Game-Changer: Pohlad Family Announces They Will Explore Selling Twins

[Woof Bronzer]

22 minutes ago, ashbury said:

"Be careful what you wish for."  People have been saying we'll be better off under different ownership.  What if new ownership resides in Nashville, Tennessee, for instance?  Or consists of a consortium of investors who find themselves with cash-flow problems next time there is an economic downturn?

I guess I'm not worried that a new owner would pay millions to break a TF lease for the opportunity to relocate to a significantly smaller market.

[Jocko87]

8 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

I'd really not like to get a Derek Jeter led group like the Marlins got. Which should also be a cautionary tale for anyone hoping A-Rod decides to buy the Twins instead of the TWolves.

I'd venture a guess there is already a buyer on the hook.  Their legacy will be heavily dependent on who they pass the team too.  Of all the things we think they have done wrong (which should be reconsidered in light of this news) this is the one thing they have to get right. 

If we wanted them to treat the team as a community asset, selling to a good candidate rather than the highest dollar is the way to do it. 

[NYCTK]

Just now, nicksaviking said:

Yes, I completely agree, but what makes everybody think we'll get owners that do care? Local owners with other local businesses still have a vested interest in trying to keep a good reputation around here, even if it's just a token gesture.

Some hedge fund led group is ONLY going to answer to their investors.

It's mostly logic. With sports franchises so expensive, the billionaires willing to bid have to think they can improve the value of the franchise more than the other billionaire and more than just buying a PepsiCo distribution. 

Pohlads were just business people. The groups we've seen buying MLB franchises recently all seem to care about Baseball. The worst owners we see all tend to be the old family business people. 

[LambchoP]

Maybe we get super lucky and get an owner who wants to actually win and not ONLY run the team as a profit making business..... we'll see, maybe this is all just hypothetical at this point. Someone has to actually want to buy this team first.

[chpettit19]

This is much like the talk of replacing the front office or Rocco or anyone. Could get better, could stay the same, could get worse. I don't think the Pohlads were the worst owners in baseball, but I don't think they truly cared about winning. The new owners may care about winning or they may care even more about profits than the Pohlads. 

Just like I'd like to move on from Falvey and Rocco, I'm happy to "move on" from the Pohlads. Not because I think they're the worst owners in baseball, but because I don't think they were the right people to lead the Twins to a championship (like I don't think Falvey and Rocco are). But I have to be realistic and understand that there's a lot worse possible outcomes, as well. 

My hopes are we get somebody who wants to stay in MN and has a vision for engaging and growing the fan base that will allow them to better invest in the team and get us where we all want to be. I would've liked this move more a few years ago before the Pohlads (and Dave St Peter) started completely alienating their fan base and making terrible decision after terrible decision when it came to their marketing and fan engagement, but a new owner can reignite the fans passion with some early wins in strategy. I don't need an owner that will pay to get themselves out of the low parts of the team building cycle, but I do need one that will pay to get themselves over the top during the high parts. An owner who cares about winning does that. That was always my complaint with the Pohlads. When it's bad, blow it up and make your profit with low payrolls. When it's good invest and don't worry about profits while you try to win. I think that's a reasonable hope for the next owner of the Minnesota Twins. But there's just as much of a chance we get somebody worse who cares even more about profits all the time. We'll have to wait and see how things progress and who jumps in on the bidding.

[Brandon]

I’m the minority but I actually appreciated the Pohlads telling us up front about the budget and plans.  I do wish they had the fortitude to see baseball through the changing financial landscape throughout baseball as tv revenue dwindles and moves to streaming.  I think my favorite thing about how the Twins operate is more like a family than business environment.  My only complaint is that they don’t go all in very often.  I guess they did two years ago but the change in TV revenue killed that and it looks like they can’t find ways to replace it which is why the team is now up for sale.  
 

I hope Derek Jeter leads a group of investors to buy the team.  That would be funny while at the same time he would be the type of owner we want if we have to replace the Pohlads.

[NYCTK]

7 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

Local owners with other local businesses still have a vested interest in trying to keep a good reputation around here, even if it's just a token gesture.

This is just completely bogus to say when we all see what the Pohlads have done in 40 years with the franchise. 

