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    Notes about the team are posted here.

    115 rumors in this category

      Matthew Lenz

      With the World Series nearing its end, teams will soon be allowed to complete trades. With that, you can expect to hear rumors surrounding the Minnesota Twins, who could look to shed more salary by dealing one or both of their top starting pitchers.

      Jen McCaffrey, who covers the Boston Red Sox for The Athletic, is already stoking the stove in a recent mailbag article. The team that made a late push at the deadline to acquire the 29-year-old Ryan is expected to add to their starting rotation this offseason and will likely be calling the Twins again.

      While they may pursue more elite options, such as Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, they could also opt for more of a number two type like Ryan. At the deadline, Dan Hayes suggested the Twins would be looking for two top-50 prospects in return - "one with a mid-ceiling and one more of a lottery ticket." McCaffrey goes on to speculate that a package including one of shortstop Franklin Arias or outfielder Jhostynxon "The Password" Garcia, plus 2025 first-rounder right-hander Kyson Witherspoon, would be a good "start" to a potential deal.

      Arias, the Red Sox's top prospect and 24th in all of baseball (per MLB Pipeline), started the 2025 season in Single-A Salem before being promoted to High-A Greenville Drive and eventually Double-A Winchester. He posted a .278 AVG with eight home runs, 66 RBI, and 12 stolen bases over 479 at-bats in the minors.

      Garcia split his 2025 season between the minor and major leagues for the Red Sox organization. In the minors, he hit 21 home runs and drove in 75 RBI. He appeared in 5 games for the Red Sox, recording one hit (a double) over seven at-bats with two walks. He ranks as the 85th best prospect in baseball and third in the organization.

      Witherspoon, who didn't appear in a game for the Red Sox organization, finished his NCAA season with a 2.65 ERA and 124 strikeouts across 95.0 innings for the Oklahoma Sooners. He was named a Golden Spikes Award Semifinalist and a Consensus First Team All-American. He is currently the 89th prospect in baseball and 4th fourth-best prospect in the organization, according to MLB Pipeline.

      Who do you think the Twins should look to land if they tango with the Red Sox? Let us know in the comments!

      Seth Stohs

      On X/Twitter, Danny Gallagher describes himself as an Expos historian with 11 books about the franchise. 

      On Friday morning, he posted a tweet about former Twins closer Jeff Reardon. The tweet shows a picture of the 70-year-old following the surgery. He's still got his signature beard. He has his blanket or robe on but his chest. You can see the large incision down the center of his chest and electrodes stuck in various places around his chest. I won't show that photo here as I would imagine not everyone would want to see it. (Gallagher notes in a subsequent tweet that the photo came from Reardon's Facebook page). 

      image.png 

      Reardon spent three of his 16 major league seasons with the Minnesota Twins. He joined the team right before the start of the 1987 season. Six weeks into his Twins career, he had a 10.80 ERA. However, over the remainder of the season, he had a 3.03 ERA. Overall, he went 8-8 with a 4.48 ERA and 31 saves. 

      He pitched in four World Series games that season and gave up no runs over 5 2/3 innings. In Game 7, Frank Viola gave up two runs in the second inning. That was it. He gave up two runs on six hits over eight innings. But when the Twins had a 4-2 lead over the Cardinals after eight innings Viola had thrown 95 pitches, and a case could be made for him to go out for the ninth. However, Tom Kelly later said that they were going to do what they did all year which was go to Reardon in that situation. Reardon got Tom Herr to fly out to centerfield. Curt Ford pinch hit and popped up to third base. And we all love seeing Willie McGee grounding to Gary Gaetti at third base. The Gold Glove winner threw across the diamond to Kent Hrbek. The Twins were World Champions. The image of Hrbek leaping into the air, and the bench racing out to the middle of the diamond where teammates embraced in celebration. 

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      Reardon spent two more seasons with the Twins. In 1988, he was at his best and made an All-Star appearance. He went 2-4 with a 2.47 ERA and had 42 saves. In 1989, he went 5-4 with a 4.07 ERA and 31 saves. 

      The Terminator, as he was affectionately nicknamed, made his big-league debut with the Mets in 1979. He was traded to the Expos during the shortened 1981 season. He was an All Star for Montreal in 1985 and 1986. In February of 1987, he came to the Twins with catcher Tom Nieto in exchange for LHPs Neal Heaton and Yorkis Perez, RHP Al Cardwood, and former first-round pick catcher Jeff Reed.

      Following the 1989 season, he became a free agent and signed a four-year contract with the Red Sox and made one All-Star appearance for Boston. In August of 1992, he was traded to the Atlanta Braves. 

      Then things got weird for The Bearded One. In 1993, he signed with the Reds. In 1994, he signed with the New York Yankees. Both teams did not allow players to have beards, so Reardon shaved and was left with only his mustache. 

      When he retired in 1994, Reardon was the All-Time leader with 367 Saves. 

      Join us in wishing Jeff Reardon good health following his quadruple bypass surgery. 

       

      © RVR Photos-Imagn Images (photo of Reardon)

       

      Matthew Lenz

      The Minnesota Twins have gotten off to an unsurprisingly slow start in the offseason. To this point, their most notable move is tendering a contract to Trevor Larnach, who many thought might be non-tendered. However, this morning, Jeff Passan of ESPN ignited the burner on the hot stove with an update on Byron Buxton.

      In ranking the players who could be traded, Passan ranked Buxton as the fifth-best player behind Tarik Skubal, Ketel Marte, Freddy Peralta, and Hunter Green. Passan added, "Buxton is willing to waive his no-trade clause - and not just for Atlanta..." To this point, Buxton has not stated anything publicly to confirm or deny this report.

      If it's true, this is a notable shift in Buxton's mindset, who, on multiple occasions, has said he wants to stay with the Twins. However, at the back end of his prime and with the state of the organization, it's hard to blame him for the change.

      Buxton, coming off a career year, played in 126 games in 2025. He finished with 35 home runs, 97 runs scored, and 24 stolen bases. He posted an impressive .878 OPS, a .367 wOBA, and a 135 wRC+. Defensively, Buxton is starting to slow down in center field with -5 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) and +3 Outs Above Average (OAA). 

      Do you think the Twins should trade Buxton? Let us know in the comments!

      Cody Christie

      Investing heavily in a high school pitcher is always risky. Pitchers are fragile, their development can take longer than planned, and injuries are common. The Twins accepted those risks when they picked Charlee Soto with the 34th overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft.

      Now, the early portion of Soto’s professional career has served as a reminder of that risk. According to MLB.com reporter Matthew Leach, Soto is behind schedule this spring as he continues to recover from bone spur surgery that took place last summer. The Twins Daily No. 10 prospect will open the 2026 season on the injured list, though there is some encouraging progress. Soto is expected to begin throwing live batting practice in early April, which could put him on a path toward returning to game action sometime later in the spring.

