Rosethal: Uncertainy Swirling for Twins as Winter Meetings Approach

[Cody Christie]

Minnesota’s offseason has been underway for more than two months, but as the Winter Meetings draw near, the Twins still appear to be wrestling with their direction. That uncertainty isn’t just external perception either. According to MLB insider Ken Rosenthal, the organization’s internal conversations remain murky. As he put it on Foul Territory, the Twins “are a mystery” because “there is not clarity yet on how they are going to operate this offseason.” 

Rosenthal emphasized this wasn’t simply a matter of the team keeping plans quiet. “I mean clarity within their own organization. I don’t know that they know what they’re going to do. They’re working through it. What I was told this week is that they’ll have clarity by the winter meetings. OK. It’s probably a good idea to have clarity by the winter meetings.”

That kind of ambiguity is unusual for this point in the calendar, especially with the annual gathering of front offices set to take place next week in Orlando. The Twins have had over two months since the regular season ended to prepare their approach, and yet the franchise’s posture remains unsettled. Much of that stems from Minnesota’s stumbling ownership transition. The failed sale and the arrival of still-unnamed minority investors appear to be casting a shadow over budget decisions. 

Rosenthal noted that internal opinions are diverging. “It seems to me that there are factions in the Twins organization that want to start building the team back up again. Good idea since you’ve alienated your fan base. And then there are ownership questions. They just took on the two new investors. How much are they going to spend? All of that.”

Amid that backdrop, the club’s most significant decisions still loom. What will Minnesota do with its remaining star-level players? Rosenthal wondered aloud: “So, the question then becomes ... where are they going to go? Which way are they going to go? I don’t necessarily expect them to trade (Joe) Ryan, (Byron Buxton), maybe Pablo Lopez.” 

If the side pushing for a roster rebound wins out, the Twins could arrive at spring training with their core intact. But if the payroll-cutting faction gains control, then difficult choices become more likely. As Rosenthal put it, “But to keep going backwards, if they do that, then yes, Ryan becomes available. Buxton becomes available. They’re probably more valuable separately than they would be (packaged) together.”

The clock is ticking. With the Winter Meetings just days away, the Twins need to settle on a path that not only clarifies their competitive intentions but also signals to fans that the organization is finally ready to move forward.

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[Cody Christie]

Earlier today, Rosenthal reported that the Twins plan to hold on to Buxton, Ryan, and Lopez. 

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6866003/2025/12/05/minnesota-twins-offseason-plans-byron-buxton-joe-ryan/

[ashbury]

It's vitally important for the baseball fans in the Twin Cities to suffer despair over their team, in order for ownership to obtain an additional $400 million in their net worth.  That's what this uncertainty boils down to.  Accept or reject the economic system we live under, but that's the facts of life if you want to root for the Twins.

[Cory Engelhardt]

This article by Rosenthal, I know we are heavy in rumor season, but it is actually pretty encouraging.

 

1) Minnesota's goal is to keep Buxton, Lopez and Ryan and build around them to compete in 2026

2) "Club officials believe the team is talented enough to compete in the AL Central...And now that they have clarity from ownership, they believe they have "mild flexibility" to make additions.

3) The Twins need bullpen help after trading most of their relievers at the deadline and possibly a 1st baseman.

 

[tony&rodney]

Nothing new, at all.

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

Maybe the sale is closer to going through? 

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

And by sale, I mean the minority investors.

[tony&rodney]

1 minute ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

"Club officials believe the team is talented enough to compete in the AL Central...And now that they have clarity from ownership, they believe they have "mild flexibility" to make additions.

This is the same quote, verbatum, from each of the last two offseasons.

Without change, which does not mean trading any of the three guys, the Twins are at maximum a 75 win team. Worse yet, their style of play might remain the same: poor defense, slow on the bases, and difficulty hitting with runners on base. Pray for change.

[Cory Engelhardt]

4 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

Nothing new, at all.

Only that Rosenthal reported that they are not pushing to trade any of their bigger 3 guys, and that they want to build to add. 

[Cory Engelhardt]

Just now, tony&rodney said:

This is the same quote, verbatum, from each of the last two offseasons.

Without change, which does not mean trading any of the three guys, the Twins are at maximum a 75 win team. Worse yet, their style of play might remain the same: poor defense, slow on the bases, and difficulty hitting with runners on base. Pray for change.

Change does have to happen, especially up the middle defense and a real middle of the order bat. I agree completely. I also think getting more speed/range in the outfield compared to last year is imperative.

