Matthew Taylor

Image courtesy of © Matt Blewett-Imagn Images Last week, the Pohlad family made it official: they’re not selling the Twins. After nearly a year of dangling the idea that ownership might finally change hands, they announced they’ll stay on as principal owners and only sell a portion of the team to minority investors. For Twins fans, that shifts everything. A new question is front and center now: if the Pohlads aren’t going anywhere, should we still go to games, knowing it means putting money in their pockets? It’s hard to think of an ownership group that inspires less confidence. The Pohlads have made it clear, over and over, that their priority isn’t building a winner—it’s protecting the bottom line. They’ve had decades to prove otherwise, and they haven’t. Look no further than this year’s trade deadline, when the front office appeared to be under a mandate to shed payroll. To many fans, the fire sale appeared not to be about making the team better; it was about cutting costs. In the wake of the announcement about the future of the team, fans got empty corporate doublespeak from Joe Pohlad. It’s clear where their values are. That leaves fans with a tough choice. On the surface, boycotting games feels like the natural response. Why give money to billionaires who refuse to invest in the team at a competitive level? But here’s the reality: In all likelihood, the owners will take lower attendance as an excuse to justify slashing payroll even further. They’ll claim revenue is down, and instead of responding by making the team more competitive to draw fans back, they’ll lean on the same tired logic. Cut costs, keep profits steady, and let the product suffer. It’s not a cycle we should accept. It’s a cycle they’ll exploit. Now, that doesn’t mean fans who walk away are wrong. If you’ve had enough and you cancel Twins.TV, stop buying tickets, or simply check out altogether, nobody can blame you. Ownership has earned every bit of the frustration it gets. There’s no “wrong” way to show displeasure with how this team has been run, as long as what you're doing is motivated by the protection of your own time, rather than the notion that you can influence the Pohlads. But if you still want to go to the ballpark, you shouldn’t feel guilty about it, or let others make you feel bad. Going to Target Field doesn’t mean you’re supporting the Pohlads. It means you’re taking back something that already belongs to us. The stadium was built with public money. It’s not their private playground. It’s Minnesota’s ballpark, and it’s where our connection to this team lives, no matter how poorly it’s managed at the top. Being there also doesn’t have to mean sitting quietly. Fans have power, and it comes from showing up, making noise, and refusing to let ownership own the narrative. Boo when payroll is slashed. Chant when frustration boils over. The Pohlads may hold the title of “owners,” but they don’t own what really matters: the passion, the culture, and the heartbeat of Twins baseball. Just make whatever you do is an authentic and reasonable reaction to what you see out there, rather than either a forced gesture or an unconsidered reflex. This team isn’t just a business, it’s part of Minnesota’s fabric. It’s the memories of 1987 and 1991, it’s Joe Mauer’s debut, it’s Game 163, it’s Byron Buxton making highlight-reel catches. It’s fathers and daughters, friends on a summer night, the joy of a walk-off win or the shared groan of a bullpen collapse. Those belong to us. Giving them up doesn’t punish the Pohlads. It just gives them more power. So yes, if you want to go, go. Don’t let ownership steal the joy of baseball from you. Don’t hand billionaires the satisfaction of taking away nights at Target Field with your family, your friends, and your community. This isn’t just their team. It’s ours. View full article

Hi everyone, My name is Matthew Taylor and I write for the front page of this awesome website if you don't know me already. Just like the rest of you, I'm sick and tired of the Pohlads. Not only their refusal to invest in the team, but just in general the corporate BS that comes out of their mouths anytime they talk drives me insane. Anyways, the latest news of the Pohalds hanging onto the team has pushed me over the edge. With the help of my wife, I designed a shirt that we, Twins fans, can wear to show where we stand as Twins Territory. That we don't support this ownership and we won't until they SELL. You can join me and purchase these shirts over at sellpohlads.com. Let's take a stand, together! P.S. 20% of all proceeds from these shirts will benefit an awesome charity, People Serving People, an emergency shelter for families experiencing homelessness in Minnesota.

