Matthew Taylor

Image courtesy of © Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images Derek Falvey's final season leading the Twins' baseball operations department will always be remembered for the sheer volume of moves he made. Faced with a disappointing season, Falvey orchestrated a historic selloff at the trade deadline, completing more than 10 trades as he reshaped the organization's future before departing at the end of the year. Some of those deals brought back highly regarded prospects. Others cleared payroll or addressed long-term organizational needs. Looking back now, though, the best trade Falvey made during his final season wasn't one of the blockbuster deadline deals. It came three months earlier, when he quietly acquired Kody Clemens from the Philadelphia Phillies for cash considerations. On April 26, the Twins sent cash to the Phillies to acquire Clemens after he had been designated for assignment. It was an emergency move after Luke Keaschall suffered a broken forearm, leaving the Twins in need of another infielder. Rather than wait and hope Clemens cleared waivers, Falvey jumped the line to ensure he landed in Minnesota. At the time, the move barely generated a reaction, because there wasn't much reason to believe Clemens would become anything more than organizational depth. Already, the likes of Jonah Bride and Mickey Gasper were conditioning fans not to expect much from such additions. Before joining the Twins, Clemens owned a career .611 OPS across 402 major-league plate appearances. He had hit just 14 home runs while striking out 102 times, compared to only 22 walks. Players with that type of production don't typically become useful contributors, especially in their late 20s. Clemens had been designated for assignment for a reason, and expecting him to suddenly blossom into an everyday player would have been unrealistic. But Falvey and the Twins clearly saw something the rest of baseball didn't. They didn't have to trade for Clemens. They could have waited to see if he cleared waivers or simply targeted another player who was already available. Instead, they specifically identified Clemens as someone worth acquiring immediately. Whatever they saw has paid off in a massive way. Since joining the Twins, Clemens has posted a .763 OPS with a 108 wRC+. He ranks second on the team with 35 home runs, third with 96 RBIs, third with 3.2 fWAR, and second in Win Probability Added, trailing only Byron Buxton. Those aren't the numbers of a bench player or a temporary injury replacement. They are the numbers of one of the most valuable players on the roster. The value becomes even greater when considering what Clemens costs. He has produced all of that while making the league minimum, after being acquired for what amounted to just a couple extra months' worth of a minimum-salary player's earnings. That matters for this version of the Twins. Since the end of the 2023 season, ownership has steadily reduced payroll, limiting the organization's ability to improve through free agency. Finding an above-average everyday player making the minimum salary is exactly how a team operating under financial constraints stays competitive. Just as importantly, Clemens has been available virtually every day. Since joining the Twins, he ranks fourth on the team in plate appearances and has yet to spend any time on the injured list. In a season where injuries have once again tested the club's depth, that reliability has been incredibly valuable. His defensive versatility has only increased his importance, as the Twins have used him at first base, second base, left field, right field, and even center field. Few players have given the Twins more flexibility when filling out the lineup card, allowing the Twins to shuffle pieces around while keeping Clemens' bat in the lineup almost every day. The scary part is that he may not even be slowing down any time soon. Over the past 30 games since June 1, Clemens owns an .895 OPS with 10 home runs and 23 runs scored, both of which lead the Twins during that stretch. Rather than cooling off after an unexpectedly productive first couple of months, he has become one of the hottest hitters on the team and continues to exceed every expectation anyone had when the Twins acquired him. Looking back, it's remarkable how insignificant the trade felt at the time. Falvey's final season featured a whirlwind of transactions, including a historic trade deadline selloff that reshaped the organization. Some of those deals may eventually prove to be franchise-changing, but none have already delivered the kind of value the Clemens trade has. For cash, the Twins acquired one of their best hitters, one of their most valuable players, and one of the best bargains on the team. Considering the acquisition cost, his league-minimum salary, and everything he has produced, it's hard to argue any move Derek Falvey made during his final season with the Twins has aged better than the trade for Kody Clemens. Do you think Kody Clemens was the best trade Falvey made last season? Leave a comment below and start the conversation! View full article