None of that means you have to trade Ryan or Lopez or Buxton

[mnfireman]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/12/twins-planning-to-keep-joe-ryan-byron-buxton-pablo-lopez.html

[tony&rodney]

2 minutes ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

Only that Rosenthal reported that they are not pushing to trade any of their bigger 3 guys, and that they want to build to add. 

Falvey has made those same statements three times before today since the season ended.

[tony&rodney]

2 minutes ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

Change does have to happen, especially up the middle defense and a real middle of the order bat. I agree completely. I also think getting more speed/range in the outfield compared to last year is imperative.

None of that means you have to trade Ryan or Lopez or Buxton

Yes, and I have been pounding change since the team went into a funk last summer. Whenever I hear core players, I wonder who people are talking about. Maybe starting pitching, yes. Buxton is the only core position player on the Twins team. If we say other guys, we may as well say Gonzalez, Rodriguez, Jenkins, Cardenas, Tait, etc. as core players. Yes, we have hopes for a number of currently rostered players but they are nowhere near core players. Change or lose, it is that simple. Change absolutely does not need to include trading any of Ryan, Lopez, or Buxton.

[Cory Engelhardt]

1 minute ago, tony&rodney said:

Yes, and I have been pounding change since the team went into a funk last summer. Whenever I hear core players, I wonder who people are talking about. Maybe starting pitching, yes. Buxton is the only core position player on the Twins team. If we say other guys, we may as well say Gonzalez, Rodriguez, Jenkins, Cardenas, Tait, etc. as core players. Yes, we have hopes for a number of currently rostered players but they are nowhere near core players. Change or lose, it is that simple. Change absolutely does not need to include trading any of Ryan, Lopez, or Buxton.

See, I look at Lewis and Keaschall as core guys. For 2026 only I still have Jeffers there too along with Buxton of course. The rest need to figure out either if they truly are mlb quality and/or where they can actually help on defense, which has to be the focus.

[tony&rodney]

10 minutes ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

See, I look at Lewis and Keaschall as core guys. For 2026 only I still have Jeffers there too along with Buxton of course. The rest need to figure out either if they truly are mlb quality and/or where they can actually help on defense, which has to be the focus.

If Lewis why not Julien or Clemens or Lee or Wallner or Larnach?

If Keaschall, why not Martin or Roden or Outman or Jenkins or Rodriguez or Gonzalez or Fitzgerald?

I may like Lewis and Keaschall quite a bit but they really have proven themsleves to this point. We know if Buxton is on the field he will be decent, we can't know that yet with any other guy. We hope though.

[Cory Engelhardt]

3 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

If Lewis why not Julien or Clemens or Lee or Wallner or Larnach?

If Keaschall, why not Martin or Roden or Outman or Jenkins or Rodriguez or Gonzalez or Fitzgerald?

I may like Lewis and Keaschall quite a bit but they really have proven themsleves to this point. We know if Buxton is on the field he will be decent, we can't know that yet with any other guy. We hope though.

Lewis has shown the ability in the past to perform like a star. I think that's still in him. Even last year his defense at 3rd was actually pretty good. Plus, top draft pick etc.

Keaschall showed through the minors that he can hit, and he showed in his time in the majors that he can hit. Still have to figure out his defensive home. I do hope his arm being fully a year out of surgery shows he is better capable of handing 2b or another defensive home.

Julien has never shown he can defend. Even if he gets back to hitting his best defensive home is DH. He could use a change of scenery.

Clemens, he actually graded pretty well defensively at 1B last year, but you aren't serious here are you?

Wallner has shown the bat to be a DH before or at least carry an .800 ops for multiple seasons. I'm not certain on his defensive home though.

Larnach, c'mon, be serious please.

Martin and Roden, at least to start 2026, I like the combo of them in the outfield a LOT more defensively than I do Wallner and Larnach. We'll see what they can do with their bats.

Outman, I don't know. He can defend but he is out of options and hasn't performed for a long time.

Jenkins will get his shot when he is ready. Rodriguez too.

Gonzalez, I hope he can defend well enough to show his bat can play, but he wouldn't be above Roden or Martin for me.

Fitzgerald, really? Good story.

[tony&rodney]

2 minutes ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

Lewis has shown the ability in the past to perform like a star. I think that's still in him. Even last year his defense at 3rd was actually pretty good. Plus, top draft pick etc.