Image courtesy of © Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images On Wednesday, the Pohlads announced they will remain the principal owners of the Minnesota Twins, selling only a minority stake in the team. Joe Pohlad opened his remarks, as quoted in Phil Miller’s Star Tribune piece, by saying, “I don’t think we could have imagined a better outcome than where we landed.” For a fanbase that has spent nearly a year hoping for new leadership, new philosophies, and an ownership group willing to invest more aggressively in winning, this is a slap in the face. It's tone-deaf at best and deliberately insulting at worst, as if we are all supposed to smile and nod at the idea that this was the best possible result. Pohlad’s entire interview with the paper was filled with the kind of corporate speak that pretends everything is fine, even when it clearly is not. He spoke as though keeping control was a universally positive development, praising “alignment” with the new minority partners and expressing faith in the “future of baseball in Minnesota.” It's empty PR fluff, designed to paper over the reality that nothing meaningful has changed; the same ownership group is still in charge; and the fans who wanted a new voice have been strung along for months. The expectation seems to be that we will all just buy whatever he is selling. On the trade deadline fire sale, Pohlad claimed the decision to deal 10 players on July 31 “took him by surprise” and that the moves “had little to do with saving money” and were “primarily baseball decisions.” That is simply not credible. In addition to the other nine trades (which were likely financially motivated as well), the Carlos Correa trade was a pure salary dump, the very definition of a move made for financial reasons. Multiple reports say it was ownership, not Derek Falvey, who pushed the trade across the finish line. To tell fans this was “primarily” about baseball is to assume we are too gullible to connect the dots. He also addressed criticism by saying that being booed is “part of the role” and that he would “rather have passionate fans than fans who are disengaged.” That is not just tone-deaf; it's a lie. This fanbase is already incredibly disengaged, as evidenced by the Twins being on pace for the lowest attendance in Target Field history this season, a pace set long before this ownership news. Saying boos mean all is well ignores the fact that many fans are not booing; they are simply not showing up. Then came perhaps the most outrageous claim, that the Twins have taken on “significant debt,” up to $400 million, since the summer of 2020. This from a franchise that receives lucrative national media rights money, revenue sharing, and has run average to below-average payrolls for years. We are supposed to believe that, somehow, they have lost nearly half a billion dollars in four seasons. It defies logic. And Pohlad’s follow-up only made it worse: “As far as I’m aware, that debt was not a hindrance in this process… but with this transaction, we’re going to be paying that debt down," he said. In this context, “process” meant selling the team in full, and claiming that the debt was not an issue in doing so is just not true. It's clear the Pohlads were seeking extra money beyond a reasonable valuation, so they could pay off that debt and still walk away with the payday they wanted. The fact that he frames this as if it had no impact on the outcome is yet another example of how little regard this ownership has for fans’ ability to see through the spin. In the end, the most disappointing part is not just that bad owners are staying put. It is that they are doing it while acting like Twins fans are too naive to see through the contradictions, spin, and corporate word salad. We were promised change. Instead, we are told this is the best possible outcome, that money is no object, and that ownership is as committed to winning as we are. Their words say one thing, their actions say another, and they expect us to believe them, anyway. That's not just frustrating. It is insulting. View full article

Image courtesy of © Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images Box Score SP: Bailey Ober 5.1 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 4 K (89 pitches, 58 strikes) Home Runs: Edouard Julien (4) Bottom 3 WPA: Austin Martin -.289, Royce Lewis -.271, Alan Roden -.185 Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs): In their first home game since the Pohlad family reaffirmed their commitment to remain principal owners of the Minnesota Twins, the team delivered a gritty effort in the opener of a four game series against the Detroit Tigers, but opportunities slipped away as the night wore on. Facing one of the league’s toughest arms in Cy Young front runner Tarik Skubal, the Twins came out swinging early but couldn’t land the decisive blow. Against what looked like an impossible assignment with Cy Young favorite Tarik Skubal on the mound, the Twins broke through in the third inning. Edouard Julien opened the scoring with a solo home run, his third of the season and just the second of his career off a left handed pitcher. The inning continued with Ryan Jeffers driving in a run with an RBI groundout and rookie Luke Keaschall delivering a clutch two-out, RBI single to stretch the lead to 3-0, a cushion that would eventually disappear. Bailey Ober, in just his third start since returning from injury, looked sharp early, retiring the first 11 batters he faced. That run ended abruptly in the fourth when Kerry Carpenter’s two out double set the stage for Riley Greene’s two run homer, slicing the Twins’ lead to a single run. Ober kept the game in check until the sixth, when a Colt Keith RBI single tied it and ended his night. He left with 5 1/3 innings pitched, four hits allowed, three runs, and 14 swinging strikes, an encouraging sign for his stuff even if the lead was gone. The Minnesota Twins bullpen did its job, with shutout appearances from Kody Funderburk, Brooks Kriske, Michael Tonkin and Cole Sands to keep the game even. The offense, however, couldn’t capitalize. In the