Image courtesy of © Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images Winning a series at Yankee Stadium doesn't guarantee anything. It doesn't erase an inconsistent first half, and it certainly doesn't mean the Twins suddenly look like World Series favorites. But after taking two of three in the Bronx (and outscoring New York 19-10), one thing has become increasingly difficult to ignore. The Twins have played solid baseball over the past few weeks, winning six of their last seven series, four of them on the road. They've climbed to within three games of .500, sit four games behind first place in the American League Central, and trail the final American League Wild Card spot by just 1.5 games. According to FanGraphs, they now have a 33.1% chance to make the postseason. With less than a month until the trade deadline, the Twins have firmly put themselves in position to be buyers. That reality makes it impossible not to think back to everything Tom Pohlad has said since taking over as the Twins' control person and chairman. His most memorable quote came during his introductory press conference when he said, "I'm not a half-measure guy. I'm a 'go big or go home' guy." It was exactly what Twins fans wanted to hear after years of payroll cuts and conservative spending. Understandably, though, many didn't believe it. But perhaps the more important comment came later in that same conversation when he said, "We owe the fan base something. We owe our veteran and star players something. And we owe this organization something. And that something is hope." Those quotes created expectations. If you're going to tell fans that you aren't interested in half measures and that you owe them hope, those words have to be backed up when the opportunity presents itself. The Twins have done exactly what ownership could have hoped for. Despite injuries, roster flaws, and a reduced payroll, they've fought their way back into contention and earned the chance to receive help. Pohlad doubled down on that message in April. In an interview with Dan Hayes, he acknowledged that taking over ownership so late in the offseason limited what the organization could accomplish in free agency. Instead, he pointed toward the trade deadline, saying he hoped the Twins would still be competitive so they could add to the roster. In other words, he asked fans to judge him in July, not January. Well, July is here. The Twins are exactly where Pohlad hoped they would be. They've consistently won series over the past few weeks, despite an imperfect roster, giving the front office every reason to invest in this club. There's still plenty of time for things to change. The Twins could get hot and strengthen their position, or they could stumble before the deadline. But that uncertainty shouldn't become an excuse for waiting. Teams don't have to wait until the final day to make trades, and there are already several organizations with no realistic playoff aspirations. If Jeremy Zoll identifies a player who can improve the roster, there's no reason the Twins can't act early and give that player several extra weeks to contribute. The timing is also ideal because of the opportunity in front of them. The American League has remained remarkably open all season, allowing Minnesota to stay in contention despite an inconsistent first half. On top of that, reinforcements are on the way. Walker Jenkins, Kaelen Culpepper, and Emmanuel Rodriguez all have a chance to contribute later this season. Pairing that wave of young talent with meaningful additions from outside the organization could certainly have the Twins rolling in the second half of the season No one is suggesting the Twins empty the farm system or make a reckless trade. But there's a big difference between making smart, aggressive additions and standing pat. Whether it's bullpen help, a starting pitcher, or a bat, this is the type of situation Pohlad was talking about when he said he wasn't interested in half measures. This deadline is also about more than the 2026 season. It's Tom Pohlad's first real opportunity to build credibility with a fan base that has heard promises from ownership before. He has talked about thinking bigger, explained why the quiet offseason was a matter of timing, and repeatedly pointed toward the trade deadline as the moment he'd have a chance to make his mark. Making meaningful additions won't guarantee a playoff berth, but it would send a clear message to the clubhouse and the fan base that this Pohlad is different from the others. So would not making those additions; the message would just be a different one. What do you think? Have the Twins done enough to justify buying at the trade deadline? Should the front office wait until the deadline, or would you like to see them make a move sooner? View full article