Eloise is the only one that actually liked baseball, otherwise none of them even pretended to care about their personal or the Twins reputations in the community. 

[nicksaviking]

2 minutes ago, Jocko87 said:

I'd venture a guess there is already a buyer on the hook.  Their legacy will be heavily dependent on who they pass the team too.  Of all the things we think they have done wrong (which should be reconsidered in light of this news) this is the one thing they have to get right. 

If we wanted them to treat the team as a community asset, selling to a good candidate rather than the highest dollar is the way to do it. 

If everyone is harping on them for not caring about winning (rightfully so) why would we assume they care about their 'legacy'?

Look, I'll be cautiously optimistic, but that's going to be 75% cautious and 25% optimistic.

[CRF]

If this isn't some kind of smoke-screen...it has to be a person, or group, from outside of Mn. There's nobody locally with that kind of moolah to buy the Twins. 

[nicksaviking]

1 minute ago, NYCTK said:

This is just completely bogus to say when we all see what the Pohlads have done in 40 years with the franchise. 

Eloise is the only one that actually liked baseball, otherwise none of them even pretended to care about their personal or the Twins reputations in the community. 

I agree, they didn't care too much, but they cared enough about their standing to keep the Twins out of the A's/Pirates/Rays tier of teams. Going there is a real possibility with new owners with zero built in equity.

[Vanimal46]

2 minutes ago, CRF said:

If this isn't some kind of smoke-screen...it has to be a person, or group, from outside of Mn. There's nobody locally with that kind of moolah to buy the Twins. 

Who cares whether the new owner is local or not? 

[nicksaviking]

47 minutes ago, CRF said:

If this isn't some kind of smoke-screen...it has to be a person, or group, from outside of Mn. There's nobody locally with that kind of moolah to buy the Twins. 

What about Tom Petters or Denny Hecker?

[USAFChief]

11 minutes ago, Jocko87 said:

I'd venture a guess there is already a buyer on the hook.  Their legacy will be heavily dependent on who they pass the team too.  Of all the things we think they have done wrong (which should be reconsidered in light of this news) this is the one thing they have to get right. 

If we wanted them to treat the team as a community asset, selling to a good candidate rather than the highest dollar is the way to do it. 

I'd venture to guess there ISN'T a buyer already "on the hook."

If there was that would have been announced. 

I'd also venture to guess their "legacy" is low on the list of considerations for selling. For one thing their legacy is already written. For another, profit has always outweighed other considerations. Why would that change when they sell?

 

 

[NYCTK]

2 minutes ago, CRF said:

If this isn't some kind of smoke-screen...it has to be a person, or group, from outside of Mn. There's nobody locally with that kind of moolah to buy the Twins. 

This is completely irrelevant. 

Y'all are so afraid of relocation. The Twin Cities are a highly valued market. No ownership group is going to move from the Twin Cities to some objectively worse market by all metrics. 

And part of the reason you are afraid is because the previous evil owner convinced you of this. He told you all you sucked and that you were lucky to have a team and that he wanted to leave but you all suck so much that no one would buy it. And some of you bought it. 

The Twin Cities is great. The Twins are not moving. 

F*ck The Pohlads. 

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

Welp, so much for a boring off-season. It very well might be in terms of personnel moves, but overall, things could get really interesting.

No guarantees that new owners will make things better - but also, no guarantees that the new owners won't be serious about winning a world series.

I'm going to err on the side of optimism. This fan base is due for something positive and nothing would be more positive than owners that want to win and win big.

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

Oh, and who knows - even if the Pohlad's do sell - the transaction might not be finished until well into 2025 or even 2026. This stuff can and does take a lot of time.

[Squirrel]

"Explore" selling the team ... okay ... so ... waiting for the right offer might take some time.

Since I've always said, 'Change begins at the top,' this gives me hope. However, I will also echo some of the caution here as well.

And as a moderator note ... please stop with the name calling. 

[nova_twins]

It's very unlikely new ownership will come in running low payrolls, bordering on inconceivable. If an ownership group puts up 1.5-2 billion for their shiny new toy, they're going to want to win. 

The biggest risk is actually that the owners will make bad personnel decisions, or will interfere with baseball decisions. 

If a sale happens, payroll will go up, probably by a very significant amount. 