      Though not ideal, the delay is just another twist in Soto’s development. The Twins rarely use early picks on prep pitchers because it’s a volatile profile, often preferring college arms or position players at the top of the draft.

      Soto was an exception. The 17-year-old right-hander out of Reborn Christian Academy in Florida had the type of electric arm talent that made the gamble worthwhile. Minnesota signed him for a 2.48 million bonus and immediately placed him among the most intriguing young arms in the system. Since then, however, the results have been mixed.

      Soto made his professional debut in 2024 and spent the year with Fort Myers. The Twins managed his workload carefully, which is common for young pitchers in their first full season. Across 21 appearances, he posted a 5.23 ERA while showing flashes of the raw stuff that made him such an appealing draft target. His fastball velocity and overall athleticism remained impressive, but consistency proved difficult to maintain.

      The following season brought even more frustration. In 2025, Soto managed only 13 innings before injuries interrupted his year. A triceps strain sidelined him after just three starts with Cedar Rapids. As he worked his way through that recovery process, another issue emerged. In August, Soto underwent a procedure to remove a partially detached bone spur in his elbow.

      The positive news was that doctors found no structural damage in the elbow itself. For a pitcher, that distinction matters. Structural issues involving ligaments often lead to lengthy recoveries and, in some cases, major surgery. Soto avoided that scenario, which allowed the Twins to remain optimistic about his long-term outlook.

      This spring represents the first step toward putting those health questions behind him. Even though Soto will begin the season on the injured list, the expectation is that he will gradually build up his workload once he returns to the mound. Live batting practice in early April is typically one of the final checkpoints before pitchers resume competitive innings. If everything progresses as planned, Soto could see game action not long after that.

      Soto’s talent has never been the primary concern. His fastball already flashes the type of life that scouts dream about when projecting future big-league starters. His secondary pitches still require refinement, but the foundation of a legitimate pitching arsenal is there. What the Twins need to see now is durability and repetition. That means building innings.

      After throwing only a small number of frames over the last two seasons, Soto’s goal in 2026 should be to push past the 100-inning mark. Reaching that threshold would represent a meaningful step in his progression and help answer some of the durability questions that currently surround him.

      Equally important will be his ability to refine his command and pitch sequencing. Young pitchers often rely on raw velocity early in their careers, but long-term success requires learning how to navigate lineups, adjust during games, and consistently locate pitches in competitive counts.

      If Soto can combine improved health with those developmental gains, his prospect stock could rebound quickly. For now, patience remains the key. His 2026 season may begin later than expected, but it will offer another opportunity for Soto to show why the Twins believed in his potential in the first place.

      If he can return to the mound, stay healthy, and steadily build his workload, the narrative surrounding his development could start to shift again. For a pitcher with Soto’s ceiling, simply getting back on the field and logging consistent innings would be a meaningful step toward the future the organization envisioned on draft day.

      Cody Christie

      The latest round of spring roster cuts from the Minnesota Twins came as little surprise, but they offer clarity on how the organization is shaping its upper-level depth.

      At this stage of camp, decisions are now driven by practicality rather than upside. Veterans and non-roster invites receive longer looks for early-season roles. Prospects needing everyday reps or rehabbing injuries move to the minor league side. These changes don't dramatically alter the long-term outlook but do clarify how the Twins prioritize development and depth as camp concludes.

      With those themes in mind, let's break down the implications of this specific group of cuts.

      Catching Depth Gets Reassigned

      Andrew Cossetti and Ricardo Olivar were both in big league camp to provide depth behind the plate. Neither was realistically pushing for an Opening Day role, but both gave the Twins reliable innings throughout the early Grapefruit League schedule.

      Cossetti, a 2022 draft pick, has spent the last two seasons at Double A and posted a .717 OPS across 171 games. He has split time between catcher and first base, giving him some defensive versatility, but his offensive production has remained more steady than spectacular. For now, he remains organizational depth with a chance to climb if the bat takes another step.

      Olivar has quietly put together a solid run in the system since signing out of Venezuela. Over five seasons, he has worked his way into fringe top-30 prospect conversations. Last season at Double A, he posted a .768 OPS in 93 games and continued to show a balanced offensive profile. Like Cossetti, he was in camp primarily to support the catching workload. Returning him to the minor league side allows him to prepare for what should be another important season in his development.

      A Sensible Move for Walker Jenkins

      There was never any real debate about Jenkins breaking camp with the big league club, especially once the hamstring strain surfaced.

      Jenkins remains the top prospect in the organization, but he is not on the 40-man roster and is currently sidelined for a couple of weeks. With his focus on rehab and getting back to full strength, sending him to minor league camp is simply procedural. It allows him to progress at his own pace without occupying a spot on a big league roster.

      The Twins are thinking long term here. Jenkins does not need to rush anything in March. His priority is building toward a healthy and productive season, not squeezing in a few extra at-bats in exhibition games.

      Sorting Out the Triple-A Bullpen

      On the pitching side, several arms now shift their attention toward Triple-A roles.

      Christian MacLeod’s path remains one of the more interesting developments. A fifth-round pick in 2021, he reached Triple-A last season after a strong first half at Double-A. As a starter there, he posted a 2.63 ERA in 13 starts and looked to be trending upward. The move to the bullpen in St. Paul brought mixed results. The hitter-friendly environment proved challenging, and his numbers took a hit. Still, the organization appears committed to him as a reliever for now. Returning him to Triple-A in a bullpen role gives him a chance to refine that transition with more experience.

      Andrew Bash is a name to keep in mind. He has spent his entire professional career in the Blue Jays organization and quietly put together an impressive 2025 campaign at Triple-A. Over 40 appearances and 84 innings, he logged a 2.57 ERA with a 7.7 K/9. Minnesota brought him into camp for a closer evaluation, and while he will start the season in the minors, he profiles as a potential depth option if the big league bullpen needs reinforcements.

      Raul Brito rounds out the group. The 28-year-old spent the last two seasons in the Padres system and showed swing-and-miss ability at Triple-A last year with an 11.7 K/9 across 63 1/3 innings. The problem was consistency. A 6.11 ERA, 5.0 BB/9, and 10.2 H/9 illustrate the volatility. Like Bash and MacLeod, he should factor into the Triple-A bullpen mix and serve as depth if he can tighten the command.

      None of these cuts dramatically shifts the outlook for the Opening Day roster. Instead, they represent the natural narrowing of camp competition as the calendar flips toward the regular season. Spring training roster cuts are rarely headline-grabbing. But they often reveal how an organization values depth, flexibility, and patience. This round was no different.

