Trevor Plouffe Backs Tom Pohlad. Should Minnesota Twins Fans?

[Matthew Lenz]

Image courtesy of © Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images

Tom Pohlad has had a lot to say since taking over as principal owner roughly two months ago. As our own Cody Christie pointed out, none of it really seems to make sense and the message only gets harder and harder to follow every time he's in front of a microphone. Or, maybe…just maybe we shouldn’t hold Tom accountable for the poor decisions of the Pohlads who came before him. At least that's what one Minnesota Twins alumnus is encouraging fans to consider.

Former 1st round pick and Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe met with Pohlad via a Zoom call on Friday afternoon and “left the conversation feeling really, really excited about the future of the Twins.” By way of a video shared from his X account (that Plouffe alleges Pohlad didn't ask him to make), Plouffe shared that Pohlad reached out to him to set up the call to get Plouffe’s “thoughts on the organization, where we’ve been, [and] where we need to go.”

Despite coming prepared for the call, Plouffe was told that Pohlad would talk first after which Plouffe told Pohlad he was “going to do great at this”. Plouffe went on to share that Pohlad “touched on” every one of the notes that he had prepared and that the call was a “breath of fresh air.” While Plouffe calls himself “bullish on this team” and an “optimist”, he pleads for fans to give “the Twins and Tom a chance this year.”

Label me a cynic, because I'm not sold.

While I'll give credit to Tom for speaking more and more candidly than any of the family members he succeeded, at the end of the day he's a businessman. Moreover, he's in real estate. He's a professional salesman and it's to be determined whether he's a professional baseball owner.  While those are all facts, it’s my opinion that until he proves otherwise he's nothing more than a schmoozer. He allegedly believes that this Twins team, which is mostly the same as the team who went 19-35 in the last season two months of 2025, can compete in 2026. Yet, we’re two months removed from him taking on his new role and the Twins payroll sits roughly $35 million below last Opening Day and $70 million below the MLB average. Tom talked about 2026 being “critical to the success” of “building a business that can be playing competitive baseball for a string of seasons in a row.” Yet, the highlight of his short tenure as principal owner is spending $21 million on two average at best players (Josh Bell and Victor Caratini), one of whom opens the door to trading the third highest paid player on the roster (Ryan Jeffers). So, in case you got lost like I did, 2026 is “critical” but not critical enough to make moves that make the team meaningfully better.

While I have enjoyed following Trevor’s post playing career, especially with how much love he's always shown the Twins, I don't feel obligated to just give Tom Pohlad a chance on a whim. After all, trust isn't given, it's earned. In fact, a little trust was lost hearing that Tom demanded to talk first. He wanted to control the conversation. He wanted to make sure Trevor heard what he had to say before Trevor had the chance to speak for himself. Take any class on leadership and you’ll learn how important listening is to being an effective leader. Tom didn’t listen, he told Trevor what he wanted to hear. In my opinion, he wanted to control the narrative. In my opinion, Trevor was schmoozed.

So, call me a cynic because I am. Until Tom earns my trust, he's paying for what Joe Pohlad (and Jim before him) “got wrong.” However, at the end of the day, I am a Twins fan through and through. A few years from now, I hope I'm the one that got it wrong.

Does listening to what Trevor shared change how you feel about the Twins as a team or Tom Pohlad as the new principal owner? Join the conversation in the comments!

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[OregonTwinsFan]

Good article. I agree.

[CRF]

Guilty until proven innocent. 

[Parfigliano]

24 minutes ago, CRF said:

Guilty until proven innocent. 

Saying that is the fast track out of jury duty.

[D.C Twins]

Guilty already with his last name and subterfuge that he has propagated since he started running his mouth... 

They kept Ryan, Lopez, and Buxton in a desperate attempt to prop up season ticket sales, but added absolutely nothing to improve the 92 loss team from last year. 

Phase 2 of the total tear down will happen at the 2026 trade deadline.... I would absolutely support that strategy if we actually had an owner and GM who knew how to maximize trade return... but alas... we do not.

Hello rock.... I'm hard place.... nice to meet you!

[Blyleven2011]

DO YOU BELIEVE  , YES I BELIEVE WE HAVE BEEN SCHMOOZED  ....

But the games must be played , let's hope some of the additions will help the team and the changes will help the organization  ...

[Western SD Fan]

Multiple things can be true at once:

1.  Most of us still want the Pohlads to sell the team regardless of what Tom says or does.  I honestly believe that Tom authorized a payroll of $150M+ and there would still be quite a few fans who would still want the Pohlads to sell (me included).

2.  Tom may be the more competent Pohlad of the group and was brought in to stabilize the product in order to retain its value for a future sale, likely after the CBA negotiations.

3.  Tom may be paying us fans lip service in an effort to get us back to the stadium.  What he has publicly said gives off the impression he knows they screwed up in previous years.  Couple that with the promotions for the upcoming season, the phone calls to season ticket holders and to outspoken critics such as Plouffe and Tom is at least making the effort to reach out to Twins fans.

