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This 2026 Twins team makes me sad. The AL Central was more than winnable this year. But here we are, on track for another sub-.500 season. The vibe is much different, however, with top prospects Kaelen Culpepper, Walker Jenkins, and Emmanuel Rodríguez finally with the parent club, looking to guide them toward sustained postseason contention. Actually, yeah, let’s keep talking about the future. I don’t want to talk about the 2026 Twins anymore. Not even fluoxetine helps with my Twins-induced angst. Let’s get into projections!
(Author’s note: Yes, yes, I know. Lockout, and all that. Still, baseball will happen in 2027. As Fred Durst so eloquently said, "You gotta have faith!")
Catchers (2): Ryan Jeffers, Victor Caratini
At this point, the consensus is that Minnesota will extend the qualifying offer to Jeffers, which will be around $23 million. Many believe he will decline it and pursue a more lucrative, long-term deal in free agency, which I understand. In fact, it’s what I think Jeffers should do. The Yankees could give him soooooooooooo much money. Still, I wouldn’t be shocked if he accepted the one-year qualifying offer, given the unique predicament players face this offseason.
At this point, the consensus is that Minnesota will extend the qualifying offer to Jeffers, which will be around $23 million. Many believe he will decline it and pursue a more lucrative, long-term deal in free agency, which I understand. In fact, it’s what I think Jeffers should do. The Yankees could give him soooooooooooo much money. Still, I wouldn’t be shocked if he accepted the one-year qualifying offer, given the unique predicament players face this offseason.
Admittedly, it would be a little anticlimactic for the Twins’ most substantial offseason investment to be a player already on the club. But there are worse things than rostering one of the best-hitting catchers in the sport on what is functionally a one-year, $23-million deal. If Jeffers returns, Caratini will again be his backup, completing the second season of a two-year, $14-million deal he signed last offseason. That’s fine. There are much, much worse tandems in the sport.
Hey, at least the Twins aren’t paying J.T. Realmuto $15 million next season, right?! Regardless, one more season of Jeffers as the club’s primary catcher would be an ideal segue to Vahn Lackey taking over as the club’s long-term answer at the position.
Infielders (6): Kody Clemens, Xavier Edwards, Brooks Lee, Kaelen Culpepper, Ryan Kreidler, Gabriel González
The Twins can’t march into a 162-game season with Royce Lewis and Kody Clemens penciled in as the primary starters on the right side of the infield and expect to be serious postseason contenders—particularly Lewis. He’s been a below-average hitter for three seasons and is a defensive liability at every infield position, including first base. That being the case, I predict Minnesota will non-tender Lewis, redirecting the roughly $6 million he would have received in arbitration elsewhere.
The Twins can’t march into a 162-game season with Royce Lewis and Kody Clemens penciled in as the primary starters on the right side of the infield and expect to be serious postseason contenders—particularly Lewis. He’s been a below-average hitter for three seasons and is a defensive liability at every infield position, including first base. That being the case, I predict Minnesota will non-tender Lewis, redirecting the roughly $6 million he would have received in arbitration elsewhere.
Minnesota could sign a free-agent first baseman (Jake Bauers, Ty France or Luis Arraez?) or trade for a high-ceiling option in St. Louis’s Alec Burleson. However, I’m predicting the club will acquire switch-hitting, speedy, high-OBP second baseman Xavier Edwards from the Miami Marlins to take over the position full-time, while shifting the power-hitting Clemens back down the defensive spectrum.
Lee and Culpepper are the most exciting young left side of the infield since Miguel Sanó and Jorge Polanco in the late 2010s. Lee will be the primary third baseman, with Culpepper at short. Despite struggling at the plate, Kreidler is a plus defensive third baseman and shortstop, who will continue to mix in at second and in the outfield. He will also be out of minor-league options next season, giving him the inside edge over fellow utility infielder Ben Ross. González could mix in as a platoon partner with Clemens at first base, starting against left-handed starting pitchers, while also playing occasionally in the corner outfield spots. He'd probably be the 13th position player, seeing very little action and constantly at risk of being demoted to Triple-A St. Paul—unless the Twins wise up and learn how to use their whole bench, instead of just part of it.
Outfielders (5): Byron Buxton, Walker Jenkins, Emmanuel Rodríguez, Luke Keaschall, Austin Martin
There has never been a better opportunity to slide Buxton to a corner outfielder/designated hitter role. Both Rodríguez and Jenkins are viable major-league center fielders, with club decision-makers preferring Jenkins over Rodríguez at the position. Both are better defensive center fielders than Buxton at this point in their respective careers. Buxton will be on the other side of hip surgery by then, anyway; his days in the outfield might be numbered.
There has never been a better opportunity to slide Buxton to a corner outfielder/designated hitter role. Both Rodríguez and Jenkins are viable major-league center fielders, with club decision-makers preferring Jenkins over Rodríguez at the position. Both are better defensive center fielders than Buxton at this point in their respective careers. Buxton will be on the other side of hip surgery by then, anyway; his days in the outfield might be numbered.
