A Way-Too-Early Minnesota Twins 2027 Opening Roster Projection

[Cody Schoenmann]

This team makes me sad. The AL Central was more than winnable this year—But here we are, on track for another sub-.500 season. The vibe is much different, however, with top prospects Kaelen Culpepper, Walker Jenkins, and Emmanuel Rodriguez finally with the parent club, looking to guide the club toward sustained postseason contention. Actually, yeah, let’s keep talking about the future. I don’t want to talk about the 2026 Twins anymore. Not even fluoxetine helps with my Twins-induced angst. Let’s get into projections!

 

(Author’s note: Yes, yes, I know. Lockout, all that. Still, baseball will happen in 2027. As Fred Durst so eloquently said, "You gotta have faith!")

 

Catchers (2): Ryan Jeffers, Victor Caratini
At this point, the consensus is that Minnesota will extend the qualifying offer to Jeffers, which will be around $23 million. Many believe he will decline it and pursue a more lucrative, long-term deal in free agency—which I understand. In fact, it’s what I think Jeffers should do. The Yankees could give him soooooooooooo much money. Still, I wouldn’t be shocked if he accepted the one-year qualifying offer, particularly given the unique predicament players face this offseason.

 

Admittedly, it would be a little anticlimactic for the Twins’ most substantial offseason investment to be a player already on the club. But there are worse things than rostering one of the best-hitting catchers in the sport on what is functionally a one-year, $23 million deal. If Jeffers returns, Caratini will again be his backup, completing the second season of a two-year, $14 million deal he signed with Minnesota last offseason—That’s fine. There’s much, much worse tandems in the sport.

 

Also, I mean, hey, at least the Twins aren’t paying J.T. Realmuto $15 million next season, right!? Regardless, one more season of Jeffers as the club’s primary catcher would be an ideal segue to Vahn Lackey taking over as the club’s long-term answer at the position.

 

Infielders (6): Kody Clemens, Xavier Edwards, Brooks Lee, Kaelen Culpepper, Ryan Kreidler, Gabriel Gonzalez
The Twins can’t march into a 162-game season with Royce Lewis and Kody Clemens penciled in as the primary starters on the right side of the infield and expect to be serious postseason contenders—particularly Lewis. He’s been a below-average hitter for three seasons and is a defensive liability at every infield position, including first base. That being the case, I predict Minnesota will non-tender Lewis, redirecting the roughly $6 million he would have received in arbitration elsewhere.

 

Minnesota could sign a free agent first baseman in Jake Bauers or Ty France or Luis Arraez or trade for a high-ceiling option in St. Louis’s Alec Burleson. However, I’m predicting the club will acquire switch-hitting, speedy, high-OBP second baseman Xavier Edwards from the Miami Marlins to take over the position full-time while shifting the power-hitting Clemens down the defensive spectrum to first, a position he has excelled at since joining the Twins.

 

Lee and Culpepper are the most exciting young left side of the infield since Miguel Sano and Jorge Polanco in the late-2010s. Lee will be the primary third baseman with Culpepper at short. Despite struggling at the plate, Kreidler is a plus defensive third baseman and shortstop, who will continue to mix in at second and in the outfield. He will also be out of minor league options next season, giving him the inside edge over fellow utility infielder Ben Ross. Gonzalez could mix in as a platoon partner with Clemens at first base, starting against left-handed starting pitchers, while mixing in at the corner outfield. Yet he would likely serve as the 13th-position player, seeing very little action and constantly at risk of being demoted to Triple-A St. Paul.

 

Outfielders (5): Byron Buxton, Walker Jenkins, Emmanuel Rodriguez, Luke Keaschall, Austin Martin
There has never been a better opportunity to transition Buxton into a corner outfielder/designated hitter. Both Rodriguez and Jenkins are viable major league centerfielders, with club decision-makers preferring Jenkins over Rodriguez at the position. Still, both are likely better defensive center fielders than Buxton at this point in their respective careers. Also, the club would be wise to move Buxton down the defensive spectrum to the corner outfield while spending more time at designated hitter.

 

Until (or if) that happens, however, the primary outfield configuration entering next season will likely be Jenkins, Buxton, and Keaschall, with Rodriguez mixing in at all three positions. Also, this level of flexibility permits Twins decision-makers to move on from Trevor Larnach, not tendering him this offseason. Martin could also retain a similar platoon role as this season, starting in either corner outfield spot against left-handed pitching.

