Twins’ Biggest Areas of Need Heading Into 2026-2027 Offseason

[LastOnePicked]

1 hour ago, Woof Bronzer said:

With all the labor uncertainty it's probably fine for 27 to be a development year.  (26 should have been as well, but that ship has sailed.) Then it's playoffs or bust in 28, and we're winning the dang Series in 29.  

How, though? The only way that was going to happen was getting high-end returns from Lopez, Ryan, Buxton and Jeffers. You're right - that ship is long gone.

There's really not much to the organization after this wave of new "core" players - and the pitching pipeline is nonexistent. If they're somehow going to win in 2028, pretty much every prospect needs to stay healthy and produce and they're going to have to strike gold on nearly every free agent signing.

They've given themselves no margin for error or bad luck. And it's possible that Chicago is just about ready to turn the corner for a long while to come.

[LastOnePicked]

39 minutes ago, Sam Caulder said:

This is a good idea; I think I might do something on this now. Thank you

You should also know that this is a good article as well, and we appreciate it.

Personally, I'd love to read an article about how Cleveland and Chicago got to the playoffs. What were the key trades, key signings and key draft picks that made the difference?

[djvang]

31 minutes ago, David Maro said:

And people thinking Keaschall could play 1st are dreaming,he couldn't field 2nd and now you want him at 1st. He needs to remain in the OF, in LF because of his weak arm. You would then have ERod in RF with better defense and stronger arm. With Jenkins in CF which would be a far better OF. When and if Buxton can play you play him as your 4th OFer. 

I really don't understand why they keep playing Keaschall in RF. His weak arm is a huge liability. He might be passable in LF if they could fix that weird sidearm throwing motion. He throws like a 2B, unfortunately he doesn't have the glove for 2B. The only other alternative is DH but you'd rather have someone with more power there.

[Woof Bronzer]

2 minutes ago, LastOnePicked said:

They've given themselves no margin for error or bad luck. And it's possible that Chicago is just about ready to turn the corner for a long while to come.

I mean yeah they backed themselves into a corner for sure, and their margin for error is always going to be thin.  My "plan" would have been more realistic if 2026 was a full on development/bottom out year...and if they'd traded Ryan for Tolle and Arias...and if they'd traded Jeffers and others at the deadline...

I just don't know what else they do.  More 1 year plans to "compete"?  Just be honest about 27 which might be a weird/abbreviated season anyway.  And have a plan!  Look to the future.  Have a baseball strategy, not just a financial one.  

They're going to need to get starting pitching, not for 27 but for 28 and 29.  I'd target younger starters with Ryan and Lopez and see what you can get.  (I'd also put a stop the minor league strategy of training all pitchers to pitch 3 innings, if they're still doing that.)  I'd also give Morris run as a starter and I absolutely would not give up on Mathews, Preillip, even Festa yet.   They could definitely be part of the future, if probably not aces.

It's not impossible.  Do I think the current owner and FO have the competence and willingness and foresight to execute it?  Lol.  

But it's not impossible.  Two years ago if you would have said the 2026 White Sox would be a playoff team you'd have been laughed off this site.  

[HarmonK03]

1 hour ago, laloesch said:

Can we please move on from trying to desperately plug Royce Lewis into every position need the Twins have to justify his continued prescence on the major league roster?  He can't hit, he's an average fielder, is hard to coach, etc

I think Lewis has improved at 1B and will continue to if given the time.  Yes he needs to hit and I get if they move on but I think he has found a position.

I don't understand the statement that he is hard to coach, I am not sure where that comes from.  I have not seen reports that have said or even hinted at this.

[HarmonK03]

The Twins biggest area of need is a competent front office.  This front office has been given 10 years and produced one wild card win.  Bring someone in that can develop a plan sell it to TP and help sell it to the fans.

Otherwise any moves made will be viewed with skepticism because will there really be a plan behind them.  There are some good suggestions in the comments but I don't believe the current front office will do much different than the past.  Sign some league average at best 30 something veterans and hope to compete in a weak division.  They will continue to favor the lesser talented veterans over the potential upside of the younger players.  They have already shown this down the stretch run.

[DocBauer]

#1 priority is a quality 1B. That stabilizes the INF, and the lineup, and maybe takes a little pressure off some of the young guys. Lewis just doesn't hit except for brief stretches, and hasn't hit for 3 years now. 

As I've stated elsewhere, we could trade for a 1B. But it's also possible there could be a 3B that would just be better at 1B, or an OF with 1B experience who could be moved there permanently. So FA and trade are both possibilities here.

#2 priority is the bullpen. I actually have faith in some of the arms there, and hopes for a couple others, but we simply need more. I'd say resigning Minter should be a priority. He's not what he once was, but he's still good. And then add another high velocity, late inning arm. Banda, Minter, and Funderburk from the LH side and Hoffman, Morris, Gomez, and player X is a really solid foundation. 

#3 priority is another solid bench option for better roster depth. It was really nice having guys like Farmer, Gonzalez, and Solano as good role players to deepen the roster. Castro was also that guy. Lewis could be valuable, even at $5M, playing 1B/2B/3B in that role. But I don't see him accepting it as he believes he's a starter still, IMO. Time to part ways for both sides and find a solid option to fill this role.

#4 priority is catcher. Why so low? Because Caratini is going to cost $10M no matter what, so he's not going anywhere. And despite his poor arm and very questionable bat...maybe it rebounds?...he's still a knowledgeable, veteran presence behind the plate. The only way to improve here is if they can find someone better overall than Jackson and perhaps he takes over the #1 spot for 2027. That's about the only way we see change/improvement here. (I'm not expecting Jeffers to accept the QO if offered).

