attractive for a Playoff bound team with an injured 2nd catcher at the end of this month. Return would be an A ball “prospect” at best ……. maybe just $$$?

If Wallner doesn’t get it together, Emma may get his spot by end of July?

I try to make playoffs with an assumed .500 record by end of July - Playoff roster:

IF: Lewis - CC - Lee - France - Keaschall - Clemens - Vazquez - Jeffers

OF: Bader - Castro - Buxton - Wallner - Larnach

Rotation: Lopez - Ryan - Ober - Festa

PEN: Coulombe - Sands - Topa - Paddack - Varland - Jax - Duran - SWR

Bader - Castro - Coulombe ……if still healthy & performing at ‘25 current levels……they should all be offered fair extension $$. Bader needs another $2.5M on top of his existing deal for next year - push mutual option year to ‘27. Castro should be offered $26M for 3 years. Coulombe is worth extending a year at $3.75M.

Trading these guys for scraps at the deadline to see if somebody else can play is short sighted to me.

Where you getting the money for extending those guys? Castro isn't accepting that deal, by the way. Tommy Edman just got 5/74. You're going to need 12-15 a year for 5 years to sign Castro.

Lewis: 3
CC: 32.8
Lee: 800k
Keaschall: 800k
Jeffers: 9
Bader: 12
Castro: 14
Buxton: 15.1
Wallner: 800k
Larnach: 4
Lopez: 21.75
Ryan: 6.5
Ober: 7
Festa: 800k
Coulombe: 3.75
Sands: 1.1
Topa: 2
Varland: 800k
Jax: 5
Duran: 8
SWR: 800k

That's roughly 150 mil in payroll for 21 roster spots. Even if you fill the rest of the roster with league minimum guys you're at essentially 155 mil in payroll for 2026. I don't think that's a likely scenario. Not all 21 of these guys are coming back next year. Bader, Castro, and Coulombe are pretty obvious trade options. 

To me, not trading those guys and hoping to be .500 at the deadline, and likely still have 3 or 4 teams to jump to win the last wild card spot, just to get smacked in the playoffs with a clearly flawed team is short sighted. How do you improve upon this team in the offseason? Even if I give you a $160 million payroll for next year, how are you improving this team with the final 5 roster spots and only 10 million to spend?

2 hours ago, chpettit19 said:

Where you getting the money for extending those guys? Castro isn't accepting that deal, by the way. Tommy Edman just got 5/74. You're going to need 12-15 a year for 5 years to sign Castro.

Lewis: 3
CC: 32.8
Lee: 800k
Keaschall: 800k
Jeffers: 9
Bader: 12
Castro: 14
Buxton: 15.1
Wallner: 800k
Larnach: 4
Lopez: 21.75
Ryan: 6.5
Ober: 7
Festa: 800k
Coulombe: 3.75
Sands: 1.1
Topa: 2
Varland: 800k
Jax: 5
Duran: 8
SWR: 800k

That's roughly 150 mil in payroll for 21 roster spots. Even if you fill the rest of the roster with league minimum guys you're at essentially 155 mil in payroll for 2026. I don't think that's a likely scenario. Not all 21 of these guys are coming back next year. Bader, Castro, and Coulombe are pretty obvious trade options. 

To me, not trading those guys and hoping to be .500 at the deadline, and likely still have 3 or 4 teams to jump to win the last wild card spot, just to get smacked in the playoffs with a clearly flawed team is short sighted. How do you improve upon this team in the offseason? Even if I give you a $160 million payroll for next year, how are you improving this team with the final 5 roster spots and only 10 million to spend?

