Tom Pohlad Commits to Higher Twins Payroll in 2027

[Cody Christie]

When Tom Pohlad stepped into the role of Twins chairman last winter, he promised that the organization would provide the resources necessary for the front office to build a sustainable contender. For much of the season, those comments were met with skepticism after years of payroll criticism. The 2026 trade deadline offered the first tangible evidence of that commitment.

Minnesota aggressively upgraded its roster by acquiring A.J. Minter, Dean Kremer, and Jeff Hoffman, adding impact talent while taking on more than $8 million in prorated salary for the remainder of the season. The moves also created meaningful financial obligations beyond 2026, with Hoffman owed $11 million next season and Kremer expected to receive another raise through arbitration after earning $5.75 million this year. Although Toronto will cover $3.75 million of Hoffman's 2027 salary, the Twins still accepted a larger financial commitment than many expected.

According to Pohlad, that willingness to spend was intentional.

“I, and we as an ownership group, were committed to giving [general manager Jeremy Zoll] the financial flexibility to make this team better,” Pohlad said. “I think the results of what happened at the Trade Deadline were in no small part a function of having that financial flexibility and that clarity at the outset. Now, somebody has to go out and execute that, and that is a very hard thing to do, and he did that masterfully.”

The deadline additions addressed immediate needs while also strengthening the roster beyond this season. More importantly, they represented a shift from simply managing payroll to actively investing in a club that believes it can contend over multiple years.

Pohlad made it clear those deadline moves were not a one-time exception. When asked whether Minnesota's willingness to add salary at the deadline signaled an increase in payroll for 2027, he didn't hesitate.

“I’m not hoping -- it will be higher,” he said. “I’ve been consistent, right? For us to accomplish the things that we want to accomplish, and be a consistently competitive team in the playoffs, and going deep, we have to make an investment into this team. We did that in a small way at the Trade Deadline. You’ll see more of it next year.”

That statement could become one of the organization's most significant developments of the season. The Twins have spent the last several years answering questions about shrinking payrolls and financial limitations. Now, ownership is publicly committing to moving in the opposite direction.

Of course, words alone won't erase years of frustration among the fan base. The real test will come this offseason as Minnesota looks to supplement a roster that already appears capable of competing in the American League. If Pohlad follows through on his promise, Jeremy Zoll could have considerably more flexibility to address remaining needs instead of relying solely on internal improvements.

The trade deadline showed the Twins are willing to spend when they believe they have a chance to win. Pohlad's latest comments suggest that philosophy won't end with this season. Instead, they could mark the beginning of a new financial approach—one designed to keep Minnesota in contention not only for the rest of 2026, but well into 2027 and beyond.

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[Mike Sixel]

Masterfully? Holy cow.

But, the commitment to spend is good. 

[chpettit19]

I know we're going to analyze everything the new Pohlad says every time he says something, but we really shouldn't. I'm a weak man so I'll participate. But we shouldn't care about 1 word he says ever and shouldn't judge any change in ownership until 2031. Give him 5 years.

They were different in 2023, right? Look how high that payroll got! We were shooting for the moon! We had a payroll big enough to support real free agent signings. We were ready to play with the big boys. We even had Scott Boras singing the Twins' praises! We finally did it! We got the Pohlads to spend!

Wrong. 

Tom has the easiest PR situation ever right now. He can say "we're going to invest!" and spend a whopping $8 million at the deadline and fans start eating it up. "They've changed! They've changed! Tom really cares and gets it!" The fans are starved for any sign of improvement. Their payroll is at 2015 levels and fans are already jumping back on the Pohlad bandwagon. How about we give him 5 years to actually show they're going to invest. When the sales pitch is a little harder than "look, we spent anything at all at the deadline. I told you we cared."

All this to say I think it's all just an attempt to boost the price when they sell the team after the CBA is finished.

[jctwins]

I think it's entirely possible we finally have an owner representative that understands that spending money might actually be a formula for making more money.

[chpettit19]

12 minutes ago, jctwins said:

I think it's entirely possible we finally have an owner representative that understands that spending money might actually be a formula for making more money.

