Where Could Minnesota Twins Spend $30 Million (or More) This Offseason?

[Cody Christie]

Image courtesy of © Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Twins are headed into an offseason where the budget will remain snug, but there will be flexibility. With the current roster and estimated arbitration totals landing around $95 million, even a payroll reduction to $125 million (down from $140 million in 2025) would leave Derek Falvey and company with roughly $30 million to spend.

That isn’t enough to lure a Kyle Tucker or Alex Bregman, but it does put Minnesota in a position to shop the second tier of free agency. MLB.com recently highlighted the top 10 free agents for this winter, and while those players may be out of the Twins’ reach, there are still plenty of interesting fits just outside that group. Let’s look at eight names that could realistically make sense in Minnesota.

1B Josh Naylor
Profile: The 28-year-old left-handed slugger terrorized the Twins in five years with the Cleveland organization. Over the last four seasons, he has averaged a 122 OPS+ while being a below-average defender at first base (0 OAA).

Fit in Minnesota: With the Twins lacking a consistent first baseman, Naylor would provide an offensive upgrade for a team that needs veteran consistency. He’d stabilize the infield and immediately slot into the middle of the order. Last winter, he signed for just under $11 million, so the Twins could hope for a similar deal. 

1B/DH Luis Arraez
Profile: A familiar face, Arraez won three straight batting titles from 2022-24, but is having a down season (.286 BA). Power will never be part of his game (107 OPS+), but the bat-to-ball skills are elite. It will be his first chance at free agency, so he might be looking for a multi-year contract. 

Fit in Minnesota: Bringing Arraez back could solve Minnesota’s revolving door at first base while also giving them a natural leadoff hitter. The Twins moved on for Pablo López, but if the Pohlads want to score some points with fans, a reunion would be a feel-good and practical move.

2B Gleyber Torres
Profile: Torres has been inconsistent since bursting onto the scene with the Yankees, but he still provides 20-HR pop from the middle infield. He’s entering his age-29 season with plenty left in the tank. Last winter, he signed a one-year pact with the Tigers for $15 million and has a 2.4 rWAR. 

Fit in Minnesota: If the Twins don’t fully trust Edouard Julien or Luke Keaschall at second base, Torres could step in as a proven bat. Julien could shift into a DH role, and Keaschall could move to a corner outfield spot. Torres is a right-handed bat with a 111 OPS+ over the last four seasons. 

3B Eugenio Suárez
Profile: Suárez has long been one of the streakiest sluggers in baseball, capable of 30+ HR power but also prone to high strikeout totals. He brings veteran leadership, but should shift to a DH role due to his poor defense at third. 

Fit in Minnesota: The Twins have Royce Lewis at third, but Suárez could provide insurance if/when Lewis deals with injuries. If Lewis stays on the field, Suárez’s power would still lengthen the lineup, especially for a Twins team lacking right-handed pop. 

OF Cedric Mullins
Profile: Mullins has been an above-average hitter since he was an All-Star in 2021, but the 2025 season has been his first with a sub-100 OPS+. He’s still capable of 15+ home runs and 20+ steals with 4 OAA in center field. 

Fit in Minnesota: The Twins have hunted the free agent market for affordable center field options over the last two offseasons. Think of him as next season’s Harrison Bader. Mullins could give the Twins a left-handed option in center behind Byron Buxton while also offering speed at the top of the order. 

DH Marcell Ozuna
Profile: Ozuna remains a defensive liability but has transformed into one of the game’s most reliable power DHs. Over the last three seasons, he has produced over 3.0 WAR per season, with an OPS+ of 138. 

Fit in Minnesota: The Twins could add 30-HR power to their lineup by signing Ozuna, but he’d lock up the DH spot and limit flexibility. His presence could make it harder to rotate players through the DH spot, but maybe that’s in the team’s best interest. 

RHP Merrill Kelly
Profile: Kelly has quietly been one of the most consistent starters in the National League, posting multiple seasons with a sub-3.50 ERA for the Diamondbacks. He thrives on command and a deep pitch mix rather than overpowering stuff.

Fit in Minnesota: With López and Joe Ryan leading the rotation, Kelly would slot in as a reliable No. 3 starter. He’d give the Twins veteran stability behind their top arms. He will be 38 next season and likely looking for a multi-year deal, so it seems likely for the Twins to avoid signing him. 

RHP Ryan Pressly
Profile: The former Twins reliever has spent the past half-decade closing games for Houston, thriving in the postseason spotlight. His stuff has dipped (5.06 FIP, 1.52 WHIP), and the Cubs released him at the end of July. 

