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  • Minnesota Twins Free Agent & Trade Rumors, Notes, & Tidbits

    The latest Minnesota Twins free agent and trade rumors, along with notes and tidbits about the team.
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    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!
    Seth Stohs
    Reports came out on Wednesday that the Twins have the inside track on signing Dominican shortstop Angel Ozuna for around $500,000 when the 2026 international signing period begins on January 15, 2026. Normally this wouldn't be huge news. Last year the Twins signed several high-profile international free agents for more than $500,000. But this situation is different than others, and it will be interesting to follow over the coming months. 
    Shortstop Angel Ozuna was expected to be one of the top international signings in the Class of 2027, when he turned 16. The Yankees were believed to have an agreement with Ozuna, a product of Los Bauti Baseball Academy, to a signing bonus of at least $5 million.      
    However, last year it came out that he had falsified his age and got busted for it. He was three years older than he was claiming. Instead of being a 13-year-old dominating other 13- and 14-year-olds, he was actually a 16-year-old dominating 13-year-olds.   
    He should have been a part of the 2024 international signing class, but with this new information, Ozuna was suspended for one year. 
    However, it is now being reported, also by Wilber Sanchez, that he has a pre-arranged deal with the Twins to sign for around $500,000. 
    What does that mean? Once Ozuna serves his time, he can be signed. However, since he is signing as an 18-year-old rather than a top 16-year-old, he isn't going to get the $5 million. But, he is still a very talented player, he's just not as young as believed. And there is the whole concern about a person who was willing to falsify his age. 
    Matthew Lenz
    The Minnesota Twins' direction this offseason has been unclear to this point. From Derek Falvey's quote suggesting the team wants to build around its nucleus to rumors suggesting the Twins could continue their trade-deadline fire sale this offseason, it has left fans wondering about the organization's direction. In a recent column in the NY Post from Joel Sherman, the offseason got a little murkier.
    Though he didn't say the Twins are actively shopping either pitcher, he suggested the Twins are "more likely" to move Pablo Lopez than Joe Ryan.
    Lopez, who is owed more than $43 million through 2027, only made 14 starts in 2025. In 75 2/3 innings, the righty sported a solid 3.19 FIP and mediocre 17% K-BB rate. While he had been one of the game's more durable pitchers before last season, his tenure with the Twins has been very up and down. While trading the 30-year-old at some point seems likely, Lopez's value right now is lower than it's ever been.
    While the Twins are more concerned with the bottom line than maximizing value, they would be remiss to deal the righty now instead of waiting until the 2026 trade deadline. Do you think now is the time to move on from Lopez? Let us know in the comments!
    Seth Stohs
    On Thursday night, the Minnesota Star Tribune's Bobby Nightengale announced that the Minnesota Twins will be hiring their third lead hitting coach in the past three seasons. Keith Beauregard, who has been with the Detroit Tigers hitting coach staff the past four seasons, will head to the Twins.
    Beauregard has been with the Tigers since 2022, but it was announced that he decided not to return to Motown for the 2026 season. He worked with the likes of All-Star Riley Greene and Matt Carpenter. He oversaw the turn around seasons of Javy Baez and Spencer Torkelson. He worked with James Rowson on the Tigers 2023 staff. 
    Matt Borgschulte returned to the Twins organization to become their lead hitting coach in 2024. He will not be returning to the Twins for 2025. "Borgs" replaced David Popkins who was the team's lead hitting coach in 2022 and 2023. Shortly after the Twins let him go last offseason, he was hired by the Blue Jays and led the best offense in the league to the World Series. 
    Nightengale also noted that Trevor Amicone and Rayden Sierra will return as the team's assistant coaches in 2026. 
    Catching up on the Twins coaching situation: 
    Manager: Derek Shelton (replaces Rocco Baldelli)
    Bench Coach: Open (replacing Jayce Tinger)
    Asst Bench Coach: Open: (replacing Hank Conger)
    Pitching Coach: Pete Maki (returns)
    Asst Pitching Coach: Luis Ramirez (returns)
    Bullpen Coach: LaTroy Hawkins (replaces Colby Suggs, who is with the Rangers now)
    Hitting Coach: Keith Beauregard (replaces Matt Borgschulte)
    Asst Hitting Coach: Trevor Amicone (returns)
    Asst Hitting Coach: Rayden Sierra (returns)
    1B Coach/Outfield/Baserunner: Grady Sizemore (replacing Tommy Watkins, now with the Braves)
    3B Coach/Infield Coach: Ramon Borrego (shift from 1B coach to 3B coach)
    Quality Control Coach: Open (replacing Nate Dahmann) 
    Cody Christie
    The Minnesota Twins are starting to piece together their coaching staff under new manager Derek Shelton, and familiar faces will play key roles in the dugout next season. According to multiple reports, Pete Maki will return as the team’s pitching coach while LaTroy Hawkins steps into the bullpen coach role.