The Minnesota Twins have reached the point where waiting on Alan Roden simply doesn't make much sense anymore. When the Twins acquired Roden and Kendry Rojas from the Toronto Blue Jays at last year's trade deadline in exchange for Louis Varland, the move was viewed as one that could help both the present and the future. Rojas arrived as a talented young starting pitching prospect with plenty of upside, but Roden was the more polished, major league ready player. The Twins didn't trade for him because they thought he needed another full season in Triple-A. They traded for him because they believed he was close to helping them win games in Minnesota. Unfortunately, Twins fans barely got to see him after the trade. Roden appeared in only 12 games before suffering a thumb injury that ended his season, putting his Twins debut on hold almost as soon as it began. That momentum carried into spring training, where it became increasingly apparent that Roden deserved a spot on the Opening Day roster. He spent camp competing with James Outman for the final outfield job, and it was hard to argue that Roden hadn't outperformed him. Instead, the Twins opted for roster flexibility. Because Roden still had minor league options remaining while Outman did not, Roden was sent to St. Paul despite looking like the better baseball choice. The decision was understandable from a roster management perspective, but it always felt temporary. Roden appeared to be first in line whenever the Twins needed another outfielder, and that opportunity looked like it was only days away before another injury derailed his season. In April, Roden tore the labrum in his right shoulder, forcing him back to the injured list just as the door to the majors was beginning to open. Now he is healthy again, and he is reminding everyone exactly why the Twins wanted him in the first place. Since returning from injury on June 6, Roden has been one of the most productive hitters in Triple-A, batting .333 with six home runs. Just as encouraging has been his approach at the plate. He has drawn 14 walks while striking out only 12 times, continuing to show the advanced strike zone awareness that has defined his professional career. He has also spent a significant amount of time playing center field, giving the Twins another layer of defensive flexibility. The timing could not be better because this lineup desperately needs another hitter capable of getting on base. Since the start of June, Trevor Larnach and Luke Keaschall are the only Twins with an on-base percentage above .350. Too often this offense has struggled to sustain rallies because hitters are expanding the strike zone instead of forcing pitchers to work. Roden has built his entire offensive profile around doing exactly that. He consistently puts together competitive at-bats, works deep counts and reaches base, skills that translate regardless of whether he is hitting home runs. At 26 years old with nearly 1,500 career minor league plate appearances, Roden has nothing left to prove in Triple-A. The Twins acquired him because they believed he was major league ready. Every additional week he spends dominating minor league pitching feels like a week that accomplishes very little for either Roden or the organization. If anything, keeping him in St. Paul now seems to contradict the very reason they targeted him at the trade deadline. His fit also extends well beyond the batter's box. Byron Buxton returned to center field on Saturday after missing the entire Houston series because of another hip aggravation. While Buxton remains one of the best players in baseball when healthy, the Twins also need to acknowledge that they cannot expect him to play every day for the remainder of the season. Right now, their backup plan has been moving Ryan Kreidler from shortstop to center field whenever Buxton is unavailable. Kreidler is more than capable of handling center, but that move creates another problem by forcing Tristan Gray into the lineup at shortstop. Gray owns just a 67 OPS+ this season, and his defense has left plenty to be desired. Instead of weakening two positions at once, the Twins could leave Kreidler where he is strongest defensively while allowing Roden to handle center field against right-handed pitching and on days when Buxton serves as the designated hitter. It is a move that strengthens both the lineup and the defense while giving Buxton the flexibility to stay healthy over the final three months of the season. Roden's left-handed bat makes him a natural platoon partner in center field, and his disciplined offensive approach fills one of the biggest holes currently on the roster. The Twins traded for Alan Roden because they believed he was ready to contribute in the major leagues. Injuries delayed that opportunity, but they should not delay it any longer. He is healthy, he is producing, and he has already proven everything there is to prove in Triple-A. The Twins need another quality hitter, another capable center fielder and another reliable way to keep Byron Buxton fresh. Alan Roden checks every one of those boxes. Do you think the Twins should finally call up Alan Roden, or would you make a different roster move? Leave a comment below and start the conversation! View full article

