laloesch

idk. This season I interpreted as him being handed the keys (but you have to pay your own insurance, license and registration fees), them watching him over the shoulder from a distance, just to make sure nothing catastrophic happens. 2025 would be him going out on his own, speeding, and the wrapping that beautiful expensive Ferrari around a tree.

And if that is indeed true (i think it is), if they fail to sell the team this offseason, he may wreak that Ferrari next season.

I agree, but if the reports are true about the internal family strife + the cable tv disaster they are scrambling to unload this team as soon as possible and a partial tear down of high salaries from the payroll could very likely be in the works to make the numbers work for a potential buyer faced with forking over 1.5 billion to 2 billion. The team has been punished financially, attendance and viewership were also impacted by the August collapse, lack of moves by the FO, and the fiasco with Diamond sports. The Twins are in a bit of a pickle. We will never know their finances, but it would not surprise me if they took a big hit again this season, especially in August with the lackluster attendance after they collapsed, along with getting the boot from Diamond sports. A potential buyer may look at that and say, yeah it's nice they have a newer stadium, but the lack of a solid TV contract, and having to rely on MLB to prop them up with streaming is not good for revenues, BUT if they purge some of the high salaries and at least get it down to more profit year over year again, it's more appealing to a potential buyer that will run it more like a business than a hobby, which will likely enlarge the pool of buyers. Hobby team owners will be the smaller pool and the Pohlads probably know this first hand. If a sale doesn't come easily, they may cut further anyways. The Pohlads have never been known to splurge with the team (Correa being the big exception) so fans need to prepare themselves for a year or two of salary dumps, etc. It definitely sucks, I just remember how they behaved in 1997-2001. I could see them doing a full or close to full "strip" of big contracts this offseason (assuming they could pull it off), but that would require agreement from Buxton and Correa to waive those no trade clauses. Vazquez is a net loss anyways and dumping him will require them to include a lot of money to get a deal done, but it would still lower payroll even if it's distasteful. I agree that Buxton, Correa, and Lopez are the most attractive assets..... to a point. The problem with them is the near constant injury issues.

Oh there's obvious direction for the club roster, his contract signed in 2023 is 200 million and six years followed by a certain CF who also signed a contract in 2021 for seven years for 100 million. Neither player has played up to full expectations, stayed healthy, and frankly started in as many games as they should. That is the simple reality and it's punishing the franchise. That said, I fully expect the Twins to further cut payroll this winter and unload as many salaries as they can before they sell the team. Dramatically dropping the payroll, and only keeping the arbitration or pre-arbitration eligible players opens the door to more buyers, who won't have to deal with 100 / 200 million dollar contracts upon immediately buying a team and spending 1.5-2 billion dollars on a franchise that just lost it's television contract and is now being offered a temporary crutch by Major League baseball in the meantime. The Pohlads have to dramatically slash payroll to get this done, it's coming. I would not be surprised at all if both Buxton and Correa are approached this offseason about waiving their no trade clauses. One thing is for certain Lopez will be dealt, along with Margot, Vazquez, Paddack, Farmer, and possibly others with the Twins eating sizeable chunks of their contracts to just get rid of them. This will be done to leverage the team's finances in a sale. The Pohlads aren't stupid, they know this. As we all know through the years despite their happy talk statements about the team it's just a business to them and JOe Pohlad never was in charge, he was just given a responsibility in one of the family businesses. They've been thinking about selling for over a year now and the failed tv contracts with Diamond sports was the final blow and why they are getting out. I expect them to cut payroll sub 100 by next spring if a sale hasn't gone through. They already cut 30 million which is A LOT.

ARoD or Jeter don't have enough money to buy the team. We are talking about a very small group of individuals that can do this.

This is what I fear as well.

if the front office approaches Correa about lifting his no trade clause to certain teams so that he can go to a perennial contender (assuming there are any interested takers) I think he would listen. The writing is on the wall. I honestly think the team will cut payroll down sub 100 million as soon as they can with these tv contract issues knowing the Pohlads. They likely lost another 20 million in TV revenues with what has transpired since season end. Not good. Kepler is as good as gone. Pablo will likely be traded because of his salary bump. It's gonna get ugly. They never should have signed Correa in the first place or Buxton for that matter. Both players are constantly getting hurt and can't stay healthy. After the Giants walked away from Correa in the first negotiations the Twins should have run for the hills learning about his injury history. I think it was a case of "hey we have a second chance to get him, yipeee" and they truly didn't think through the long term implications of such a gargantuan contract if he couldn't stay healthy. Buxton is practically unmovable with his contract and injury history. Moving either player would require the Twins to pay sizeable chunks of what remains of their contracts.

Hahaha I love the humor of this statement. They aren't kids, they are adults playing baseball. I think the pressure is on the Twins franchise (players, management, and ownership) to turn this around and erase the 2024 collapse come the 2025 season. It will not be an easy task considering ownership is very possibly slashing payroll again not know if this new streaming deal will potentially be a hit or a titanic flop (no-one knows at this point). I tend to think it's gonna be a flop of some sorts judging by what they've failed to do in the past, but I hope I'm wrong. Cleveland, Detroit, and KC have no pressure on them. In the case of KC and Detroit they both exceeded expectations and then some, while displaying they have the fire and dedication to go as far as possible. The Twins just.....gave up in late August into September, not good.

