Twins Front Office ‘Pretty Sure’ Free Agency Doesn’t Start Until 2025

[RandBalls Stu]

‘I think we’d know if it started already, there’s, like, emails and stuff.’

Image courtesy of Flickr/Ian D'Andrea

Prior to the holidays, baseball’s hot stove went into overdrive, with players like Patrick Sandoval, Paul Goldschmidt, Walker Buehler, and Sean Manaea all finding homes. With these and other signings occurring in the wake of Juan Soto’s astonishing deal with the New York Mets, it’s fair to say MLB’s offseason has been an eventful one.

Just don’t tell the Minnesota Twins.

“The next season is in 2025; ergo, free agency doesn’t start until January 1st,” said a Twins front office decision-maker. “We look forward to getting out there, having discussions, and improving our franchise across the board.”

Despite league-wide player movement documented by hundreds of media outlets, the league, agents, and the players themselves, multiple team sources dispute this narrative.

“I think we’d know if (free agency) started already,” said a source familiar with the front office’s thinking. “There’s, like, emails and stuff. Granted, we have our Out Of Office notifications set through the new year, but someone usually texts us if something really big happens.”

The Twins, operating with a self-imposed salary cap for reasons that only make sense to people who like using words like “headcount,” “touchpoints,” and “stakeholder,” appear to be unaware that some of their own players have signed elsewhere, with longtime Twin Max Kepler being the most notable example. The team disputes this characterization.

“Max is from Germany, this is probably just a cultural thing,” said the front office source about Kepler signing with the Phillies. “Philadelphia means ‘good Christmas to you, sir or madam’ in German. He’s just being friendly in his native tongue.”

When told that this is not what Philadelphia means, the source pretended not to hear the statement and asked if the reporter had seen Wicked yet.

“Ariana Grande is very talented.”

As for the team’s plans come January 1st, the source said the team plans to be thoughtful and engaged.

“Of course everyone wants to sign the big-name guys,” said the source. “But we thrive on the margins. If you have a lengthy injury history, or are old enough to remember the Carter presidency, I’m not going to lie: We’re ready to pay you the bare minimum. Within reason.”

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[CRF]

It's getting harder and harder to be a Twins fan. Please get another ownership group in here!

[dxpavelka]

Don't know what the angst is about.  They didn't miss out on anyone we would have expected they get and they didn't lose anyone the rube base didn't want gone.

[mikelink45]

So true - unfortunately except for the big trade that got us a bullpen catcher we have improved by subtraction - is that possible?   We also dipped into Rule V.  So two moves (Twins must have to do things in twos). 

So those who defend the team now have two players to project and root for.  The Twins have always waited to the end of the FA season, but this year the rest of the teams did not get that memo.

[AlwaysinModeration]

I think that out of office thing until the new year is actually true.

[rv78]

There's too much truth in this article for it to be satire.

[LambchoP]

Twins will opt out of the off-season stating no trades came together, but they're still confident because of our productive pitching pipeline and our super talented position player depth. In other words, we added nothing, but hope for better results. It's a shame because I really do believe we're just a few pieces away from being legit playoff contenders. A veteran number 4-5 type SP, a LHRP for the pen, a first baseman and a RH outfielder who can cover CF. Dumping Vasquez and Paddack should be enough money to allow for filling at least two of those 4 needs yet nothing has been done yet. New owners can't come soon enough.

[Blyleven2011]

The bare minimum payroll  , that's the twins way , plus HOPE ...

Yes , buxton , Correa and Pablo get the big bucks but the rest of the players end up with chicken feed , we need more than 3 quality players for this team to consistently win from aprìl to October  ( consistent is the key word ) ...

They're not selling tickets to me at twins fest , spring training  or target field until there is excitement for this team to be a contender , it's just not worth my investment  , I love the history of the twins franchise and good to great players , but the last decade has been a difficult pill to swallow watching us dumpster diving and making some bad trades just to put fans in the stands ...

[tony&rodney]

26 minutes ago, Blyleven2011 said:

The bare minimum payroll  , that's the twins way , plus HOPE ...

 

The Twins are tops in spending in their division. The first order of business is winning the AL Central where the Twins are currently the Yankees of the division. Of course that will change once Detroit and Chicago get active in a few years. 

