The 7 Biggest Decisions for the Twins’ Offseason: Alan Roden’s Evaporating Role

When the Twins traded Louis Varland to the Toronto Blue Jays at the 2025 trade deadline, the biggest piece coming back to Minnesota was Kendry Rojas. However, Alan Roden was an important part of the return, as well. Roden was viewed as a big-league-ready player who could improve the Twins' lineup immediately. That made him an intriguing addition to the trade, especially for a team looking for ways to bolster its offense without sacrificing too much of its future.

Alas, Roden's role has become increasingly difficult to identify. He's continued to perform well in the minor leagues. He has shown flashes of that same production in Minnesota. He also has enough defensive versatility to find a role somewhere on the roster, if his bat can keep up as his playing time increases. However, the Twins have a crowded group of young position players competing for playing time, and Roden's path to regular at-bats appears to be disappearing. That creates one of the more interesting roster decisions of the offseason.

The Pros of Keeping Alan Roden

The biggest argument for keeping Roden is pretty simple: He can hit. Roden has consistently produced at Triple-A over the last couple of seasons (133 wRC+ in 2026, 122 wRC+ in 2025), giving the Twins plenty of evidence that his offensive production isn't simply the product of a small sample size. He also performed well during his limited opportunities with Minnesota this season. In 32 games, he posted a 120 wRC+. Roden didn't receive enough playing time to establish himself as an everyday player, but he showed why the Twins were interested in acquiring him in the first place.

The Twins don't have to wonder whether Roden can handle Triple-A pitching. He's already answered that question. The more difficult one is whether Minnesota can give him enough major-league playing time to determine whether his offensive production translates over a larger sample.

Roden has experience playing all three outfield positions, although the Twins haven't appeared particularly comfortable using him in center field. That limits his versatility to some degree, but it doesn't eliminate it entirely. First base could also become an option. Roden hasn't regularly played first base since college, so moving him there would represent something of an experiment. Still, the Twins could view first base as another way to get his bat into the lineup, if they don't believe he can be trusted as an everyday outfielder—or just don't want to put him there at the expense of higher-profile prospects.

There's value in having a player who can move around the diamond while providing quality at-bats. Roden gives the Twins another left-handed option who has already demonstrated an ability to produce at Triple-A. If injuries strike or another young player struggles, having Roden available could prevent Minnesota from needing to make a more significant roster move.

The Cons of Keeping Alan Roden

Because Roden was a collegiate draft pick in 2022, he will already be 27 years old next season. That doesn't make him old, by any means, but it does change the calculus surrounding his development. The Twins can't treat Roden like a 22-year-old prospect who needs another year or two to figure things out. He needs to play.

That creates an awkward situation. Roden still has a minor league option remaining. The Twins could theoretically send him back to Triple-A and keep him as organizational depth. But what, exactly, would Roden be proving there? He's already performed well at that level. Sending a 27-year-old back to Triple-A after he has demonstrated that he can handle the competition would feel like treading water, rather than developing a player.

The larger issue is opportunity. Minnesota has several younger players who need playing time, including players the organization may view as having a higher long-term ceiling, including Walker Jenkins, Emmanuel Rodriguez, and Luke Keaschall. If Roden isn't going to receive consistent at-bats, keeping him on the 26-man roster could mean taking a roster spot away from someone who needs to play. They shouldn't do that, so if they do keep him, they have to be willing to stash him in the minors most of the time—understanding, all the while, that that's not the best thing for the player.

What Would the Timeline Look Like?

The Twins won't have to make just one decision on Roden. They have several options available. Roden isn't arbitration-eligible until 2029, so it seems unlikely they'll simply cut him loose. He's minimum-salaried for multiple seasons, and he still comes with roster flexibility. 

They could, however, trade him. Roden's age, Triple-A track record and remaining minor-league option could make him an interesting target for another organization looking for a potential major-league contributor without giving up a premium prospect.

Minnesota could keep him on the roster and give him an opportunity to compete for a larger role in spring training. That would allow the organization to see whether he can force his way into the lineup. If Roden is going to be part of the 2027 Twins, Minnesota needs to find a way to give him opportunities. Maybe that means more time in the outfield. Maybe it means experimenting with him at first base. Maybe it means finding another roster fit.

What doesn't make much sense is simply sending a productive 27-year-old back to Triple-A because the Twins don't know what else to do with him. The organization acquired Roden because it believed he was ready for the majors. Now, the Twins have to decide whether they still believe that.

What will the Twins decide with Roden? Leave a comment and start the discussion.

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