    Hawkins’ addition comes after nearly a decade of work in the organization’s player development system and regular appearances on Bally Sports North broadcasts. His move back to the field adds an experienced, respected voice to a staff tasked with helping Minnesota rebuild one of baseball’s most dominant pitching groups from just a year ago.
    Maki’s return provides continuity for a pitching unit that was expected to be a strength in 2024 but stumbled due to injuries and underperformance. Pablo López and Bailey Ober both took steps back, and by the trade deadline, the bullpen had been stripped down as the team dealt Jhoan Duran, Danny Coulombe, Griffin Jax, Louis Varland, and Brock Stewart in a series of moves signaling a shift toward the future.
    One notable departure from the organization is longtime coach Tommy Watkins, who spent 27 years in the Twins system as a player, minor-league instructor, and coach. Watkins has accepted a position with the Atlanta Braves, closing a chapter that spanned nearly three decades in Minnesota baseball.
    With Maki and Hawkins in place, Shelton’s coaching staff is starting to form, though several other roles remain undecided as the Twins continue shaping the next phase of their clubhouse leadership.
    Seth Stohs
    With more Twins Coaching news (some coming to the Twins, several former Twins coaches heading elsewhere), Bob NIghtengale reported on Tuesday night from the GM Meetings that the Twins have hired Grady Sizemore to their coaching staff. It isn't official, but we have heard that he will be the team's first base coach and also the outfield and base running coach. Ramon Borrego will shift from first base to third base coach in 2026.    
     
    Sizemore was a big-time prospect in high school, and in 2000, the Montreal Expos made him their third-round draft pick. he became a three-time All-Star centerfielder. He was part of a couple of big trades. He earned two Gold Glove Awards and a Silver Slugger. He was a great all-around player with Cleveland. Unfortunately, he started fighting injuries in 2009, was very limited in 2010 and 2011, and then he missed the entire 2012 and 2013 seasons. He played for three times between 2014 and 2015, but he just was unable to return to his All-Star form. 
    In 2017, he was given a special advisory role in Cleveland but soon after returned home and spent time with his young family. In 2023, he took an internship under the Diamondbacks GM Mike Hazen. In 2024, he went to the White Sox and joined their big-league coaching staff. When Pedro Grifol was fired, Sizemore became the interim manager to finish out the season. The White Sox went 13-32 with him leading the way. He remained with the White Sox in 2025 as the team's Offensive Coordinator.   
    As you saw earlier, Pete Maki is returning to the Twins as their pitching coach. We still don't know about Derek Shelton's bench coach or the status of the team's three hitting coaches from 2024. 
    Meanwhile, the Atlanta Braves sent out a press release on Tuesday night announcing their 2026 coaching staff. We had heard that former Twins bullpen coach Jeremy Hefner jumped into their pitching coach role and Tommy Watkins will be their third base coach. In addition, former Twins infield and bench coach Tony Diaz has joined the Braves coaching staff. Also, former Cedar Rapids Kernels pitching coach (and assistant minor league pitching coordinator) JP Martinez will be Atlanta's bullpen coach. He has been the Giants hitting coach for the past five or six years.  
     
    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
    Whether new Minnesota Twins manager Derek Shelton planned to or not, he'll need to find a new bench coach for the 2026 season. 
    Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic is reporting that the San Francisco Giants are hiring Minnesota Twins bench coach Jayce Tingler for the same position. It has not been reported whether Tingler has been informed that he was or was not going to return for 2026. It is also not known whether he was considered for the Twins' managerial vacancy.
    Before serving as the Twins' bench coach, Tingler managed the San Diego Padres for two seasons, leading them to a 116-106 record. In an article written by Megan Ryan of the Minnesota Star Tribune, he is described as "someone who, really, the key trait, what stood out the most, is who he is as a person, who he is as a leader, and how he goes about in helping players and staff and everyone around him" by Derek Falvey.
    Tingler and the new Giants manager, Tony Vitello, were college teammates at the University of Missouri and are "close friends", per Baggarly. That, coupled with the uncertainty surrounding his standing with Shelton and the Twins, likely explains the lateral move.
    How do you think the Twins will be impacted by his departure? Let us know what you think in the comments!
    Matthew Lenz
    As part of their massive fire sale, the Minnesota Twins traded superstar closer Jhoan Duran to the Philadelphia Phillies at the 2025 trade deadline. In the deal, the Twins received a top 100 prospect in catcher Eduardo Tait and a former top 100 prospect in starting pitcher Mick Abel. Now, details are emerging about another offer that included a former top-100 prospect.
    Ryan Garcia of Empire Sports Media recently reported that the New York Yankees offered former top prospect Jasson Dominguez for Duran at the 2025 MLB trade deadline. He was part of a larger package, though the details of what else may have been included are not immediately available.
    Appearing in 145 games last season, Dominguez finished the year with 10 home runs, 58 runs scored, and 23 stolen bases. In all, he posted a .719 OPS, a .316 wOBA, and a 103 wRC+. Defensively, Dominguez proved to be a liability in the field, posting a -10 Outs Above Average (OAA) across 793 innings in left field.