Keaschall showed through the minors that he can hit, and he showed in his time in the majors that he can hit. Still have to figure out his defensive home. I do hope his arm being fully a year out of surgery shows he is better capable of handing 2b or another defensive home.

Julien has never shown he can defend. Even if he gets back to hitting his best defensive home is DH. He could use a change of scenery.

Clemens, he actually graded pretty well defensively at 1B last year, but you aren't serious here are you?

Wallner has shown the bat to be a DH before or at least carry an .800 ops for multiple seasons. I'm not certain on his defensive home though.

Larnach, c'mon, be serious please.

Martin and Roden, at least to start 2026, I like the combo of them in the outfield a LOT more defensively than I do Wallner and Larnach. We'll see what they can do with their bats.

Outman, I don't know. He can defend but he is out of options and hasn't performed for a long time.

Jenkins will get his shot when he is ready. Rodriguez too.

Gonzalez, I hope he can defend well enough to show his bat can play, but he wouldn't be above Roden or Martin for me.

Fitzgerald, really? Good story.

Agree with much of what you say, but none of these players are established players in my opinion and thus not what I would call "core" guys. Way too many ifs to every name. 

The players I have the most confidence in to perform in 2026 if given the chance are: Keaschall, Jenkins, Gonzalez (DH), and Culpepper. This will draw ire and disagreement but that is just one person's opinion. I'm not ready to call any of these guys core players though. Ton of ifs in that short list.

[Cory Engelhardt]

6 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

Agree with much of what you say, but none of these players are established players in my opinion and thus not what I would call "core" guys. Way too many ifs to every name. 

The players I have the most confidence in to perform in 2026 if given the chance are: Keaschall, Jenkins, Gonzalez (DH), and Culpepper. This will draw ire and disagreement but that is just one person's opinion. I'm not ready to call any of these guys core players though. Ton of ifs in that short list.

I can’t get there with Gonzalez. But I like your optimism with the others. They will have an opportunity for sure.

The one I keep coming to is Brooks Lee. I’m hopeful his back issues are behind him

[MileHighTwinsFan]

1 hour ago, Cody Christie said:

Earlier today, Rosenthal reported that the Twins plan to hold on to Buxton, Ryan, and Lopez. 

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6866003/2025/12/05/minnesota-twins-offseason-plans-byron-buxton-joe-ryan/

Thank you! Falvey has been saying this for weeks, but no one took him at his word. So maybe now we can put all this trade chatter and doomsaying to rest. 

[SF Twins Fan]

The mushy middle, yay!!  Unless the Poohlads are willing to spend money on a real 1b and three + bullpen pitchers this team is going to be .500 at best.

Why would any good MLB player sign with the Twins this offseason with all the instability going on with ownership?  Unless the front office is able to overpay, which we all know the Poohlads won't allow that, they won't be able to get any difference makers.

They are relying solely on vast improvements from Lewis, Lee, Roden, Martin, Wallner, Abel, Ober, SWR, and the entire bullpen.  You can't go into the season needing 12 players to have career years and expect to be a competitive baseball team.  

[Woof Bronzer]

1 hour ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

This article by Rosenthal, I know we are heavy in rumor season, but it is actually pretty encouraging.

 

1) Minnesota's goal is to keep Buxton, Lopez and Ryan and build around them to compete in 2026

2) "Club officials believe the team is talented enough to compete in the AL Central...And now that they have clarity from ownership, they believe they have "mild flexibility" to make additions.

3) The Twins need bullpen help after trading most of their relievers at the deadline and possibly a 1st baseman.

 

I don't know if that's encouraging.  Help me figure out this equation:

60 win current roster + ??? (with little if any payroll increase, and possible a decrease) = 80-90 win roster  needed to "compete"  

Can you fill in the ???  

The Twins FO thought the 24 team was good enough to compete in the Central, so that's how they approached last offseason.  It is extremely alarming to hear them consider doing the same thing this offseason and expecting different results.  

I am extremely discouraged by this reporting.  It feels like the FO is as delusional as some of the fan base as to the quality of this roster.  It pains me to keep saying it but this is one of the worst rosters in the game. 

Consider the insanity of this statement:  "The Nationals front office believes the team is talented enough to compete in 2026."  If they actually said this they would get laughed out of the room.  The Twins were 3 games worse than the Nats after the deadline.    

 

[Woof Bronzer]

21 minutes ago, MileHighTwinsFan said:

Thank you! Falvey has been saying this for weeks, but no one took him at his word. So maybe now we can put all this trade chatter and doomsaying to rest. 