 

Like Buxton, I’d prefer Keaschall receiving more DH opportunities, potentially taking over the club’s primary option there with Josh Bell expected to depart this offseason. Being able to keep Keaschall’s bat in the lineup without worrying about defense would be a win-win for the player and the team. He will spend significant time in right field. However, it would be wise to give him and Buxton the majority of DH opportunities, thereby allowing Jenkins and Rodriguez to patrol two-thirds of the outfield almost every game.

 

Starting Rotation (5): Pablo López, Joe Ryan, Taj Bradley, Dean Kremer, Mick Abel
Much was made of the club’s inept bullpen and sluggish second-half offense. Yet, starting rotation woes were low-key the Twins' Achilles’ heel in 2026. So many games were quickly upended by early implosions from Bailey Ober, Zebby Matthews, Connor Prielipp, Mike Paredes, Kendry Rojas, Dean Kremer, and even frontline starters like Joe Ryan and Taj Bradley. Again, bad starts are a part of the sport. Every starter not named Jacob Misiorowski has them. Still, starting pitching needs to improve for Minnesota to return to the postseason in 2027.

 

On paper, López, Ryan, and Bradley are a solid top of the rotation. At the same time, however, each could be viewed as an unknown quantity, with López returning from a torn UCL, Ryan undergoing another pronounced late-season regression, and Bradley manufacturing his first above-average season as a major league starter. Still, I am confident these three can lead what could be a plus rotation.

 

Abel impressed before undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow in July, and I am optimistic he could thrive over a full-season sample, potentially blossoming into a frontline starter. Also, despite netting his worst season in the majors, Kremer has been steady since joining the Twins, all but guaranteeing the arb-3 eligible righty will be a member of Minnesota’s Opening Day 2027 starting rotation, which also happens to be his final season of team control. Prielipp will likely be the organization’s sixth starting pitcher who could quickly join the parent club if performance concerns or injuries arise.

 

Bullpen (8): Jeff Hoffman, Andrew Morris, Joe Jiménez, Yoendrys Gómez, Kody Funderburk, Tommy Nance, Anthony Banda, Zebby Matthews
Beyond Jeffers returning and trading for Edwards, the bullpen is where the majority of Minnesota’s offseason activity could occur. At the same time, it could look almost identical to how it does now. I’m predicting the latter will happen with a few substantial shakeups.

 

I think Twins decision-makers will make a splashy reliever addition this offseason, which I predict will be the club signing Joe Jiménez to a one-year deal. To preface, yes, I know Jiménez hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2024. However, his injury was leg-related, with him undergoing left knee articular cartilage surgery in November, 2024. He missed this season with the same injury. However, he is undergoing a rehab assignment with Atlanta’s Triple-A affiliate, meaning he could be ready to pitch this postseason.

 

When Jiménez last pitched, however, he was one of the best relievers in baseball. He also has the platonic ideal Twins reliever arsenal, throwing his four-seam and slider a combined 96% of the time. Regardless, I think Hoffman will enter next season as the club’s closer, given Gómez’s late-season struggles. Morris should also continue operating in a high-leverage role, with the aforementioned Gómez also likely occupying a late-inning role early next season.

 

Funderburk (out of minor league options) and Banda could serve as a viable left-handed relief tandem with Nance working in a mid-leverage role. Also, I project Matthews to earn the eighth and final bullpen spot. However, I expect Minnesota will continue to stretch him out as a starter, with him shuttling between Triple-A and the parent club as ever-important starting-pitching depth. Rojas, Paredes, David Festa, and Ryan Gallagher could occupy a similar role, with Travis Adams, Garrett Acton, Marco Raya, and potential offseason additions as priority Triple-A short-relief depth.

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[Cory Engelhardt]

What's going out for Xavier Edwards? That's going to be a LOT. I like the idea though.

I also would have Prielipp in the rotation on opening day, certainly ahead of Kremer. I hope Abel can be right though.

[Czelgert]

I like Ty France at 1B in the alternative and the Twins could use one more SP to add some depth.  I’d like to think Mick Abel will contribute next but I also wanted to think that SWR was going to help this year.  The team needs some redundancies if it doesn’t want to run out of gas in the second half year after year.  May I suggest Trevor Rogers as a LHP that the Twins could use for balance to many righties they roll out.  Yes, I know these moves will run payroll up to the 140M-150M area.  Gasp!

[MeleMouth]

Fun exercise, but putting Matthews and Prielipp into the bullpen or back into AAA while running out a bunch of pitchers with little future with the Twins would be the definitive Twinsy way of losing today while not developing for tomorrow. Matthews and Prielipp have demonstrated they belong in the majors, sink or swim.