The last one apparently understood it in 2023, right? This family has been in charge of this franchise for longer than I've been alive. At 1 point in time or another, every head owner guy has said something very closely resembling this line. They got the city (taxpayers) to build them a brand-new stadium by saying this stuff. Hasn't been true yet.

[clone52]

21 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Masterfully? Holy cow.

But, the commitment to spend is good. 

If you goal is a championship in 2027 or 2028, those moves weren't that bad.  I can see your point on Kremer, but not because of the future of Rojas.  Maybe you could have used Rojas to get someone else instead of Kremer.

What do they need to do this offseason to really contend in 2027?  I'd say a starting Cather, a Top 3 pitcher and an offensive upgrade at 1B, 2B or 3B (assuming Culpepper or Houston snatches the starting SS role.  Lewis, Clemens and Lee are okay at the other 3 spots but an upgrade at any one of them could work.

You could fairly easily do this and have a payroll around $140 million next year.

[Mike Sixel]

10 minutes ago, clone52 said:

If you goal is a championship in 2027 or 2028, those moves weren't that bad.  I can see your point on Kremer, but not because of the future of Rojas.  Maybe you could have used Rojas to get someone else instead of Kremer.

What do they need to do this offseason to really contend in 2027?  I'd say a starting Cather, a Top 3 pitcher and an offensive upgrade at 1B, 2B or 3B (assuming Culpepper or Houston snatches the starting SS role.  Lewis, Clemens and Lee are okay at the other 3 spots but an upgrade at any one of them could work.

You could fairly easily do this and have a payroll around $140 million next year.

Masterful isn't the word you are describing, though. 

Where are you spending money? Look at the FAs......If Houston or Culpeper isn't the starting SS next year, I'll be flabbergasted. Truly. I'd have them both up, with Houston at SS, KC at 2b, and Clemens at 1b. 

[Dman]

20 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

I know we're going to analyze everything the new Pohlad says every time he says something, but we really shouldn't. I'm a weak man so I'll participate. But we shouldn't care about 1 word he says ever and shouldn't judge any change in ownership until 2031. Give him 5 years.

They were different in 2023, right? Look how high that payroll got! We were shooting for the moon! We had a payroll big enough to support real free agent signings. We were ready to play with the big boys. We even had Scott Boras singing the Twins' praises! We finally did it! We got the Pohlads to spend!

Wrong. 

Tom has the easiest PR situation ever right now. He can say "we're going to invest!" and spend a whopping $8 million at the deadline and fans start eating it up. "They've changed! They've changed! Tom really cares and gets it!" The fans are starved for any sign of improvement. Their payroll is at 2015 levels and fans are already jumping back on the Pohlad bandwagon. How about we give him 5 years to actually show they're going to invest. When the sales pitch is a little harder than "look, we spent anything at all at the deadline. I told you we cared."

All this to say I think it's all just an attempt to boost the price when they sell the team after the CBA is finished.

Yeah I think we need to wait and see.  What is more spending? 5M, 10M? More doesn't necessarily mean all that much more.  I am happy to hear they aren't planning on cutting more, but they have a ways to go to sell me on more especially in what looks like a short and down FA year.

Heck I don't even know that Zoll is a competent GM.  I just don't understand what they are doing with roster construction at all these days. Right now as things stand the rotation looks like Pablo, Ryan, Bradley, Ober and Kremer. So no room for Prielipp, Abel and Rojas who all look like they might be better options than Ober and Kremer.  I can see having some depth to maybe move Matthews to the pen where he can be a power arm, but I don't love Ober and Kremer as my backend and they paid extra at the deadline for Kremer.

They could have traded Jeffers for a close to ready arm and gotten Gausman instead of Kremer for a cheaper price if they really wanted to go for it this year.  Then they would have enough young arms in place of Kremer.  They need to think about 2028 too as they will likely lose Ryan and Lopez so getting young guys experience in the 4th and 5th spots would be good before those guys are gone. I just don't see the 2027 or 2028 vision for this team.

They still have too many left handed outfield bats and they need room for the younger players ready to come up.  