      Matthew Taylor

      The Minnesota Twins have begun locking in their 2025 draft class, announcing the signings of three of their top selections, including their first-rounder, just days after the MLB Draft.

      Marek Houston, the Twins' first-round pick at No. 16 overall, has officially signed for $4,497,500, slightly under the assigned slot value of $4,929,600. Houston, widely regarded as the best defensive shortstop in the class, brings elite glove work and advanced instincts to the organization. Though questions remain about the bat, his athleticism and polish make him a potential fast mover in the system.

      Joining him is Riley Quick, the Twins' supplemental first-rounder out of Alabama, who signed for his full slot value of $2,692,000. A hard-throwing righty with a deep pitch mix, Quick profiles as a potential rotation mainstay with multiple plus offerings and a competitive SEC pedigree.

      Second-round pick Quentin Young, the nephew of former Twin Delmon Young, also signed for full slot value at $1,761,600. One of the more intriguing upside plays in the class, Young brings raw but electric tools, boasting elite athleticism and massive power potential. If the Twins can refine his approach, he could become a high-ceiling force in the lineup down the line.

      The Twins are expected to announce additional signings in the coming days as they work to finalize the rest of their 2025 class.

      Stay up-to-date on the 2025 MLB Draft with Twins Daily's draft tracker.

      Matthew Taylor

      The Minnesota Twins are wasting little time challenging their top draft pick. Shortstop Marek Houston, the 16th overall selection in July’s draft, has been promoted to High-A Cedar Rapids after just 12 games with the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels.

      Houston impressed immediately in Low-A, slashing .370/.424/.444 with 13 strikeouts, five walks, and plenty of highlight plays in the field. His advanced glove work, considered the best among shortstops in this year’s draft, was a major factor in the Twins selecting him in the first round.

      He now joins a Kernels team that already has its ticket punched for the postseason after winning the Midwest League West Division’s first half. Houston will get a taste of playoff baseball right away, with 18 regular-season games left plus Cedar Rapids’ postseason run. His High-A debut could come as soon as tomorrow, August 19, when the Kernels visit the South Bend Cubs.

      What do you think of Houston’s early showing in the Twins organization? Is he tracking even faster than expected? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

      Brock Beauchamp

      How To Install On iPhone or iPad
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      Developing a pure, native app for either Android or iOS is a breathtakingly expensive endeavor, which is why we haven’t done it, despite so many requests over the years. Thankfully, technology has met us halfway, and PWAs (Progressive Web Applications) have reached maturity in the marketplace.

      What is a PWA? It’s effectively a pseudo-app that works much like a native application but doesn’t require tens of thousands of dollars in development to produce. It creates a single browser instance and maintains it as if it were an application. It’s basically a standalone browser tab, dedicated specifically to Twins Daily.

      From this app instance, you can receive notifications; the typical browser interface is removed, and the site is presented clearly, using as much screen real estate as possible, all without sacrificing any functionality. The site is faster, more reliable, and offers more mobile functionality than a standard web browser.

      Additionally, a newer, completely updated Twins Daily is coming later this year, and that will add even more app-like features, making PWA usage even better for all our users.

      With that said, here’s how you turn Twins Daily into an app on your mobile device.

      How To “Install” Twins Daily on iPhone or iPad Using Safari

      First, go to the home page of Twins Daily at https://twinsdaily.com/.

      1. Tap on the ellipses (…) at bottom right of screen.
      2. Tap “Share” in pop-up menu.

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      3. Tap “View More”.
      4. Tap “Add To Home Screen”.
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      That takes you to your home screen on iOS, where you can move the Twins Daily app around, just as you would any other app.

      Additionally, you can turn on notifications for them. Just go to the following link while logged into the site: https://twinsdaily.com/notifications/options/.

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      How To “Install” Twins Daily on an Android Device Using Chrome

      First, go to the home page of Twins Daily at https://twinsdaily.com/.

      1. Tap on the vertical ellipses (…) at top right of screen.
      2. Tap “Share…” in pop-up menu.

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      3. Tap “Add to Home Screen”.
      4. Tap “Install”.

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      That takes you to your home screen on Android, where you can move the Twins Daily app around, just as you would any other app.

      Additionally, you can turn on notifications for the site. Just go to the following link while logged into the site: https://twinsdaily.com/notifications/options/.

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      Steve Drumwright

       

      As expected, the initial Kendry Rojas era was a brief one.

      The 23-year-old, Twins Daily's No. 8 prospect, was returned to Triple-A St. Paul as fellow left-hander Kody Funderburk returned from paternity leave.

      We have made the following roster moves:

      [image or embed]

      — Minnesota Twins (@twinsbaseball.bsky.social) April 24, 2026 at 9:43 AM

      Rojas was called up Tuesday and made his MLB debut in Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the New York Mets. He pitched two scoreless innings, allowing two hits and three walks with no strikeouts. Overall, a solid outing, especially for a debut.

      Rojas was part of the package the Twins got from the Toronto Blue Jays for right-handed reliever Louis Varland and first baseman Ty France.

      Funderburk's wife, Alicia, gave birth to the couple's first child, a daughter, Monday, a day off for the team.

       

      Cody Christie

      Rick Renick, a former Minnesota Twins player and a key member of the coaching staff during the franchise’s first World Series championship, died Saturday, January 31, at the age of 81. Renick was living in Sarasota, Florida, at the time of his passing. His baseball life touched the Twins organization across multiple generations.

      Renick’s connection to Minnesota began on the field. Signed out of Ohio State University in 1964, he climbed the Twins minor league system and made his major league debut on July 11, 1968, at Metropolitan Stadium. The assignment was not an easy one, as he faced Detroit Tigers left-hander Mickey Lolich, who had led the American League in shutouts the previous season. Renick responded in memorable fashion, homering in his first major league at-bat and becoming the first Twins player to do so.

      Primarily a third baseman and left fielder, Renick played five seasons with the Twins from 1968 through 1972, appearing in 276 games. He finished his Twins career as a .221 hitter with 20 home runs and 71 RBI, and his best season came in 1970 when he set career highs with seven home runs, 25 RBI, 81 games played, and a .708 OPS. That season also coincided with a division title, giving Renick his first taste of an AL West championship.

      By 1973, Renick’s playing days in the majors had come to an end, but baseball was far from done with him. He transitioned into coaching, first as a coach in the Twins farm system before moving on to a long and winding second career that included stops with the Kansas City Royals, Montreal Expos, Chicago White Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Florida Marlins. Along the way, he also managed nine seasons in the minor leagues and earned American Association Manager of the Year honors twice at Triple-A Nashville.