Fit in Minnesota: Minnesota’s bullpen has a lot of holes for next season, and adding Pressly would give them a veteran option. Pressly might want to finish his career where he started, as a feel-good story. He will likely come on a cheap deal if he wants to continue to pitch. Candidly, he looked cooked this summer, but relievers sometimes do that—only to unaccountably bounce back one last time.

The Twins are unlikely to chase the headline names at the top of free agency, but with $30 million to work with, they can make meaningful additions. A first baseman like Naylor or Arraez could lock down a position of need. A rotation stabilizer like Kelly or a bullpen arm like Pressly could add much-needed depth.

The front office’s choices will determine whether Minnesota uses its financial flexibility to make targeted upgrades or spreads money across multiple positions. Either way, second-tier free agents could play a first-rate role in shaping the 2026 Twins.

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Which free agent would fit the best in Minnesota? Leave a comment and start the discussion. 

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[CRF]

Joe Pohlad's wardrobe?

[thelanges5]

Dare to dream. Nothing suggests that the Pohlads will do anything but pocket the $$. 
100 loss season forthcoming, which sucks. 

[jmlease1]

Lol, it's funny when people act like the Twins will get $30M to spend on payroll. The only way they're getting more than a few bucks to spend in the offseason is if they deal players like Lopez, Ryan, and/or Jeffers...at which point it might not matter if they make a real investment in free agency. Beyond that, why would anyone believe the Pohlads would actually let the front office replace all the spending they cut when the opportunity to generate a bigger profit looms?

They should be able to spend $20-30M in FA even keeping Lopez & Ryan, but the smart money says they absolutely won't. Never trust a Pohald when it comes to payroll.

[Doctor Wu]

Thanks for that article. Some useful possible players to think about, but until we have some sort of game plan or clarification of what they intend to do by the front office, this is all just fantasy. 

[mikelink45]

A bonus for the owner - a new yacht, a painting for Pohlad's fireplace, a doghouse for their pet (do they have one?)...

With the Pohlad creativity guiding Falvey we can expect some outstanding DFA candidates and a pitcher who has to be on the IL for the entire year so we can claim we got him for a bargain price.  I just can't wait for the excitement. 

[hitterscount]

Naylor is the only one on the list that I would spend $10 on. 

[Vanimal46]

[JBK]

Are we talking "real" fantasy baseball?

[Exiled in Illinois]

If we're going to keep Ryan/Lopez and try to piece together a bullpen (no to Pressly though) to compete for playoff spot, Naylor maybe.  Everywhere else let the kids play.  If not, let more kids play.  

[Doctor Gast]

Yeah, great idea! In '20, Falvey went out & got big-name FA Donaldson; they were very excited. They later turned around & dumped his salary at a great loss. Again in '22 & '23 went out & got big-name FA Correa, again were very excited. Then later turned around & dumped his salary for a loss. Teams like NYY can get by not developing their players & go out & sign big-name FAs, but friends, the Twins can't sustain this. How can the Twins possibly think they can get anywhere by signing another big-name FA with Falvey & Co. at the helm? That'd be a total waste of money that could be better spent elsewhere, like extending a more valuable player. We have a lot of very good in house candidates for 1B instead of looking elsewhere. Same for 2B. Catcher is the only position that we desperately need help. But I don't see FA as a solution. Twins can only succeed by drafting, developing & progressing our in house players & if there is still a need, trade from our many redundant players that Falvey doesn't want to trade.

[terrydactyls]

Since you asked if the Twins "could" spend $30M, the answer is ‐ yes they could.  But the real question is - will they?

[Twinkie in Deutschland]

Nice write-up and preview. However, as cheapskatish as the Pohlads are, they will simply not spend anything on free agents and rely on the prospects only. Furthermore as they have another year where they could get a top draft pick, expect them to tank it and break the mark for the highest number of losses. After the salary dispute is settled, they will then sell the team, take the money and run. That is the team owned by the Pohlads- learning from the Montreal Expos before they relocated to Washington, and the Twins will be gone by 2030. 

[jorgenswest]

I appreciate the topic. I don’t need yet another thread arguing whether they will spend. I appreciating speculating the possibilities about what they might add if they spend. There are others that will see this discussion as a waste of their time and avoid it.

A middle of the order everyday bat like Naylor is a need. A few good bats will be moved in trade. If they don’t get Naylor they certainly can use their prospect capital to win one of those trades.

Add that middle of the order bat and then add arms to the bullpen. That would be my direction. I hope there are no team friendly one year free agent deals for position players.