Who knows.  I guess if Tom is ready to spend then maybe all these problems go away. Maybe they extend some players.  Maybe they bid on Jeffers.  Who knows.  All I can say right now is my level of confidence is low.

[Twins GFP]

Where was the willingness to spend earlier in the year? If they had spent any money on the BP in March and April, this team would be in first place. Everyone knew the BP was horrible, they did nothing of consequence to improve it.

This isn't willingness to spend, this is having to spend because the optics made it necessary.

 

[Mike Sixel]

Twins got money for Hoffman next year, so had to pay more in prospects, if that is any indication....over a few million dollars....

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

As to spending more money,  I think he will, but lets be clear he also said he was going to sign more help for the bullpen in free agency and I think we had already signed Rogers.  I think the only real addition before the season was Banda for international money.  

Here is where I am at with Pohlad and Zoll-  

He came in with big boy pants and effectively laid down the law with Falvey and Falvey said I don't have to deal with this.  I think Tom quickly realized he may have pushed too hard initially and had a bigger learning curve than he realized.  

Do I think Zoll is ok at his job.  Yes I think he is Ok.  I don't think he is great,  I think he is a rubber stamper for Tom and will do whatever it is to keep a job.   I did have to laugh at Zoll's rebuke to the writers saying they kept saying the Twins had to trade Jeffers.  Trading Jeffers was likely the smart move,  but yes just because they said it didn't mean that Zoll and Falvey had to do it.   Just like Tom Pohlad I think Zoll has more of a short term view horizon and its merely to keep Tom happy in the meantime.  I really don't think its in the organizations best interest.   

So thats the negative.  Here's the positives - 

Yes, Tom may say some things that aren't quite right or way to optimistic.  I bet he regrets the "go big or go home" quote.  But for the most part if you take his statement of the big picture I think he is honest.   I think he has developed a good working relationship with Zoll, Shelton and the Players.   He is definitely more accessible and available to the players.  I do think that is a significant improvement and the Trust has improved from the team and the front office.   

I do think he is learning on the job.  He is actively trying to figure things out so I will give him credit for that.  I think he is an owner representative that will get involved with signings and ect.  Thats a good and bad thing in my opinion.   I know if I was an agent and I wasn't quite getting the offers that I would at least try to get a hold of Zoll and Tom because just like this trade deadline it appears like they were ok with overpaying.   

I still think the Pohlads are gone from the organization within 2 years.   So all in all for an Owner face of the franchise I think I put Tom in the bottom 10 primarily due to lack of knowledge and maybe being too involved but I could see him moving up to middle of the pack.  I don't think he has done anything absolutely horrendous that will cost the franchise.  Right now Dasan Hill is the only one who could really bite us.   I wish we would have done a full tear down and rebuild but I am not going to cry over spilled milk.  The path is just a tad narrower for our next window.   

[clone52]

39 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Masterful isn't the word you are describing, though. 

Where are you spending money? Look at the FAs......If Houston or Culpeper isn't the starting SS next year, I'll be flabbergasted. Truly. I'd have them both up, with Houston at SS, KC at 2b, and Clemens at 1b. 

Not yet, depends on if they back it up this offseason.  He also said "We did that in a small way at the Trade Deadline. You’ll see more of it next year.”  So he's not saying the trade deadline was the final plan it was masterful.  He said the trade deadline was a small way of doing what they want to do and that piece was masterful.

If the entire plan was to really contend next year and the other pieces will drop in the offseason, them maybe it was masterful.
Did they lose anyone they care about for a 2027-2028 plan?  Answer is probably no
Did they take on a ton of salary that hurts their offseason plan for 2027-2028?  Answer is probably no
Did they find some pieces that can be at least a small part of the 2027-2028 plan?  Answer is probably yes.

[clone52]

41 minutes ago, Dman said:

Yeah I think we need to wait and see.  What is more spending? 5M, 10M? More doesn't necessarily mean all that much more.  I am happy to hear they aren't planning on cutting more, but they have a ways to go to sell me on more especially in what looks like a short and down FA year.

