Three Names, One Question: Who Should the Twins Extend?

[Cody Christie]

As part of the Twins’ 2026 Home Opener, Twins owner Tom Pohlad sat down with the media and discussed the outlook for the upcoming season. Naturally, the conversation turned toward the organization’s young talent and how to keep that group invested long term.

“I think, again, what we’ve done from a culture standpoint, the relationships we’re building in the clubhouse, the leadership changes that you’ve seen, particularly with Derek Shelton at the helm, I think those things matter and as we go throughout the year here, there’s going to be more and more opportunities for us to put words into action and ultimately I think that’s what will make the Luke Keaschalls of the world and everybody else want to be a Twin for a lot longer.”

When pressed about whether the organization had already approached players about extensions, Pohlad kept things close to the vest.

“I’m not going to get into what we have or haven’t done.”

Still, he tipped his hand just enough by naming Taj Bradley, Luke Keaschall, and Mick Abel as players the Twins would like to keep around for the long haul. That trio represents three very different extension cases, and each comes with its own set of risks and rewards.

Taj Bradley: Electric Arm, Uneven Track Record
Bradley has looked like the best pitcher on the roster through the first couple turns of the rotation. The raw stuff has always been there, but now it is jumping off the page. He even became the first Twins pitcher in the pitch tracking era to reach triple digits on a fastball, a milestone that speaks to just how loud his arsenal can be.

The Twins believe they unlocked something after acquiring him at last year’s trade deadline. Mechanical tweaks and pitch usage changes appear to be paying early dividends. If that version of Bradley is real, then locking him up before arbitration gets expensive could be a savvy move.

But this is where things get tricky. Bradley already has nearly 400 big league innings under his belt, and the results have been inconsistent. A 4.75 ERA paired with a 4.32 FIP, along with a 25.0 K% and an 8.7 BB%, paints the picture of a pitcher who has flashed but not sustained success. Committing long-term to that profile requires a strong belief that the recent changes are permanent, not just a short-term spike.

An extension here would be a bet on development. The upside is a frontline starter at a discounted rate. The downside is paying for a version of Bradley that has not consistently existed yet.

Luke Keaschall: Dynamic Bat, Lingering Questions
Keaschall might be the most exciting player of the bunch right now. He has been electric at the big-league level, showing the ability to hit for average, tap into power, and impact the game on the bases. Early returns in 2026 suggest his bat speed has taken another step forward, which could unlock even more pop. That kind of offensive profile is exactly what teams look to build around.

From a team control standpoint, there is less urgency. Keaschall is under control through 2031, which gives the Twins plenty of runway. However, that also creates an opportunity. If the organization truly believes he is a foundational bat, extending him early could buy out arbitration years at a lower cost and potentially secure a few free agent seasons.

The hesitation comes from durability and defensive uncertainty. Keaschall has already dealt with multiple injuries, including Tommy John surgery and a broken arm. That is not something to ignore, especially for a player whose value is tied to athleticism and bat speed. There is also the question of where he ultimately plays. He has been a below-average second baseman, and while versatility can be valuable, not having a clear defensive home complicates long-term projections.

Extending Keaschall would be a bet on the bat carrying the profile regardless of position. If he hits like a middle-of-the-order threat, it works. If injuries linger or the defensive fit never settles, it becomes more complicated.

Mick Abel: High Ceiling, Wide Range of Outcomes
Abel might be the most fascinating case of the three. He earned the fifth starter role out of spring training, beating out Zebby Matthews after an impressive camp. The biggest development was improved control, something that had eluded him at times in the upper-minors (10. BB% in 2025). Pair that with his ability to miss bats, and you start to see why the Twins dream on him as a potential front-of-the-rotation arm.

That is the version of Abel that makes an extension enticing. If everything clicks, the Twins could be looking at a cost-controlled starter with top-of-the-rotation upside. Those are the types of players organizations try to lock up early, before the price tag reflects the ceiling.

But there is a reason he was available in the first place. The Phillies were willing to move Abel in the deal that brought Jhoan Duran to Philadelphia, and part of that calculus was risk. Abel’s control has been inconsistent, and there is still a real possibility that he settles in as more of a back-end starter rather than an ace. The gap between those outcomes is significant, both in value and in how an extension would age.

For the Twins, it comes down to confidence in their player development. If they believe the control gains are real, extending Abel early could look brilliant. If not, it is another example of paying for projection rather than production.

The Bigger Picture
What Pohlad said without saying it is that the Twins are at a crossroads with their young core. Extending players early can be a powerful tool. It builds goodwill, creates cost certainty, and can lock in cornerstone talent before prices escalate. It also comes with risk, especially when the players involved have not fully established themselves.

