NEWS: Pohlad Family Will Remain Principal Owners of Twins, with New Limited Partners Coming Aboard

On the optimistic side, maybe the inflow of capitol can be spent.  If the investors are ponying up $500M for 1/3 of the team (or something like that), if they invest it (or pay down debt), just the return theoretically should allow the team to increase payroll $25-50M a year.

Without that, the Twins were probably looking at a payroll around $100M.  This could keep it near where it has been.

Not super exciting and the news sucks, but maybe its not all doom and gloom.

In an article from The Athletic by Dan Hayes and Brittany Ghiroli:  The Twins were working with a group to purchase the team 100% and then ripped the rug out from under them by announcing minority owners would be purchasing a portion of the team.  Sounds like the minority owners were willing to purchase their portion at a higher eval rate than the group who was looking to purchase full ownership, which is why they went with the minority ownership group.  I just hope it's not a couple of equity firms that are the minority owners.  Sounds like we will find out in the coming weeks who they are.

22 hours ago, Chris Hove said:

Yes, and there were rumors that the Twins FO wasn't going to give the new owners full rights. Also, the new owners were on the hook for $425 million in debt. A lot of concerns for sure.

Well said.  If they have a PR person advising that person is not doing their job.  If they don't they need to hire one.  They just don't get it.  

On 8/13/2025 at 9:46 AM, Twins_Fan_in_NJ said:

This is not the best news...

This is the worst news. When I read this yesterday, I thought it was April 1st

On 8/13/2025 at 10:03 AM, strumdatjag said:

Someone had to be first to post it - Say it ain’t so, Joe. 

In the same vein: Meet the new boss; same as the old boss...Won't get fooled again. 

On 8/13/2025 at 9:45 AM, Musk21 said:

Image courtesy of © Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

 

In a move sure to bring huge, largely negative reaction from Twins Territory, the Pohlad family will remain principal owners of the team, they announced via the team's official channels Wednesday morning. There will be new limited partners (presumably, sources of new capital who will receive equity in return for shares of the team, paying down the debt the family has attached to the club in recent years), but the Pohlads will remain in charge. 

This is an awkward and unsatisfying end to a nine-month process wherein the family announced an intention to sell the team, marketed it to multiple suitors, and eventually determined that they couldn't get the price they wanted. In the late winter, Midwestern-based billionaire Justin Ishbia seemed on the cusp of buying the team, but backed out to increase his stake in the Chicago White Sox instead. Since then, the Pohlads have balked at lower-valued offers and flirted with others, but rather than sell the franchise, they've now decided to allow minority partners to soak up some of the financial burden they faced while holding onto what is still a highly profitable company.

For Twins fans, the key questions will be who comprises the new partnership groups and how much their presence alters the maddening tendency toward payroll constriction the Pohlads have shown over the last two years. Many had hoped for a fresh start with a new billionaire (or billionaire family), but while there are major downsides that must be remembered and discussed, the Pohlads looked like one of the better ownership groups in the game just a few years ago. Their financial setbacks in other family businesses became a problem for the Twins, because they began focusing on the bottom line and lost sight of the ways in which a little more spending would have generated a lot more revenue.

If their new partners have enough money (and, in effect, if they help retire enough of the family's non-baseball debt by buying into the club) to loosen the purse strings again, the negative effects of the last two years of poor stewardship can be unwound fairly quickly. However, sticking around means that the Pohlads will have to find ways (beyond incrementally more spending) to repair their relationship with the fan base, after the team betrayed that fan base and broke whatever existing trust there was beginning in the fall of 2023. Whether Joe Pohlad (or anyone else in the family tree) is up for that difficult job is not at all clear.

The likelihood, therefore, is that there will be a new "face" of ownership brought into the picture, as part of this transaction. Joe Pohlad might remain the control person for the team, but some member of one of the new partnership groups might be moved out front to give the community a spokesperson from whom they might be more willing to hear a message of reconciliation and renewal. For now, this change in the direction of the would-be sale raises more questions than it answers, but within a few weeks, we're likely to find out much more.