Heck I don't even know that Zoll is a competent GM.  I just don't understand what they are doing with roster construction at all these days. Right now as things stand the rotation looks like Pablo, Ryan, Bradley, Ober and Kremer. So no room for Prielipp, Abel and Rojas who all look like they might be better options than Ober and Kremer.  I can see having some depth to maybe move Matthews to the pen where he can be a power arm, but I don't love Ober and Kremer as my backend and they paid extra at the deadline for Kremer.

They could have traded Jeffers for a close to ready arm and gotten Gausman instead of Kremer for a cheaper price if they really wanted to go for it this year.  Then they would have enough young arms in place of Kremer.  They need to think about 2028 too as they will likely lose Ryan and Lopez so getting young guys experience in the 4th and 5th spots would be good before those guys are gone. I just don't see the 2027 or 2028 vision for this team.

They still have too many left handed outfield bats and they need room for the younger players ready to come up.  

Who knows.  I guess if Tom is ready to spend then maybe all these problems go away. Maybe they extend some players.  Maybe they bid on Jeffers.  Who knows.  All I can say right now is my level of confidence is low.

 Don't disagree with much in here, but its a BIG leap to say they could have gotten Gausman instead of Kremer for a much cheaper price.  Yes, some rankings are very high on Reyes, others are not as high.  Maybe the Twins asked for Gausman and the Blue Jays asked for Reyes and Quentin Young?  Can't just take 1 set of rankings and assume that is how everyone has them.

[Cory Engelhardt]

I'd be really curious how much they do spend. Let's say there is a regular amount for spring training (I wouldn't hold out hope too much, but just say there is.

1) Does Jeffers get extended and/or the QO?

2) Is Larnach back? Is Josh Bell back?

3) Is any of Ryan, Pablo or Ober extended? All of their deals end after 2027.

4) Who of Brooks Lee, Royce Lewis, Kody Clemens and Austin Martin are you building around/with? How many of them are starters? They are all entering more arbitration than the younger players coming up.

5) Who of Luke Keaschall, Walker Jenkins, Kaelen Culpepper, along with possibly Marek Houston and Vahn Lackey, will you look to extend on the position player side?

6) Who of Taj Bradley, Mick Abel, Connor Prielipp, Kendry Rojas and possibly others will you truly build in the rotation with along with the veterans? Maybe all of them, but still. Will you extend any of them?

After all of those are made (I didn't name every player obviously) where specifically will you look to spend money to raise the payroll. More pitching is always good, but is there a defensive position or 2 or 3 that you will look to either trade for players or sign free agents to augment the roster?

Who is set where at what position(s)? That's what I'd love to know, the plan in that regard.

[TheLeviathan]

Cool.  Get back to me in February when we see how much this was actually delivered on.

If Vegas let me bet on this I'd still take the under on 130 million.

[clone52]

I was curious about how different folks ranked the prospects traded.

MLB Sam Dykstra:
Dasan Hill #17
Reyes #22
return for Guasman out of Top 25

ESPN McDaniel
Reyes #16
Hill #18
return for Gausman was out #43 and #49

Can't read Baseball America

Fangraphs:
Reyes #15
Hill #24
return for Gausman was #70 and #72


 

[clone52]

4 minutes ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

I'd be really curious how much they do spend. Let's say there is a regular amount for spring training (I wouldn't hold out hope too much, but just say there is.

1) Does Jeffers get extended and/or the QO?

2) Is Larnach back? Is Josh Bell back?

3) Is any of Ryan, Pablo or Ober extended? All of their deals end after 2027.

4) Who of Brooks Lee, Royce Lewis, Kody Clemens and Austin Martin are you building around/with? How many of them are starters? They are all entering more arbitration than the younger players coming up.

5) Who of Luke Keaschall, Walker Jenkins, Kaelen Culpepper, along with possibly Marek Houston and Vahn Lackey, will you look to extend on the position player side?

6) Who of Taj Bradley, Mick Abel, Connor Prielipp, Kendry Rojas and possibly others will you truly build in the rotation with along with the veterans? Maybe all of them, but still. Will you extend any of them?