ninth, Brooks Lee ripped a two out double to put the winning run in scoring position, but newly acquired Alan Roden flew out to end the threat. After Sands held the Tigers scoreless in the top of the tenth with the ghost runner aboard, the Twins were again in prime position. Gasper, who failed in a similar spot earlier this week against Kansas City, laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move the runner to third with one out. Yet the moment slipped away. Austin Martin failed to execute a squeeze bunt, with Roden thrown out at the plate, and Byron Buxton lined out to end the inning. In the top of the 11th inning, the Tigers executed in a way the Twins could not, scoring on a sacrifice fly to take the lead after an Erasmo Ramirez wild pitch. The bottom half turned heated when home plate umpire John Bacon called Ryan Jeffers out on a foul tip that appeared to have hit the ground. Rocco Baldelli stormed out to argue, furiously, and was ejected after which he threw his hat and let loose a string of expletives. With two outs and a runner on third, Royce Lewis struck out on a check swing to end the game as the Twins fell 4-3. The loss dropped Minnesota to 57-64 and 4-8 in extra innings this season. What's Next The Twins will continue the home series tomorrow night at 7:10 p.m. with José Ureña on the mound to face long-time veteran Charlie Morton. Following the game will be a Dustin Lynch postgame concert, if you’re into that sort of thing. Postgame Interviews Coming soon... Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet View full article

In his latest article, Bobby Nightengale reported that the Twins had talks with the Mariners at the trade deadline, but a deal never came together because Seattle was unwilling to include two of their best prospects. Minnesota’s ask? Two top-100 prospects. Nightengale also noted that the Twins actually preferred 18-year-old catcher Eduardo Tait over Phillies shortstop prospect Aidan Miller. The hesitation with Miller, ranked #17 in baseball by MLB Pipeline, came from concerns about his ability to stick at shortstop long-term. Miller, currently in Double A, has posted a .740 OPS this season. The Twins felt Tait carried more upside and made him their request from Philadelphia instead. You can read the rest of Bobby’s piece here. What do you think, do you like Tait over Miller? View full rumor

Image courtesy of © Troy Taormina-Imagn Images It’s been surreal watching the reactions unfold across Twins Territory since Carlos Correa was traded back to Houston at the deadline. There’s anger. There’s mockery. There are literal jersey burnings. Social media is filled with hot takes and a new nickname: “C-463,” a jab at his recent struggles at the plate and a reference to the scorebook code for a double play. And to be honest… I don’t get it. Yes, Correa waived his no-trade clause and agreed to go back to Houston. But the narrative that he somehow betrayed the Twins or abandoned the team doesn’t hold up. From everything we’ve seen reported, it wasn’t Correa who initiated this move. The front office approached him, not the other way around. He didn’t walk into Rocco Baldelli’s office and ask out. He didn’t demand anything. He was presented with an option to join his former team, the defending champs, in first place, and he agreed. In the middle of a fire sale, after watching other teammates be shipped out, and after ownership slammed the door on the season and turned the lights off, he simply agreed to participate in the exodus. So why are fans acting like he’s the villain? We can’t talk about Correa’s time in Minnesota without starting with October 2023. The Twins hadn’t won a playoff game in 19 years. The narrative of futility was entrenched. Then came Correa, signed in large part because of his postseason track record, and he delivered precisely the performance the team had asked of him. Nine hits in 22 at-bats. Three doubles. Four RBIs. The game-winning hit in Game 2. The improvised throw home. The pickoff play that sealed the sweep. Those aren’t just memorable moments; they’re historic ones. The Twins finally broke the curse, and Correa was the driving force. Simply put, the Twins don't beat the Blue Jays without Correa. He provided the October heroics that he was signed to deliver. And then in 2024, he followed it up with a strong season, his best in a Twins uniform. Despite being limited to just 86 games because of injuries, Correa led the team in WAR at 3.7. He was the stabilizing force in the lineup when healthy, and even when banged up, he worked his way back late in the year, hoping to help the team reach the postseason again. He would’ve been in the lineup in October if the roster hadn’t crumbled around him. Then came this year, and yeah, it’s been rough. This season has not been kind to him. He hasn’t looked right at the plate. But he was still out there every day, playing shortstop, doing his job, even as the season turned to dust. That has to count for something. And let’s not forget, Correa chose the Twins—not once, but twice. The Twins weren’t his first choice, sure. But after the Giants and Mets backed out, he had options. He didn’t have to return to Minnesota. He could’ve gone elsewhere, but he chose this team. And he bought in. That’s not something Twins fans get from star free agents in Minnesota, and I think some fans have taken that for granted. Look, I get it. Correa’s contract was massive. He was the highest-paid player in franchise history, and no, he didn’t deliver superstar production for 162 games each year. That’s fair to acknowledge. You can absolutely argue that he wasn’t worth the full price tag of that deal, but the postseason heroics in 2023 alone were incredibly valuable. He didn’t just show up when it mattered. He delivered in ways that ended 19 years of playoff misery. How do you even put a dollar figure on that? Beyond that, do we really believe that if the Twins hadn’t signed Correa, that money would have gone somewhere else? We’ve all watched how the Pohlads operate. That money wasn’t going to another shortstop or a front-line starter. It would