The satire references the apparent malaise of the front office. They are "out of office." Maybe in 2025 is the mantra.

[GNXman]

Must be The Bee... right?

[USAFChief]

37 minutes ago, GNXman said:

Must be The Bee... right?

No, It's actually funny and on point.  So more like "The Onion."

[Blyleven2011]

2 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

The Twins are tops in spending in their division. The first order of business is winning the AL Central where the Twins are currently the Yankees of the division. Of course that will change once Detroit and Chicago get active in a few years. 

The satire references the apparent malaise of the front office. They are "out of office." Maybe in 2025 is the mantra.

Im sorry and no disrespect  but Why do you support a team that only constructs a team to win the division   ...

I wish we were the Yankees  , cause they will come to play and they will crush us good again this year , just like last year  ...

And as you mentioned  , Chicago and Detroit  will and have in the past led in central division payroll  ...

I will continue to follow the twins every game  but I will not support them with my money  ..

Satire  ; the front office may be out of the office , the pohlads are always out to lunch ...

not Satire , when Ohtani signed the deal with Dodgers,  I stated that the pohlads could not keep up with the Jones and pay these high contract prices and MIGHT have to sell , and also WILL NOT pay these kind of rising contracts ...

Then this past fall the pohlads came out by saying they are exploring a sale of the team  , now what does that mean ???  ( exploring  ) their going the long way around the barn by telling us the team could possibly be sold if the right money is presented  , not that they will sell ..

Have a nice day and HAPPY NEW YEAR  ...

[Mike Sixel]

I have no ill will against the FO for this off season. The team is for sale. They likely have orders to do very little. The ownership? That's a different story.

[tony&rodney]

12 minutes ago, Blyleven2011 said:

Im sorry and no disrespect  but Why do you support a team that only constructs a team to win the division   ...

Not a sign of support at all. The article is that the team is out to lunch. While i have no ill will towards ownership or front office, a Twins fan is bound to be frustrated by the inaction. The lack of movement may be typical. Some will put it on the Pohlads. Management always has options and chooses their course given the parameters. I reference the AL Central because that is where it starts. What kind of team does Falvey seek? I have no idea at all. The reality tells us that he has his team. Some like/love that. Others (myself) are frustrated. It's just entertainment so it is best to not get too down. Happy New Year.

[HoskenPowell]

Used to spend thousands and spend a lot of hours on the road traveling 180 miles round trip back in the day.  Thousands at The Westin and Ikes /  Keirens and Nyes.......but they got their new stadium and didn't spend for a GREAT team , instead pocketing the $$$$$      So i'm done spending on them completely now for a number of years....20/30 games a year to ZERO.

They hope and pray for a central division leader and then get wiped out by whomever.

 

We are not rich by any means and spent a LOT of our $$$ on supporting them....so I guess I'm the moron.

[Blyleven2011]

1 hour ago, tony&rodney said:

Not a sign of support at all. The article is that the team is out to lunch. While i have no ill will towards ownership or front office, a Twins fan is bound to be frustrated by the inaction. The lack of movement may be typical. Some will put it on the Pohlads. Management always has options and chooses their course given the parameters. I reference the AL Central because that is where it starts. What kind of team does Falvey seek? I have no idea at all. The reality tells us that he has his team. Some like/love that. Others (myself) are frustrated. It's just entertainment so it is best to not get too down. Happy New Year.

 I see this latest regime  as no different than terry ryans tenure ( i do think ryan was a better evaluator of talent , he worked his tail off as a gm / scout ) yeah he made mistakes too but he didn't have the payroll either  ,,,

This current regime has improved the minor league system , I'll give them that ,  except  this current regime has been given higher payrolls  to work with and has failed to adequately  field a consistent team to win ( they have only constructed a team to win a division title , they don't think of assembling a team for a playoff run , )  , I don't like the penny pinching payroll  as it is going backwards  , but think outside the box if you were owner ...

Satire ...

Owner ;    Mr falvey  , I've given you more than enough money  , more than any of your previous  successors  and you have failed to deliver any kind of contender on a consistent basis  , I am cutting payroll 30 million dollars because you can't seem to put together  a better team with my money ...