#5 option would be a veteran OF for the #5 spot. Not a priority, but a consideration. Considering the probable make-up of the 2027 roster, I don't know that it matters if the #5 OF is RH or LH. But 5 OF are going to fill 4 spots most days when we include the DH. I'd like to shoot higher than Martin for this role. But I'm not sure I want Mendez or Gonzalez if they aren't going to play regularly. So maybe adding another experienced, solid veteran bat would be good for depth and the OF/DH rotation?

Again, not a priority, but an interesting consideration. 

There's going to be a lot more youth on the 2027 Twins, with a few more debuting at some point. These proposed moves add a missing 1B, and strengthens the pen and the bench. But they also don't block anyone long term or interfere with playing time for the young players.

[BSLinPA]

1 hour ago, soyouresayingtheresachance said:

If I could run the offseason, this is how the team would look opening day 2027.

 

ERod LF - Buxton CF - Jenkins RF (Keaschall 4th - Roden 5th) 

 

DH would be Keaschall. Buck would take days off from the field and DH some days. Keaschall would play LF those days with one of ERod or Jenkins filling in CF. 

 

Lee 3B - Culpepper SS - Clemens 2B - Contreras 1B (Kriedler UTL - Ross UTL) - Make a trade for Willson Contreras. Backup option sign Brandon Lowe for 1B.

 

Jeffers & Caratini behind the plate. I would've preferred Jackson over Caratini, but it seems he was DFA'd today, so probably wont be around next season. Give Jeffers the QO. If he doesn't accept, just try to sign him. I'd imagine 4 years/ $70-$75M should get it done. If we cant sign Jeffers, Tyler Stephenson is my backup. Caratini can not be the starter. If Alex Jackson stays with the club, keep him as backup C and trade Caratini. 

 

Lineup: 1. Keaschall 2. Jenkins 3. Buxton 4. Contreras 5. Jeffers 6. Clemens 7. Culpepper 8. ERod 9. Lee

 

Bullpen:

 

Sign David Bednar to be our Closer. Hoffman gets the 8th inning. Gomez & Morris get the 7th inning. Funderburk, Nanace, Banda, & Rojas round out the BP. Raisel Iglesias Is my backup to sign as Closer. 

 

Rotation:

 

Sign Michael King to lead our rotation. Followed by Taj, Ryan, Prielipp, and hopefully a healthy and effective Pablo. Zebby and others could be AAA depth or be moved to the pen if its deemed best. Sonny Gray is the other Starter I would consider signing. 

 

This setup also leaves many current players off the team. These guys would be traded or Non Tender / DFA'd: Royce Lewis - Trevor Larnach - Bailey Ober - Austin Martin - Dean Kremer. This still leaves an abundance of "ready" players at AAA, especially starting pitchers. The beauty of this blueprint is none of it is really fantasy. Every one of these moves are realistic. 

Appreciate your brainstorming/wish list and like your blueprint.  But there is no chance (and, therefore, "fantasy") that our Twins sign:  Ryans Jeffers + David Bednar/Raisel Iglesias + Michael King/Sonny Gray + trade for Willson Contreras at $36M for the next 2 years,  in a single off season.  Any one of these would be a pleasant surprise/welcome addition.   

Looks like Alex Jackson cleared waivers and was outrighted to StP.  Twins can easily add him to 40 man roster before the Fall deadline and he will be first time arb eligible (<$2M) or agree to a new contract.  May be a fall-back plan at C?

Have to think Dean Kremer was added with purpose......Twins pitching lab refresh.......and the proverbial veteran innings eater?

Unfortunately, the listed trade pieces appear more likely to provide "prospects" than MLB-ready talent; worthy of exploration, nonetheless.                         GO TWINS!!

[BSLinPA]

2 hours ago, soyouresayingtheresachance said:

If I could run the offseason, this is how the team would look opening day 2027.

 

ERod LF - Buxton CF - Jenkins RF (Keaschall 4th - Roden 5th) 

 

DH would be Keaschall. Buck would take days off from the field and DH some days. Keaschall would play LF those days with one of ERod or Jenkins filling in CF. 

 

Lee 3B - Culpepper SS - Clemens 2B - Contreras 1B (Kriedler UTL - Ross UTL) - Make a trade for Willson Contreras. Backup option sign Brandon Lowe for 1B.

 

Jeffers & Caratini behind the plate. I would've preferred Jackson over Caratini, but it seems he was DFA'd today, so probably wont be around next season. Give Jeffers the QO. If he doesn't accept, just try to sign him. I'd imagine 4 years/ $70-$75M should get it done. If we cant sign Jeffers, Tyler Stephenson is my backup. Caratini can not be the starter. If Alex Jackson stays with the club, keep him as backup C and trade Caratini. 

 

Lineup: 1. Keaschall 2. Jenkins 3. Buxton 4. Contreras 5. Jeffers 6. Clemens 7. Culpepper 8. ERod 9. Lee

 

Bullpen:

 

Sign David Bednar to be our Closer. Hoffman gets the 8th inning. Gomez & Morris get the 7th inning. Funderburk, Nanace, Banda, & Rojas round out the BP. Raisel Iglesias Is my backup to sign as Closer. 

 

Rotation:

 

Sign Michael King to lead our rotation. Followed by Taj, Ryan, Prielipp, and hopefully a healthy and effective Pablo. Zebby and others could be AAA depth or be moved to the pen if its deemed best. Sonny Gray is the other Starter I would consider signing. 

 

This setup also leaves many current players off the team. These guys would be traded or Non Tender / DFA'd: Royce Lewis - Trevor Larnach - Bailey Ober - Austin Martin - Dean Kremer. This still leaves an abundance of "ready" players at AAA, especially starting pitchers. The beauty of this blueprint is none of it is really fantasy. Every one of these moves are realistic.