have gone right back into ownership’s pockets. Correa wasn’t blocking spending. He was the spending. Perhaps more precisely, he was what the front office thought would be the tip of the spear, with more weight behind it. If there's a betrayal to talk about here, it's the same one we've talked about all along, with a new victim: Ownership pulled the rug out from under the front office and flouted the fans' trust by constricting the payroll after 2023, and that also double-crossed Correa himself. Admittedly, Correa didn’t live up to every dollar. Most mega-contracts don’t. However, he gave the Twins something they hadn’t had in a generation: a postseason hero. For that alone, he deserves a better sendoff than this. I’ll look back on Correa’s time in Minnesota fondly. He helped rewrite the story of this franchise. He brought a winning pedigree, big-game production, and stability to a position that had long been in flux. He was a leader, a clutch performer, and (in many ways) the face of a new era. That that era might now be defined by its shortcomings, rather than its successess, is the fault of many people, but Correa is low on the list. I’m not going to burn his jersey. I’m not going to call him C-463. I’m going to remember the moments; the hits; the celebrations; and the joy of October 2023. I’ll wish him well, even in Houston. What about you? View full article

Image courtesy of Bill Streicher-Imagn Images At the 2025 trade deadline, two of the most electric arms in baseball were moved within a day of each other. The Twins traded Jhoan Duran to the Phillies. The Athletics traded Mason Miller to the Padres. Both are high-octane relievers who light up the radar gun and make hitters look overmatched. Both had multiple years of team control left. Both brought back strong returns for their clubs, but Miller’s package from San Diego reached another level entirely. The Miller deal turned heads immediately. Oakland landed Leo De Vries, a consensus top five prospect in all of baseball and the type of player teams dream of building around. They also got Braden Nett, the Padres’ number three prospect, plus Henry Báez and Eduarniel Nuñez, ranked thirteenth and seventeenth in the system. It was an aggressive push from Padres GM AJ Preller, who has never shied away from paying premium prices when he is locked in on a player. The Twins’ deal for Duran, made a day earlier, brought back Eduardo Tait, ranked 57th overall, and Mick Abel, ranked 92nd. Both are top 100 prospects with upside, Tait as a talented player at a premium position and Abel as a big-armed pitcher who will slot into the rotation. By any measure, that is a strong return. But there was a sense leading into the deadline that the Twins did not need to trade Duran unless the offer was exceptional. Early in talks with Philadelphia, Minnesota asked for Andrew Painter, the Phillies’ top prospect and one of the ten best in the sport. The Phillies made it clear Painter was off the table, and the Twins ultimately pivoted to a package centered around Tait and Abel. Part of why Miller fetched more comes down to controllability and cost. Miller is still in pre-arbitration, making the league minimum, and will have four years of control after this season. Duran is already in arbitration, earning over four million this year with projected jumps to around seven and ten million in the following seasons. Then there is the raw stuff. Miller strikes out more batters per nine innings compared to Duran (13.9 vs 9.7,) throws even harder (101.2 vs 100.3), and generates more swings and misses (37.4% vs 31.0%). His FIP is stronger despite pitching in a challenging home park. There is also the possibility, however uncertain, that the Padres could try him as a starter again, which could boost his value even higher. Timing may have played a role as well. We cannot know for sure, but we do know that the deadline itself creates leverage for selling teams, especially those holding premium arms with years of control. The A’s held Miller until the final hours, which may have forced the Padres into their most aggressive offer. The Twins moved Duran a day earlier, before the Miller package was on the board. It is natural to wonder if waiting could have shifted the conversation with Philadelphia, perhaps bringing Painter’s name back into play, or even drawing interest from another team like San Diego if they had not landed Miller. When you put all the factors together, Miller’s profile simply carried more trade value, and the Athletics maximized it. The Twins still landed two top 100 prospects for a reliever, something many front offices would be thrilled with, and the deal may look even better in a few years depending on how Tait and Abel develop. The question is less about whether Minnesota made a good trade and more about whether there was an opportunity to push it into the “too good to refuse” category. Could the timing have made the difference? Could Painter have been part of the return? Or was this simply the right moment to act with the offer they had? Miller’s trade will be remembered as one of the biggest bullpen blockbusters in recent years. Duran’s may quietly age into one of the Twins’ smarter plays if their new prospects hit. For now, it is a fascinating case study in market dynamics, perceived value, and the subtle decisions that shape a team’s future. What do you think? Should the Twins have held onto Duran until the very last moment, or did they make the right call taking the Phillies’ offer when they did? Share your thoughts in the comments below. View full article

