Are Signs Pointing to Justin Ishbia Emerging as the Next Twins Owner?

[Cody Christie]

Twins fans are waiting patiently for a new ownership group to emerge. All signs point to Justin Ishbia as the clear frontrunner, with a sale inching closer to completion. 

Image courtesy of © Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Twins will have new ownership sometime during the 2025 season. Multiple reports in recent weeks point to an agreement coming in the season’s first half. One of those reports came from Dan Hayes of The Athletic. Justin Ishbia, a billionaire entrepreneur, has emerged as a frontrunner in the race to purchase the team, estimated to be worth between $1.5 billion and $1.7 billion.

Hayes writes that a league source has described Ishbia as “very, very serious” about acquiring the Twins. He also said, "The process could be expedited if a prospective owner elevated themselves above a ‘robust’ group of interested parties.” Further, MLB’s vetting process has already included a "deeper dive" into Ishbia’s financial standing and overall suitability as a prospective owner. He is currently a minority owner of the Chicago White Sox. For a franchise rooted in community and stability, this could signal a significant shift if Ishbia solidifies his bid.

Who is Justin Ishbia? According to Forbes, Ishbia’s net worth is estimated at $5.4 billion. Much of his wealth stems from his role as chairman of United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM), a company that has become a juggernaut in the mortgage lending space. Ishbia’s financial resources certainly place him in elite company, capable of navigating the high-stakes world of MLB ownership. However, many billionaires have a bad history regarding how they make their money. Beyond the numbers, league insiders believe Ishbia’s aggressive approach and enthusiasm for the process position him well among the "robust" group of potential buyers described above.

It’s not uncommon for a top bidder to emerge in high-profile sales, but what’s striking here is the confidence level behind Ishbia’s pursuit. While the Twins’ current ownership group, led by the Pohlad family, has not indicated an immediate timeline for a sale, Hayes’ reporting suggests the process could accelerate if a buyer like Ishbia makes a strong enough offer. 

The Pohlad family has long been at the helm of the Minnesota Twins, shaping the franchise's direction both on and off the field. When the time comes to consider passing the baton of ownership, their decision will likely hinge on multiple factors. While a top-dollar offer might be tempting, the Pohlads have shown an appreciation for the cultural and community aspects of running a team, suggesting they could prioritize finding a buyer who aligns with their values and commitment to the region. A local group or an ownership candidate with a clear vision for maintaining the Twins as a cornerstone of Minnesota sports might sway the family, even if it means leaving some money on the table.

For fans, the idea of new ownership naturally raises questions. Will Ishbia invest heavily in the on-field product? How will he engage with the local community? Can he enhance the Twins’ standing within MLB? With his significant financial resources, Ishbia could inject new energy and vision into the franchise. The Pohlad family has overseen periods of both success and stagnation during their tenure, so a fresh perspective may resonate with fans eager for the team to take another step forward.

Of course, it’s essential to read between the lines. Hayes’ report could also reflect some strategic maneuvering. If Ishbia truly has the inside track, this could be an attempt to finalize negotiations by leveraging public perception. Pushing the narrative of so much steam might spur other bidders to up their offers, driving up the franchise’s value.

Still, the fact that Ishbia’s name keeps surfacing (and with such confidence) is hard to ignore. MLB’s willingness to dig deeper into his background hints at serious momentum. While other suitors may exist, Ishbia appears to be separating himself from the pack.

Twins fans will undoubtedly keep a close eye on developments as the process unfolds. Ownership changes can redefine a franchise in terms of finances, culture, and priorities. If Ishbia emerges as the new owner, it could mark a transformative era for the Minnesota Twins. For now, though, the story remains one of potential, promise (and a lot of steam). 

Will Ishbia become the new Twins owner? What changes would you like to see under a new ownership group? Leave a comment and start the discussion. 

 

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[Jocko87]

Quote

However, many billionaires have a bad historyregarding how they make their money. 

 

Don’t link your own articles.  It’s not a source.  Also, wtf? 