Image courtesy of © Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images When the Minnesota Twins acquired Kendry Rojas from the Toronto Blue Jays at last year's trade deadline, they were betting on upside. The controversial trade that sent Louis Varland to Toronto also brought Alan Roden to the organization, but Rojas was viewed as the potential long-term prize. A fringe top-100 prospect, he featured a mid- to high-90s fastball, a devastating slider, and the kind of raw stuff that made scouts believe he could eventually settle into the middle of a major-league rotation. There was always one major concern, though. Rojas struggled to consistently throw strikes, and that issue has followed him to Minnesota. Between Triple-A St. Paul and the Twins, Rojas has walked 44 batters in just 43 2/3 innings. The electric arsenal is still there, but the command hasn't improved enough to convince the organization he can handle the workload of a traditional starting pitcher. If the Twins truly believed Rojas was part of their future rotation, they'd be developing him like one. Instead, they've done the opposite. Since joining the organization, Rojas has bounced between starting and relieving, without ever really fitting either role. In his two major-league starts, he lasted just two innings and four innings, respectively. With the Saints, he's started five games but has never been allowed to throw more than four innings, usually exiting after just two or three. Even when he's come out of the bullpen, he hasn't been used as a traditional late-inning reliever. Instead, he's worked one to three innings as a piggyback option or long reliever after an early exit from another pitcher. That hybrid role is arguably the least valuable one a pitcher can fill. He's not providing the length teams expect from a starter. Nor is he being trusted to record the biggest outs at the ends of games. Instead, he's stuck somewhere in the middle, where neither his development nor his impact is being maximized. At some point, the Twins need to decide what they believe Rojas is, because the current plan isn't a long-term solution. The organization's usage tells the story. Teams don't consistently pull starting pitchers after two, three, or four innings unless they have concerns about their ability to turn a lineup over multiple times. Rojas has premium velocity and an excellent slider, but he doesn't yet have the command, demonstrated durability or complete pitch mix to profile as a traditional starter. There's nothing wrong with that. Plenty of talented pitchers have found greater success after moving to the bullpen. In fact, the Twins have already shown exactly how to maximize this type of arm. Ironically, the blueprint belongs to the same pitcher they traded away to acquire Rojas. Louis Varland also entered professional baseball as a starter. When that role didn't fully click, the Twins tried him as a multi-inning reliever, before eventually committing him to one inning at a time. That's when everything changed. Without worrying about pacing himself for multiple trips through the lineup, Varland was able to attack hitters with maximum effort. His velocity ticked up, and his best pitches became even more effective. The result was one of the best late-inning relievers in the American League. There's every reason to believe Rojas could follow a similar path. He's already capable of reaching the upper 90s while pitching multiple innings. In a one-inning role, it's easy to envision him sitting comfortably in the upper 90s, while occasionally touching triple digits. More importantly, he wouldn't need to rely on a deep arsenal. He could lean heavily on his overpowering fastball and devastating slider, allowing his two best pitches to play at their highest level, instead of trying to navigate hitters multiple times with inconsistent command. The timing also couldn't be better. The Twins suddenly have an opening for another impact left-hander after Anthony Banda landed on the injured list with a lat strain earlier this week. A power lefty capable of missing bats late in games is something every contender covets, and Rojas has the raw talent to become exactly that if the organization commits to the transition. Right now, though, the Twins are getting the worst of both worlds. Rojas isn't developing into the type of starter who can consistently give the club five or six innings, and he isn't being allowed to become the high-leverage reliever his stuff suggests he could be. He's simply existing in between those roles, and that isn't helping either the player or the organization. The Twins don't need another hybrid pitcher. They need impact arms, especially in the bullpen. Rojas has all the ingredients to become one, if the organization is willing to stop trying to force him into a role that no longer appears realistic. It's time to pick a lane. Turn Kendry Rojas into a true one-inning reliever. Let him attack hitters with his fastball and slider. Let him throw every pitch at maximum effort, instead of worrying about saving something for the fourth inning. The Twins already followed this exact formula with Varland. The irony is that the player they acquired in exchange for him may need the very same treatment. What do you think? Should the Twins commit to Kendry Rojas as a late-inning reliever, or would you continue trying to develop him as a starter? Leave a comment below and start the conversation! View full article