Falvey says I've done my best and I guess I'm not the smartest person in the room , but the blame is on  Levine that constructed all the risky bad trades and I brought them to you and you signed off on them  ....

Well I don't think it has happened this way  because falvey would have been fired in my opinion  , now he got promoted with a different title ,  but he Is still making all the calls ...

I hate the way they throw stupid money at bad players and think they will help the team , 11 million for Gallo ,  just for example ...

Happy new year  once again ...

 

[Mike Sixel]

1 hour ago, Blyleven2011 said:

 I see this latest regime  as no different than terry ryans tenure ( i do think ryan was a better evaluator of talent , he worked his tail off as a gm / scout ) yeah he made mistakes too but he didn't have the payroll either  ,,,

This current regime has improved the minor league system , I'll give them that ,  except  this current regime has been given higher payrolls  to work with and has failed to adequately  field a consistent team to win ( they have only constructed a team to win a division title , they don't think of assembling a team for a playoff run , )  , I don't like the penny pinching payroll  as it is going backwards  , but think outside the box if you were owner ...

Satire ...

Owner ;    Mr falvey  , I've given you more than enough money  , more than any of your previous  successors  and you have failed to deliver any kind of contender on a consistent basis  , I am cutting payroll 30 million dollars because you can't seem to put together  a better team with my money ...

Falvey says I've done my best and I guess I'm not the smartest person in the room , but the blame is on  Levine that constructed all the risky bad trades and I brought them to you and you signed off on them  ....

Well I don't think it has happened this way  because falvey would have been fired in my opinion  , now he got promoted with a different title ,  but he Is still making all the calls ...

I hate the way they throw stupid money at bad players and think they will help the team , 11 million for Gallo ,  just for example ...

Happy new year  once again ...

 

Ryan never traded for legit MLB players at mid season, or in the off season. These two FO are quite different. I mean the last few drafts before this FO took over were awful. I see no real comparison at all. Tyler Jay, Nick Gordon, and the other pitcher whose name I forgot, in back to back to back years I think? All top ten picks, and you think this FO is worse at drafting?

[Blyleven2011]

You have every right to disagree , but don't interpret the wrong way ...

I never said Ryan drafted better than falvey , I did mention falvey has improved our minor league system  but I do believe Ryan worked his tail off with the budgets he was given , he did make a couple of good  deadline trades and draft choices  , Stewart and the second baseman Cabrera ,  I think in 2003 ... 

Draft choices under Ryan , buxton , Polanco  , Kepler, ,  Mauer  , morneau , hunter and a bunch more that had played 6 years and went elsewhere ...

You can't always hit on the draft choices , falvey missed on 2 in arow  , I liked how Ryan operated  and his ability to communicate with the fans , he was and still is a respected professional ...

[NYCTK]

2 hours ago, Blyleven2011 said:

This current regime has improved the minor league system

Have they? The Twins farm system is middle of the road (same as it's always been) and they haven't really graduated anyone that's special from the minors. 

[Blyleven2011]

51 minutes ago, NYCTK said:

Have they? The Twins farm system is middle of the road (same as it's always been) and they haven't really graduated anyone that's special from the minors. 

I would agree that they haven't really graduated any of their players , Lewis  , larnach  and lee have more to prove , if Lewis can stay healthy  and has better stamina  , if larnach can continue to hit the off speed stuff and Lee needs more seasoning probably in AAA  , Miranda  is still kinda struggling maybe due to injuries  , the only one that has graduated in my opinion and know what to expect is jeffers , he shows flashes at the plate and defense might be average , the other need more time to know exactly what type of player they may be ...

I might go as far to say this current regime has better pitching in the minors league system  , but they still have to prove it in a harder mlb season  ...

Happy new year  ...

[Teflon]

I think the Twins were also taken aback upon discovering that Free Agents weren't actually "Free."

[markymark12]

2 hours ago, Blyleven2011 said:

You have every right to disagree , but don't interpret the wrong way ...

I never said Ryan drafted better than falvey , I did mention falvey has improved our minor league system  but I do believe Ryan worked his tail off with the budgets he was given , he did make a couple of good  deadline trades and draft choices  , Stewart and the second baseman Cabrera ,  I think in 2003 ... 