      Renick’s most enduring legacy in Minnesota came in 1987. After Ray Miller was fired late in the 1986 season, Tom Kelly took over as interim manager and was later retained for the following year. When assembling his staff, Kelly passed over ownership’s preferred candidate and instead chose Renick, his former minor league teammate who was then working in the Expos organization. Renick became the lone new coach on the staff, taking over duties at third base.

      The Twins defied expectations and captured their first division title since 1970, the last time Renick himself had been part of a championship team in Minnesota.

      The magic did not stop there. Minnesota went on to defeat the Detroit Tigers in the American League Championship Series and then beat the St. Louis Cardinals to secure the first World Series title in franchise history. Renick’s aggressive instincts at third base and his work with hitters were part of a coaching staff that maximized a roster few believed could reach that height.

      Renick remained with the Twins through the 1990 season, but after a last-place finish that year, he was let go by General Manager Andy MacPhail. He declined an opportunity to stay in the organization at the minor league level and instead continued his career elsewhere, returning to the majors in various roles through 2002.

      In total, Renick spent 13 seasons as a major league coach and left an imprint on multiple organizations. Still, his place in Twins history is unique. He was there for two AL West titles separated by 17 years, first as an underestimated utility player and later as a trusted voice on a championship coaching staff.

      Renick is survived by three sons, including Josh Renick , who was drafted by the Twins in 2001 and later played for the St. Paul Saints. His wife, Libby, passed away last March at the age of 80. For the Twins, Renick will be remembered as someone who helped guide one of the most improbable and beloved teams in franchise history to the top of the baseball world.

      Cody Christie

      The Minnesota Twins have not exactly been operating from a position of fan favor in recent years, but they took a step in the right direction following a frustrating start to the season at Target Field.

      After a power outage delayed the home opener against the Tampa Bay Rays by roughly an hour, the organization chose to compensate fans who attended by offering free tickets to the team’s game on Friday, April 17, against the Cincinnati Reds. The game will include pregame happy hour deals and fireworks following the game.

      The Twins opted for a gesture that at least acknowledges the importance of their paying customers. That does not erase the lingering frustration tied to ownership decisions, particularly after payroll reductions following the 2023 season. The Pohlad family has drawn consistent criticism, and one goodwill move does not suddenly reset that relationship. Still, credit is warranted here. This situation was beyond their control, yet they chose to respond in a way that directly benefits fans.

      Leading into Opening Day, Tom Pohlad addressed the broader picture of fan engagement. “We can sell all the $2 beers we want. We can have all the concepts we want, but people want to see a winner, and I think the product we put on the field is ultimately what's going to drive, hope, if you will.”

      It is a fair statement, and it is also where the disconnect continues to live. Acknowledging that winning matters most is easy. Investing in a roster that reflects that urgency is something else entirely. The additions of Josh Bell and Victor Caratini provide depth and professionalism, but they are complementary pieces rather than franchise-altering talents. For a team trying to reenergize its fan base, that distinction matters.

      Yes, the Twins recently put together an impressive sweep against the Detroit Tigers, and any winning streak is worth appreciating. But short bursts of success do not carry the same weight as a clear long-term vision. Fans have seen hot streaks before, including last season’s extended run, and understand how quickly momentum can fade.

      Discounted concessions and makeup tickets help. They create a better ballpark experience in the moment. But sustained interest comes from belief in the team's direction.

      The Twins did the right thing last week. They deserve recognition for that. Now comes the harder part. Turning a small gesture into meaningful change is what will ultimately determine how this fan base responds moving forward.

      Cody Christie

      Rocco Baldelli’s time in Minnesota officially came following the 2025 season, but his next chapter has already begun. After a difficult 92 loss season led to his dismissal, the former Twins manager is joining the Los Angeles Dodgers front office according to reporting from the Star Tribune’s Bobby Nightengale. The move brings Baldelli into the heart of baseball’s most dominant organization and reunites him with a familiar face.

      The Twins chose to move on from Baldelli after missing the playoffs for the fourth time in five years. It was a decision driven more by frustration than by a clear indictment of his abilities. Baldelli was never the sole reason the team stumbled through 2025, and he certainly was not the source of the deep flaws that defined the club’s roster and performance. Instead he became the public face of accountability when those above him would not accept their share of the responsibility.

      Even so it was never expected that Baldelli would remain unemployed for long. The real question was whether he wanted to jump back into the grind immediately. His answer came sooner than many anticipated. The Dodgers have brought him aboard in a front office role, a path he knows well from earlier in his career.

      Before he ever filled out a lineup card Baldelli worked in the Tampa Bay Rays system after a mitochondrial disorder ended his playing career in 2010. He joined Andrew Friedman’s baseball operations group as a special assistant and quickly earned a reputation as a thoughtful evaluator with a strong grasp of player development. That experience helped launch his coaching and managerial trajectory, and now he returns to work alongside Friedman for an organization with unmatched resources and championship expectations.

      Baldelli’s tenure in Minnesota ends with a 527-505 record across seven seasons, including three American League Central titles and the drought breaking playoff series win in 2023. He captured the American League Manager of the Year award in 2019 and helped guide several young players into key roles. With one year left on his contract the Twins dismissed him after their 70-92 finish, setting off broad changes across the staff. Many of his former coaches quickly landed on their feet in new roles around the league, a sign of how well respected that group had become.

      While Baldelli is stepping out of the dugout for now, a front office role does not signal the end of his managerial aspirations. Minnesota even considered a similar transition with Scott Servais earlier this winter. If anything this move may serve as a launching pad. The Dodgers operate with a level of infrastructure and financial backing that could not be more different from what Baldelli experienced with the Twins. Working under Friedman again and within an ownership group that pushes relentlessly for championships may give him an even broader skill set.

      For Baldelli this is a chance to reset and reemerge. For the Dodgers it is another savvy addition to a front office that rarely misses.

      Cody Christie

      There are plenty of moments that define a player’s tenure with the Minnesota Twins, but for Carlos Correa, one of the most impactful experiences happened away from the field. In a recent conversation with MLB.com reporter Brian McTaggart, Correa shared details of a terrifying moment on Lake Minnetonka that nearly cost him and his young son their lives.

      The incident occurred in mid-July, while Correa was out on the water with family. At one point, he and his three-year-old son Kylo found themselves separated from their boat and struggling to stay afloat. Without a life jacket and with his son clinging to his back, Correa quickly realized the situation was more dangerous than it first appeared.

      As he fought to keep them both above water, severe cramping set in throughout his legs. The physical toll made it increasingly difficult to stay afloat, forcing Correa to search for anything nearby that could provide support. Eventually, he reached a buoy, but even that proved challenging. After initially losing his grip and slipping beneath the surface, Correa injured his left hand while grabbing onto the chain.