 

View full article

 

I'm done with them Feel bad for the roster, and what a waste of time and energy for current player. I hope they find meaning and purpose with new teams with owners who give a **** about the team.

1 hour ago, Chris Hove said:

The FO clearly doesn't care or is totally disengaged on what the fans want. Could be both, but how much of a hit will they take when they average under 10K fans a game?

Lets be clear,  Ownership doesn't care.  Falvey is just trying to do his job.  Now if you think he can do a better job even with the restrictions that have been on him,  that is valid.   I could see why the Pohlads who received a much higher valuation would have been interested.  However my guess is MLB does not take on the debt now, so really how much more valuation occurred.  So lets say its a 2 million valuation.  10% minority stake would be 200 million,  20% would be 400 million.   Maybe clear off the debt with a 20% or more ownership sale.  The root issue is still here though.  What is going to change the Twins financial structure in the future?  The cable payments were a major portion that effectively got wiped out.  I have purchased the streaming version of the Twins and have had multiple issues broadcasting to my primary TV.  The product otherwise is ok.  The commercials are extremely repetitive.  

If Twins put out a competitive team for next year with some young players who look like stars I think they can continue to sell hope,  but you are going to lose some fans frustrated by the ownership and front office moves.   Maybe things drastically improve with the new CBA.  I am just not going to get my hopes up.  

On 8/13/2025 at 10:46 AM, Twins_Fan_in_NJ said:

This is not the best news...

Just a money comment. Bryce Harper was angry at the commissioner if increased income doesn't happen at the next negotiation. This guy is low level and has been all his life to begin with. He gets 30 million dollars a year and we're crying over players making several million dollars a year that they should make more. How do they get paid? TV Revenue that's a fair price. Do you know that the New York Yankees have a single game ticket that cost $5,000? Do you think things are getting out of hand if you want these new Associates with the poll ads to throw money into this there has to be a profit and these crazy $300 a seat tickets at Target Field is going to have to go up so how much do you want to pay to see a ball game and Minneapolis doesn't have the people in New York does. It is sickening the pricing players make. They would work for 80% less if that was the going rate and we don't want to promote from within anymore we want to go out and buy people that's not a fun way to win a ball game. We drafted this guy or we traded for this guy and we win with this guy that gives you the feeling of accomplishment not opening your pocketbook. But the Louie trade my God if they had just not done that one. It's a bad trade I watched the guy pitch for the Saints he that he has no movement on his pictures that are major league player can't hit and probably never will. 5 years left with Louie and he has accomplished for the ownership what we want a player to accomplish why go pick up somebody else to start over? It's just a game and I've been behind this team for 60 years following them every step of the way good or bad but I'm not willing to go to a game anymore because of the pricing it's unreal and the people in New York are complete fools money they throw there. Boycott is what needs to be done and that's what all this is leading to. If we have the sense to do it.

1 hour ago, bunsen82 said:

Lets be clear,  Ownership doesn't care.  Falvey is just trying to do his job.  Now if you think he can do a better job even with the restrictions that have been on him,  that is valid.   I could see why the Pohlads who received a much higher valuation would have been interested.  However my guess is MLB does not take on the debt now, so really how much more valuation occurred.  So lets say its a 2 million valuation.  10% minority stake would be 200 million,  20% would be 400 million.   Maybe clear off the debt with a 20% or more ownership sale.  The root issue is still here though.  What is going to change the Twins financial structure in the future?  The cable payments were a major portion that effectively got wiped out.  I have purchased the streaming version of the Twins and have had multiple issues broadcasting to my primary TV.  The product otherwise is ok.  The commercials are extremely repetitive.  

If Twins put out a competitive team for next year with some young players who look like stars I think they can continue to sell hope,  but you are going to lose some fans frustrated by the ownership and front office moves.   Maybe things drastically improve with the new CBA.  I am just not going to get my hopes up.  

How much were they paying on that debt service?  If that entire debt was paid off, whatever they used to be paying for debt service.  This a very simplistic view that I'm absolutely sure is not correct, but maybe its something like this.