Image courtesy of © Thomas Shea-Imagn Images Box Score SP: Zebby Matthews: 7 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 7 K, 1 BB HR: Royce Lewis (8), Victor Caratini (7), Josh Bell (10) Top 3 WPA: Matthews 0.25, Caratini 0.13, Bell 0.12 Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs): The Minnesota Twins entered Monday night's series opener in Houston knowing the competition was about to get much tougher. After taking a series from the Colorado Rockies, Minnesota kicked off a six-game road trip against an Astros club that had won nine of its previous 12 games, before heading to Yankee Stadium this weekend. The Twins were also without Byron Buxton, who was held out of the lineup after experiencing a recurrence of hip discomfort and undergoing imaging, according to MLB.com's Matthew Leach. That didn't stop them from taking control of the game early, even if the finish ended up being far more dramatic than it needed to be. The biggest reason was Zebby Matthews. After recording three quality starts in his previous four outings while pitching at least six innings in each, Matthews built on that momentum with arguably his best start of the 2026 season. The right-hander tossed seven innings of one-run ball, allowing just four hits while striking out seven and walking only one. His only mistake came in the fifth inning, when Cam Smith connected for a solo home run. Outside of that swing, Matthews was in complete control all night. Matthews gave the Twins exactly the kind of start they needed, and the offense rewarded him with an early cushion. After being held hitless through the first three innings, Minnesota broke through in the fourth when Victor Caratini and Royce Lewis launched back-to-back home runs. Both hitters continued their outstanding months of June, and Josh Bell joined them two innings later. Bell, who entered the night with an .880 OPS this month after his miserable start to the season, crushed a two-run homer to extend the lead to 4-1. Kody Clemens added one more insurance run in the seventh with an RBI groundout, giving the Twins what looked like a comfortable 5-1 advantage. Matthews's seven frames meant the bullpen only needed to notch the final six outs. Travis Adams looked poised to do just that, retiring the first five batters he faced before Taylor Trammell spoiled the effort with a two-out, full-count, two-run home run in the ninth inning to trim Minnesota's lead to 5-3. That forced the Twins to turn to Yoendrys Gómez for the final out. Instead, the Astros made things even more interesting when Smith launched a solo homer to make it a one-run game. Gómez settled down, however, retiring the final batter of the night to earn his eighth save of the season as the Twins hung on for the 5-4 victory. The Twins passed the first test of a challenging road trip. Matthews delivered the best outing of his season, while Lewis, Bell, and Caratini continued their hot stretches at the plate to provide enough offense. It got far more interesting than anyone expected over the final two outs, but the Twins ultimately did enough to open the road trip with a much-needed win. What's Next The Twins will look to lock up the series on Tuesday evening at 7:10 p.m. CT. Joe Ryan is scheduled to take the mound for Minnesota against Astros right-hander Mike Burrows, as the Twins try to string together some series victories and position themselves to buy (or at least not sell) at the trade deadline. Bullpen Usage Chart THU FRI SAT SUN SUN P Raya 0 0 40 0 0 40 Banda 0 11 0 14 0 25 Morris 0 6 0 12 0 18 Funderburk 0 20 25 0 0 45 Orze 0 14 0 0 0 14 Gómez 0 0 0 4 7 11 Rogers 0 0 9 0 0 9 Adams 0 0 0 0 35 35 View full article

Image courtesy of © Nick Wosika-Imagn Images When the Minnesota Twins optioned Royce Lewis to Triple-A St. Paul on May 19, it felt like more than just a roster move. Lewis had endured a miserable start to the 2026 season, hitting his way to a .539 OPS in 31 games while striking out 37 times and drawing just 12 walks. Every at-bat seemed to bring more frustration. The former No. 1 overall pick looked completely lost at the plate, and the confidence that once made him one of baseball's most exciting young players appeared to be gone. The decision to send Lewis to Triple-A wasn't made with the expectation that he would be back in a week or two. This was supposed to be a true reset. In many ways, it felt like the Twins had reached a crossroads with Lewis. His struggles didn't begin in 2026. They stretched back into the second half of 2024 and continued through the 2025 season. By the time the Twins made the decision to send him to St. Paul, the organization seemed to be acknowledging that something significant needed to change. The goal wasn't simply to get Lewis hot for a few games. The Twins wanted him to rebuild everything. His swing needed work. His defense needed work. His confidence needed work. Most importantly, he needed time. If Lewis was going to get another opportunity in Minnesota, the Twins needed to know