      With limited strength and fading energy, he alternated hands to maintain his hold while keeping his son secure. It was a desperate effort just to buy time. Correa was eventually able to call out for help, catching the attention of his father-in-law near the boat. He swam over and delivered a life jacket, bringing a frightening situation under control before it turned tragic.

      Looking back, Correa credited his faith for helping him endure the ordeal, describing it as a moment that tested both his body and mindset. The timing only adds another layer to the story. Correa indicated the scare occurred around the All-Star break, and within a couple of weeks, his time in Minnesota came to an abrupt end.

      The Twins moved on from Correa at the trade deadline in what amounted to a financial decision. The return was minimal, Matt Mikulski, a minor league player who did not factor into the organization’s long-term plans and was eventually released after the 2025 season.

      Correa’s tenure with Minnesota still carried significance. After signing one of the largest contracts in franchise history prior to the 2023 season, he provided stability at shortstop and delivered consistent production. Across three and a half seasons, he posted a 118 OPS+ with 61 home runs and earned an All-Star selection during his time in Minnesota. He also played a key role in the 2023 club that finally snapped the franchise’s lengthy postseason drought, helping the Twins secure their first playoff series victory in more than two decades.

      However, the momentum did not carry over. A reduction in payroll the following offseason limited the team’s ability to build on that success, and Minnesota was unable to return to the playoffs before ultimately parting ways with its star shortstop.

      After returning to the Houston Astros, where his career originally began, Correa found another gear at the plate. He combined for a 117 OPS+ over 51 games down the stretch, a noticeable jump from his .94 OPS+ in 93 games with Minnesota earlier in the 2025 season.

      In the end, Correa’s departure will be remembered for what it meant on the field and in the front office. But his story now carries something deeper. Before the trade, before the roster decisions, there was a moment on a Minnesota lake that nearly changed everything.

      Cody Christie

      Former Twins outfielder Carson McCusker has found his next baseball home. According to Francys Romero of Beisbol FR, McCusker has signed a one year contract with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. The move comes shortly after Minnesota placed McCusker on unconditional release waivers during the Winter Meeting.

      At the time, reports indicated McCusker was expected to play in Asia in 2026, though the destination had not yet been finalized. The timing mattered for Minnesota. Releasing McCusker dropped the club’s 40-man roster count to 39 just hours before the Rule 5 draft, opening the door for activity. The Twins used that flexibility to select catcher Daniel Susac from the A’s organization and quickly flipped him to the San Francisco Giants for rookie ball catcher Miguel Caraballo.

      From the Twins’ perspective, the transaction was more about roster mechanics than performance. From McCusker’s perspective, it marked another unexpected turn in a career defined by persistence.

      McCusker will turn 28 in May and his path to the big leagues was anything but traditional. He went undrafted out of college and spent parts of the 2021 and 2022 seasons in independent ball. The Twins signed him with little fanfare, and over the next few years he steadily climbed the ladder. In 2025, that work paid off with a call to the majors.

      His time in Minnesota was brief but meaningful. McCusker appeared in 16 games and stepped to the plate 30 times, posting a .172/.200/.172 (.372) slash line. The production was below average, but simply reaching the majors represented a massive personal victory for a player who had been outside affiliated baseball not long before.

      The more compelling case for McCusker has always lived in the minors. From 2023 through 2025, he logged 1,146 plate appearances across multiple levels of the Twins system. The strikeouts were plentiful, with a 32.1 percent rate, but so was the power. McCusker launched 55 home runs and slashed .265/.335/.494 (.829), good for a 119 wRC+.

      Opportunity, however, was going to be scarce going forward. Minnesota’s outfield picture is crowded with Byron Buxton, Trevor Larnach, Matt Wallner, James Outman, Alan Roden, Austin Martin, and Kody Clemens. Top prospects Walker Jenkins, Emmanuel Rodriguez, Gabriel Gonzalez, and Hendry Mendez all played in the upper minors last season and will be on track to debut in 2026.

      By heading overseas, McCusker likely secures a stronger financial guarantee and a clearer path to regular playing time. Success in Japan could open the door to a return to North America or additional opportunities abroad. Given the route he has already taken, betting on another unconventional chapter feels entirely on brand.

       

      Cody Christie

      David Popkins’ 2024 season in Minnesota ended with a thud, but his work in 2025 has now earned him one of baseball’s most notable coaching honors. Baseball America named Popkins its MLB Coach of the Year, highlighting a philosophy that has resonated across one of the league’s most improved offenses. For a coach who was dismissed after Minnesota’s late-season collapse, the honor marks a dramatic reversal in how his skill set is viewed across the sport.

      Baseball America emphasized that Popkins’ entire approach revolves around problem-solving. He believes that every hitter presents a unique puzzle. By identifying the underlying issue and drawing on a wide range of systems and instructors, he can craft individualized solutions. The publication credited this method with laying the foundation for Toronto’s offensive revival, noting that many players described his teaching style as both modern and deeply adaptable.

      The Twins did not get to see that evolution firsthand. Popkins was one of four coaches dismissed following Minnesota’s disappointing finish in 2024. This group also included assistant hitting coaches Derek Shomon and Rudy Hernandez, as well as assistant bench and infield coach Tony Diaz. General manager Thad Levine was also let go in the same sweep. According to reporting from The Athletic, Popkins even held early-season discussions about a contract extension, but the talks never progressed. When the offense unraveled down the stretch of an injury-riddled season, he was left as one of the clearest scapegoats.

      What happened next showed how highly the rest of the league regarded him. Popkins received calls from three teams within hours of his dismissal, and the Toronto Blue Jays moved quickly to bring him aboard. The fit proved immediate and impactful. His communication style meshed well with a clubhouse seeking a new direction after its own disappointing offensive year. Under his guidance, veterans and young players alike found renewed confidence.

      George Springer became the most prominent example. At 35 and coming off a decline in production, Springer looked rejuvenated with Popkins’ help, finishing the year with a 161 OPS+. Toronto finished the regular season third in baseball in OPS, fourth in runs scored, and fifth in xwOBA. The turnaround pushed the Blue Jays all the way to the brink of their first World Series title since 1993. Players and team officials repeatedly pointed to Popkins’ influence as a key reason for their sustained improvement.

      For the Twins, the award serves as a reminder of what might have been. For Popkins, it is proof that his approach works when given trust and time. His journey from early-season extension talks to post-collapse dismissal to industry-wide acclaim in just over a year is one of the more remarkable coaching arcs in recent memory.

      Cody Christie

      The Twins dipped back into familiar waters this week, agreeing to a minor league deal with catcher David Bañuelos. The deal includes an invitation to big league camp, giving Bañuelos a chance to reintroduce himself to an organization that knows him well.