Lets say the Twins have $400M in debt.  If its a 30 year loan at 5% interest, they'd be paying $26M a year on it.

If the new minority owners got 20% of the club for $400M, they'd presumably get 20% of any profit the team makes.  That income, along with the increased value of the team over time is their return on investment.

Theoretically, that would free up $26M every year for additional payroll expenditures.

As a 70 year+ fan of the Senators/Nats, even though I don't live in the TC, I grieve just as deeply as all of you local fans.  Enough has been said about the Pohlad group without me adding my vitriol.  Suffice it to say, that my long term interest in this franchise is gone.  At least I have the local Cubs here in my backyard to follow.

But I have to add one bit of advice to my fellow fans : action speaks louder than words!  It's one thing to bitch on line about ownership, but if you want to take this to a more visible level, why not picket the Pohlad offices.  Demonstrations are far more effective in voicing your anger than on-line comments. Be an activist!  Take to the streets with signs and a loudspeaker   to voice your disapproval.  I assure you mass media will take note and provide coverage.  That will make ownership take much more notice than TD coverage.  This obviously is not going to change their minds on future strategy but the outrage will be much more visible - and, in the process, make you feel better.  I speak from experience of picketing old Karl here at O'hare when he appeared at an owner's meeting right after he announced contraction plans.  My mini-demonstration was not a factor in stopping the move, but the startled look in his eyes when he saw me yelling at him with my signs was worth it - even 20+ years later.  And though I was the only protester that day at O'hare, i was filmed and interviewed by MSP network TV.

So take off the kid gloves, shed the "Minnesota Nice" label and get in front of the bastards and tell them what you think.  Believe me, you will feel much better for it!

10 minutes ago, The Great Hambino said:

Based on the actions of their new peer group - Pirates, A's, Marlins, etc. - they will cut payroll even further, collect more revenue sharing, and maintain their profit margin that way.

The A's were eventually forced to spend a little more after the threat of a union grievance, but only after three straight years of finishing dead-last in year-end 40 man payroll.  If they go this route (I really hope they don't but don't see any reason other than blind faith to think they won't), then I don't see them having any real repercussions at least until the new CBA is in place.

I don't think this cash infusion from the limited partners changes this, especially since Joe P himself has stated that the proceeds are being used to pay down their debt.  I suppose that frees up cash that would have otherwise gone toward interest, but I'll believe that gets meaningfully reinvested in the payroll when I see it.  

Based on what we've learned so far, I can see it playing out like this:  the Pohlads couldn't get their asking price due to, among other factors, the debt and the uncertainty surrounding the new CBA.  So they took on limited partners to solve the debt issue.  These limited partners aren't making this kind of investment out of charity, so they did this with the expectation of a return on investment.  The easiest path to that return on investment under the current structure is to slice costs to the bone as outlined above until a new CBA is in place.  Once it is in place, the two biggest factors preventing the original full sale - debt and CBA uncertainty - are now gone and they can put the team up for sale again, perhaps at an even higher valuation - or keep it, if the new CBA really works in their favor.  Either way, they win.  The limited partners potentially get a great return on their investment or get to partner with a new, presumably motivated ownership group, so they win.  

Twins fans lose, but that has never really mattered to those in charge, so why would it start to now?

You're idea is completely plausible and probably right.  I want to hope for better.  Maybe the investment groups are passionate about baseball and not looking to absolutely maximize their return.  Not lose money, but just take their cut of the normal profits the team normally gets.

According to Forbs, in 2024, the Twins had $324M in Revenue and $5.2M in Operating Income (which I think is profit)?  Player expenses were $182M which means other expenses were $137M.  Maybe it breaks down like this.

Total Revenue: $324M
Player Expenses: $182M (payroll of $126M, this includes bonuses, benefits, I assume minor league players)
Debt Service: $25M
Other expenses: $112M 
Profit: $5M

Lets say the new ownership groups paid $400M for 20% and lets say they said "We want 3% return on investment each year.  We know we could get more elsewhere, but we want to be owners, we like the Twins and we know the value of the franchise will increase."  

