Reviewing the Twins' Organizational Talent Landscape Entering 2026

[Nashvilletwin]

Just now, Linus said:

I hope you are right and that the FO saying they want to build around them is lip service and he is dealt in the next month. The upside of keeping him is minimal and the upside of trading him is huge. 

Exactly - especially if the chances of extending him are practically zero. Why? 1. We can’t afford him. 2. If there’s a strike (as predicted), his value will be even higher than if there is not a strike (one less year if wear and tear). 3. He doesn’t want to be here anyway.  Btw, he’s the only Twin who’s going to arbitration this year.  4. Boras.

Agree, he should be dealt by opening day. 

[Linus]

10 minutes ago, Nashvilletwin said:

Exactly - especially if the chances of extending him are practically zero. Why? 1. We can’t afford him. 2. If there’s a strike (as predicted), his value will be even higher than if there is not a strike (one less year if wear and tear). 3. He doesn’t want to be here anyway.  Btw, he’s the only Twin who’s going to arbitration this year.  4. Boras.

Agree, he should be dealt by opening day. 

And while I have no keen insight into the labor / lockout situation that 9 new clubs cancelled their RSN options tells me they will be more in the Twins boat. This means there will be a bunch of clubs motivated to gain some ground in a new CBA making it more likely that more of the season is sacrificed which in turns makes Ryan’s final contract year FAR less valuable in the trade market. 

[Thumbs Down Guy]

6 hours ago, bean5302 said:

This is how the Colorado Rockies operate, except Rockies games are fun to attend.

I find this comment very interesting and would like to hear why going to a 43-119 team’s game is fun, but going to a 70-92 team’s game is not. Is it because you are not a fan of the Rockies and so you can just go and watch a game? Do they play a more interesting style of ball? A better venue? What?

[JD-TWINS]

6 hours ago, Linus said:

The chicken little and hari Kari comments are red herrings. I’m merely pointing out that for the Twins to have success this year nearly all the question marks will have to break their way. Can it happen? Sure, there have been several worst to first seasons by Teams including the Twins. Is it likely? Nope. But that is my opinion and we all get to choose what we will expect. Flawed teams are far more likely to suffer from their flaws than end up twitch that magical season. 

My opinion/point is that I’m just setting the bar for “average” performances. There’s no serendipity expected in my comments……..it’s all stuff that should be baseline. I’m not suggesting the Team will have 3-4 All Stars. Maybe I wasn’t clear - I do not expect, nor should anyone, think that the Twins are going to have a bunch of great years from players but I do think it’s reasonable to expect guys to revert to their norms. Certainly, not everyone’s performances will be positive. I just think that if they get repeat decent output from a handful of guys and another half dozen revert to their norm, Team can be competitive in the A.L. Central.

Not having Kiersey - Gasper - Vazquez - Juilen stepping into the batter’s box should also be a big step in the right direction. Go Twins!

[JD-TWINS]

3 hours ago, Thumbs Down Guy said:

I find this comment very interesting and would like to hear why going to a 43-119 team’s game is fun, but going to a 70-92 team’s game is not. Is it because you are not a fan of the Rockies and so you can just go and watch a game? Do they play a more interesting style of ball? A better venue? What?

I assume they play better between innings games - play better music - have nice summer evening weather - give away some Coors??? Don’t think it has anything to do with quality of baseball.

[twinstalker]

I'm not sure how high you can put an unaccomplished pitcher on a list like this, but Zebby to me is the 5th best asset.

[bean5302]

16 hours ago, Thumbs Down Guy said:

I find this comment very interesting and would like to hear why going to a 43-119 team’s game is fun, but going to a 70-92 team’s game is not. Is it because you are not a fan of the Rockies and so you can just go and watch a game? Do they play a more interesting style of ball? A better venue? What?

Because the stadium is full, fans are having fun, the music selection and fan interaction is superior. It all caters to energy. Even the walk up music players select is upbeat, fun and engaging.