[Brandon27]

I don't think it going be them as owners 

[Gamblerssoftball]

37 minutes ago, Brandon27 said:

I don't think it going be them as owners 

Care to elaborate?

The Phoenix Suns, owned by the Ishbias, are aggressive deal makers with the Suns. They are constantly trying to improve the team. 

[tony&rodney]

No signs up in my hood.

[Jocko87]

1 hour ago, tony&rodney said:

No signs up in my hood.

Nothing new in the article. 

[ashbury]

[Johnbullit]

The Pohlads need to sell the team to the Ishbias , so we can go out and make similiar deals with Alonso and Flaherty like they did when we got Correra...and possibly add Breggman too...

[Whitey333]

Let's not get too excited yet.  Nothing new in this story that wasn't told months ago.  We can't seriously expect instant change.  To think otherwise just leads to a huge letdown.

[Lasorda_This_Out]

Beware the political and Entertainment power of Nashville, TN.....

[Fire Dan Gladden]

As stated before, all indications are that these would be the type of owners Twins fans want.  Lets see where this ends up.

[Unwinder]

It's such weird whiplash to read what Suns fans are saying about the Ishbias vs. what Twins fans are hoping for from them. Just read an article on the Athletic about how they've run the Suns into the ground.

I'll take the Ishbias' willingness to spend and make aggressive moves IF they have a smart front office (possibly the current front office) that's allowed to say no. The Suns have made big, exciting moves, and have been willing to push in their chips to win in the short term, and they looked good for a few years. But in 2025, they look washed. They're a mediocre, top-heavy team, burdened by bad, untradable contracts. They have the bleakest future in the league, and have traded their first-round picks until 2032, and Mat Ishbia is STILL mortgaging what little future they have left to trade for clubhouse cancer Jimmy Butler. It seems to me like their main weakness as owners is that they're always in win-now mode whether they're contenders or not.

I do think that, like the Timberwolves, the Suns can blame their current situation on the new CBA's punative salary cap, which the Ishbias could not have predicted when they put together this superteam. Maybe they'd be just fine if they could make trades normally, and if going over the cap just meant paying the luxury tax, which they're happy to do.

In a best-case scenario, I see them thriving in a league with no salary cap at all, and spending their way to dominance over the AL Central and championship contention. In a worst-case scenario, I see them absolutely gutting the farm system to chase big-name players who are past their prime, and signing a lot of bad contracts.

[KBJ1]

This guy already owns the Sun's & part of the White Sox? How far does 5.7 Billion go? Owning a sports franchise is a toy. Running it like a business doesn't work in today's market of billionaires throwing money around. A sports team is not going to "make a profit" like a normal business. The profit comes when you sell it for 1 or 2 Billion more than you paid. In the meantime you spend like a drunken sailor and win WS series rings for bragging rights, like the Dodgers.

Owning a sports franchise is not a normal business. The Charley Finley & Cal Griffith models of running a sports franchise as a business are long gone.

[KBJ1]

Agreed that the Sun's are a mess right now with no draft picks and bloated contracts. Baseball needs to enact full revenue sharing like the NFL if it wants to survive. That said, owners with deep pockets, willing to spend, are what it would take now for the Twins to compete in the current environment. 

As I've said, sports franchises are a toy, not a normal business.  The attitude is who cares if you lose money as long as you win the prizes ! You'll make billions when you sell. 

[jmlease1]

I think without knowing names of any of the other possible bidders it's easy to make the Ishbia's the front-runners. On paper, they're a very good fit for what MLB wants in an owner: vast resources, already been vetted by MLB (Justin as minority owner in CWS) and the NBA (Mat as majority owner in the Suns, Justin as a minority owner), and a known love for baseball (so that it's not purely a financial move).

but we don't know anything about any of the other groups that might be bidding. Zip, Zilch. Nadda. For all we know, this is something the Ishbia's are trying to get out there to avoid a bidding war, or to push the Pohlads to move and take the sure thing rather than dangle it along.