 

[Riverbrian]

 

2 hours ago, Cody Christie said:

Last winter, he signed for just under $11 million, so the Twins could hope for a similar deal. 

Hope for a similar deal?

A. Free agency - When a player has leverage due to multiple teams being interested and competing against each other for a signature on a contract. 

B. Arbitration - When a player with very limited leverage reaches an agreement to avoid arbitration or actually goes through the arbitration process with the only team that he can play for.  

 

 

 

 

[Nshore]

"If the Twins don't fully trust Edouard Julien at second base."

Ha, ha, ha, ha, gasp, snort.  Oh sorry, you were actually serious.  

[USAFChief]

2 hours ago, jorgenswest said:

I appreciate the topic. I don’t need yet another thread arguing whether they will spend. I appreciating speculating the possibilities about what they might add if they spend. There are others that will see this discussion as a waste of their time and avoid it.

A middle of the order everyday bat like Naylor is a need. A few good bats will be moved in trade. If they don’t get Naylor they certainly can use their prospect capital to win one of those trades.

Add that middle of the order bat and then add arms to the bullpen. That would be my direction. I hope there are no team friendly one year free agent deals for position players.

 

If you're adding a middle of the order bat Marcel Ozuna is much better bet. 

You know, uh, theoretically.  They're not adding either. 

[In My La Z boy]

34 minutes ago, Exiled in Illinois said:

If we're going to keep Ryan/Lopez and try to piece together a bullpen (no to Pressly though) to compete for playoff spot, Naylor maybe.  Everywhere else let the kids play.  If not, let more kids play.  

We blew it up and are "rebuilding"
The last few yrs we've signed some vets to plug holes because we were pretending we could compete. We are no longer pretending. I assume to complete the theme we'll see Lopez, Ryan and Ober traded this winter slamming payroll down to Oakland pre-2025 levels. Maybe even Jeffers because he is worth a lot back in prospects, and he must be pushing an arbitration number of at least $7M?? The team we saw last night is the team, minus Jenkins & a couple other prospects I take it at this point.

[Whitey333]

No way the Twins keep Lopez and his 22 million salary.  Very unlikely they keep Ryan.  He hasn't done much at all since the all star break.  No way they will add anything significant.  Very likely payroll will be slightly under 100 million total.  These types of articles are almost as much of a joke as the ones telling us again about all the great can't miss prospects that usually miss.  

[TopGunn#22]

The big question of course is would the Pohlad's actually spend anywhere from $20-$30 from the payroll they cut at the deadline.  They could cut even more with a trade of Pablo, but the return would be much smaller than what they could get for Joe Ryan.

I'm in complete agreement with "hitterscount"  that of all the guys who were listed, Naylor is who I would sign.  Not only would you get 1B solved but you'd put a consistently GOOD hitter in the middle of your lineup.  Naylor might not be a Gold Glove candidate, but he's not a butcher either.  A signing like Naylor for $10-$12 million for 3 years or so would be an impact signing on the positive side.

None of the other other guys really interest me.  Rather than Pressly, who clearly looks cooked, I'd make a play for a closer who was traded at the deadline but put in a set-up role and has struggled.  My #1 target would be Former Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley.  He's been a lights-out closer for the Cards 2022-2024.  Even this year before being traded he had 21 saves and an ERA of 3.00.  Since going to the Mets he's been horrible.  But I think he's wired to be a closer, not a set-up man.  Helsley's current contract pays him $8.2 million.  

Other options should be out there:  Devin Williams, Camilo Doval, Kirby Yates.  ALL of them have fallen on hard times.  Williams and Yates were outstanding in 2024.  

Both 1B and Closer are primary needs.  At least we have Ryan Jeffers returning (if he's not traded) so finding a Catcher is actually slightly behind 1B and Closer in importance.  

2025 could be Tarik Skubal's final year in Detroit.  He's a FA after the 2026 season.  How likely is it for the Tigers to sign him to a massive, long-term deal with a strike/lockout looming for 2027?  The Tigers could get an absolute haul for him, but as Twins fans well know after the Johan Santana trade, you're not guaranteed equal or greater value coming back.  Without the best pitcher in the American League the Tigers don't look so invincible.

Under that possibility, a Twins team with Naylor at 1B and Helsley closing games out could actually be quite competitive in the A.L. Central.  Imagine if the Twins traded Joe Ryan to the red Sox in a package that featured outfielder Jaren Duran headlining the return?  Ryan is going to arbitration.  Duran has a 2026 club option with Boston that will pay him $8 million.  That would practically be a wash for what Ryan will get.  Maybe even save the Pohlad's a couple million.  