If you think the Boras-represented Jeffers will accept $23 million from the Twins instead of double or triple that from another team, while running the risk of an injury or decline in his performance that ruins his chance to get a big payday, you're, let's say, a very optimistic guy.

[PuckettPond]

More changes needed. No half measures.

[PuckettPond]

When fans stop attending games this is what we get and deserve. Lowest attendance in 20 years. Green Bay Packer fans are loyal.

[Cris E]

22 minutes ago, MeleMouth said:

Fun exercise, but putting Matthews and Prielipp into the bullpen or back into AAA while running out a bunch of pitchers with little future with the Twins would be the definitive Twinsy way of losing today while not developing for tomorrow. Matthews and Prielipp have demonstrated they belong in the majors, sink or swim.

If you think the Boras-represented Jeffers will accept $23 million from the Twins instead of double or triple that from another team, while running the risk of an injury or decline in his performance that ruins his chance to get a big payday, you're, let's say, a very optimistic guy.

Agree.

I put Prielipp and even Mathews in the rotation ahead of Abel. He's thrown about 30 innings this year and there's little chance he bounces back immediately and at a higher level than either of those guys has just shown. I like Prielipp a lot, and If Zebby can figure out the home road thing then he'll be a monster (and if he can't you won't like him in the pen any more than the rotation.) 

But there is no way the Twins throw down what it takes for Jeffers.  He gets one shot at a big payday and Boras is going to be certain it's hella more than $23m. On any day a catcher can take one off the mask and be largely done as a top player, so guaranteed cash in the bank is the standard at this point in his career. 4/$75m is way too much to tie up with Lackey this close and he may make more than that. I just can't see it unless Ryan refuses to sign an extension and a CBA floor means they have to reach $170m in a year or two. But mostly I see Jeffers in another uniform next spring. 

[Cody Schoenmann]

28 minutes ago, PuckettPond said:

When fans stop attending games this is what we get and deserve. Lowest attendance in 20 years. Green Bay Packer fans are loyal.

remember when tracy porter picked Favre in the ‘09 nfc championship game? twins haven’t rebounded since 

[LastOnePicked]

28 minutes ago, PuckettPond said:

When fans stop attending games this is what we get and deserve.

I'll assume you're joking. If you're not, well ... I'm curious to see how long it will take Tom Pohlad to land on this ridiculous excuse, too.

[weitz41]

37 minutes ago, PuckettPond said:

When fans stop attending games this is what we get and deserve. Lowest attendance in 20 years. Green Bay Packer fans are loyal.

Twins wining % the last 3 years compared to the packers?

[Richie the Rally Goat]

@Cody SchoenmannFRED DURST?!?!?!

it was George Michael… I’m so disappointed in you 

 

 

[HerbieFan]

See, now this is fun. 

[SteveLV]

Add Roden.  Subtract Kreidler.

They love Clemens, so expect to see him in a big role again.

Martin is on thin ice at this point.

[Whammy]

What's the payroll there? 120-ish?

[Vanimal46]

People keep assuming Morris is a bullpen arm for the rest of his career. Why? He could easily go back to the rotation. 

[Mike Sixel]

60% of Zebby's starts are quality starts, and this entire board wants to move him to the bullpen.....

[Cody Schoenmann]

54 minutes ago, Richie the Rally Goat said:

@Cody SchoenmannFRED DURST?!?!?!

it was George Michael… I’m so disappointed in you 

 

 

it's okay man just say you dont get limp 

[Cody Schoenmann]

1 hour ago, PuckettPond said:

More changes needed. No half measures.

this is a half-measure free agency pool

[Vanimal46]

4 minutes ago, Cody Schoenmann said:

it's okay man just say you dont get limp 

 

[Cody Schoenmann]

7 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

 

next time you talk about the GOAT fred durst make sure to....

 

[HarmonK03]

Prielipp and Matthews should have the last two spots in the rotation to start, they have earned it.  Abel still hasn't shown he can pitch up here consistently.  Kremer can be the long guy in the bullpen if they want to keep him, even though it would probably be expensive.  But we don't need another 30 something league average player blocking the younger guys with more upside.

I hope we can upgrade the backup SS position over Kreidler, he shouldn't be handed a job in my opinion.

[Patzky]

1 hour ago, HerbieFan said:

See, now this is fun. 

It should be a weekly feature! ☺️

[Patzky]

1 hour ago, SteveLV said:

Add Roden.  Subtract Kreidler.

They love Clemens, so expect to see him in a big role again.

Martin is on thin ice at this point.

If there is Roden there won't be Austin. Unless there is no Buxton.