You're right on the issue. I'd actually be ok with keeping the guys we have and running it back next year except that isn't an option. As you point out, doing that is a $150m payroll and you still need 5 guys to fill out the roster. Not a chance with the current ownership; probably not real likely even with new ownership. There is no "let's keep everybody we have for next year" option available. We've got 3 basic options. We either (1) play for this year by keeping everyone and watch 5-7 guys walk at year end, for sure including Castro and probably Bader and Paddack; (2) re-sign one or more of the impending free agents or at least know we can in the offseason (I vote for Bader and Castro in that order because I think Keaschall/Lee can replace Castro),  or (3) trade plyers with value on expiring contacts for solid or better prospects to try to re-stock the system and play the guys we've mentioned for the rest of this year to see what we have. I'd frankly prefer to re-sign Bader and Castro and trade Paddack, Coulombe, France, and the rest. I just don't think that's going to happen at these prices so I say trade these guys instead of just watching them walk away for nothing in the offseason. I wish there was a better way. Maybe a new owner could provide one but there doesn't seem to be that white knight on the horizon.  

3 hours ago, chpettit19 said:

Where you getting the money for extending those guys? Castro isn't accepting that deal, by the way. Tommy Edman just got 5/74. You're going to need 12-15 a year for 5 years to sign Castro.

Lewis: 3
CC: 32.8
Lee: 800k
Keaschall: 800k
Jeffers: 9
Bader: 12
Castro: 14
Buxton: 15.1
Wallner: 800k
Larnach: 4
Lopez: 21.75
Ryan: 6.5
Ober: 7
Festa: 800k
Coulombe: 3.75
Sands: 1.1
Topa: 2
Varland: 800k
Jax: 5
Duran: 8
SWR: 800k

That's roughly 150 mil in payroll for 21 roster spots. Even if you fill the rest of the roster with league minimum guys you're at essentially 155 mil in payroll for 2026. I don't think that's a likely scenario. Not all 21 of these guys are coming back next year. Bader, Castro, and Coulombe are pretty obvious trade options. 

To me, not trading those guys and hoping to be .500 at the deadline, and likely still have 3 or 4 teams to jump to win the last wild card spot, just to get smacked in the playoffs with a clearly flawed team is short sighted. How do you improve upon this team in the offseason? Even if I give you a $160 million payroll for next year, how are you improving this team with the final 5 roster spots and only 10 million to spend?

What wonderful players that are going to impact the roster in ‘26 or ‘27 are you trading “rentals” for??? Nobody is motivated to give you premium youth for 2 months of service, regardless of their needs. All you are getting back are “prospects” for role players. As good as Bader & Castro have been this year……. their career numbers & age going forward don’t vault them forward in how they are viewed. They are role players/fringe starters. If Castro keeps hitting, he is going to command $12M plus - I think 5 years is a big stretch for sure. Bader as well, if he keeps hitting, he could command $12M on a short deal. If Team is out of it at end of the month - trade Bader for whatever……..assuming there’s no vibe that he’d like to stay. Can trade and try to re-sign in off season if desired. Castro, I would keep and try to work toward an amicable 3 year extension.

Supposedly, Emma will be ready next year? Martin is a slim possibility. Other guys that keep payroll under $155 (w/o trades) can fill the last 4 spots.

Bottom line is that without NEW ownership and the FO having the ability to spend in ‘26 what they spent in ‘23, expecting (hoping for) success is a fantasy.

There are no magical deadline trades for fringe players. Trade Duran - OK, that could harvest real value.

Castro & a young arm gets you back something less than Castro or the young arm. France, Julien, etc. do not move the needle for anyone on the other side.

4 hours ago, JD-TWINS said:

What wonderful players that are going to impact the roster in ‘26 or ‘27 are you trading “rentals” for??? Nobody is motivated to give you premium youth for 2 months of service, regardless of their needs. All you are getting back are “prospects” for role players. As good as Bader & Castro have been this year……. their career numbers & age going forward don’t vault them forward in how they are viewed. They are role players/fringe starters. If Castro keeps hitting, he is going to command $12M plus - I think 5 years is a big stretch for sure. Bader as well, if he keeps hitting, he could command $12M on a short deal. If Team is out of it at end of the month - trade Bader for whatever……..assuming there’s no vibe that he’d like to stay. Can trade and try to re-sign in off season if desired. Castro, I would keep and try to work toward an amicable 3 year extension.