Ah yes, noted truth teller Derek Falvey, who claimed that the deadline sell off wasn't a fire sale but an intentional effort to improve the 2025 team.  We should definitely take his word salad on everything.  

[sweetmusicviola16]

5 minutes ago, Woof Bronzer said:

I don't know if that's encouraging.  Help me figure out this equation:

60 win current roster + ??? (with little if any payroll increase, and possible a decrease) = 80-90 win roster  needed to "compete"  

Can you fill in the ???  

The Twins FO thought the 24 team was good enough to compete in the Central, so that's how they approached last offseason.  It is extremely alarming to hear them consider doing the same thing this offseason and expecting different results.  

I am extremely discouraged by this reporting.  It feels like the FO is as delusional as some of the fan base as to the quality of this roster.  It pains me to keep saying it but this is one of the worst rosters in the game. 

Consider the insanity of this statement:  "The Nationals front office believes the team is talented enough to compete in 2026."  If they actually said this they would get laughed out of the room.  The Twins were 3 games worse than the Nats after the deadline.    

 

The team that finished out the season was a 55 win team, and I feel like that bunch played hard overall and did well to win as many as they did. This team would need to spend 50mil to become a "contender" and they aren't going to do that. I expect they will spend 10-12mil and be maybe a 60 win team. And they aren't going to trade the pieces which will make them an actual competitive team in the future. They will squander the value of those pieces. Welcome to the LAA of the past decade.

[lecroy24fan]

1 hour ago, Twins_Fan_in_NJ said:

Maybe the sale is closer to going through? 

Darren Wolfson of KSTP-TV said last night that it's expected to be announced who the investors are by the end of next week. 

[tony&rodney]

37 minutes ago, MileHighTwinsFan said:

Thank you! Falvey has been saying this for weeks, but no one took him at his word. So maybe now we can put all this trade chatter and doomsaying to rest. 

Yes, Falvey repeats pretty much everything he says. "We have a championship team with talent.  .... we like our team, etc. Nothing new. Believe him? Now I think you want to start a discussion on that. I'll bow out.

Most people were suggesting trying to keep the players but acknowledging the need for change. The Doom is sure to come if Falvey rolls it back once again or do people believe the third time is a charm.

 

[jctwins]

Considering someone is clearly testing the narrative of a full tear down, I'm getting closer to being disappointed if they don't do it. Blow this mess up and get value for these guys, and let them go play for real orgs.

[tony&rodney]

22 minutes ago, Woof Bronzer said:

Consider the insanity of this statement:  "The Nationals front office believes the team is talented enough to compete in 2026."  If they actually said this they would get laughed out of the room.  The Twins were 3 games worse than the Nats after the deadline.    

 

And yet a fair number of people believe the AL Central is within reach with this current roster. I will continue to hope for change.

[SteveLV]

This would be, IMO, a huge mistake.  They might get to 85 wins if the injury bug stays away, but where are they going then????  

If they want to make us believe, then open up the wallet, let the moths fly out, and sign Ryan and Jeffers to extensions. THEN we can believe.

Otherwise threading the needle to mediocrity does NOTHING.  This team played .333 baseball after the All Star break.  Sure, they get Lopez back hopefully healthy, but what else is going to change?  Jenkins is Willie Mays and ERod is Roberto Clemente?

This would be severely disappointing.  I love Buxton, love Lopez, like Ryan, but they have no future on this team if they are not going to give extensions to their best players.

[MileHighTwinsFan]

49 minutes ago, Woof Bronzer said:

Ah yes, noted truth teller Derek Falvey, who claimed that the deadline sell off wasn't a fire sale but an intentional effort to improve the 2025 team.  We should definitely take his word salad on everything.  

You may not have liked it, but that is what he did.  He got out of a contract that was never going to pay off, traded a bunch of expiring contracts, and relief pitchers to bring in future starters, relievers, and MLB ready position players. The team was going nowhere, he knew it, and he took action.

[MileHighTwinsFan]

38 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

Yes, Falvey repeats pretty much everything he says. "We have a championship team with talent.  .... we like our team, etc. Nothing new. Believe him? Now I think you want to start a discussion on that. I'll bow out.

Most people were suggesting trying to keep the players but acknowledging the need for change. The Doom is sure to come if Falvey rolls it back once again or do people believe the third time is a charm.

 

I think he believes what he says. I don’t think he is lying. He is trying to win every year.  However, he has to work with what ownership gives him.