With no other trades or FA signings, your lineup would be:

Buxton CF, Jarren Duran LF Luke Keaschall 2B  Josh Naylor 1B  Royce Lewis 3B  Ryan Jeffers C  Brooks Lee SS.  Missing is a RF and a DH.  Imagine is Buxton stays healthy, Keaschall keeps doing what he's doing, and Royce Lewis stays healthy and hits 30 HR...and you're adding Duran and Naylor to that lineup.  I could have plugged Wallner and Larnach in there but I think they'll both be traded and by May Walker Jenkins in playing RF.  That's a lineup that Twins fans could get excited about.

Assuming that trade is made for a soon to be 30-year old Joe Ryan.  The rotation would be:

Pablo, Ober, Taj Bradley, SWR and Zebby/Abel.  LOT'S of uncertainty but potential.  

Bullpen:  Closer is Helsley.  Sands/Festa/Funderburk handle innings 6 thru 8.  LOT'S of uncertainty after that.  Maybe Adams, Prielipp, Raya and others fill in.  Maybe some scrap heap vets from the dumpster.  But that's what ownership/FO determined was the way to go when they gutted the BP. 

To get Naylor $11 million and Helsley $8 million brins thru $19 million.  Duran and stuff for Ryan and stuff is nearly a net zero.  Maybe the Twins save $2 million.  

I wouldn't throw any money at 38 year old Starting Pitchers to fill my #3 spot in the rotation.  I'd roll with the young guys.  

[Nashvilletwin]

The relevant question is where can the Twins SAVE $30MM this offseason?

Check out the article on ESPN this morning about the salary cap.  The number one way for owners to increase the value of their franchises is via the implementation of a cap.  The owners all understand that (and oh, btw, it’s not a zero sum game - the players overall - except for maybe the mega stars - should on the aggregate benefit too). 

Why do you think the Pohlads didn’t sell while holding out for a higher price?  Why do you think some private equity folks were interested in buying minority stakes in the Twins?  They are not dumb (except for keeping Rocco, of course).

Make no mistake about it. The plan is to cut payroll, build a cadre of cheap, controllable talent, prepare for a long strike in 2027, implement a cap/floor model after the lockout, add one of two solid veteran FAs to reach the floor, solve the TV issues, emerge in 2028-2029 with a contending roster and then sell the franchise for a lot more than they can get currently.  The plan is a plain as the noses on our faces. And, yes, it’s a smart plan sorry to say. 

We all can forget the fallacy of adding to payroll in 2026. 

[TwinsDr2021]

Why would the Twins sign any of these guys? Naylor is 28 and the last three years of WAR are 2.3, 1.5, 2.4 is that impressive?

Arraez hasn't been good in two years. 

Torres? do we need any 2B? 

Suarez is the type of guy you sign when you have a actual window to compete, not a year built on hope and end up trading at the deadline.

Mullins is terrible, low batting average, low OBP an occasional pop. 

Ozuna see Saurez above.

Pressly shortly will be 37 and is an average bullpen pitcher.

Kelly shortly will be 37, see Ozuna and Saurez above. Plus I thought the Twins had a pitching pipeline?

IMO, there are two many what ifs on the team to think about filling holes with free agents, because in reality there may be many holes they have to fill. Plus it isn't like the prospects are getting any younger, Erod turns 23 before the season, Kaelen Culpepper turns 23 before the season, Not old, but if the Twins don't know what they have in them sometime next year, then the following year, they are very old for prospects that aren't catchers. Plus isn't just about every pitching prospects on the wrong side of 25.

IMO, the FO is between a rock and a hard place. They basically have a whole roster of what if's and a few we know what they should do if healthy (Lopez, Ryan, Ober, Buxton, Jeffers), things could go awesome if Keaschall, Lewis, Wallner, Lee improve, the list above stays healthy, a few pitchers figure it out, and a rookie or two are great. Or things could go really bad again if Keaschall has sophomore slump, Lewis, Lee, Wallner play the same next year as this year, rookies struggle, and they still don't know what they have to a half dozen pitchers. And for both of those reasons you don't sign really any FA's.

 

 

 

 

 

[LewFordLives]

They are not spending a dime this off-season. I expect there will be further cuts.

[D.C Twins]

Thank you for my spontaneous chuckle reading the title of this article. Suggesting that the Twins will spend more than 30 mil in the offseason is a special kind of humor!

[LastOnePicked]

None of these, thank you. Put that $30M into hiring the best coaching staff you can find for all levels of the organization.