Supposedly, Emma will be ready next year? Martin is a slim possibility. Other guys that keep payroll under $155 (w/o trades) can fill the last 4 spots.

Bottom line is that without NEW ownership and the FO having the ability to spend in ‘26 what they spent in ‘23, expecting (hoping for) success is a fantasy.

There are no magical deadline trades for fringe players. Trade Duran - OK, that could harvest real value.

Castro & a young arm gets you back something less than Castro or the young arm. France, Julien, etc. do not move the needle for anyone on the other side.

 

They're likely not bringing back anyone who can help next year for those expiring deals. That wouldn't be the goal, though. Get whatever prospects you can and clear out guys who aren't part of the future. Running back this same team for the 3rd straight year doesn't make sense. They need to be realistic about this position player group. It's incredibly flawed and not good enough. And they can't afford it anyways.

They can't keep the payroll under 155 without dropping guys from the current 18 under contract plus the 3 you want to bring back. And they aren't going to run that big of a payroll. So, who are you trading away in order to keep Castro and Bader? Lopez? 2 of Duran, Jax, Ryan, and Ober? Unless you think it's realistic that the payroll is going up while their attendance continues to nosedive, it's not realistic that they're bringing those guys back. So, now they're carrying them for the rest of the year in the hopes of finishing around .500 and sneaking into the playoffs with no real chance to advance or do any real damage. 

That is the short sighted plan. Clearing out the guys with no future on the team to give ABs and innings to guys who actually have a chance to be around moving forward is the long term plan. Castro and Bader are gone unless you're trading some arms. And if you're trading some arms you better really believe in the pitching development.

6 hours ago, LA VIkes Fan said:

You're right on the issue. I'd actually be ok with keeping the guys we have and running it back next year except that isn't an option. As you point out, doing that is a $150m payroll and you still need 5 guys to fill out the roster. Not a chance with the current ownership; probably not real likely even with new ownership. There is no "let's keep everybody we have for next year" option available. We've got 3 basic options. We either (1) play for this year by keeping everyone and watch 5-7 guys walk at year end, for sure including Castro and probably Bader and Paddack; (2) re-sign one or more of the impending free agents or at least know we can in the offseason (I vote for Bader and Castro in that order because I think Keaschall/Lee can replace Castro),  or (3) trade plyers with value on expiring contacts for solid or better prospects to try to re-stock the system and play the guys we've mentioned for the rest of this year to see what we have. I'd frankly prefer to re-sign Bader and Castro and trade Paddack, Coulombe, France, and the rest. I just don't think that's going to happen at these prices so I say trade these guys instead of just watching them walk away for nothing in the offseason. I wish there was a better way. Maybe a new owner could provide one but there doesn't seem to be that white knight on the horizon.  

Honestly, I wouldn't even limit it to just expiring deals. If I were in charge, it'd be guys I don't see as part of the future. I think Larnach is on the border of being non-tendered. Not because he isn't worth the 4ish mil he'll get in general, but because he won't be worth it to the Twins with the tight budget they'll be on. Same with Topa. 

Unfortunately, the Twins are in a really bad spot when it comes to options for upgrading the position player side of the team. I think they have the pitching to compete. June obviously saw things fall apart for a while, but I think there's enough talent there to realistically look at that side of the roster and say it's worth trying to compete for the next 2 years. But the position player side needs work and there aren't many avenues to improvement. It almost all comes down to internal development. And because of that I think the rest of this season has to be focused on figuring out who can play a role the next couple years and giving them experience.

Could this team catch fire for 2 weeks again and have that be enough to sneak into the last wild card spot? Maybe. But I don't think they have any realistic shot at doing damage in the playoffs. And I'm typically a chip and a chair kind of a guy. I just think the last 11 months say this team isn't good enough and if we're being honest the position player side needs a real shake up. France, Bader, Castro, and Clemens have no future here. Give their ABs to people who might. If you're going to non-tender Larnach trade him now, get something for him, and get somebody who may have a future ABs. Maybe everyone you have here now looks completely overwhelmed. At least you know now and that changes how you do things in the offseason. 