Image courtesy of David Richard-Imagn Images On Tuesday, the Red Sox and top outfield prospect Roman Anthony agreed to an eight-year, $130 million extension after just 47 games in the majors. The deal, which could keep Anthony in Boston through his age-30 season, is one of the most aggressive early-career commitments a team has made in recent years. It’s a signal that front offices are willing to lock in young players earlier than ever, especially if they believe they’ve found a long-term star. The bigger takeaway for a team like the Twins is timing. When should you commit to a young player, and how soon is too soon? After a trade deadline that dramatically reduced future payroll, the Twins are in a rare position where they can think proactively. They’ve shed tens of millions in 2025 and beyond by moving on from Carlos Correa and multiple arbitration-eligible relievers. And while it’s unlikely Minnesota will redirect that savings into splashy free-agent contracts, a more logical path would be to invest some of it into locking in younger talent at club-friendly rates before the price goes up. There are two clear candidates on the roster who fit that mold: Bailey Ober and Luke Keaschall. A third, Walker Jenkins, might seem like a natural fit, he’s a top-15 prospect, already in Double-A, and tracking for a debut next year. But Jenkins is a Scott Boras client, and Boras clients almost never sign early extensions. His philosophy is to play out the arbitration years and hit free agency at full value. That effectively removes Jenkins from consideration, at least until he’s deep into his major-league career. Bailey Ober, on the other hand, is a much different case. After a strong showing in 2023 and 2024, Ober entered the 2025 season as one of the most reliable arms in Minnesota’s rotation. But this year has gone sideways. He currently owns a 5.38 ERA and has struggled with decreased velocity and a rising home run rate, giving up hard contact at one of the highest clips of his career. A nagging hip issue sidelined him earlier in the season, and although he’s returned to the mound, he hasn’t been able to recapture the consistency that made him so effective in previous years. For a pitcher who just turned 30 and is struggling, it’s a tough combination at a tough time. Still, that might be exactly why now is the time for the Twins to act. Ober is making $3.55 million this year in his first year of arbitration. He’s likely to make around $6 million in 2026 and close to $10 million in 2027. That’s roughly $16 million over the next two years. If the Twins want to avoid riding the arbitration rollercoaster, and possibly buy an extra year of team control, they could offer Ober a three-year, $27 million extension that covers his two remaining arb years and his first free-agent season. A club option for 2029 around $12.5 million could give the team even more flexibility. This would be a slightly front-loaded deal that gives Ober financial security at a vulnerable point in his career. For the Twins, it’s a low-risk play. If Ober continues to struggle, they haven’t committed long-term money. But if he regains his form from 2023–24—where he flashed SP2/SP3 potential with strong command, they could be getting two years of free-agent value at a steep discount. It’s the kind of hedge that makes sense when you’ve just cleared out a large chunk of veteran salary and are trying to stabilize your future rotation. Then there’s Luke Keaschall. The 22-year-old infielder has fewer than 50 MLB plate appearances, but he’s already flashing the kind of tools that scream long-term contributor. A top-50 prospect coming into the season, Keaschall has certainly looked the part at the plate and on the bases in his limited time, and he looks like a strong candidate to take over second base for the long haul. If the Twins believe in the upside, this winter would be the ideal time to strike. A six- or seven-year deal worth $50 to $60 million would be in line with extensions handed out to players like Ke’Bryan Hayes and Luis Robert. The Twins would get cost control and buy out a couple of free agent years, while Keaschall would lock in meaningful earnings before ever entering arbitration. It’s worth noting that these two extension candidates fall into very different categories. Keaschall is a young star in the making. Unproven but with real upside and long-term value. Ober is a buy-low opportunity, an arbitration pitcher with a track record but legitimate concerns. The appeal of both is different, but the logic for acting now is the same: control cost, minimize risk, and lock in value before the rest of the league catches up. Other names might come to mind too. Joe Ryan is pitching well enough to merit extension consideration, but with just two years left before free agency and a strong platform building, he’s likely headed for a big payday the Twins probably can’t afford. Royce Lewis has elite upside but simply hasn’t stayed healthy enough or played well enough to justify a long-term deal right now. And someone like Matt Wallner might be in play as a value extension, but platoon corner outfielders rarely land multi-year deals. Kaelen Culpepper could be in the conversation this time next season, but without the prospect hype that Jenkins has, the risk for him would be too great. For now, the clearest cases remain Ober and Keaschall. What do you think? Would you offer either of these extensions, or wait it out? Would you take a chance on someone else instead? Leave a comment and start the conversation. View full article

Image courtesy of © Eric Hartline-Imagn Images While the Twins did well on a few deals, they also made some puzzling moves that left value on the table. With nine trades completed during their aggressive deadline reset, it’s time to evaluate how each one stacks up. Below is a full ranking of every deal, complete with trade details and letter grades. 1. Harrison Bader to the Phillies — Grade: A– Return: OF Hendry Mendez, RHP Geremy Villoria Of all the trades the Twins made, this one returned the most value relative to the asset moved. Bader, an impending free agent, brought back a legitimate prospect in Mendez — a 21-year-old in Double-A with a bat that projects to play at higher levels. Villoria is a true lottery ticket at just 16 years old, but he's the type of long-term upside arm you hope to hit on in these kinds of deals. 2. Jhoan Duran to the Phillies — Grade: B+ Return: C Eduardo Tait, RHP Mick Abel This one is harder to evaluate. The Twins did well on paper — they got two Top 100 prospects, including Tait (ranked #56) and Abel (#91), balancing upside and proximity. Still, the question lingers: was Duran worth even more? Given his unique talent and team control, you could argue they should have held out for a truly elite package. 