After all of those are made (I didn't name every player obviously) where specifically will you look to spend money to raise the payroll. More pitching is always good, but is there a defensive position or 2 or 3 that you will look to either trade for players or sign free agents to augment the roster?

Who is set where at what position(s)? That's what I'd love to know, the plan in that regard.

1) They better, or at least get a starting C with Caratini as backup.

2) Larnach, yes, unless he is a trade piece for an upgrade elsewhere.  Bell, no

3) I'd trying to do Ryan, but guessing he wants free agency.  I'd see if Pablo was open to a 1 year extension, understanding he might not recover well.  Owed about $22M.  Would he take $10-15M for 2028?  Probably not but if you can get the injury discount, go for it.

4) All could be around but I wouldn't call any of them foundational building blocks.  More ancillary pieces to fill in around the building blocks.  All could be available for trade if it improves the roster.

5) Would like to see them go this route, but since it doesn't matter for 2027 and 2028, I don't care to much.

6) I would try to extend Ryan and go get another starter for around $20M AAV.  Not an ace obviously, but a solid #2 or #3.  Maybe explore a Hunter Green trade?

I would spend money/trade to raise the floor of 1B, 2B or 3B.  Heck, maybe a 2/40 deal for Arraez?  Trade for Hunter Goodman?

[Mike Sixel]

6 minutes ago, clone52 said:

1) They better, or at least get a starting C with Caratini as backup.

2) Larnach, yes, unless he is a trade piece for an upgrade elsewhere.  Bell, no

3) I'd trying to do Ryan, but guessing he wants free agency.  I'd see if Pablo was open to a 1 year extension, understanding he might not recover well.  Owed about $22M.  Would he take $10-15M for 2028?  Probably not but if you can get the injury discount, go for it.

4) All could be around but I wouldn't call any of them foundational building blocks.  More ancillary pieces to fill in around the building blocks.  All could be available for trade if it improves the roster.

5) Would like to see them go this route, but since it doesn't matter for 2027 and 2028, I don't care to much.

6) I would try to extend Ryan and go get another starter for around $20M AAV.  Not an ace obviously, but a solid #2 or #3.  Maybe explore a Hunter Green trade?

I would spend money/trade to raise the floor of 1B, 2B or 3B.  Heck, maybe a 2/40 deal for Arraez?  Trade for Hunter Goodman?

Just put Culpeper at 2nd and Houston at SS, move Clemens to first. There won't be many/any 1B better than Clemens available, imo.

They need a C and ace type pitcher. I'm not sure how they can possibly spend money there, unless they deal for an expensive one.

[Mike Sixel]

https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/free-agents/available/_/year/2027

Zero 1B I want on that list.

Go big or go home on a SP, that's what I'd do if they are really committed to spending lots of money. They have Jenkins, Houston, Culpepper and plenty of catching in 28 and beyond.....sign a great SP. 

[Cory Engelhardt]

2 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Just put Culpeper at 2nd and Houston at SS, move Clemens to first. There won't be many/any 1B better than Clemens available, imo.

They need a C and ace type pitcher. I'm not sure how they can possibly spend money there, unless they deal for an expensive one.

I really do like the idea of Culpepper at 2b and Houston at SS. That would be really fun to see.

I also, I like the idea of Clemens at 1b, but honestly I'd prefer him as a Ben Zobrist utility play everywhere type. Perfect world Royce either becomes a true masher or they acquire one and move on from Royce. These next few months with Royce getting a full opportunity should answer that question one way or the other.

I do think Lackey debuts in 2027. Not opening day, but he isn't far away. Perfect world (for twins baseball) is finding a way to keep Jeffers here through 2027 at minimum. If he does go elsewhere, I'm not certain who would be the bridge, but I think Caratinis more of a co-starter and/or backup compared to full time. 

To kind of respond above to @clone52 Lopez to me is much more extendable than Ryan. I'd very much see what Ryan would get on the open market after the year before I would Lopez. If you can keep both around, great. If I had to choose one, it's Lopez. But yeah, bringing in another playoff level starter is always good, even if I do like the potential I see in many of their younger arms.

And yeah, if there is payroll room to bring in at least a few legit bullpen arms that works too. 