[JD-TWINS]

11 minutes ago, TwinsDr2021 said:

Why would the Twins sign any of these guys? Naylor is 28 and the last three years of WAR are 2.3, 1.5, 2.4 is that impressive?

Arraez hasn't been good in two years. 

Torres? do we need any 2B? 

Suarez is the type of guy you sign when you have a actual window to compete, not a year built on hope and end up trading at the deadline.

Mullins is terrible, low batting average, low OBP an occasional pop. 

Ozuna see Saurez above.

Pressly shortly will be 37 and is an average bullpen pitcher.

Kelly shortly will be 37, see Ozuna and Saurez above. Plus I thought the Twins had a pitching pipeline?

IMO, there are two many what ifs on the team to think about filling holes with free agents, because in reality there may be many holes they have to fill. Plus it isn't like the prospects are getting any younger, Erod turns 23 before the season, Kaelen Culpepper turns 23 before the season, Not old, but if the Twins don't know what they have in them sometime next year, then the following year, they are very old for prospects that aren't catchers. Plus isn't just about every pitching prospects on the wrong side of 25.

IMO, the FO is between a rock and a hard place. They basically have a whole roster of what if's and a few we know what they should do if healthy (Lopez, Ryan, Ober, Buxton, Jeffers), things could go awesome if Keaschall, Lewis, Wallner, Lee improve, the list above stays healthy, a few pitchers figure it out, and a rookie or two are great. Or things could go really bad again if Keaschall has sophomore slump, Lewis, Lee, Wallner play the same next year as this year, rookies struggle, and they still don't know what they have to a half dozen pitchers. And for both of those reasons you don't sign really any FA's.

 

 

 

 

 

Arraez has 168 hits and is hitting .287 - he’s got 3 batting titles prior. ……. not sure what constitutes a good season???

[beckmt]

1 hour ago, In My La Z boy said:

We blew it up and are "rebuilding"
The last few yrs we've signed some vets to plug holes because we were pretending we could compete. We are no longer pretending. I assume to complete the theme we'll see Lopez, Ryan and Ober traded this winter slamming payroll down to Oakland pre-2025 levels. Maybe even Jeffers because he is worth a lot back in prospects, and he must be pushing an arbitration number of at least $7M?? The team we saw last night is the team, minus Jenkins & a couple other prospects I take it at this point.

I am at the same point, they will cut another 30 - 40 million off the payroll and wait until after the new CBA. And then hopefully pocket the money and sell the team. That means Lopez, Ryan, Ober if they can get anything for him, Larnach, Jeffers and anyone else of value will be gone.  They will probably ask Buxton if he wants to go also since it could be 4 years until we might be competitive and his contract will be up by then.  

[JD-TWINS]

Kelly - Presley - Ozuna are all on very backside of their careers…….Presley might be available for $2.5M & then may be of interest on a 1 year deal.

My assumption is Naylor is more expensive than other guys & probably too much risk v reward due to needed length of his deal?

To me, Arraez sucks as a less-off hitter because he has zero speed and doesn’t bring any energy to the Top of the line-up. He’s adequate at 1B & could obviously DH as desired. I would pay him as much as $14-$16M/yr for 3 years if he’d go for it ……. and I’d bat him 5th in line-up every day for about 150 games. He’s 175-200 hits/year and he’d be a minimum of 90 RBI guy batting in middle of line-up……..previous RBI totals don’t matter because he’s been hitting in the wrong spot for his skill set, IMO.

Buxton - Keaschall - Larnach - Lewis - Arraez - Jeffers - Wallner - Lee - Martin ……. this line-up could use some additional juice either at 1B or DH…….but, I think with 2 FA PEN guys and a healthy rotation, this line-up is very competitive………. Gonzalez - Rodriguez - Jenkins can possibly supplement OF from June forward?

Again, to me, Arraez (or anyone) that can provide 175-190 hits from the #5 spot in the line-up will produce a bunch of runs!! Don’t need HR’s with RISP - need balls in play and the ability to keep innings going - not a gut that strikes out 25-35% of the time but hits 30HR in a “162 game fantasy season”.

As little as I like him, there’s no doubt that Lee has 20 HR power. He’s SLOWLY getting better at the plate and I think that his progress will slowly continue - no need for Gleybar Torres .

Keaschall to 1B or DH and occasional Corner OF ……. freeing 2B for Lee, regularly. I’d prefer one of the recent #1 Picks at SS early in ‘26.

[AKTwinsFan]

I think some relief pitching is in order. We need to find someone who can be a closer for us. 

[Parfigliano]

Payroll is not going up it's going down.