3. Carlos Correa to the Astros — Grade: B Return: RHP Matt Mikulski, ~$70M in salary relief This was clearly a salary dump, and the Twins succeeded in moving a major sunk cost. Mikulski doesn’t bring much upside at 26 in High-A, but the real win was getting the Astros to eat 70% of the deal — especially with Correa holding a no-trade clause. Whether the deal pays off fully depends on how (or if) that freed-up money gets reinvested. 4. Chris Paddack & Randy Dobnak to the Tigers — Grade: B– Return: C Enrique Jimenez Jimenez is a 19-year-old catcher with a .779 OPS in rookie ball — a solid return for a rental arm like Paddack. But this trade's ceiling drops due to the inclusion of Dobnak, whose contract likely diluted the return. It's a fair trade, but with a bit of "what could’ve been" if Dobnak weren’t attached. 5. Willi Castro to the Cubs — Grade: C+ Return: RHP Ryan Gallagher, RHP Sam Armstrong Castro was expected to be the most valuable among Minnesota’s free agents, so it was surprising to see such a modest return. Gallagher is now ranked #16 in the Twins system (MLB Pipeline), but Armstrong doesn’t crack the top 30. This one feels fine, but underwhelming. 6. Danny Coulombe to the Rangers — Grade: C Return: LHP Garrett Horn Coulombe had a solid market as a reliable lefty reliever, so a return of Garrett Horn, a 6th-round pick coming off Tommy John, feels light. Horn has some tools, but the risk level is high, and the ceiling may not justify the deal. 7. Griffin Jax to the Rays — Grade: C– Return: RHP Taj Bradley Bradley was once a hot name, but he’s struggled with a 4.70 ERA over 350+ MLB innings. Jax had 2.5 years of control left and could have drawn more in the offseason. His reported trade request might’ve sped up the timeline to Minnesota’s detriment. 8. Brock Stewart to the Dodgers — Grade: D+ Return: OF James Outman A confusing trade. Stewart had team control and was effective, while Outman is a 28-year-old with declining value and contact issues. He did flash in 2023, but hasn’t stuck since. A change of scenery could help, but this felt misaligned with the Twins’ rebuilding timeline. 9. Louis Varland & Ty France to the Blue Jays — Grade: D+ Return: LHP Kendry Rojas, OF Alan Roden On paper, the return isn't bad. Rojas could be nasty and Roden is intriguing, albeit redundant (another LHH corner outfielder?). But moving Varland, a cost-controlled power arm who looked like a bullpen cornerstone, made little sense. He’s the type of player you keep during a retool, not move in a package for mid-tier prospects. This one stung. While the Twins found good value in a few deals, much of their deadline work left something to be desired. A handful of trades felt rushed or misaligned with the team’s stated direction, and in several cases, it seemed like they left value on the table. Time will ultimately judge how these moves age, but for now, the 2025 deadline feels like a mixed bag for a team still trying to define its future. View full article

The Minnesota Twins offense continued to sputter in July, ranking just 24th in Major League Baseball in runs scored for the month. As the trade deadline approached and several regulars were shipped out, the bats never fully clicked. Still, there were a few individual bright spots worth highlighting. Whether from emerging young players or steady veterans, the following four hitters stood out as the most productive in what was otherwise a quiet month for the Twins at the plate. 4. Ryan Jeffers 62 PA | .333/.387/.456 | 1 HR | 5 RBI | 8 R | .843 OPS Ryan Jeffers quietly delivered his strongest month of the season, slashing .333/.387/.456 in 62 plate appearances. He led the team in batting average and ranked second in on-base percentage, trailing only Harrison Bader. While Jeffers only tallied one home run and five RBI, he consistently reached base and provided much-needed stability in the lineup. On July 8, he went 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in a win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field. The power wasn't on full display, but Jeffers gave the Twins a reliable bat in a month when many others struggled. 3. Royce Lewis 87 PA | .293/.322/.476 | 3 HR | 11 RBI | 10 R | 1 SB | 24 H Royce Lewis began to show signs of life in July after an extended slump at the plate. The young infielder, who showed flashes early in his MLB career, looked far more comfortable at the dish, collecting a team-high 24 hits and slashing .293/.322/.476 over 87 plate appearances. He drove in 11 runs and scored 10, offering a glimpse of the type of hitter the Twins hope to be able to count on for the future. His best performance came on July 20 at Coors Field, where he hit two home runs and carried the Twins to a 7–1 win over the Rockies to avoid a sweep. While Lewis’s walk rate remained low, the uptick in power and contact was a much-needed development for Royce and the Twins. 2. Byron Buxton 76 PA | .286/.329/.543 | 4 HR | 8 RBI | 15 R | 0.7 fWAR Byron Buxton continued his solid season in July, leading the team with 15 runs scored and ranking second among all Twins hitters with a 0.7 fWAR. He slashed .286/.329/.543 with four home runs and eight RBI over 76 plate appearances before a minor injury cut his month short. On July 26, Buxton exited a game against the Nationals and was placed on the 10-day injured list. The hope is that he returns in early August. With several impact bats now gone via trade, Buxton’s presence in the lineup becomes even more important as the Twins try to piece together offense in the final two months of the season. 