I still want the Pohlads to sell.  Until that day happens, I hope I get to watch the best Twins team that I can and that seems to be what is going to happen this season rather than bottoming out.

[theBOMisthebomb]

Spring training just started. It's alright to be optimistic. 

[bunsen82]

Tom appears to want to improve the product and have a good team,  but doesn't seem to be walking the talk that he has proceeded with.  He stated they were going to be willing to spend to get 2 more relievers.   In reality - we did neither.  we traded for a low cost reliever and have signed an abundance of bullpen AAA roster invitees. 

I have been as critical as many on the bullpen.  I have also said you get to a point, where the best strategy for the bullpen is to find enough suitable arms then load up roster invitees because its clear this team will have opportunities.  As of now I am expecting a slightly below average bullpen - but it won't be the dearth of a bullpen we ran with at the end of last year.  It appears we will have multiple competent arms, but as of now if we are ahead by a run, no one that I feel confident in that can close it out.  

I liked Falvey more than most here.  I am left with 2 major question marks.  Is Tom that unrealistic that his vision just is unachievable to any solid baseball GM  (Falvey) - or did he come in to clean house and Falvey was unwilling to be his fall boy.  This issue is if thats the case, then if the Twins fall on their face,  its all on Toms shoulders.   The next is we have 2 individuals in charge of the team that have minimal experience.  I expected to make a trade for Banda - and the $500k  likely wasn't going to make a difference for the Twins - but that is still quite a bit to give away.   I still think we win this trade, but the 1 thing with Falvey was, I always felt we would win Trades,  I have no confidence currently.  

I am more concerned that it appears we have cut our scouting department and possibly cut some in the analytics department.  I liked last years draft for now.  To me it looks very promising - but if we are cutting costs and it is not going to result in continue to build up the prospects the organization needs - getting the 3rd pick this year may not matter.    The only advantage is - we may have an elite talent fall in our laps and it may not matter for a singular year.  However for the long term it is still not a good situation.   

[sweetmusicviola16]

Trevor is free to think and say what he wants. Others such as myself are as well, this team is a dysfunctional mess. 

[Old Twins Hat]

Lots of hate out there.

Going to check my browser because it says this is a Twins' fans site.

Not sure what happened.

[chpettit19]

When actual changes to how the team is run and performs on a consistent basis are made, I will change my opinion on the team. I've done it before, and I assume most of us here have. I'll do it again, and I assume most of us here will. But I'm not going to do it just because Trevor Plouffe tells me Tom Pohlad touched on the same bullet points he had written down. Tom didn't tell me his plan. And what his plan is doesn't matter, anyway. His execution of his plan, and what those results are, is all that matters. 

Once we see that, I'll change my opinion. Or further entrench my opinion. But so far, I have been unimpressed. I hope Tom is right. And I'll do as Tom asked and judge this team by wins and losses and meaningful September baseball. I also hope Plouffe is right and Wallner launches 50 bombs this year. That'd be a good step towards meaningful September baseball.

[ziggy]

If Plouffe had come out and said T-3 was lying to our faces what would be the chances of Plouffe ever getting a job on Twins broadcasts?

T-3 seems to be trying to do damage control. Talking directly to the players. Season ticket holders. Media(influencers).

I'm just wondering.....for a team so heavily dependent on scouting and drafting is it wise to gut the scouting department down to the bone as it is now?

[Richie the Rally Goat]

I’ll believe it when I see it.

[old nurse]

1 hour ago, theBOMisthebomb said:

Spring training just started. It's alright to be optimistic. 

Not with most of this crowd

[old nurse]

26 minutes ago, ziggy said:

If Plouffe had come out and said T-3 was lying to our faces what would be the chances of Plouffe ever getting a job on Twins broadcasts?

T-3 seems to be trying to do damage control. Talking directly to the players. Season ticket holders. Media(influencers).

I'm just wondering.....for a team so heavily dependent on scouting and drafting is it wise to gut the scouting department down to the bone as it is now?

They cut the guy scouting department down by 4 scouts. With all of the analytics data available through statcast there should be no loss of information. How is that cutting the scouting department to the bone?

[LewFordLives]

I want this team to succeed. I'm willing to give Tom Pohlad and Mr. Zoll the benefit of the doubt for at least a little while. They can't possibly be worse than what preceded them.   In Tom Pohlad's case, honest answers would go a long way. The fans aren't stupid and we're tired of the corporate double speak. If the team is losing money just say so. No more "right sizing" the payroll and trading away veterans with no explanation and no communication of a plan.

[ziggy]

Quote

The Minnesota Twins just made a huge shake-up in their front office, cutting four out of five members from their pro scouting staff. 

If my math is correct, cutting 4 out of 5 scouts only leaves one scout left. I'd say if they cut anymore they would have none. I'd call that to the bone.