If that was used to pay down debt service, you could theoretically do this.

Total Revenue: $324M
Player Expenses: $195M (with the same ratio, that would $133M payroll)
Debt Service: None
Other expenses: $112M
Profit: $17M (12 for investors and 5 for the Pohlad's)

That's wildly optimistic, so slashing salary (which is more likely) could look like this.

Total Revenue: $324M
Player Expenses: $144M (for a $100M payroll)
Debt Service: 0
Other expenses: $112M
Profit: $68M (about $13M for investors and $55M for pohlads).

We all hoped for a sale to an ownership group who wasn't looking to suck every ounce of profit from the team.  Maybe we can still hope for the new groups to also not be looking to suck every ounce of profit from the team.
 

1 hour ago, clone52 said:

You're idea is completely plausible and probably right.  I want to hope for better.  Maybe the investment groups are passionate about baseball and not looking to absolutely maximize their return.  Not lose money, but just take their cut of the normal profits the team normally gets.

According to Forbs, in 2024, the Twins had $324M in Revenue and $5.2M in Operating Income (which I think is profit)?  Player expenses were $182M which means other expenses were $137M.  Maybe it breaks down like this.

Total Revenue: $324M
Player Expenses: $182M (payroll of $126M, this includes bonuses, benefits, I assume minor league players)
Debt Service: $25M
Other expenses: $112M 
Profit: $5M

Lets say the new ownership groups paid $400M for 20% and lets say they said "We want 3% return on investment each year.  We know we could get more elsewhere, but we want to be owners, we like the Twins and we know the value of the franchise will increase."  

If that was used to pay down debt service, you could theoretically do this.

Total Revenue: $324M
Player Expenses: $195M (with the same ratio, that would $133M payroll)
Debt Service: None
Other expenses: $112M
Profit: $17M (12 for investors and 5 for the Pohlad's)

That's wildly optimistic, so slashing salary (which is more likely) could look like this.

Total Revenue: $324M
Player Expenses: $144M (for a $100M payroll)
Debt Service: 0
Other expenses: $112M
Profit: $68M (about $13M for investors and $55M for pohlads).

We all hoped for a sale to an ownership group who wasn't looking to suck every ounce of profit from the team.  Maybe we can still hope for the new groups to also not be looking to suck every ounce of profit from the team.
 

 

I would expect that Forbes is including draft bonuses / International bonuses / Benefits, and MLB Payroll in "player Expenses".

4 hours ago, mike8791 said:

As a 70 year+ fan of the Senators/Nats, even though I don't live in the TC, I grieve just as deeply as all of you local fans.  Enough has been said about the Pohlad group without me adding my vitriol.  Suffice it to say, that my long term interest in this franchise is gone.  At least I have the local Cubs here in my backyard to follow.

But I have to add one bit of advice to my fellow fans : action speaks louder than words!  It's one thing to bitch on line about ownership, but if you want to take this to a more visible level, why not picket the Pohlad offices.  Demonstrations are far more effective in voicing your anger than on-line comments. Be an activist!  Take to the streets with signs and a loudspeaker   to voice your disapproval.  I assure you mass media will take note and provide coverage.  That will make ownership take much more notice than TD coverage.  This obviously is not going to change their minds on future strategy but the outrage will be much more visible - and, in the process, make you feel better.  I speak from experience of picketing old Karl here at O'hare when he appeared at an owner's meeting right after he announced contraction plans.  My mini-demonstration was not a factor in stopping the move, but the startled look in his eyes when he saw me yelling at him with my signs was worth it - even 20+ years later.  And though I was the only protester that day at O'hare, i was filmed and interviewed by MSP network TV.

So take off the kid gloves, shed the "Minnesota Nice" label and get in front of the bastards and tell them what you think.  Believe me, you will feel much better for it!

Great Idea!   

Let's boycott and picket the Pohlad offices and Target Field!