Did the Twins Exceed Expectations This Year?

[Apixarfan]

The Twins were actually one game over .500 against the AL East this year and the Tigers were just one game under .500. If the East is a superior division, and we won half our games against them, wouldn’t that just indicate a lot of parity in the Central?

I think if we had kept Varland and spent in free agency last winter we’d probably be in a wildcard spot. Because they didn’t, that’s why I was pessimistic and they about met my moderately low expectations

[Apixarfan]

I see a few people criticized the Twins for not trading Larnach but they are leaving out that the Twins had a trade worked out with HOU before the team owner nixed the deal at the last minute. I wouldn’t be surprised if that basically came too late to work out a fair deal somewhere else.

[JD-TWINS]

Estimating or predicting Wins for a SEASON is silly since there are way too many variables in play …….. i.e. Wallner’s zero to negative contribution - SWR was equally as bad as Wallner from a negative contribution standpoint - Banda/Sands/Lopez/Festa/Abel all missed SIGNIFICANT time …… Ryan MISSED a number of weeks…….. Lee was terrible as a SS, defensively ……. Lewis was mediocre over the entirety of the year …….. Buxton, once again, played less than 100 games.

Culpepper - Jenkins got hurt and weren’t ready to help in August - Rodriguez slid into first base and needed thumb surgery, he too wasn’t ready in August.

Stuff is going to happen to every Team - understood. Going to win some you probably shouldn’t and lose some that were squarely in your grasp. For this Team to Win 76 games, while blowing at least 20 other solid Win Opportunities………it did better than I would have expected. IF most of the things that happened, with injuries or unexpected poor performance from a few, the Team had a real shot at 88-90 Wins. 

[Mike Sixel]

Nope. The only two things that were a lot better than expected were Bradley, and the number of onions Prielipp pitched. But the record was about where predicted. 

[LastOnePicked]

3 hours ago, Peter said:

This was a great season regardless of what everyone thinks!!! One run losses and blown leads were brutal but all in all great season!!! Ryan/ober/larnach/bell and Jeffers won’t be back-Clemens might be gone but that’s ok! We got great prospects ready to step up for twins and future is great!!! Can’t wait for next season as well multiple division titles and another World Series championship!!! Let’s go twins!!!

Man, I wish I could think like this. The Twins don't deserve you, Peter.

I think this was the worst season in recent memory. Certainly there were seasons in the 90s and 2010s that were worse, but I can't get over the future opportunities that were lost. The Twins simply could not pick a plan and see it through. As a result, they're still a middling mix of promising rookies, fading veterans and fizzling post-hype prospects.

Some good moments, yes. But every big win was followed by losses. Every step forward was met with a bigger setback.

There's no benefit in MLB to being a middling team. You're either keeping a contention window open or you're taking your lumps. The Twins came into 2026 betting heavily on the health and success of Lopez, Buxton and Ryan. They're going to go into 2027 with the exact same bet, and the chances of having them all stay healthy and performing at their highest level have literally never been smaller.

[Russ]

No

Same old result.  2025 Trade deadline acquired prospects.  2026 Trade deadline traded prospects.  Result? A team under .500 in a weak division.  Need better decision makers all around.

[LastOnePicked]

2 hours ago, PuckettPond said:

2026 fan attendance was terrible. Twins fans support in the top 3 for worst in MLB. " If you don't go to the game you can't complain" Ghandi. If attending a Twins game was a crime Twins fans would be on death row.

Mr. Pohlad, I realize how badly all these ungrateful working class slobs have hurt you, but certainly you can afford some good therapy. Or at least some fine Scotch. I hate to see you like this.

[JD-TWINS]

Who is back from the position player standpoint? My preference blended with how the FO/organization behaves, usually.

LEWIS - (.164 BA prior to being sent down) had a .271 BA since June 10th ………. 14 HR’s in 124 games ……. 15 stolen bases. With any sort of success and 140+ starts, he can easily be a 20/20 guy, with 25/25 not far above a realistic prognostication.

LEE is at 3B - CULPEPPER is at SS - CLEMENS is at 2B & back up at 1B & corner OF - LEWIS at 1B with some fill in duty at 2B………….. KEASCHALL in LF due to lack of arm - BUXTON is in CF - JENKINS is in RF ……….. Jeffers or someone they trade for will start ……. Larnach at LH platoon DH …….. w/Keaschall & Buxton from the RH side.

E-Rod & Martin are depth OF with Clemens occasionally. Caratini is depth behind the plate.  

1 spot still open …….. seems it’s a depth guy in IF.

Not much changing from the end of ‘26 options. IMO, not many needed.

Pitching must greatly improve!!! Spend $$ on 3 arms not currently in team’s future control. Arms obtained in trade or via Free Agency. CATCHER is the wildcard roster hole that needs to be plugged!

[Jacksson]

The team failed to live up to expectations for 2026.  Reasons=

#1 Injuries to players leading to extended loss of playing time = Abel, Sands, Banda,  Festa, Paredes, Rojas, Acton, Buxton.

#2 Performances below expected levels from = Wallner, Larnach, Buxton, Roden, Martin, Ryan, Adams, Ober, Orze, Rogers.

#3 Poor organizational decision making = A - Keeping Outman on the 26 man roster.  B - Failure to trade Jeffers & acquire MLB ready players. C - Failure to trade Ryan & acquire MLB ready players. D - Taking until mid season to realize that the infield alignment was flawed and making the moves necessary to overhaul that situation which resulted in position changes and necessitating "learning on the fly" at new or relatively unfamiliar positions by players: Lee, Lewis, Keaschall, Clemens.  E - Continuing to believe that Gray was a capable ML Shortstop. F - Delaying the season ending hip surgery on Buxton until the season was shot when it was clear that surgery was the outcome at the time of the All Star Break and depriving players: Rodriguez, Gonzalez, Roden, Mendez of gaining valuable MAJOR LEAGUE outfield experience as well as providing organizational  data on their performance that could be used for player evaluation.  G - Signing Caratini. H - Signing Bell. I - Shortening the 26 man roster by carrying Jackson as a 3rd catcher for two extended periods of time during which he received minimal utilization.

#4 - Having an owner and GM with a deluded opinion of the construction and performance capabilities of the team.

[ewen21]

23 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

 Banda/Sands/Lopez/Festa/Abel all missed SIGNIFICANT time

Banda, Sands, Festa and Abel missing time should be something a good team could absorb easily.  The fact that we fall on that as some kind of setback speaks to the lack of depth we have in pitching.

[HerbieFan]

No Pablo all year...so yes.  I wanted answers out of 2026.  Off the top of my head, we now know that Brooks Lee is a keeper.  Matt Wallner is not.  Luke Keaschall is a big time yes.  Larnach is a not anymore.  We know Kalen Culpepper can play.  We know Royce Lewis is what he's chosen to be the last two seasons.  We know Prielipp should be a rotation staple.  We know Taj is a dude.  We know Jeffers is worth re-signing.  We know they can make Buxton part of the 2027 plan but not a focal point of it...same for Joe Ryan.  We know Zebby can handle a starter's workload but still needs to improve.  It's all about educated guesses going forward and we have a lot more information to make the best educated guesses possible.