[CRF]

1. I'd actually PREFER it to be someone from outside of Mn. I was just pointing out that there isn't anyone here who could do it. I have zero concerns about the team moving. None. 

[Five minute major]

Unreal with the negativity.   You guys have been beaten into submission here.  This is fantastic news. The team cannot move anywhere until 2040 nor would a buyer want to move the team.    This is a great market.    It is impossible to have worse owners than the Pohlad's.   They are 100% in this for profit.  It is  is in their DNA.   The Wilf's, Glen Taylor and WIld ownership are in it for money yes, but they seem to be motivated by winning first.   I expect the next owners to have very deep pockets but will also buy for the ego boost of winning.     This is fantastic news.  It is not too good to be true.

[nicksaviking]

7 minutes ago, nova_twins said:

It's very unlikely new ownership will come in running low payrolls, bordering on inconceivable. If an ownership group puts up 1.5-2 billion for their shiny new toy, they're going to want to win. 

The biggest risk is actually that the owners will make bad personnel decisions, or will interfere with baseball decisions. 

If a sale happens, payroll will go up, probably by a very significant amount. 

That's exactly what the Marlins did.

[stringer bell]

I share Ash's caution. Leases are broken all the time and absentee ownership could be worse than what the team has now. I wasn't loving the direction the current ownership was pointing, but I don't think they have been the worst owners in MLB by a long shot. 

[Riverbrian]

I don't care is my opinion. 

I honestly don't. 

Anyone thinking a new owner is riding in on a white horse needs to be careful. The new owner could also arrive on a dragon. 

If we get new owners... we will find out if it was good bad or the same. 

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

10 minutes ago, nova_twins said:

It's very unlikely new ownership will come in running low payrolls, bordering on inconceivable. If an ownership group puts up 1.5-2 billion for their shiny new toy, they're going to want to win. 

The biggest risk is actually that the owners will make bad personnel decisions, or will interfere with baseball decisions. 

If a sale happens, payroll will go up, probably by a very significant amount. 

This.

I'd be surprised if someone buys the team only to cut or maintain payroll and deal with low attendance and everything that comes with it. That doesn't necessarily mean the owners will be the 'right' ones but I do think there will be an uptick in payroll.

[nicksaviking]

3 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

I don't care is my opinion. 

I honestly don't. 

Anyone thinking a new owner is riding in on a white horse needs to be careful. The new owner could also arrive on a dragon. 

If we get new owners... we will find out if it was good bad or the same. 

I feel really guilty, because I REALLY dislike the Pohlads.

But it's hard to get away from the feeling that we could be Eastern Europe being liberated from the Nazis by Joseph Stalin.

[Jocko87]

14 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

I'd venture to guess there ISN'T a buyer already "on the hook."

If there was that would have been announced. 

I'd also venture to guess their "legacy" is low on the list of considerations for selling. For one thing their legacy is already written. For another, profit has always outweighed other considerations. Why would that change when they sell?

 

 

I didn't say what they care about, I have no way to know.

As for the new buyer, I'm reminded of this brilliant philosopher poet.

[Jocko87]

3 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

I don't care is my opinion. 

I honestly don't. 

Anyone thinking a new owner is riding in on a white horse needs to be careful. The new owner could also arrive on a dragon. 

If we get new owners... we will find out if it was good bad or the same. 

Horses!

I'm most excited that people will have to figure out something else they don't understand to complain about.

[Rod Carews Birthday]

37 minutes ago, SpicyGarvSauce said:

This is what winning a World Series feels like.

Nope.  It isn’t.  Sorry. 

[Mike Sixel]

Certainly a surprise to wake up to! I'm not the biggest fans of the current owners.... So I'm cautiously optimistic. 

Pretty much guarantee no real new spending, though. I wonder if Levine knew about this?

[NYCTK]

2 minutes ago, Twins_Fan_in_NJ said:

This.

I'd be surprised if someone buys the team only to cut or maintain payroll and deal with low attendance and everything that comes with it. That doesn't necessarily mean the owners will be the 'right' ones but I do think there will be an uptick in payroll.

Yeah, what's the point in spending out $1.6B in order for 8% gains and minimal operating income. They're going to want to grow the business.