      At 29 years old, Bañuelos does not bring much in the way of major league experience. His time in the big leagues has been fleeting, appearing in just two games with Baltimore across the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Those appearances amounted to three plate appearances and not much opportunity to leave an impression. The Orioles ultimately removed him from their roster last summer, and he hit free agency after the season.

      Even in the minors, recent playing time has been hard to come by. Baltimore frequently stashed Bañuelos on its taxi squad as emergency depth, which limited his opportunities to get regular at-bats. Over the last two seasons, he logged fewer than 200 plate appearances on the farm and struggled to find a rhythm in sporadic usage.

      That lack of recent production does not erase his longer history in Minnesota. Originally acquired from Seattle in 2017 for $1 million in international bonus pool money, Bañuelos spent several years climbing the Twins' minor league ladder. From 2021 through 2023, he bounced between Double- and Triple-A, offering occasional power but also plenty of swing and miss. In 176 plate appearances in the minors over the past two years, he slashed .171/.284/.270 (.554).The offensive upside never fully arrived, but the defensive reputation stuck.

      That glove-first profile is what brings him back into the picture now. The Twins currently project Ryan Jeffers and Victor Caratini as their primary catching tandem, with Caratini also capable of spelling first base or serving as a designated hitter. Alex Jackson looms as the third catcher on the roster, though his lack of remaining options complicates the roster math.

      Bañuelos slots in neatly as depth beyond that group. He gives the Twins a reliable defensive presence at Triple-A and an experienced option if injuries strike or roster maneuvering thins the catching corps. If Jackson were to be lost on waivers, or if the Twins need an extra backstop for a short stretch, Bañuelos provides coverage without forcing a rushed promotion.

      There is also a longer view to consider. If the Twins fall out of contention later this summer, Jeffers becomes an obvious trade chip as an impending free agent. Even Caratini, under contract through 2027, could draw interest in the right scenario. In that kind of shakeup, organizational depth suddenly matters a lot more.

      For now, the signing is quiet and practical. Bañuelos is unlikely to push his way into a prominent role, but he fills a necessary space on the depth chart. Those are the kinds of moves that rarely make headlines in February, yet often become important by August.

      Seth Stohs

      On Friday, former MLB pitcher Dan Serafini received a sentence of life in jail. He was found guilty of murdering his father-in-law, attempted murder of his mother-in-law, and burglary.  During the hearings, Serafini continued to say he was innocent. He called himself a "broken, imperfect man that makes mistakes." 

      The Twins drafted Serafini out of Juniper Serra High School in San Mateo, California., in 1992. Ten years earlier, Barry Bonds was drafted out of the same school. In 1985, the Mets drafted Gregg Jefferies out of the same school with the 20th overall pick. In 1995, the Expos selected catcher Tom Brady in the 18th round. (I believe he went to college in Michigan. I wonder what he's been up to the past 30 years?) Players currently at Minnesota Twins spring training from the high school include outfielder James Outman and relief pitcher Julian Merryweather. 

      Serafini debuted with the Twins as a 22-year-old in 1996. Over parts of three seasons with the Twins, he made 14 starts and pitched in 35 games. He went 9-6 with a 5.88 ERA. He pitched for the Cubs in 1999. He split the 2000 season between the Pirates and Padres. 

      He pitched in the minor leagues in 2001 and then pitched in China in 2002. He came back to the States in 2003 and got into 18 games for the Reds. He then pitched in Japan for three seasons. In 2017 as a 33-year-old, he got into three more big-league games with the Rockies. 

      From 2008 through 2013, the southpaw pitched for various teams in Mexico in both summers and winters. He played a couple of seasons of independent ball in the Atlantic League.  He was also a part of Team Italy in the 2009 and 2013 World Baseball Classics. 

      Serafini will serve out his sentence at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. 

      Matthew Lenz

      Derek Shelton, hired earlier in the week, has made his first move as Minnesota Twins manager locking down the teams new bullpen coach.

      Dan Hayes of The Athletic is reporting that the teams are naming LaTroy Hawkins for the role.

      There may be no one more qualified for the role as Hawkins pitched across 21 major league seasons, accumulating 944 career relief appearances. Initially a starting pitcher with the Twins, he transitioned to the bullpen permanently in 2000. Hawkins recorded 127 career saves with 11 different teams in his career. Given his longevity, he filled many different bullpen roles in his career, most notably finding success in a setup role.

      Since retiring following the 2015 season, Hawkins is stayed busy in professional baseball. He served as a special assistant in the Twins' front office in 2016 and had maintained that role through the 2025 season. He has taken on coaching roles with USA Baseball, including serving as the pitching coach for the 18U National Team in 2023. Additionally, he has been a part-time analyst for Twins television broadcasts since 2017.

      What do you think of the hire? Let us know in the comments!

       

       

      Matthew Lenz

      It's unclear how Derek Shelton will handle the various coaches who are still under contract with the Minnesota Twins, such as pitching coach Pete Maki and hitting coach Matt Borgschulte. However, the Miami Marlins made one decision for him by poaching a coach from the hitting staff.

      Christina De Nicola, who covers the Miami Marlins for MLB.com, is reporting that the team has hired Corbin Day, whose title was "advanced scout, run production" with the Minnesota Twins in 2025.

      Prior to his role with the big league club, Day was hired as the High-A Cedar Rapids hitting coach before being promoted to the Double-A Wichita staff.

      How do you think this will impact the Minnesota Twins moving forward? Share your thoughts in the comments!

      Matthew Lenz

      In the latest update of the sale of the Minnesota Twins, Charley Walters is citing industry sources who say "the [Minnesota] Twins have an offer on the table."

      He goes on to say that "Major League Baseball is expected to guarantee the Twins' debt reportedly more than $400 million."

      So, why isn't this bigger news? Well, it's not been confirmed outside of an "industry source" and it's in the "Don't print that" section of the article linked in the tweet above. At this point, it's just a rumor.

      What does it mean that MLB is "expected to guarantee the Twins' debt?" Well, that answer is also a bit unclear, but our own @Peter Labuza did some speculating and digging saying "If I had to guess, MLB would "buy" the debt and then have the team pay MLB rather than the Pohlad's...?" He goes on to cite the Debt Service Rule from the Atlanta Braves public filings:

      "Each MLB Club is subject to certain MLB imposed restrictions on its ability to incur indebtedness in amounts that exceed specified thresholds. In particular, each MLB Club is generally required to keep outstanding indebtedness minus a certain amount of excludable indebtedness at or below 8.0x available cash flow (or in the case of MLB Clubs which have a new stadium, at or below 12.0x available cash flow), with the amount of excludable indebtedness for fiscal year 2023 set at $125 million and for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2026 set at $100 million. This is referred to as the Debt Service Rule. MLB Clubs must certify compliance with the Debt Service Rule annually and the failure of an MLB Club to comply during two consecutive fiscal years may lead to certain remedial measures being imposed by the Commissioner of Baseball, including, but not limited to, prohibitions on the incurrence of additional indebtedness and repayment of outstanding indebtedness."