I'm generally an optimist, but we have enough info now, in my opinion. This position player group is too flawed. Let's try new guys and be better prepared to make decisions during the offseason. I don't think that's what they'll do, but it's what I'd do.

15 hours ago, chpettit19 said:

Honestly, I wouldn't even limit it to just expiring deals. If I were in charge, it'd be guys I don't see as part of the future. I think Larnach is on the border of being non-tendered. Not because he isn't worth the 4ish mil he'll get in general, but because he won't be worth it to the Twins with the tight budget they'll be on. Same with Topa. 

Unfortunately, the Twins are in a really bad spot when it comes to options for upgrading the position player side of the team. I think they have the pitching to compete. June obviously saw things fall apart for a while, but I think there's enough talent there to realistically look at that side of the roster and say it's worth trying to compete for the next 2 years. But the position player side needs work and there aren't many avenues to improvement. It almost all comes down to internal development. And because of that I think the rest of this season has to be focused on figuring out who can play a role the next couple years and giving them experience.

Could this team catch fire for 2 weeks again and have that be enough to sneak into the last wild card spot? Maybe. But I don't think they have any realistic shot at doing damage in the playoffs. And I'm typically a chip and a chair kind of a guy. I just think the last 11 months say this team isn't good enough and if we're being honest the position player side needs a real shake up. France, Bader, Castro, and Clemens have no future here. Give their ABs to people who might. If you're going to non-tender Larnach trade him now, get something for him, and get somebody who may have a future ABs. Maybe everyone you have here now looks completely overwhelmed. At least you know now and that changes how you do things in the offseason. 

I'm generally an optimist, but we have enough info now, in my opinion. This position player group is too flawed. Let's try new guys and be better prepared to make decisions during the offseason. I don't think that's what they'll do, but it's what I'd do.

I agree for the most part, except I would like to see them try to keep Bader. We need a solid 4th OF badly and I don't see anyone in the minors who can play CF. I just don't know that he'll take 4th OF money with so many teams out there looking for CFers. I'm getting there with trading Larnach and I do think he would have some value to a team like SF, Tampa, and particularly SD. 

You gotta have some longer term vision and some hope that guys at AAA aren't finished products and can improve. We aren't going to play a lot of these guys next year because they will be gone. Let's look for guys we can and will play. 

54 minutes ago, LA VIkes Fan said:

I agree for the most part, except I would like to see them try to keep Bader. We need a solid 4th OF badly and I don't see anyone in the minors who can play CF. I just don't know that he'll take 4th OF money with so many teams out there looking for CFers. I'm getting there with trading Larnach and I do think he would have some value to a team like SF, Tampa, and particularly SD. 

You gotta have some longer term vision and some hope that guys at AAA aren't finished products and can improve. We aren't going to play a lot of these guys next year because they will be gone. Let's look for guys we can and will play. 

Rodriguez is a good CFer. He's a better CFer than he is a hitter at this point. If Bader keeps hitting better than he has in years he's going somewhere else. Just no way the Twins can afford to pay him 8 figures next year.

On 7/9/2025 at 12:05 PM, chpettit19 said:

Even if I give you a $160 million payroll for next year, how are you improving this team with the final 5 roster spots and only 10 million to spend?

Exactly.....only 10 million to spend. But why? C4's contract is killing this team. 

Let’s be honest — the Twins are stuck in neutral until 2028. The only real play is to blow it all up,
something totally radical. Trying to keep players or find missing pieces is a pipe dream. 

Twins are only 2.5 years in on a 6 year deal. 

They have to do whatever it takes to push him toward demanding a trade.

Carlos Correa’s six-year, $200 million contract with Minnesota includes vesting options that could push the total to $270 million over a decade. His annual salaries are $32 million (2023-24), $36 million (2025), $31.5 million (2026), $30.5 million (2027), and $30 million (2028).