    Do you think the Twins should have snagged Dominguez, or are you happy with the deal they got from the Phillies? 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
    Major League Baseball wasted no time announcing the 2025 Gold Glove winners less than 24 hours removed from one of the best World Series in recent memory.
    While no current Minnesota Twins were finalists (was Buxton snubbed??), two former Twins first basemen were up for the award. On Sunday evening, it was announced that Ty France beat out Carlos Santana and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for his 1st career Gold Glove.
    France, signed by the Twins last February,  is not typically known for his glove, but something changed in 2025. After posting six consecutive seasons of a negative Outs Above Average (OAA) to start his career, France produced 10 OAA this season between the Twins and Toronto Blue Jays. The number ranked in the 96th percentile across baseball, per Baseball Savant. Additionally, his defense provided a Run Value of 7, which was second best of all first basemen, one behind Matt Olson of the Atlanta Braves.
    From MLB.com, Established in 1957, the Gold Glove Award honors the best defensive player at each position in each league. The voting process is made up of MLB managers and coaches (75%) and the sabermetrics community (25%). Managers and coaches vote only within their own league and cannot vote for players on their own teams.
    The Twins are in need of a first baseman. Despite his hitting woes, should they look to bring back France? Let us know in the comments!
    Matthew Lenz
    Every year, MLB Trade Rumors releases a list of the most likely trade candidates for the offseason. In this season's edition, they named a total of 40 players, including three Minnesota Twins in the top nine.
    Starting Pitchers Joe Ryan and Pablo Lopez, as well as Catcher Ryan Jeffers, were named the 2nd, 6th, and 9th most likely trade candidates, respectively.
    Ryan, expected to make around $6 million in his second year of arbitration, is coming off a season highlighted by a Cy Young caliber 1st half. As has been the case throughout his career, Ryan cooled off in the second half of the season with a 4.59 FIP. In all, Ryan finished with a 3.74 FIP and a 22.5% K-BB rate across a career-high 171 innings pitched. He was the subject of trade talks at the deadline, with a late push from the Boston Red Sox, and will likely be a popular topic of trade conversations throughout the offseason.
    Lopez, who is owed more than $43 million through 2027, only made 14 starts in 2025. In 75 2/3 innings, the righty sported a solid 3.19 FIP and mediocre 17% K-BB rate. While he had been one of the game's more durable pitchers before last season, his tenure with the Twins has been very up and down. While trading the 30-year-old at some point seems likely, Lopez's value right now is lower than it's ever been. While the Twins are more concerned with the bottom line than maximizing value, they would be remiss to deal the righty now instead of waiting until the 2026 trade deadline.
    Jeffers, expected to earn more than $6 million in his final year of arbitration, represents the only MLB-caliber player on the roster. While he remained as one of the best-hitting catchers in baseball last season, his power output left more to be desired. He graded out as a below-average catcher, which is likely what he is, even after three years under the tutelage of Christian Vazquez, but that could be somewhat mitigated by the introduction of the ABS system. Unless the Twins plan to add a catcher via trade or free agency, I would be shocked to see them deal Jeffers, as there is nobody in the entire organization ready to take his job.
    Do you think the Twins will trade any of these guys over the offseason? Let us know what you think in the comments!
    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!
    Brock Beauchamp
    It's hard to predict how this offseason will unfold, as there is an increasing chance of (yet another) MLB lockout following the 2026 season. Will teams spend big this offseason, hoping to create surety in the face of an unknown collective bargaining agreement? Or will they be hesitant in hopes of a favorable outcome for ownership groups?
    No matter how it shakes out, teams will need to compete in the 2026 season, and they'll need to sign free agents this winter. DiamondCentric has compiled a complete list of free agents, sortable and searchable by pretty much any metric you need. Looking for a first baseman? A catcher? We have you covered. We offer two pages for your reference: one for position players, the other for pitchers.
    Free Agent Hitters In the 2025-2026 MLB Offseason
    Complete List Of 2025-2026 MLB Free Agent Hitters
    DiamondCentric.net Here is a complete list of free agent hitters in the 2025-2026 MLB offseason. Free Agent Pitchers In the 2025-2026 MLB Offseason
    Complete List Of 2025-2026 MLB Free Agent Pitchers
    DiamondCentric.net Here is a complete list of free agent pitchers in the 2025-2026 MLB offseason.
    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.
    Matthew Taylor
    In his latest article, Bobby Nightengale reported that the Twins had talks with the Mariners at the trade deadline, but a deal never came together because Seattle was unwilling to include two of their best prospects. Minnesota’s ask? Two top-100 prospects.
    Nightengale also noted that the Twins actually preferred 18-year-old catcher Eduardo Tait over Phillies shortstop prospect Aidan Miller. The hesitation with Miller, ranked #17 in baseball by MLB Pipeline, came from concerns about his ability to stick at shortstop long-term. Miller, currently in Double A, has posted a .740 OPS this season. The Twins felt Tait carried more upside and made him their request from Philadelphia instead.
    You can read the rest of Bobby’s piece here.
    What do you think, do you like Tait over Miller?
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