1. Harrison Bader - Twins Daily Hitter of the Month 70 PA | .290/.371/.581 | 5 HR | 11 RBI | 9 R | 3 SB | .952 OPS Harrison Bader wrapped up his time with the Twins in style, putting together his best offensive stretch of the season in July before being traded to the Philadelphia Phillies at the deadline. In return, Minnesota received prospects Hendry Mendez and Geremy Villoria. Bader led all Twins hitters in July with a .952 OPS and five home runs. He batted .290 with a .371 on-base percentage, added three steals, and drove in 11 runs. His most memorable performance came on July 4 against the Rays, when he hit two home runs, including a walk-off blast at Target Field, helping contribute to his team-leading WPA of 0.50 for the month. Bader had been a consistent presence in the lineup throughout the season and delivered one last surge before heading to a playoff contender. The Twins offense has struggled most of the year, and July was no exception. The team ranked near the bottom of the league in scoring and has now lost multiple regulars via trade, including Harrison Bader. While there were a few bright spots, the road ahead doesn’t get any easier. August and September may bring even fewer runs, but they also offer an opportunity for younger players to step into the spotlight and make a case for inclusion on next season’s roster. What did you make of July's offensive performances? Which young players do you want to see get more reps in August? Share your thoughts in the comments. View full article

Image courtesy of © Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images On the heels of the MLB trade deadline, the Minnesota Twins did the unthinkable. They tore it all down. Ten players from the active 26-man roster traded. Eleven players in total gone. What’s left is a skeleton of a team, barely recognizable, stumbling toward the finish line of what was supposed to be a contending season. The message from the front office couldn’t be clearer: the rebuild is on. And it's going to be long and painful. Left standing amid the wreckage is Byron Buxton . The Twins didn’t trade Buxton at the deadline. Not for lack of value, not for lack of interest from other teams, but because they couldn’t. He holds a no-trade clause, and he used it. He’s made it abundantly clear: he wants to be in Minnesota. He wants to finish his career here. He wants to raise his family here. He wants to be a Twin for life. And now, with the dust settled and the roster stripped bare, Buxton and Pablo López are the only two players on the team with guaranteed contracts for next season. Buxton’s loyalty hasn’t wavered. Through losing seasons. Through devastating injuries. Through criticism from fans. Through front office changes and managerial shifts and roster reshuffles. He’s endured it all. And this year, he finally put it together. Healthy. Confident. Explosive. A legitimate MVP candidate. He’s been everything the Twins dreamed of when they made him the No. 1 overall pick. He’s been the heart and soul of the team. And the front office repaid that by tearing down everything around him. This wasn’t a case of retooling or tweaking. This was a fire sale. This was the front office lighting the house on fire and handing Buxton a fire extinguisher and saying, “Good luck.” And it’s brutal. Because Buxton deserves so much more than this. He’s given everything to this franchise. His body. His best years. His faith. His loyalty. He didn’t ask for a trade. He didn’t make demands. He didn’t criticize the team. Even when it would’ve been completely understandable for him to want out, he stayed. And now he’s stuck in the twilight of his prime, playing out a career year on a team that has no chance in the short term, surrounded by rookies and journeymen and placeholders, and no guarantee that he'll still be the same player by the time the team comes out on the other side. The worst part is, he won’t say anything. That’s not who he is. He’s not going to throw ownership under the bus. He’s not going to complain to the media. He’s going to keep playing, keep leading, keep smiling. But inside? You have to believe this hurts. You have to believe that somewhere deep down, Byron Buxton is heartbroken. He should be chasing a playoff berth right now. He should be the centerpiece of a competitive team. Instead, he’s the last man standing on a sinking ship. And even though he chose to stay, the Twins essentially told him, “You can stay, but you’re going to be alone.” It’s frustrating. It’s infuriating. Byron Buxton has done everything right. And the Minnesota Twins, his team, his organization, his home, have failed him. What do you think about what the trade deadline says to Byron Buxton? Let us know in the comments. View full article

Easily could’ve gone Culpepper. In this case, when it’s close I’m just gonna go with the new guy.

What a wild day across the Twins minor league system on Sunday. The Wind Surge stole the show with an outrageous ten-run ninth inning, capped by a huge game from newly acquired Hendry Mendez. In St. Paul, Mick Abel impressed in his organizational debut with five dominant frames. Plenty of action, standout performances, and prospect notes to dig into from top to bottom. Let’s get into it. TRANSACTIONS Cedar Rapids placed infielder Rayne Doncon on the temporary inactive list. SAINTS SENTINEL St. Paul 1, Toledo 4 Box Score The Saints got on the scoreboard in the top of the first when Payton Eeles singled to drive in Luke Keaschall, who led off the game with a double. Unfortunately, that was the Saints' lone run of the game. Mick Abel made his first start since joining the Twins organization from the Phillies in the Jhoan Duran trade. He threw five scoreless innings and gave up just one hit. He walked two and struck out seven batters. Christian MacLeod went the final three innings and was charged with four runs on five hits and two walks. Randy Dobnak made the start for the Mudhens. He gave up one run on three hits and three walks over four innings. WIND SURGE WISDOM Wichita 16, Amarillo 8 Box Score Ryan Gallagher came to the Twins from the Cubs in the Willi Castro trade last week. On Sunday, he made his debut in the Twins organization. While the results were not great, it’s clear he’s got some good stuff, especially a good breaking ball. He put a zero on the board in the first inning and then gave up either one or two runs in each of the next four innings. In five innings, he gave up six runs on seven hits (including three home runs) and a