[Cory Engelhardt]

6 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/free-agents/available/_/year/2027

Zero 1B I want on that list.

Go big or go home on a SP, that's what I'd do if they are really committed to spending lots of money. They have Jenkins, Houston, Culpepper and plenty of catching in 28 and beyond.....sign a great SP. 

Trade for someone then. Isaac Paredes would look good here. Seiya Suzuki could look good here even if he is an outfielder. I'd have fun watching Randy Arozarena here. Heck, maybe they even just bring back Ryan Jeffers as more of a DH primarily with Lackey at some point. That wouldn't hurt. Someone with right handed pop would help the middle of the lineup.

[jctwins]

2 hours ago, chpettit19 said:

The last one apparently understood it in 2023, right? This family has been in charge of this franchise for longer than I've been alive. At 1 point in time or another, every head owner guy has said something very closely resembling this line. They got the city (taxpayers) to build them a brand-new stadium by saying this stuff. Hasn't been true yet.

Are you kidding? That was the owner representative that said they needed to cut after that season. 

Prior versions of Pohlad have said **** like "we want to be competitive while making good financial decisions".

I also think it's becoming apparent that Tom didn't have anything to do with this business until he came on this year. 

[jctwins]

1 hour ago, Hawkeye Bean Counter said:

As to spending more money,  I think he will, but lets be clear he also said he was going to sign more help for the bullpen in free agency and I think we had already signed Rogers.  I think the only real addition before the season was Banda for international money.  

Here is where I am at with Pohlad and Zoll-  

He came in with big boy pants and effectively laid down the law with Falvey and Falvey said I don't have to deal with this.  I think Tom quickly realized he may have pushed too hard initially and had a bigger learning curve than he realized.  

Do I think Zoll is ok at his job.  Yes I think he is Ok.  I don't think he is great,  I think he is a rubber stamper for Tom and will do whatever it is to keep a job.   I did have to laugh at Zoll's rebuke to the writers saying they kept saying the Twins had to trade Jeffers.  Trading Jeffers was likely the smart move,  but yes just because they said it didn't mean that Zoll and Falvey had to do it.   Just like Tom Pohlad I think Zoll has more of a short term view horizon and its merely to keep Tom happy in the meantime.  I really don't think its in the organizations best interest.   

So thats the negative.  Here's the positives - 

Yes, Tom may say some things that aren't quite right or way to optimistic.  I bet he regrets the "go big or go home" quote.  But for the most part if you take his statement of the big picture I think he is honest.   I think he has developed a good working relationship with Zoll, Shelton and the Players.   He is definitely more accessible and available to the players.  I do think that is a significant improvement and the Trust has improved from the team and the front office.   

I do think he is learning on the job.  He is actively trying to figure things out so I will give him credit for that.  I think he is an owner representative that will get involved with signings and ect.  Thats a good and bad thing in my opinion.   I know if I was an agent and I wasn't quite getting the offers that I would at least try to get a hold of Zoll and Tom because just like this trade deadline it appears like they were ok with overpaying.   

I still think the Pohlads are gone from the organization within 2 years.   So all in all for an Owner face of the franchise I think I put Tom in the bottom 10 primarily due to lack of knowledge and maybe being too involved but I could see him moving up to middle of the pack.  I don't think he has done anything absolutely horrendous that will cost the franchise.  Right now Dasan Hill is the only one who could really bite us.   I wish we would have done a full tear down and rebuild but I am not going to cry over spilled milk.  The path is just a tad narrower for our next window.   

I think this is a pretty spot on take. I hate the Pohalds as much as the next guy, but at least it feels different. 

The only thing I'd question is whether Tom wants out. I think he's enjoying it more than he thought he would. But I could see him being smart enough to make the right moves that actually improve value and put them in a far better position to sell at the right price, unlike his brother.

 

 

[Mike Sixel]

1 minute ago, jctwins said:

Are you kidding? That was the owner representative that said they needed to cut after that season. 

Prior versions of Pohlad have said **** like "we want to be competitive while making good financial decisions".

I also think it's becoming apparent that Tom didn't have anything to do with this business until he came on this year. 

