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On Tuesday evening, after another ugly loss to the surging New York Mets, the Twins sit 6.5 games back in the AL Central. While things aren’t currently going well, Rocco Baldelli’s squad still possesses the talent to win the division. Their schedule is favorable down the stretch, and internal additions should provide a boost.
Despite that reality, the fallout from the Minnesota Twins' actions at the deadline (or lack thereof) provide more questions than answers.
Will the Baseball Leadership Group Stick Around?
Plenty has been made of the front office and manager in recent seasons. The reality is the analytical approach has made them a more forward-thinking organization, and has helped to develop key talents like Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober, and Griffin Jax. Baldelli may err with some of the strings he pulls during a game, but is right more often than not and well-respected by those he oversees.
The same can be said for Falvey and Levine. As much as running an organization is about roster management, it also revolves around putting people in the right places. The entirety of the system is better off because of what Derek Falvey has done, and Thad Levine has had a far-reaching impact as well.
Given the stunt that ownership has pulled the past handful of months, it’s not difficult to think that all three would be better off in more ideal scenarios. The front office has built a competitive situation despite a dearth of spending power. Baldelli has managed what he has to work with on the field. Looking back, it’s now shocking to think that Levine didn’t jump at the Red Sox opportunity last year, and natural to wonder if Falvey could be next to be poached. Similar to Craig Counsell this past offseason, Baldelli could be given a more appealing opportunity elsewhere.
The 40-Man Roster Crunch Remains
The Twins' current 40-man roster situation is relatively tricky. With so many players dealing with injuries, there aren’t obvious spots to promote talent. Bringing Randy Dobnak back to the big leagues meant putting Alex Kirilloff on the 60-day injured list. That may be among the final straightforward moves that the team had.
Given the financial constraints imposed by ownership, it made some level of sense that someone on the 40-man could have been traded. Max Kepler, Manuel Margot, and Christian Vázquez were the likely candidates from the 26-man roster, but all of them made it through. From a prospect perspective, Yunior Severino and Josh Winder both appeared as likely candidates if the Twins were going to target anyone of substance, but we never saw that play out.
Money Really Was a Big Deal
It shouldn’t come as a shock that financial constraints came into play for the Twins. From the first moment they could, the Pohlads started making it known that their financial situation was going to impact the Twins. Whether that is because of poor business practices elsewhere or a relative lack of understanding when it comes to timely support of a product, ownership was ready to sink this ship.
Trevor Richards was the lone acquisition at the deadline, and he comes with a paycheck of just over $1 million. After sending Josh Staumont out, the team will hope he is claimed and that his salary can transfer elsewhere. Marginal moves could have been made by the Twins, but every report suggesting the front office had no dollars to work with became reality.
Toeing the company line even after what should be looked at as a disastrous deadline, Falvey used a bunch of words to say nothing when it came to his thoughts about dollars.
Does the Wrath of Correa Matter?
When the Minnesota Twins signed Carlos Correa to his long-term deal, the superstar shortstop talked about building a winning culture. He wanted to be involved in transactions that sought additional talent, and having previously won a World Series, he wanted to get back to that place. Despite giving his employer a career year so far in 2024, he was rewarded with crickets.
Correa provided the front office a list of names to target. A player entirely obsessed with WAR and values around the game, he definitely knows what he is talking about. Falvey probably had to laugh internally, knowing his bosses gave him a pair of sticks to rub together, but Correa now sees that play out, as well.
The Twins shortstop still has multiple years left on his deal. Despite a franchise-record payroll in 2023, the year following results in a $30 million payroll decrease. Things get even more murky next year, and that sort of talent can’t be thrilled seeing a lack of financial support around him. As was the case when the Pohlad family paid for Joe Mauer, Correa is set up to be a scapegoat for financial ineptitude if this path continues.
Roll the Dice in October
The postseason is partly a crapshoot, and partly a war of attrition. The reality is that a team winning the World Series is the perfect combination of hot play and ideal circumstances. Minnesota could definitely be a contender with the talent they possess, but it will require availability for all involved and everything breaking right.
Rather than pushing the chips in and looking to avoid the first round, a short three-game series should be expected. The Twins will likely face the same road they attempted to traverse a year ago, and with just three proven starters, the weight will be felt on their shoulders. That pressure could have been addressed or avoided entirely with reinforcements, but is now the reality that each player on the roster will face.
Tuesday's quietude, combined with some ugly Mets losses, may have been the most frustrating day of the Twins season. As long as the Pohlads are in charge though, you can expect more to come.
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