walk. The top of the second inning began with a walk by Walker Jenkins. With one out, Ricardo Olivar homered for the second straight day. Hendry Mendez (who also joined the Twins from the Phillies, only in the Harrison Bader trade) followed immediately with his first Surge homer. In the fourth inning, Jenkins drove in the team’s fourth run with a sacrifice fly. Rubel Cespedes led off the top of the sixth inning with a laser line drive driven beyond the wall in right field to lessen the Surge deficit to 6-5. In the top of the seventh, Mendez singled to drive in Kala’i Rosario and tie the game at six. Ricky Castro came on and put two zeroes on the board while the Surge tried to come back. However, he gave up two runs in the bottom of the eighth to turn a tied game into an 8-6 deficit heading to the ninth inning, but the Wind Surge had the top of their lineup coming to the plate. Kaelen Culpepper lined a single to left. Jenkins followed with a single to right. Rosario walked to load the bases. The first pitch to Olivar went to the backstop, allowing Culpepper to score and runners to advance to second and third with nobody out. Olivar walked to re-load the bases. Then the new guy came through again. Mendez dropped a single to center which drove in Jenkins and Rosario and gave the Surge a 9-8 lead. Andrew Cossetti added an insurance run with an RBI groundout, making it 10-8. Then Cespedes laced a double to extend the lead to 11-8. Jorel Ortega followed with an RBI single, pushing the score to 12-8. Culpepper ripped a triple into the gap, scoring Ortega to make it 13-8. Jenkins kept the line moving with another RBI single to push it to 14-8. And finally, Rosario capped the explosion with a towering two-run homer to left field, making it 16-8. In all, Wichita put up ten runs in a remarkable ninth inning rally, turning an 8-6 deficit into a commanding 16-8 advantage. In the bottom of the ninth, Kade Bragg took the mound and shut the door, sealing the improbable comeback victory for the Wind Surge. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids 5, Lansing 6 Box Score Jay Thomason got the Kernels on the board first with a home run in the second inning. Chase Chaney started with four scoreless innings. He went five innings and gave up two runs on three hits and a walk. He had eight strikeouts. Matt Mikulski came in and gave up four runs (three earned) on two hits and three walks in 1 1/3 innings. Ivran Romero got the final five outs without allowing another base runner. Down 2-1 going to the sixth inning, Brandon Winokur drove in Maddux Houghton to tie the game at 2-2. The Lugnuts scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth, but the Kernels responded with two in the top of the seventh. Caden Kendle singled, and Jaime Ferrer followed with a two-run homer. Down two, Eduardo Tait (also acquired from the Phillies in the Duran trade) doubled and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Danny De Andrade, but the Kernels were unable to complete the comeback. Ferrer was 2-for-4 with his fourth home run. Kendle went 2-for-4. Kyle Hess and Tait each hit a double. MUSSEL MATTERS Fort Myers 1, Dunedin 7 (11 innings) Box Score The final score may not show it, but this was a fantastic pitchers duel. A six-run top of the 11th inning gave the Jays an “easy” win after all. The Mussels went with a bullpen game. Sam Rochard, fresh up from the FCL, made the start. He gave up one run on four hits and two walks over three innings. He had three strikeouts. Will Armbruester came on and gave up just one hit over the next 2-1/3 innings. Anthony Narvaez gave up one hit in 1 -1/3 innings. Lefty Zander Sechrist got all seven batters out that he faced. Julio Bonilla pitched a scoreless 10th. Tyler Stasiowski started the 11th inning. He was charged with four runs (three earned) on one hit and two walks. Jakob Hall came in with the bases loaded and allowed all three runners to score. Plus, he gave up two runs on two hits and a walk in the inning. The lone Mussels run came in the seventh inning when Luis Hernandez singled to drive in Bryan Acuna. Hernandez, a non-drafted catcher last month, went 1-for-2 with two walks. Acuna went 2-for-4. Dameury Pena was 2-for-5. Acuna went 2-for-4. Khadim Diaw continued his rehab and added a double. PLAYERS OF THE DAY Hitter of the Day Hendry Mendez (Wichita): 3-for-5, HR(1), 2 R, 4 RBI Pitcher of the Day Mick Abel (St. Paul): 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K, 66 pitches, 43 strikes (65.2%) PROSPECT SUMMARY Check out the Prospect Tracker for much more on our Twins Top 20 prospects after seeing how they did today. #1– Walker Jenkins (Wichita) - 2-for-4, BB, HR(5), 3 R, 2 RBI, K (played CF) #2 - Luke Keaschall (Minnesota) - rehab SP: 1-for-4, 2B(1), R (DHd) #3 - Kaelen Culpepper (Wichita) - 3-for-6, 3B, 2 R, RBI (played 3B) #4 - Emmanuel Rodriguez (St. Paul) - IL #5 - Connor Prielipp (Wichita) - DNP #6 - Dasan Hill (Fort Myers) - DNP #7 - Charlee Soto (Cedar Rapids) - Injured List #8 - Gabriel Gonzalez (St. Paul) - 1-for-4, 2 K (played RF) #9 - Marco Raya (St. Paul) - DNP #10 - Marek Houston (Fort Myers) - 1-for-5, 2 K (DHd) #11 - Brandon Winokur (Cedar Rapids) - 1-for-4, RBI, K (Played 3B) #12 - Andrew Morris (St. Paul) - Injured List #13 - Riley Quick (FCL Twins) - DNP #14 - Kyle DeBarge (Cedar Rapids) - 0-for-3, BB, K, (played SS) #15 - C.J. Culpepper (Wichita) - DNP #16 - Billy Amick (Cedar Rapids) - DNP #17 - Khadim Diaw (Cedar Rapids) - rehab FM: 1-for-3, 2B(1), 2 K (played CF) #18 - Quentin Young (FCL Twins) - DNP #19 - Eduardo Beltre (Fort Myers) - 0-for-4, BB, 2 K (played LF and CF) #20 - Ricardo Olivar (Wichita) - 1-for-5, 2 R, 2 RBI (DHd) MONDAY PITCHING PROBABLES DSL Twins @ DSL Miami (10:00 AM CT) - TBD CURRENT W-L Records Minnesota Twins: 52-59 St. Paul Saints: 47-59 Wichita Wind Surge: 54-48 Cedar Rapids Kernels: 59-42 Fort Myers Mighty Mussels: 45-55 FCL Twins: 39-20 (finished 2nd in FCL playoffs) DSL Twins: 17-27 Please feel free to ask questions about the teams, the rosters, and discuss today’s games, or anything else Twins minor-league related! View full article