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Big Changes Coming Twins Way!!


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Having zero inside knowledge, it still seems abundantly clear there were major differences in opinion between Falvey and ownership.  Usually this comes down to profitability vs winning. Just look at the waves of speculation. Speculation can always be wrong, but some speculation was based on facts.

Initially It was anticipated that the Twins would move potentially multiple players. 

Larnach was expected to have been moved. Larnach is a redundant peice yet we then pivoted to signing him to nearly $4.5M. This may have made sense if you were thinking of signing him to trade for some sort of value vs simply DFA him.  Yet there has been zero juice on him. So are we "stuck" with him as we have multiple young OF about ready to step up.

Ryan was initially portrayed as a disgruntled Ace who wanted out at last years deadline. He has immense trade value so it seemed like the Twins would trade him.  Then came the announcement shortly after investors were named where it was stated none of the Big 3 would get moved.  OK then, if they aren't being moved then you would think you would secure them.  but then comes the deadline to exchange ARB salaries, and the Twins secure deals with everyone except Rayn, and are only $500K apart., so maybe Ryan ISNT that vital to the team??? where you risk alienating over $500K coming off the last year plus???  The Twins typically do not continue negotiating with players, but then a bit later out of the blue they agreed to a 1 year deal at the midpoint. The ebb and flow of this is just not normal.  SO what side of ownership wanted what? WHo wanted him signed and who wanted him traded?  I guess we will see, but I guess Ryan is now traded.

Josh Bell & Victor Caratini signed for a combined $14M this year.  Spending $14M could typically signal we are looking to add.  And while they could be decent signings, do we really look significantly different than we did prior to those signings?

Falvey had done nothing to build excitement for the upcoming season. Was that because of him? or ownership? hard really to tell, but regardless there is still little to no excitement.  There was a small boost when Joe was ousted, but that really did not sustain itself,

 

While I am a Homer, and yes I do think Royce Lewis can turn it around and bounce back, and I do think Wallner can bounce back and I hope that Buck can have back to back good years, and i have hope that Keaschall is not Juline 2.0 and can continue his small sample size,I still wanted something of a jolt this offseason to bring it all together, and while Bell is solid that alone does not cut it.  Interest and ticket sales have been sluggish at best, that is on Falvey (unless handcuffed). 

The Twins right now need something BOLD, even if just for the sake of being bold.  That boldness needs to be trading Joe Ryan.  and the Twins need to go big game prospect hunting.

* Would the Rangers have interest in Ryan if the price included Sebastian Walcott?

* Would the Giants have interest in Ryan if the price was Eldridge?

* Would the Phillies have interest in Rayn if the price included Justin Crawford?

The Twins need to identify a singular priority. Power, Speed, avg, defense, whatever it is. and maniacally go after that.  Even if overpaying from a pitching standpoint.  Ryan is a good pitcher, a winning pitcher, but does keeping Ryan put butts in seats? No,  Would a 40+ HR 1B in Eldridge, or a top of scale speedster in Crawford, or a top overall exciting player in Walcott put butts in seats?  YES.  and they would contribute to W's just as much as Ryan would.

As mentioned the Twins need to be bold, build excitement. Moving Ryan for a MLB ready or near MLB ready player like mentioned above is the first step. There are "seat fillers" still out there in FA. They may no longer be in their prime, but you offset Ryan by Signing Verlander, back it up with also signing Scherzer, and they are Seat Fillers who will easily bridge the gap to some of our up and coming potential starters.  That shows we are not trading top players to slash payroll, and we are not trading top players for a long rebuild.

We have 1-2 top prospect OF on the way who will be here this year. Pair that with another young top prospect in Eldridge, Walcott, Crawford or the like. and now you can sell the hope of a Royce and/or Wallner rebound to pair  with Buxton, Jeffers, Keaschall, even Bell, and that is a lineup that can fill seats.  you have a rotation with future HOF Verlander and Scherzer to go with Lopez and young arms and that is something that could fill seats and compete.

 

5 Comments


Recommended Comments

Doc Munson

Posted

And another aspect that makes moves like stated above is the fact that if the Pohlad's did not ultimately sell outright, or if teh new limited partners have desire to buy more, the Twins are waiting until a new CBa is signed in a year+, and stocking the team with exciting young players to build a stronger season ticket base will only boost sale price of the Twins.

Parfigliano

Posted

Falvey and the Pohlad's have been together for years.  My guess is there was friction between Falvey and the recently acquired new owners resulting in Falvey leaving.