I'm amazed people have watched what this family has done year after year, and still think they'll spend money on the team. 

[USAFChief]

1 hour ago, Twins GFP said:

Where was the willingness to spend earlier in the year? If they had spent any money on the BP in March and April, this team would be in first place. Everyone knew the BP was horrible, they did nothing of consequence to improve it.

This isn't willingness to spend, this is having to spend because the optics made it necessary.

 

Who TF were they going to spend money on in March and April??

 

[jctwins]

2 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

I'm amazed people have watched what this family has done year after year, and still think they'll spend money on the team. 

I'll remain skeptical, but I think it's apparent that they are not as monolithic as we used to think.

[USAFChief]

2 hours ago, chpettit19 said:

I know we're going to analyze everything the new Pohlad says every time he says something, but we really shouldn't. I'm a weak man so I'll participate. But we shouldn't care about 1 word he says ever and shouldn't judge any change in ownership until 2031. Give him 5 years.

They were different in 2023, right? Look how high that payroll got! We were shooting for the moon! We had a payroll big enough to support real free agent signings. We were ready to play with the big boys. We even had Scott Boras singing the Twins' praises! We finally did it! We got the Pohlads to spend!

Wrong. 

Tom has the easiest PR situation ever right now. He can say "we're going to invest!" and spend a whopping $8 million at the deadline and fans start eating it up. "They've changed! They've changed! Tom really cares and gets it!" The fans are starved for any sign of improvement. Their payroll is at 2015 levels and fans are already jumping back on the Pohlad bandwagon. How about we give him 5 years to actually show they're going to invest. When the sales pitch is a little harder than "look, we spent anything at all at the deadline. I told you we cared."

All this to say I think it's all just an attempt to boost the price when they sell the team after the CBA is finished.

OK, rant away, but you're not getting away with this:

"Tom has the easiest PR situation ever right now."

Are you kidding me? 

 

 

[chpettit19]

Just now, USAFChief said:

OK, rant away, but you're not getting away with this:

"Tom has the easiest PR situation ever right now."

Are you kidding me? 

 

 

Not even a little. You're actually a great example of how easy it is. You've given me a thumbs down and/or complained about every post I've made about not being convinced anything has changed because the Twins added Nance, Minter, Kremer, and Hoffman over the last few weeks. That's all it took and you're back on board.

That is about as easy as it gets. They changed the first name of the Pohlad in charge and made the absolute minimal investment possible and you're back. That is not a hard PR situation. You're example A of why it isn't hard at all.

[chpettit19]

14 minutes ago, jctwins said:

Are you kidding? That was the owner representative that said they needed to cut after that season. 

Prior versions of Pohlad have said **** like "we want to be competitive while making good financial decisions".

I also think it's becoming apparent that Tom didn't have anything to do with this business until he came on this year. 

That is literally my point. That Pohlad told us how much he cared and actually invested. Pushed the payroll to an all-time high. Had everyone excited that the Pohlad's finally got it! And immediately pulled the rug.

By all means, believe the new Pohlad. I'm sure he isn't anything like the previous iterations we've been aware of for the last 42 years. Definitely different this time. His first 9 months on the job are definitive proof.

[USAFChief]

5 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

Not even a little. You're actually a great example of how easy it is. You've given me a thumbs down and/or complained about every post I've made about not being convinced anything has changed because the Twins added Nance, Minter, Kremer, and Hoffman over the last few weeks. That's all it took and you're back on board.

That is about as easy as it gets. They changed the first name of the Pohlad in charge and made the absolute minimal investment possible and you're back. That is not a hard PR situation. You're example A of why it isn't hard at all.

Ownership has a massive, enormous credibility gap with 99 percent of their fan base and potential fan base. Me included. Richly deserved

That's your entire point.

But sure, he has an easy PR job.

That's moronic. You're just blinded by hatred.

Nobody has said ownership has earned back trust. Nor have they spent what they should. 

But there have been positive words, positive moves. The statements above are more positive words. Need followup, for sure

But I'm encouraged. Sue me. 

In the meantime, maybe pull in the constant vitriol for a day or two.