The number one bad thing for attending games? Empty seats.

[TheLeviathan]

Speaking to the landscape of this team's talent......

I know you need a lot of starters in the big leagues but by my count we have the following guys all either in the rotation or being ready to make that next step:

Ryan, Lopez, Ober, SWR, Zebby, Festa, Abel, Bradley, and Rojas.   And you might possibly add a guy like Riley Quick, Prielipp, and Raya to that list depending upon how you see them.

Seriously.....why have we not dealt at least one of those guys so our putrid lineup could get an injection of life?  You know.....the lineup we see every day and not every fifth day?

[jorgenswest]

On 1/12/2026 at 8:03 AM, Riverbrian said:

We could get a Walker Jenkins type talent for Joe right now.

I am not confident this is true. I am confident it will be reported as fact by many future posts on TD.

Fangraphs has not done their postseason update for the Twins. We do have that from MLB. Their pipeline has rising to number 10. I think if the Twins were offered Norm McLean at number 11 Joe would have been traded to the Mets. I think if they were offered number 7 Basallo from the Orioles Joe would have been traded. The A’s De Vries was in some rumors but I am sure he wasn’t offered to the Twins for Ryan. The only player on the top 20 that may have been offered was the Giants first basemen Eldridge. That is a hard offer to take given his left wrist injury and surgery. If he didn’t play first base and had to take the stress of every throw it might be different. I posted earlier the medical analysis of that injury and the challenge for first basemen.

I am guessing they were offered multiple FV45 to 50 level talent much like the offer for Berrios. As of the deadline no team had more players in that group than the Twins. They need to get that top flight talent like Jenkins. If there is sourced reporting that they turned down players in the Jenkins range like Basallo or McLean I will join you in my disappointment that he wasn’t moved. Prospects like that rarely get moved this decade.

i think that is why Joe Ryan is still a Twin. Maybe it is why Skubal is still a Tiger. Once those kinds of offers become a reality we might need to wait for Skubal to move before Ryan.

[Riverbrian]

7 minutes ago, jorgenswest said:

I am not confident this is true. I am confident it will be reported as fact by many future posts on TD.

Fangraphs has not done their postseason update for the Twins. We do have that from MLB. Their pipeline has rising to number 10. I think if the Twins were offered Norm McLean at number 11 Joe would have been traded to the Mets. I think if they were offered number 7 Basallo from the Orioles Joe would have been traded. The A’s De Vries was in some rumors but I am sure he wasn’t offered to the Twins for Ryan. The only player on the top 20 that may have been offered was the Giants first basemen Eldridge. That is a hard offer to take given his left wrist injury and surgery. If he didn’t play first base and had to take the stress of every throw it might be different. I posted earlier the medical analysis of that injury and the challenge for first basemen.

I am guessing they were offered multiple FV45 to 50 level talent much like the offer for Berrios. As of the deadline no team had more players in that group than the Twins. They need to get that top flight talent like Jenkins. If there is sourced reporting that they turned down players in the Jenkins range like Basallo or McLean I will join you in my disappointment that he wasn’t moved. Prospects like that rarely get moved this decade.

i think that is why Joe Ryan is still a Twin. Maybe it is why Skubal is still a Tiger. Once those kinds of offers become a reality we might need to wait for Skubal to move before Ryan.

I can't dispute anything you are saying. You don't see a lot of movement when it comes to the top rated prospects.

The big boys are the teams most willing to part with prospects. They typical don't jump off the cliff with young players because they fill roster spots with Joe Ryan's via trade. Even those teams will hang on to Roman Anthony with both hands. 

I'll just say... Joe Ryan's trade value is pretty high right now and I don't think it will get higher. If Joe has the chance to get a player with talent beyond the #4 ranked prospect in a system. I'd do it. 

I think it's quite possible that desperation will over take discipline at some point. Once Framber and Ranger have signed. Once Peralta has been traded and the decent options have found new homes. Teams who still need starters will be a little more agreeable.