Greglw3

Posted

Falvey went out and put a lot of effort into signing really good players ahead of the 2019 season.

After that, he was quirky with a lot of bad signings and trades and Derek Falvey’s Minnesota Twins had a losing record, 18 games below .500 from 2020-2025 and 30 games below .500 from 2021-2025.

I think Baldelli and Falvey were overmatched.

What if thy could get Thad Lavine as the President of baseball operations (as mentioned on Score North Twins show today) and let Jeremy Zoll do his full job as GM.

I believe, from statements I’ve heard lately that the Twins are still willing to spend 5-10 million more and I wouldn’t be surprised if it was 15 million. Plus we have Gabriel Gonzalez, Jenkins, E Rodriguez, Kaelen Cullpepper, Hendry Mendez all strong possibilities for imminent help. Let Austin Martin play a full year in LF and run, then run some more. He was tough to throw out late last year, I see a very good defensive left fielder and a guy who had the 2nd highest batting average on the team at .282.

The moves to fire Baldelli and Levine were a long time coming. I don’t understand all the shock and complaining I’ve heard today, mostly or maybe ALL from non-Twins sources.

 

Peter Gravett

Posted

On 1/30/2026 at 10:34 PM, Greglw3 said:

Falvey went out and put a lot of effort into signing really good players ahead of the 2019 season.

After that, he was quirky with a lot of bad signings and trades and Derek Falvey’s Minnesota Twins had a losing record, 18 games below .500 from 2020-2025 and 30 games below .500 from 2021-2025.

I think Baldelli and Falvey were overmatched.

What if thy could get Thad Lavine as the President of baseball operations (as mentioned on Score North Twins show today) and let Jeremy Zoll do his full job as GM.

I believe, from statements I’ve heard lately that the Twins are still willing to spend 5-10 million more and I wouldn’t be surprised if it was 15 million. Plus we have Gabriel Gonzalez, Jenkins, E Rodriguez, Kaelen Cullpepper, Hendry Mendez all strong possibilities for imminent help. Let Austin Martin play a full year in LF and run, then run some more. He was tough to throw out late last year, I see a very good defensive left fielder and a guy who had the 2nd highest batting average on the team at .282.

The moves to fire Baldelli and Levine were a long time coming. I don’t understand all the shock and complaining I’ve heard today, mostly or maybe ALL from non-Twins sources.

 

Not to mention Martin's crazy high OBP over the years. Hes finally healthy and MLB -ready. And then there's Gonzalez break out last year. Both nice right-hand platoon options at minimum. 

bunsen82

Posted

On 1/30/2026 at 9:34 PM, Greglw3 said:

Falvey went out and put a lot of effort into signing really good players ahead of the 2019 season.

After that, he was quirky with a lot of bad signings and trades and Derek Falvey’s Minnesota Twins had a losing record, 18 games below .500 from 2020-2025 and 30 games below .500 from 2021-2025.

I think Baldelli and Falvey were overmatched.

What if thy could get Thad Lavine as the President of baseball operations (as mentioned on Score North Twins show today) and let Jeremy Zoll do his full job as GM.

I believe, from statements I’ve heard lately that the Twins are still willing to spend 5-10 million more and I wouldn’t be surprised if it was 15 million. Plus we have Gabriel Gonzalez, Jenkins, E Rodriguez, Kaelen Cullpepper, Hendry Mendez all strong possibilities for imminent help. Let Austin Martin play a full year in LF and run, then run some more. He was tough to throw out late last year, I see a very good defensive left fielder and a guy who had the 2nd highest batting average on the team at .282.

The moves to fire Baldelli and Levine were a long time coming. I don’t understand all the shock and complaining I’ve heard today, mostly or maybe ALL from non-Twins sources.

 

The majority of the underperformance came from not competing in the 2nd half of 2025, otherwise they would be at .500 but your point stands.  

My concern isn't so much that Falvey new he was going to be fired at some point so they mutual agreed now rather than continue the charade for 4 more months, its that Joe claims they are winning.  I was semi optimistic after the Rogers signing, but was imperative that we signed Dominguez.  In my opinion he was the last closer option with significant experience.  If you got him and 1 more reliever of the Kahnle, Suter, Sewald level,  I could see a decent bullpen, with them supplementing through the season with young players.  

You were at the last options, you had to capitalize.  At least with Falvey I felt there was a plan.   It may not be great but there is a sound well developed plan.   With Joe all I get is hope.  He thinks he can turn a .10 cent bullpen into a playoff caliber bullpen because he wished it.  

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