Until (or if) that happens, however, the primary outfield configuration entering next season will probably be Jenkins, Buxton, and Keaschall, with Rodríguez mixing in at all three positions. This level of flexibility permits Twins decision-makers to move on from Trevor Larnach, non-tendering him this offseason. Martin could retain a similar platoon role as this season, starting in either corner outfield spot against left-handed pitching.
As with Buxton, I’d prefer Keaschall receiving more DH opportunities, potentially taking over as the club’s primary option there with Josh Bell expected to depart. Being able to keep Keaschall’s bat in the lineup without worrying about defense would be a win-win for the player and the team. He will spend significant time in right field. However, it would be wise to give him and Buxton the majority of DH opportunities, thereby allowing Jenkins and Rodríguez to patrol two-thirds of the outfield almost every game.
Starting Rotation (5): Pablo López, Joe Ryan, Taj Bradley, Dean Kremer, Mick Abel
Much was made of the club’s inept bullpen and sluggish second-half offense. Yet, starting rotation woes were quietly the Twins' Achilles’ heel in 2026. So many games were quickly upended by early implosions from Bailey Ober, Zebby Matthews, Connor Prielipp, Mike Paredes, Kendry Rojas, Dean Kremer, and even frontline starters like Joe Ryan and Taj Bradley. Again, bad starts are a part of the sport. Every starter (not named Jacob Misiorowski) has them. Still, starting pitching needs to improve for Minnesota to return to the postseason in 2027.
Much was made of the club’s inept bullpen and sluggish second-half offense. Yet, starting rotation woes were quietly the Twins' Achilles’ heel in 2026. So many games were quickly upended by early implosions from Bailey Ober, Zebby Matthews, Connor Prielipp, Mike Paredes, Kendry Rojas, Dean Kremer, and even frontline starters like Joe Ryan and Taj Bradley. Again, bad starts are a part of the sport. Every starter (not named Jacob Misiorowski) has them. Still, starting pitching needs to improve for Minnesota to return to the postseason in 2027.
On paper, López, Ryan, and Bradley are a solid top of the rotation. At the same time, however, each could be viewed as an unknown quantity, with López returning from a torn UCL; Ryan undergoing another pronounced late-season fade; and Bradley having what is only his first above-average season as a major-league starter. Still, I'm confident these three can lead what could be a plus rotation.
Abel impressed before undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow in July, and I'm optimistic he could thrive over a full, healthy season, potentially blossoming into a frontline starter. Despite having his worst season in the majors this year, Kremer has been steady since joining the Twins, all but guaranteeing the arb-eligible righty will be a member of Minnesota’s Opening Day 2027 starting rotation. Prielipp will probably be the organization’s sixth starting pitcher who could quickly join the parent club if performance concerns or injuries arise. (That is to say, he'll probably be in the rotation by Opening Day; I'm just not sticking my neck out as to which pitcher is going to get hurt.)
Bullpen (8): Jeff Hoffman, Andrew Morris, Joe Jiménez, Yoendrys Gómez, Kody Funderburk, Tommy Nance, Anthony Banda, Zebby Matthews
Beyond Jeffers returning and trading for Edwards, the bullpen is where the majority of Minnesota’s offseason activity could occur. Alternatively, it could look almost identical to how it does now. I’m predicting the latter will happen, with a few substantial shakeups. Twins decision-makers will make a splashy reliever addition this offseason, which I predict will be the club signing Joe Jiménez to a one-year deal. To preface, yes, I know Jiménez hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2024. However, his injury was leg-related, with him undergoing left knee articular cartilage surgery in November 2024. He missed this season with the same injury. However, he is now on a rehab assignment with Atlanta’s Triple-A affiliate, meaning he could be ready to pitch this postseason.
Beyond Jeffers returning and trading for Edwards, the bullpen is where the majority of Minnesota’s offseason activity could occur. Alternatively, it could look almost identical to how it does now. I’m predicting the latter will happen, with a few substantial shakeups. Twins decision-makers will make a splashy reliever addition this offseason, which I predict will be the club signing Joe Jiménez to a one-year deal. To preface, yes, I know Jiménez hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2024. However, his injury was leg-related, with him undergoing left knee articular cartilage surgery in November 2024. He missed this season with the same injury. However, he is now on a rehab assignment with Atlanta’s Triple-A affiliate, meaning he could be ready to pitch this postseason.
When Jiménez last pitched, he was one of the best relievers in baseball. He also has the platonic ideal Twins reliever arsenal, throwing his four-seamer and slider a combined 96% of the time. I think Hoffman will enter next season as the club’s closer, given Gómez’s late-season struggles. Morris should continue operating in a high-leverage role, with the aforementioned Gómez also occupying a late-inning role early next season.
Funderburk (out of minor-league options) and Banda could serve as a viable left-handed relief tandem, with Nance working in a mid-leverage role. Also, I project Matthews to earn the eighth and final bullpen spot. However, I expect Minnesota will continue to stretch him out as a starter, with him shuttling between Triple-A and the parent club as ever-important starting-pitching depth. Rojas, Paredes, David Festa, and Ryan Gallagher could occupy a similar role, with Travis Adams, Garrett Acton, Marco Raya, and potential offseason additions as priority Triple-A short-relief depth.
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