[NYCTK]

38 minutes ago, ziggy said:

T-3

Why are people giving the owner a nickname? He's not the third T, nor the third managing owner in the Pohlad era, so I don't get it. 

Only people I like get nicknames. It's a practice of endearment to me. 

[Heiny]

Chill out everyone!!!!  Remember, it doesn't matter who wins or loses.  Jus as long as the players are having fun.

[old nurse]

7 minutes ago, ziggy said:

If my math is correct, cutting 4 out of 5 scouts only leaves one scout left. I'd say if they cut anymore they would have none. I'd call that to the bone.

The information about what a professional player does on the professional level is all available on Stacast. Do you think they need 5 scouts to go through the information daily when there is a analytics department that can spit the names out of the files for any type of player there is? There is still the amateur scouting departments. 

[Linus]

I am as skeptical of the Pohlads as anybody and Tom’s double talk about trying to win in 26 while leaving payroll low doesn’t help. But if a shake up was needed, the Twins have done quite a bit. They essentially fired the top two members of the org in Joe P and Falvey - that is pretty significant albeit more behind the scenes. So if you throw the manager in there 3 of the 4 most important positions have been changed. I’m guessing Zoll is on a short leash as well. These are big changes they just don’t impact wins and losses for a while. This gives me more optimism than the moves made to the roster. 

[sweetmusicviola16]

45 minutes ago, NYCTK said:

Why are people giving the owner a nickname? He's not the third T, nor the third managing owner in the Pohlad era, so I don't get it. 

Only people I like get nicknames. It's a practice of endearment to me. 

Tough Talking Tom = T-3

 

I think it suits him until he proves otherwise.

[JADBP]

1 hour ago, LewFordLives said:

I want this team to succeed. I'm willing to give Tom Pohlad and Mr. Zoll the benefit of the doubt for at least a little while. They can't possibly be worse than what preceded them.   In Tom Pohlad's case, honest answers would go a long way. The fans aren't stupid and we're tired of the corporate double speak. If the team is losing money just say so. No more "right sizing" the payroll and trading away veterans with no explanation and no communication of a plan.

Right on!  They are trying to succeed and they are the new Sheriffs so its their turn to fly or die.  While I expect an interesting season,  I've cancelled my MLB.tv subscription because my team (the Twins) and not likely to surprise anyone.  That said, I am giving Tom and Zoll a chance to succeed.  

I am encouraged by Tom calling everyone.  That is a good sign...that he is willing to listen and learn and bounce ideas around to learn how MLB management works.  Right off, he is not acting like the smartest guy in the room (like former mgmt did).  I think Tom is going to do far better than Joe.  But, I'm not sure how much he can learn in just 1 season.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

1 hour ago, old nurse said:

They cut the guy scouting department down by 4 scouts. With all of the analytics data available through statcast there should be no loss of information. How is that cutting the scouting department to the bone?

It was a team of 5

[TheLeviathan]

[Craig Arko]

1 hour ago, Richie the Rally Goat said:

It was a team of 5

Welcome to AI world.

[Dave Borton]

I think Plouffie believes T-3 to a degree, conditioned along with Plouffie's positive optimism and the seat in the broadcast booth.

In my book, Plouffie is grading this team at a C+.  I am going with a 74-88.

 

[Nshore]

I'll probably be eviscerated for this comment.  But these days I think back with appreciation to the Calvin Griffith/Sherry Robertson/Jim Rantz days.  Obviously Calvin had his issues, but he was an owner who was a baseball man to his core.  He understood the game. Killebrew, Carew, Oliva, Blyleven, Kaat, Puckett - Hall of Famers who could compete with anyone.  Now, I'm thankful when a new year comes and the Twins haven't moved out of state.

[Blyleven2011]

3 hours ago, LewFordLives said:

I want this team to succeed. I'm willing to give Tom Pohlad and Mr. Zoll the benefit of the doubt for at least a little while. They can't possibly be worse than what preceded them.   In Tom Pohlad's case, honest answers would go a long way. The fans aren't stupid and we're tired of the corporate double speak. If the team is losing money just say so. No more "right sizing" the payroll and trading away veterans with no explanation and no communication of a plan.

Let's hope they have learned some lessons on getting this organization back from being one of the most poorly run teams in baseball  ...

I want to see smart moves , not the head scratchers falvey Always did ...

So far the changes haven't really changed my mind  , still wading through the shallow end of the pool of players  ...

Be wise grasshopper , money doesn't grow on trees , but poor spending like falvey did , ( they should of just burned the money ) ...

So far we have matched last year's acquisitions  , bell , caratini and banda  verses last year's France,  Bader and Colombe  ...

From what Tom has said , the spending will be done when the team can prove it can win , we'll that isnt going to make the twins winners over night ...

I just hope we aren't a further embarrassment to the league , are we any better than last year , let's play the game and have an article after 40 games , that should tell us what kind of team we will have ...