Bradley, Keaschall, and Abel each represent a different version of that gamble. One has electric stuff but an uneven résumé. One looks like a budding star but carries injury and positional questions. One offers frontline upside with a wide range of outcomes.

The Twins do not need to rush. But if they are serious about turning words into action, these are exactly the types of decisions that will define what this next competitive window looks like.

Which player makes the most sense for an extension? Leave a comment and start the discussion.

 

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[mikelink45]

Keaschall and Bradley!

[Whitey333]

Actually none of them.  The idea of the Twins extending any young player may be intriguing but seems preposterous and not somethings the Twins

[Bodie]

If those are choices, it is a no brainer.  No discussion, no debate. Only one has shown for even a short period to be a MLer.

Double-A is full of live arms that can't pitch... heck, so are both levels of A ball!

[Whitey333]

Actually none of them.  The idea of the Twins extending any young player may be intriguing but seems preposterous and not somethings the Twins consider anyway.  Twins need to learn how to scout better.  Oh that's right they got rid of the scouting department pretty much.  They really need to develop these so called can't miss prospects much better.  They must also drop this policy if thinking they have to keep a player like Outman because hes out of options.  Such very strange roster decisions this year.  Anyway bottom line is no to extending any of those mentioned in the article.  They are under team control.  

[TopGunn#22]

Luke Keaschall.  

[NYCTK]

I think extending pitchers that aren't locks in the rotation would be foolish. But Keaschall would be wise with the potential changes in arbitration, early years for team controlled players coming up next season. Those years could potentially become significantly more expensive. 

[DJL44]

Possibly all three. Some extensions for young players are going to blow up in your face but if you make enough of them you come out ahead. The question is obviously about the cost. I don't know why Abel would take a team friendly long-term deal at the low cost that is his current value. Keaschall is a second baseman, and they don't make a lot of money in free agency so he shouldn't cost much either. Bradley is one where you make the deal now or you never have another opportunity. If he maintains this peformance for the whole season they won't be able to afford him.

[Coach Wheels]

1 hour ago, Whitey333 said:

Actually none of them.  The idea of the Twins extending any young player may be intriguing but seems preposterous and not somethings the Twins consider anyway.  Twins need to learn how to scout better.  Oh that's right they got rid of the scouting department pretty much.  They really need to develop these so called can't miss prospects much better.  They must also drop this policy if thinking they have to keep a player like Outman because hes out of options.  Such very strange roster decisions this year.  Anyway bottom line is no to extending any of those mentioned in the article.  They are under team control.  

Tend to agree with this take. While all 3 have the "potential" of being very good major league players, this organization is in no position to extend players on potential. There is a ton of work to be done in drafting players, developing players, and then paying players. This ownership group isn't part of the solution right now.

[saviking]

Only Wakter Jenkins but if I was Jenkins I wouldn't go for it. 

 

And of cource, Joe Ryan .. 

 

[twinstalker]

Keaschall is scaring me.  He is in the 14th percentile in Exit Velo and has exactly 0 barrels.  Even his normally amazing Squared Up Pct is down at the 33rd %ile.  I think he's a major reason for the low run output.  I just want to be sure this start isn't the norm, because he looks bad (right now).

I expect SqUp % to rise considerably, along with walk rate.  But he's got to hit the ball harder, too, and that's not something he's shown.  It's concerning, as this type of data wasn't readily available to us for most all of his minors.

[twinstalker]

2 hours ago, Whitey333 said:

Actually none of them.  The idea of the Twins extending any young player may be intriguing but seems preposterous and not somethings the Twins

Extending a pitcher is preposterous.  And Keaschall doesn't have the potential of the guys you want to extend.  I'm still confused by what Milwaukee was thinking with Cooper Pratt.  If Keaschall has a good year, something like his stats from 2025, then, yeah, offer him something to buy out a couple years of free agency at that point.  I don't know how the lockout is going to affect this all.

[Patzky]

2 hours ago, Whitey333 said:

Actually none of them.  The idea of the Twins extending any young player may be intriguing but seems preposterous and not somethings the Twins consider anyway.  Twins need to learn how to scout better.  Oh that's right they got rid of the scouting department pretty much.  They really need to develop these so called can't miss prospects much better.  They must also drop this policy if thinking they have to keep a player like Outman because hes out of options.  Such very strange roster decisions this year.  Anyway bottom line is no to extending any of those mentioned in the article.  They are under team control.  