On top of that, the deal comes with a full no-trade clause and no opt-outs — effectively tying the Twins’ hands.

1 minute ago, BillyBallLives said:

Exactly.....only 10 million to spend. But why? C4's contract is killing this team. 

Let’s be honest — the Twins are stuck in neutral until 2028. The only real play is to blow it all up,
something totally radical. Trying to keep players or find missing pieces is a pipe dream. 

Twins are only 2.5 years in on a 6 year deal. 

They have to do whatever it takes to push him toward demanding a trade.

---

Carlos Correa’s six-year, $200 million contract with Minnesota includes vesting options that could push the total to $270 million over a decade. His annual salaries are $32 million (2023-24), $36 million (2025), $31.5 million (2026), $30.5 million (2027), and $30 million (2028).

On top of that, the deal comes with a full no-trade clause and no opt-outs — effectively tying the Twins’ hands.

If this is who he is moving forward, then that contract is a massive weight around the payroll's neck. If he plays like he did last year before he got hurt, I disagree and I don't think it kills the team. The Twins need players like healthy 2024 Correa. The Twins can afford a contract like his. They can't afford a miss on a contract like his. The longer he goes without anyone saying he's playing through injury this year the more and more concerning it gets that this is who he is now, and that's a major concern.

I disagree that it has to equal blowing it all up, though. If you can get somebody to eat most of that deal, I'd do that if I they think this is who he is. But even if they can't, I don't think you have to blow it up. I think you trade anyone who's not part of the future this deadline and give every AB to somebody who may be so they can gain experience and you can learn something about them. Then you trade one of Lopez, Ryan, or Ober (if he comes back and dominates the last 2 months) this offseason for immediate position player help. I think there's moves to be made to better balance the roster for 2026 and 2027.

This team has pitching. June got ugly for a while, but I think the overall pitching talent on this team is good enough to compete. I think you can move a little of it to better balance things and give it a go for 2026 before blowing it up.

I think the roster is fine, as is, but returns from injury will force some moves, in a good way. Keirsey has options and will be sent to to AAA when Keaschall returns. I would allow Ober and Matthews to rehab as long as needed, though Adams is a big hole in the rotation right now, but Festa and SWR are generally giving competitive starts. When Pablo returns I would like to see the team try and piggyback Festa and Matthews, one starts for 4 or 5 and the other comes in to hopefully finish it

Pablo, Ryan and Ober are enough to build around, unfortunately, 2 of 3 are injured. Matthews as well, but I believe we figured Matthews, Festa and SWR would be on innings limits and would have to be rotated through the rotation. Paddack is a spot holder and while he has run hot/cold, his overall numbers are about what was expected.

The BP has fine, even with Jax's glitches. The lower leverage guys have been giving numbers about expected, but due to the injuries in the rotation have had to pitch in higher leverage situations sometimes.

The problem has been that the core group being counted on for this 6 year stretch has been under-performing to various degrees - Miranda, Julien, Lewis, Martin, Wallner, Larnach, and maybe even Jeffers, or traded Rooker, Steer, etc... so the team has had to add low $$$ FA, to varying degrees of success. Also, the big $$$ veterans Correa and Vazquez have been under-performing as well, though Correa seems to be coming around as of late.

Buxton and Castro have been about the only consistent performers, but nobody seems to be able to pick them up if they have a bad game or miss a game, never seen full team slumps as bad as this.

Until Manfred changes the rules, each team is allowed only one DH in the batting lineup. That means it is best to choose one guy who is your DH from among Wallner, Larnach, Julien, Miranda, McCusker, and Lewis. Maybe one of those guys plays a position but not two. So choose two and trade the others. Who has the most value to another team? That might be your best bet.

The pitching is fine. The position side needs help or an infusion of youth/ athleticism.