      Moreover, using the NFL as an example, Labuza says "[NFL] owners can "borrow" from the league at a cheaper interest rates than banks, etc."

      On the other hand, @John Bonnes speculates at a more simple explanation,  asking "rather than come up 1.5B cash, [maybe prospective owners] can come up with 1.1B cash and take on the $400M loan gradually?"

      While it's our speculation and educated guesses on our end, it helps provide a little bit of clarity on a somewhat vague and unclear statement from Walters piece.

      Do you have any insight on the matter? Please share in the comments!

      Matthew Lenz

      Byron Buxton, in the midst of an MVP caliber season, has also been having the healthiest year of his career.

      While we don't know a lot of information at this time, the Twins.TV broadcast reported that Buxton exited Saturday's game in the top of the seventh inning with soreness in his left side. Trevor Larnach replaced Buxton, which in turn shifted Willi Castro to left field and Harrison Bader to center field. There didn't seem to be any specific play that led to Buxton being pulled from the game. One silver lining is that it doesn't sound like it's a lower body injury, which has plagued Buxton for a majority of his career.

      Buxton has been on a tear this year with an OPS of .951, including 23 home runs. He's added 17 stolen bases and continues to contribute platinum glove level defense. If he were to miss time, it would almost certainly force the Twins hand to sell their expiring contracts - something that has been rumored but to this point there's been just one report indicating a team is interested in one of those players.

      Stay tuned to Twins Daily for updates on Buxton's status.

      Seth Stohs

      Byron Buxton came to the plate for Team USA in the bottom of the fourth inning. The bases were loaded. Team USA led 3-1 but had struggled with runners on base since Aaron Judge's first inning, two-run homer. It felt like a key moment in the game. 

      Gabriel Barbosa, a 24-year-old right-hander who pitched at three levels for the Phillies in 2025 came to the mound, having replaced Thyago Vieira who left with injury. Barbosa walked Roman Anthony to lead the bases. 

      Buxton came to the plate, and Barbosa got ahead quickly with two sharp sliders just off the outside corner. After Buxton took another slider and swung out of his shows at a hanging slider (foul ball), Barbosa came inside with a running fastball. It just kept running in on Buxton and when it hit him, you could hear an audible moan. 

      At first, it appeared he was hit in the hand, something that Twins fans certainly did not want to think about. We've seen that. Replay in slow motion showed that it hit him in the elbow, likely near the funny bone. 

      Buxton stayed in the game having driven in the team's fourth run "the tough way." The next batter was Brewers second baseman Brice Turang who cleared the bases with a double off of the wall in left field. The USA team led 7-1. 

      While it doesn't look serious, it only makes sense that manager Mark Derosa pulled Buxton and replaced him with Pete Crow-Armstrong. 

      Buxton came to the plate three times in four innings. He was 0-for-2. He was hit by a pitch, scored a run, drove in a run and stole a base. 

      UPDATE: A seventh inning Ken Rosenthal report tells us that Byron Buxton is just fine, taken out for precautionary purposes, but also because they wanted to get "PCA" some at bats too. 

       

      I enjoy the WBC. For many, it's about national pride, especially that is visible with the fans and players from the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Mexico. I want to see good baseball, and I want to hear about fun stories. Team Brazil had some that I enjoyed. 

      A couple of fun baseball stories from the Brazil team. After the USA team took a 2-0 lead to start the team, 20-year-old Lucas Ramirez led off the bottom of the first inning with a home run off of Logan Webb. In the bottom of the eighth, Ramirez came to the plate against left Gabe Speier and hit a lefty-lefty homer. Ramirez is the son of long-time big leaguer Manny Ramirez. The youngster was the 17th round pick of the Angels in the 2024 draft out of high school in Florida. He ended the 2025 season with 11 games above complex league ball. He also went 5-for-13 for Brazil in the WBC Qualifier last year. 

      Bloodlines are always fun. In the top of the second inning, Brazil turned to 17-year-old Joseph Contreras. He is the son of another long-time major leaguer, Jose Contreras. The son stands 6-4 and is a lanky 190 pounds. He is currently a high school senior at Blessed Trinity Catholic High School in Alpharetta, Georgia. Baseball America ranks him currently as the #15 high school pitcher available in the 2026 MLB Draft. He is committed to Vanderbilt.

      Beyond quality genetics, Joseph has some impressive stuff. His first pitch was a 97-mph fastball just above the zone that Byron Buxton swung through. He also has the makings of a really good low-to-mid-80s slider. He also throws a vulcan-gripped pitch that generally acts like a changeup but can move significantly too. He got Buxton to fly out. With the bases loaded and one out, he broke Aaron Judge's bat and coaxed a double play ball to end the inning. In total, he went 1 1/3 innings and gave up one run on two hits and three walks. So, the stat line isn't terribly impressive. But considering his age, experience level, and that he was pitching against Team USA's lineup as a United States citizen. What a cool, scary opportunity!  Also, I now want the Twins to draft him and team him with Charlee Soto and Dasan Hill in the 2031 Twins starting rotation. 

       

       

      From the Twins perspective, there were a couple of former Twins minor leaguers on the Brazilian roster. 35-year-old Leonardo Reginatto is completing his playing career with the WBC. He is set to join the Tampa Bay Rays player development staff. He signed with the Rays way back in 2009. His last season with an affiliated organization was back in 2018. That was his third season in the Twins organization. He spent most of 2016 with Chattanooga, He pitched for the Red Wings all three seasons. He has played winter ball in Mexico and Venezuela since then and most of his summer ball was played in Mexico. 

      Gabriel Maciel batted ninth and played in center field. You may remember that he came to the Twins from the Diamondbacks with Ernie de la Trinidad and Jhoan Duran in the Eduardo Escobar trade in 2018. He played in Fort Myers and Cedar Rapids between 2018 and 2021. He was 0-for-3 with three strikeouts in this game, but his speed and defense in center field keeps him in the lineup. He's played for Brazil in the 2016, 2022 and now 2026. 

      Team USA is going to play Great Britain on Saturday night. Twins fans will want to check out the lineup when it becomes available. 

      Seth Level of Concern right now:  2 on a scale of 1-10. (Subject to change)

      Cody Christie

      The calendar is inching closer to Opening Day for the Minnesota Twins. In just over two weeks, the club will begin the 2026 season on March 26 in Baltimore. Until then, the focus remains on getting through the final stretch of spring training in Fort Myers.