that the changes were real. Given how long the struggles had lasted, a quick hot streak wasn't going to be enough to convince anyone that he was ready. At least, that's what everyone thought. The only thing that could have changed that timeline would be if Lewis went to Triple-A and immediately started doing something absurd. Something that made it impossible for the Twins to ignore. Something like hitting eight home runs in 11 games. As ridiculous as that sounds, that's exactly what Lewis has done. Through his first 12 games with the St. Paul Saints, Lewis has gone 18-for-49 with eight home runs and 19 RBIs. Nearly every night has featured another home run—another reminder of why the Twins once viewed him as a franchise cornerstone. Instead of simply looking better, Lewis has looked dominant. Now the Twins may need to start asking themselves a difficult question. How much longer can they realistically keep him in Triple-A? After all, a hot streak in Triple-A is no guarantee that a player has figured things out. Twelve games is still a tiny sample size, and there is certainly value in letting Lewis continue to prove that the adjustments are real over a longer period of time. But considering how lost he looked for much of the last two seasons, it wasn't a given that he would be able to dominate any level of pitching. The fact that he has immediately gone to St. Paul and started punishing baseballs should not be dismissed. In a perfect world, the Twins would probably love to give Lewis another month in Triple-A and see if he can sustain this pace. The problem is that the Twins don't live in a perfect world. They need offense right now. Since May 15, Minnesota ranks 24th in baseball with a .669 OPS. Injuries and underperformance have left the lineup searching for answers, and Ryan Jeffers's injury has only made matters worse. On a nightly basis, the Twins are relying on players such as Ryan Kreidler, Victor Caratini, Tristan Gray, Kody Clemens, and Josh Bell to carry the offense. Keeping a player with Lewis's upside in Triple-A while he is hitting the way he is simply doesn't make sense. He wants to be back in the big leagues. He is showing signs of being the player the Twins know he can be. And most importantly, Minnesota is still very much in the middle of a season that could go either direction. If the Twins wait another two or three weeks for additional proof, they may find themselves running out of time to make a move that could impact the season. Of course, calling Lewis up raises an obvious question. Where would he play? Third base, his primary position, now belongs to Brooks Lee. Since Lewis's demotion, Lee has settled in at third and has given the Twins little reason to make another change. Fortunately, there may be a natural solution. On Thursday night, the St. Paul Saints started Lewis at first base for the first time, a move that could offer a glimpse into the Twins' plans. If Lewis can become comfortable at first base, Minnesota suddenly has a much easier path to getting his bat back into the lineup. A first-base platoon involving Lewis and Clemens would allow the Twins to maximize matchups while keeping Bell in a full-time designated hitter role. More importantly, it would create a way to add Lewis's bat without disrupting what Lee has established at third base. If he can play a bit of second, it's easy to make room for him there, too, since Luke Keaschall doesn't look like he belongs at that position defensively. The Twins sent Lewis to St. Paul looking for signs of life. They've gotten much more than that. Now it's time to give him another shot. What do you think? Should the Twins call Royce Lewis up immediately, or would you like to see him spend more time in Triple-A before getting another opportunity in Minnesota? Leave a comment below and start the conversation! View full article

The Minnesota Twins have traded right-handed pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for cash considerations. The move comes just days after the Twins designated Woods Richardson for assignment following his emergency start on Saturday. In that outing, the right-hander allowed five runs in 2 2/3 innings, raising his season ERA to 7.74. Once Woods Richardson was designated for assignment, the Twins had the opportunity to trade him before placing him on outright waivers. Teams interested in acquiring him could jump the waiver line by working out a trade, and the Blue Jays were seemingly the only club willing to do so. As a result, Minnesota's return was limited to cash considerations. The trade marks a return to the organization where Woods Richardson first emerged a top pitching prospect. He was acquired by the Twins alongside Austin Martin from Toronto at the 2021 trade deadline in exchange for José Berríos. Over parts of five seasons with Minnesota, Woods Richardson logged 302 1/3 innings at the major-league level, posting a 4.76 ERA while making 62 appearances. What do you think of the move? Did the Twins make the right decision by moving on from Woods Richardson, or would you have preferred they hold onto him for additional depth? View full rumor