When they leave on the verge of stardom, this approach is why.

[umterp23]

Live in Pittsburgh and look what pirates are at least trying to do. Call up griffin and sign him to a long term deal. Tickets prices for home opener because of interest in the club with some good off season movement, trades, FA, etc went up 3x the prices last week before the news. Yes win “now” has fans excited at the moment and coming to the ballpark, good balance of youth sprinkled in with veterans and at least city believes the mgmt rhetoric they are spewing. Twins on other hand spend bad money on veterans, ignore the youth that that the fan base has interest in, will labor to win 65 games and sell off guys again in July. 
 

pirate will take their lumps more times then not, but at least the learning curve with young pitching staff and some you guys in the field feels more exciting than Twins dumpster buys last couple of years

[Exiled in Illinois]

Extending players like these is a big risk.  I have no idea what kind of deal it would take for any of them.  I'm not saying we should extend any or all of them because I simply don't know enough about all that goes into making it happen.  But for an organization that apparantly has decided it is not going to carry a well above average payroll to compete, I think taking these kind of risks are necessary to build a championship caliber team.  I get that it won't always work, sometimes it will fail spectacularly.  As a fan, I will live with that because I will be to console myself with thought that they have a plan and are making a real effort to implement it.  Don't feel like I can console myself with that thought now, but will be watching and hoping that some sort of real plan will be revealed over the next few months.

 

[LambchoP]

Twins should just sell off all our veterans at the deadline and get the best talent back that they can. Call up the next wave ala Jenkins, Rodriguez, Gonzalez and Culpeper. Fans will be more forgiving watching the team lose as long as the youth movement is underway building for the future. Much better than watching a bunch of slow veterans flailing away at the plate and booting balls all over the field .

[Swing Batter-Batter]

I think that both Bradley & Keaschall are worth discussion. However, Abel is just not able. Send him down and maybe even away forever.

[Russ]

Offering and accepting are 2 different things.  Sample size too small currently

[DJL44]

2 hours ago, Exiled in Illinois said:

Extending players like these is a big risk. 

It's actually a small risk, compared to the alternatives:

Sign a 30-year old free agent to an expensive, long-term contract (See Carlos Correa)

Be forced to trade your hot prospects as soon as they get good because they're close enough to free agency that they won't agree to an extension.

These extensions are the least risky option, especially for position players. There is a reason why the Brewers are so willing to hand them out. The downside risk is $10-30M but the upside is $30-100M.

The Twins blew their chance with Jeffers. I'd rather they didn't repeat that mistake.

[ashbury]

14 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

It's actually a small risk, compared to the alternatives:

Sign a 30-year old free agent to an expensive, long-term contract (See Carlos Correa)

Be forced to trade your hot prospects as soon as they get good because they're close enough to free agency that they won't agree to an extension.

These extensions are the least risky option, especially for position players. There is a reason why the Brewers are so willing to hand them out. The downside risk is $10-30M but the upside is $30-100M.

The Twins blew their chance with Jeffers. I'd rather they didn't repeat that mistake.

It comes down to talent evaluation, and under Falvey I wasn't impressed with the Twins in that regard.  Dobnak was a low-stakes adventure into those waters and it didn't turn out.  Zoll's track record has been tied to Falvey's of course so it's hard to say if they can hit more often than they miss if they gamble bigger contracts.

[DJL44]

Simeon Woods Richardson is another player to consider extending.

[HerbieFan]

Keaschall.  Easy.  Not sure we know Bradley and Abel will stick as starters.  I 100% hope they do, but....

[RpR]

7 hours ago, DJL44 said:

The Twins blew their chance with Jeffers. I'd rather they didn't repeat that mistake.

Unless there is a MAJOR improvement behind the plate , losing Jeffers is like losing a nickel in a plug-nickel from a plug-nickle collection.

[HrbieFan]

14 hours ago, TopGunn#22 said:

Luke Keaschall.  

Exactly! Follow the Brewers script and lock up bats and trade pitchers before free agency. Ryan should be moved before the deadline IMO 

[DJL44]

10 hours ago, RpR said:

Unless there is a MAJOR improvement behind the plate , losing Jeffers is like losing a nickel in a plug-nickel from a plug-nickle collection.

Not extending Jeffers led directly to signing Caratini for 2 years and $14M.

[DJL44]

16 hours ago, HerbieFan said:

Keaschall.  Easy.  Not sure we know Bradley and Abel will stick as starters.  I 100% hope they do, but....

If they’re extended now they can lock them up at the cost of a moderately expensive relief pitcher.