      As the big league roster begins to take shape, the Twins have continued trimming their camp roster. Earlier this week, Minnesota made another round of roster moves, bringing the total number of players in camp down to 49. With minor league games beginning on the back fields, those teams need players as well, especially prospects who need regular at-bats and innings.

      After Wednesday’s 2-1 Grapefruit League win over the Detroit Tigers, the Twins made another pair of cuts. Kaelen Culpepper and Aaron Sabato were both reassigned from big league camp, bringing the camp roster down to 47 players. Both players entered camp as non-roster invitees, but they arrived in very different spots in their development.

      Culpepper, 23, was Minnesota’s first-round pick in the 2024 draft and has quickly become one of the organization’s most exciting prospects. The shortstop is already a consensus top 100 prospect across the industry, and his first experience in a major league camp offered an encouraging glimpse of what could be ahead.

      He made the most of his opportunities this spring. Culpepper finished camp batting .316 with a .749 OPS across limited action, collecting six hits in 19 at-bats. He added a double, drove in two runs, walked once, and struck out five times. His final appearance was also his most productive. Culpepper went 2-for-2 on Wednesday with a walk-off hit. However, the Twins announced his reassignment shortly after the game.

      The decision to send him down was never much of a surprise. Culpepper has not yet played at Triple-A, and the organization would prefer he get everyday reps rather than sporadic appearances late in Grapefruit League games.

      Still, his performance reinforced the belief that he may not be far away. Last season, he played 113 games between High- and Double-A, producing an .844 OPS that came with a blend of contact ability, emerging power, and the defensive profile to remain in the middle of the infield.

      He will open the 2026 season with Triple-A St. Paul, where the next step will be proving that his bat can handle upper-level pitching. If that happens, it would not be surprising to see Culpepper enter the conversation for a big league opportunity sometime this summer.

      Sabato’s path has been much different. The first baseman was the 27th overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, selected largely for the offensive upside he showed in college. The Twins hoped his power bat could eventually anchor the middle of a lineup.

      While there have been flashes, the production has not fully materialized. Sabato reached Triple- A last season and finished the year on a strong stretch, but his overall numbers still left questions. Across the season, he hit .245 with a .741 OPS.

      This spring, he appeared in 12 games and hit .231 with a .718 OPS. The power potential remains intriguing, but he has yet to consistently show the type of offensive impact that would force the Twins to clear a spot for him at the big league level.

      For Culpepper, the assignment to St. Paul feels more like a step along the path rather than a setback. The Twins wanted to see how one of their most promising young players handled his first big league camp. The answer was encouraging.

      Now the next challenge begins in Triple A, where Culpepper will try to prove that his impressive spring was just a preview of what is still to come. If that happens, the conversation about when he reaches Minnesota could arrive sooner than later.

      Matthew Lenz

      Derek Shelton continues to put his own touch on the Minnesota Twins' coaching staff. Since he's taken the role of manager, Shelton has named a new hitting coach, bench coach, bullpen coach, first base coach, and field coordinator. Recently, he made another addition to the coaching staff by bringing in someone who recently played for the club.

      Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune is reporting that the Minnesota Twins are hiring Michael A. Taylor as the team's Outfield Instructor. Michael A. Taylor retired following the 2025 season after a 12-year career with five different clubs, most recently with the Chicago White Sox.

      For what Taylor lacked in offense (a career 79+ OPS), he made up for in his outfield defense. Throughout his career, Taylor was known as an elite glove-first center fielder, which is evident by being a three-time Rawlings Gold Glove finalist and the award in 2021. It's likely he would have received recognition (and hardware) if his bat had allowed him to stay in the lineup more regularly.

      Regardless, Taylor will shift from patrolling the outfield to patrolling the outfielders with the Twins in 2025. A role that he seems perfectly suited for, given the 62 Outs Above Average (OAA) he accrued in the Statcast era.

      Do you think Taylor can help strengthen the outfield defense, particularly when it comes to Matt Wallner and Trevor Larnach? Let us know in the comments!

      Cody Christie

      The Minnesota Twins and Royce Lewis avoided arbitration on Thursday, agreeing to a one-year contract for the 2026 season. According to KSTP’s Darren Wolfson, Lewis will earn $2.85 million, slightly below the $3 million projection from MLB Trade Rumors. For a player whose recent seasons have been defined by both brilliance and frustration, the Twins have been hyping him up this winter.

      No one needs to be reminded what Lewis is capable of. He remembers it. Twins fans certainly remember it. Even his new manager remembers it.

      At his healthiest, Lewis has been one of the most dynamic, most dangerous, and best players in baseball. He keyed the Twins' run to the postseason with a tremendous second-half surge in 2023, and before a late slump in 2024, he was driving them toward another apparent playoff berth. Few players in the organization have shown that kind of ability to change the direction of a season.

      Since late 2024, Lewis has searched not only for health but for consistent form at the plate. If he can recapture the magic of his first 100 or so big league games, the entire outlook for the 2026 Twins would change. He slashed .309/.372/.548 (.920) in 58 games in 2023 and was slugging .685 in 23 games before the All-Star break in 2024. When Lewis is right, the lineup looks different. Pitchers approach him differently. Games feel shorter.

      “I truly believe if I play at the level that I’ve shown before, that I can be one of the best hitters in the league, on any team,” Lewis said.

      The Twins are likely to run back much of the same roster in 2026. Any real optimism for a rebound rests on the young core producing closer to its ceiling. That group includes Brooks Lee and Matt Wallner, but it starts with Lewis.

      “This guy has a chance to be a superstar,” said Twins manager Derek Shelton.

      Lewis’ struggles have come from a complicated mix of factors, with health chief among them. He suffered a hamstring injury in Spring Training in 2025 and now believes he returned too quickly. That decision led to a slow start at the plate, and just as he appeared to be finding his timing again, he aggravated the injury and missed more time. When Lewis finally had an extended stretch of health in the second half of 2025, the consistency still did not fully return.

      Soon after being hired, Shelton traveled to Texas to visit Lewis. The gesture resonated.

      “We definitely vibed really well,” Lewis said. “He came out to Texas to see me, and honestly I told him that meant my whole year. I was blown away that he came out to see me. I didn’t realize that I was that important to him and to the organization. I felt like I was starting to lose that kind of feeling, and I just felt like a different vibe at the end of last year, parts of last year, but he definitely corrected that. And we’re still keeping in touch.”

      Even during an uneven 2025, Lewis showed signs that matter. Defensively, he looked smooth and athletic down the stretch. He began running again, stealing bases and trusting his body. From a physical standpoint, he finally started to resemble the player the Twins envisioned when they drafted him first overall.

      Now comes the hard part. Staying healthy. Finding rhythm. Letting confidence snowball instead of doubt. None of that is guaranteed. The Twins still believe in Lewis, and 2026 is the most critical season in his young career.

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