Here's one thought that nobody has really addressed yet in terms of future planning, which starts with this upcoming trade deadline:  a potential lockout of the players following the 2026 season.  Think of it as a hurricane out in the Atlantic that we know nothing about its track, but we need to be cognizant of its potential impacts.  At worst, you're looking at a 2027 season that could be shortened or cancelled.  For the first time, MILB players are part of the MLBPA and its negotiations.  It would be unlikely in the wake of a work stoppage that the minors continue to play games and players will continue to develop like they have in the past when there has been an MLB labor stoppage.  One other thought would be the upcoming post-ASB schedule, 3 @ COL, 3 @ LAD, 3 v WAS, 3 v BOS.  That's a reasonable schedule to go anywhere from 7-5 to 9-3 and now you're above .500 and likely within 3 games of the Wild Card.

With that thought in mind, here's where I think the August 1 roster should be and I love playing this like a bad Choose Your Own Adventure Novel. 🙂  As always, I reference my go-to on these matters:  Sportrac's Multi-Year contract page here - Minnesota Twins Multi-Year Table

Option #1:  Sell Hard - This means you've given up on 2025 AND 2026 and you're shooting for 2027 or maybe even 2028 and just trying not to be the White Sox or Rockies for the next two years.  You trade all the usual suspects (Castro, Bader, Coulombe, Paddack, France, Vazquez (provided you can find a buyer, may have to sweeten the pot to get a taker), and possibly Topa since it's unlikely in this scenario you're picking up his $2M club option anyway.  Then you sell anyone with potential value to pick up cheaper MLB players and/or prospects in AA or AAA since we want their ETA to be sometime in 2026 with the expectation of trying to compete in 2027 or 2028.  This would include Ryan, Jax, Duran, and maybe even taking calls on Stewart and Larnach.  I would have included Pablo Lopez here, but he is still on the IL and wouldn't be available by the trade deadline.   If I sell everything that isn't nailed down on this list, I clear almost $48M in payroll for next year.  This is of course before the remaining spots are filled by AAA players or trash heap pickups in the offseason, which will likely add another $20-30M in payroll for 2026.  I do not see this as a likely scenario as this will kill any goodwill left with the fans and possibly lower the overall value of the team right when ownership is in the middle of negotiations to sell the team. 

Option #2:  Sell Little - You're still selling the usual suspects, but you're taking offers on most anyone, but they better be really good offers as you're planning on running some form of this team back next year.  This may even include a conversation with Castro, Bader, or France that you really do like them and would like to take a chance at resigning them in the offseason, but you're still trading them.  This is one of the more likely outcomes, but it will depend on how they come out of the gates post ASB.

Option #3: Do Nothing - Only thing I would add to this is they may do very little selling or buying in this scenario.  Maybe you trade Castro because you're blown away by an offer and with Keaschall coming back, that provides you with the IF flexibility to trade him.  Maybe you get a role player, say, a Keirsey Jr type player with better hitting skills that you could actually stick in the lineup.  Maybe you still trade Paddack with the expectation the Matthews will be back before the deadline and Ober won't be too far behind (or vice versa).  Either way, you're expecting to run this team back and you'll deal with the payroll issues in the offseason, maybe with a dream that the team will be sold by then.  Given the FO tendencies and the upcoming post-ASB schedule, this seems to be the likeliest scenario, much to the chagrin of many of us in Twins Territory or on Twins Daily.  This scenario also does the most to protect the value of the team while in negotiations of selling the team.

Option #4:  Buy Baby Buy! - To borrow from the YouTuber UrinatingTree:  We Gonta World Series!  Let's buy for the upcoming stretch run with our high-end talent out there!  Considering many of our arbitration players are on the wrong side of arbitration and without a class of prospects ready to graduate in the next year.  I also do not think there are any potential players out there that will help this team make the kind of run we need to justify this scenario.  This is an obvious one-word answer. NO.  Even when we have been in a position to do this (2023), we haven't pulled the trigger with anything of substance.  This is more unlikely than the burndown option I started with.