I'm fine with the Ishbia's buying the Twins; Justin might be a much better owner than what we've had, more willing to invest. better at working the business side of the house and growing team revenue. There's some signs in Phoenix that they're looking to build fan support through more than just "if we win, they'll come". It's hard to think they could do much worse. 

but until we know who another bidder or three is, the Ishbia's are just the front-runner by default.

[tony&rodney]

1 hour ago, Lasorda_This_Out said:

Beware the political and Entertainment power of Nashville, TN.....

The Nashville Sounds average about 1,000 more fans than the St. Paul Saints. I don't think the Twin Cities could support two franchises and Nashville isn't a top choice either. Love Centennial Park in Nashville though and the Country Western Hall of Fame.

[NYCTK]

20 hours ago, Jocko87 said:

 

Don’t link your own articles.  It’s not a source.  Also, wtf? 

Many billionaires have a bad history is just a pure statement of fact. Like saying a lot of water is wet. 

[purplesoldier4u]

There is no guarantee that a billionaire owner will spend the money to bring in talent, especially when losing a boatload of money is part of the process.

The Dodgers local media money will, pretty much, cover their entire MLB payroll. Add in 81 sellouts, concessions, merchandise, and the national TV contracts, and they still make a large amount of money!

If competing means just winning the division, that's a whole other story, and that is something the new owners could do and that is something the Pohlad owenership could have and should have done. It might have netted another $100 million in the sale of the team.

[GNess]

So the Pohlads won't spend and that is bad. The Ishbia's will spend and that's bad. Tough fanbase right now.

[Original_JB]

From Sports Illustrated:  Report: Ishbias want Minneapolis sports figures involved in Twins ownership group https://search.app/tiKA59JLFUDMX1NK8

Interesting. They mention all kinds of guys.

[ashbury]

17 hours ago, Original_JB said:

From Sports Illustrated:  Report: Ishbias want Minneapolis sports figures involved in Twins ownership group https://search.app/tiKA59JLFUDMX1NK8

Interesting. They mention all kinds of guys.

Still holding out hope for Ricky Nolasco.  Yeah, I think he moved out of the area a few years ago, but could come back for a sweet deal such as this.

[Major League Ready]

On 1/24/2025 at 9:18 PM, GNess said:

So the Pohlads won't spend and that is bad. The Ishbia's will spend and that's bad. Tough fanbase right now.

The spending part is good.  However, they are still going to be competing against teams with twice as much income and trying to beat those teams at their own game is an exceptionally bad plan.  Trading away their future like they did with the Suns would be even more ineffective in MLB vs the NBA.  Look back at the Dodgers 20 years ago.  They were short-term focused and had very modest success until they hired leadership from a very small market team and held onto their top prospects.  Producing good/cheap talent creates payroll space to spend on extensions and free agents.

[Unwinder]

On 1/24/2025 at 9:18 PM, GNess said:

So the Pohlads won't spend and that is bad. The Ishbia's will spend and that's bad. Tough fanbase right now.

Spending is good. Throwing money away isn't really any better than not spending.

I'm happy to roll the dice on the Ishbias over the Pohlads, and I think they may have learned some lessons from how they've run the Suns. And maybe I'm being unfair by lumping them together when Mat is mainly responsible for the Suns, and Justin is the one looking at buying the Twins. I'll take them, but I want to know who else is out there first.

[Original_JB]

I'm starting to think that all this quietness is in part that the Ishbias are waiting to see if the financing for the new White Sox stadium at "The 78" will be hammered out. As "mid single digit %" owners of the Sox, they would need to sell that before being allowed to buy the Twins; That said, the opportunity to buy the White Sox while a whole new development project is being built around the new stadium site (hmm, sound familiar?) would have to be appealing. Now, Chicago is broke, and getting the public financing is causing problems (again, sound familiar?), but when has that ever stopped a project from being pushed through? Obviously, the Twins would be a fabulous back-up plan...