Draft choices under Ryan , buxton , Polanco  , Kepler, ,  Mauer  , morneau , hunter and a bunch more that had played 6 years and went elsewhere ...

You can't always hit on the draft choices , falvey missed on 2 in arow  , I liked how Ryan operated  and his ability to communicate with the fans , he was and still is a respected professional ...

I do believe Polanco and Kepler were international free agent signings, not draft picks. Not sure if scouting is much different, though. 

[Mike Sixel]

10 minutes ago, markymark12 said:

I do believe Polanco and Kepler were international free agent signings, not draft picks. Not sure if scouting is much different, though. 

And not with Ryan as GM.

[D.C Twins]

Take a deep breath everyone... this was supposed to be funny and it indeed was VERY funny.

Instant classic!

[Greglw3]

11 hours ago, AlwaysinModeration said:

I think that out of office thing until the new year is actually true.

I think it’s more like  an adaptation of an animal’s hibernation for humans. Falvey hibernates until January 15, then signs badly injured players or egregiously subpar players. 

How else do you explain taking a 101 win team and "leading" them to an average of a cumulative 4 games above .500 for the next 4 years total?

[DocBauer]

I understand all the angst with ownership and the payroll as I share all of that angst with you. But this was written as a satirical piece to just sit back for a moment...laugh...and let go of a little bit of that angst.

Well done! I laughed all the way through it.

Stu, I love your work, but were I the "editor on your shoulder", I would have replaced "front office decision maker" with "ownership representative" and relayed how the entire FO was sent on an all expense trip to Branson Missouri to celebrate the holidays since January 2nd was the real start to the offseason. 😁

[dxpavelka]

On 12/27/2024 at 7:32 AM, mikelink45 said:

So true - unfortunately except for the big trade that got us a bullpen catcher we have improved by subtraction - is that possible?   We also dipped into Rule V.  So two moves (Twins must have to do things in twos). 

So those who defend the team now have two players to project and root for.  The Twins have always waited to the end of the FA season, but this year the rest of the teams did not get that memo.

Addition by subtraction always sounds good.  Until you have to rely on it.  Meaning:  Wallner lays an egg, nobody else is ready, Kepler does the job in Philly and ends up with a ring.  Wanna bet?

[dxpavelka]

14 hours ago, Greglw3 said:

I think it’s more like  an adaptation of an animal’s hibernation for humans. Falvey hibernates until January 15, then signs badly injured players or egregiously subpar players. 

How else do you explain taking a 101 win team and "leading" them to an average of a cumulative 4 games above .500 for the next 4 years total?

I hate to keep beating a dead horse but those four years of which you speak are the ones that followed the decision that paying Rosario $8 Million was a bad idea because we had Kirilloff and Larnach waiting to fill the void.  NOW we have decided that Larnach & Wallner are ready to make Kepler expendable.  Think it works better this time?

 

[nicksaviking]

17 minutes ago, dxpavelka said:

I hate to keep beating a dead horse but those four years of which you speak are the ones that followed the decision that paying Rosario $8 Million was a bad idea because we had Kirilloff and Larnach waiting to fill the void.  NOW we have decided that Larnach & Wallner are ready to make Kepler expendable.  Think it works better this time?

 

We're complaining of missing out on free agents, and it's Max Kepler we are most upset about? Been there done that. Absolutely zero interest in giving him another chance to go into summer's-long slump yet still tempting Baldelli to plug him into the middle of the lineup. Good luck to him, maybe he'll find some motivation in Philadelphia, but he sure didn't look like his heart was in it here any longer.

[dxpavelka]

3 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

We're complaining of missing out on free agents, and it's Max Kepler we are most upset about? Been there done that. Absolutely zero interest in giving him another chance to go into summer's-long slump yet still tempting Baldelli to plug him into the middle of the lineup. Good luck to him, maybe he'll find some motivation in Philadelphia, but he sure didn't look like his heart was in it here any longer.

I'm not complaining on missing out on free agents.  That's never really been the way this team operates and I'm smart enough to not be butt hurt about it.  I do think there will come a time in the next year or two when we'll look back and realize we may have been hasty about moving on from Kepler.  Odds are one or both of Larnach or Wallner will flop.  I am also of the opinion that there will be a late in the game FA move that will shock the rubedom.