The WS is over, now what?

[thelanges5]

The offseason will likely be compressed due to the impending lockout. Sure hope Tom, Zoll, and his baseball Ops team are ready for action. Could be a flurry of trades and signing like the last lockout. Don’t want to be caught in December with your pants down. 
 

I found this article from mlbtraderumors.com to be helpful. 
 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/10/the-2026-27-offseason-begins.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=bluesky

[Riverbrian]

They can't mess around. Competitive Bids right out of the box. Tom once said Go Big or Go Home. Competitive Go Big bids right away... or they go home.   

Unless they have inside information that the new CBA will change the game and they want to wait for the game to change.

They'll need to get pieces in place before a lockout occurs. Free agents may want to deal before the lockout so they could sign quicker. 

I'm guessing of course. I have no idea how the market will play out. Who does?    

[HarmonK03]

The last time there was a lockout, most of the signings occurred in November.  Falvey decided to wait and let the market settle and of course by the time it did, everyone was signed.  And he was left with scraps in March when they came back.  

Hopefully Zoll and his staff are ready to go today and have a plan in place.  And he has Tom P. on speed dial to approve any additional expenses that haven't already been discussed.

[Cory Engelhardt]

3 hours ago, thelanges5 said:

The offseason will likely be compressed due to the impending lockout. Sure hope Tom, Zoll, and his baseball Ops team are ready for action. Could be a flurry of trades and signing like the last lockout. Don’t want to be caught in December with your pants down. 
 

I found this article from mlbtraderumors.com to be helpful. 
 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/10/the-2026-27-offseason-begins.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=bluesky

This article is great, and Steve is a Minnesotan. Thanks for sharing.

I do think some of the best ways to help the roster will have to be through trades instead of free agency. Hopefully Zoll is bold and aggressive as much as possible 

[Blyleven2011]

World Series is over , now what ???

WITHDRAWLS TILL SPRING , that’s what …

[MackMan]

[tony&rodney]

We will know by December 1 whether the Twins will have a decent team for 2027.

 

[Parfigliano]

Fire Zoll.

[Linus]

Somehow they have to add 10 wins to this team while losing one of their best hitters. Not seeing it, maybe others can. To be clear, I am referring to 2027. 

[MeleMouth]

15 minutes ago, Linus said:

Somehow they have to add 10 wins to this team while losing one of their best hitters. Not seeing it, maybe others can. To be clear, I am referring to 2027. 

Just a nit: their Base Runs and Pythagorean records were actually two wins lower, at 75-87. Assuming that those stats are more predictive of the future, you would say they need to add at least 12 wins, if you make the assumption that 87 wins should be enough to make the playoffs again in 2027, as it has been for most of the past few years.

There actually are paths that aren't crazy, although everyone should recognize that the idea of relievers equivalent to Duran, Jax, and Varland walking through the door is highly unlikely. Also, a goal of 87 wins is once again setting the goal as squeaking into the playoffs instead of being a dominant team.

[tony&rodney]

39 minutes ago, MeleMouth said:

Just a nit: their Base Runs and Pythagorean records were actually two wins lower, at 75-87. Assuming that those stats are more predictive of the future, you would say they need to add at least 12 wins, if you make the assumption that 87 wins should be enough to make the playoffs again in 2027, as it has been for most of the past few years.

There actually are paths that aren't crazy, although everyone should recognize that the idea of relievers equivalent to Duran, Jax, and Varland walking through the door is highly unlikely. Also, a goal of 87 wins is once again setting the goal as squeaking into the playoffs instead of being a dominant team.

This is a fair comment.

It really is something to think of a team having Duran, Jax, and Varland together. The Twins are hoping, against some steep odds that Mick Abel and Kendry Rojas can step forward in a large way and that Taj Bradley maintains or improves upon his 2026 season. It could happen and is roughly $15M less expensive. 

Your note does jar  the reality of forecasting something beyond 81 wins for 2027. We (Twins fans) are depending/hoping for sustained positives from unknowns such as Jenkins, Rodriguez, Culpepper, Houston, Roden, Rojas, Abel, and Prielipp along with the expectation that the club gets solid gains from Lee, Clemens, and Lewis. That is not to mention the wishes for Buxton, Lopez, Ryan, etc. It is quite a wish list and I'm wishing too.

Hopefully Zoll and his friends all show up to work early Monday morning for the most important month of work in their careers. Tune in.

[nicksaviking]

If the Twins really intend to play in free agency, they better already understand that the worthwhile players are going to get absolutely crazy deals. I think the sticker shock is going to stun fans, but the front office better not be phased. And if they are, then they better just be ready to renege on their promise to spend money because I think it will result in them over-paying for some pretty crummy players.

[Linus]

My hunch (which is based on nothing other past history) is the Twins will sign one position player to a substantial contract. My hypothetical question to TD is would you rather sign Jefferson at 3 / $45 (maybe 4 / $60 or Brandon Lowe at 3 / $54 (maybe 4 / $72)?  My idea would be Lowe could slide over to first when / if Houston is ready. 

[nicksaviking]

42 minutes ago, Linus said:

My hunch (which is based on nothing other past history) is the Twins will sign one position player to a substantial contract. My hypothetical question to TD is would you rather sign Jefferson at 3 / $45 (maybe 4 / $60 or Brandon Lowe at 3 / $54 (maybe 4 / $72)?  My idea would be Lowe could slide over to first when / if Houston is ready. 

Is Jefferson, Jeffers?

If so, I think you are low on your hypothetical contracts; I think you need to almost double the AAV. I bet Jeffers gets at least 25M per year and Lowe gets over 30M.

The CBA is up. The big market teams who want to compete next year and are concerned about a salary cap hindering them are going to go hog wild to get grandfathered in. And the smart and aggressive small market teams that think there is going to be a salary floor and are 30M-100M below that floor are going to want to get the good players now before they are forced to give big money to bad players. If currently being used for guesitmation, every AAV precedent needs to be tossed out the window right now. And if the Twins are not anticipating this, we're in for an absolute and utter disaster. Say hello to a half dozen Javier Vazquez's and Ricky Nolasco's at 10-15M per year.

[Linus]

Yes Jeffers (autocorrect). Your estimates are substantial but I see your logic if there is a floor. I’m kind of assuming there won’t be but my point really wasn’t about the money it was about the choice. Who would you rather have if you can only have one and they are in the same ballpark money wise.