It would not surprise me one bit if the Twins slash payroll again this offseason ANY WAY they can, probably in the range of 20-25 million.

This. I think the Twins are in a bit of a conundrum. One the one hand they seem to have quite a few pieces in places for a strong rotation and the lineup, but the health issues are just plaguing them. The reduction in payroll is not helping at all either. If Buxton, Correa, and Lewis can't string together healthy seasons in unison, at some point the Twins have to move on, but the contracts unfortunately are albatrosses for both Buxton and Correa in that scenario.

Ain't that the truth. They did go Crazy Ivan and I'm sure Correa is not happy about it. He was probably sold a bill of goods on what the Twin's plans were going forward.

And honestly, A LOT of people can't afford $300 plus cable bills PLUS streaming packages for Hockey, Baseball, etc. They've priced themselves out of reach and it's starting to hurt revenues for these conglomerates. It's all swirling the drain, getting ready to be flushed.

I'm rooting for both Detroit and KC. Good for them! Really, good for them. Both those franchises came out of no-where so to speak and won wild card slots and knocked off favorites in the wild card round (Orioles and Astros). I also think the Royals have the pitching to beat the Yankees and Detroit can certainly beat the Guardians. They (Royals and Tigers) might end up facing each other in the ALCS.

I think Joe was quite defensive in his exchange with Aaron and he didn't really answer any of Gleeman's question just created word salad with no substance. Not promising.

Yeah. I don't get it either. How much of it is REALLY legit? You have to ask yourself that. I looked at the Royals lineup and EVERY one of their starters went at least 100 games (except their DH). 5 players went 130+. C - Salvador Prez 158 games 1B - Vinnie Pasquantino (10-day IL) 131 games 2B - Michael Massey 100 games SS - Bobby Witt Jr. 161 games (wow) 3B - Maikel Garcia 157 games (wow again) LF - MJ Melendez 135 games CF - Kyle Isbel 136 games RF - Hunter Renfroe 120 games DH - Nelson Velazquez (40 man) 64 games

Personally, I've been watching the Twins since the 80's when I was a young kid and this one stings unlike most of the previous ones. They just.....gave up in late August into September. Say what you want about losing multiple times for years to the Yankees, or the penny pinching by ownership, and the lack of moves by Falvey, the players just rolled over, no ifs ands or buts. It was truly disappointing to see. I will say this, they have the talent, and many of the rookies did a fine job filling in as injury replacements in the starting lineup, but in August it's like they all decided "meh were done we don't really care to make the playoffs," and turned in. Tom Kelly, Ron Gardenhire, and even past players like Torii Hunter, would never ever ever ever have put up with that nonsense. And I'll address the titanic elephant in the room. Baldelli needs to go. I was reluctant to voice my opinion on the matter but his handling of the starting pitching, bullpen, and subs is just cringe worthy. IDK what this guy is thinking but he shouldn't be manager. This team needs a Don Mattingly style manager, a leader that lights a fire under these guys when needed and can get them rolling in the right direction when things get tough. Baldelli is just not that kind of manager and that's a big problem long term. Again this team had enough to at least make the playoffs. Extremely disappointing. As a previous poster said, this division has now gotten extremely competitive. The Royals and Tigers are now playoff caliper teams along with the Guardians so it's going to be tough for a few years. Don't be surprised that if the Pohlads continue to pinch pennies that this team fades into mediocrity in the coming years. A collapse like this does one of two things, it galvanizes the players and the team to do better the following season, or they just accept it "meh we lost" fade and they become perennial losers with this core no matter what the talent which would be a shame. And the injuries hurt, there's no doubt about it, but the starting order has GOT to play more games next year. If you look at the Royals every one of their starters (except the DH) played at least 100 games and many were in the 130's. I also think owner totally dropped the ball on the Bally sports contract. They knew this was a problem heading into 2024 and it looks like they stood fast and let it play out instead of searching for alternatives. I still don't see a long term solution, but I'm not in the TC area so I'm not privy to what's happening on that front. If they don't address this expect more cuts to payroll which is bad, bad, bad.

Right now, I'm not even sure the Twins could beat the White Sox.

IMO this collapse we've witnessed the last 12-16 games is not because of youth or lack of payroll it's just them choking and badly. Rocco has lost them as well. He needs to be replaced.

It's a horrible contract, considering he's hurt almost as much as Byron Buxton is year in year out. This is an albatross contract and the Twins are stuck with it for at least the next 4 seasons. Easily the worst deal they've ever penciled on paper going back as long as I can remember. The Joe Mays deal was bad too, but not remotely on the same planet as far as dollars and sense go.

prepare to be disappointed even further if they can't iron out a new long term tv / media streaming contract as in slashing payroll down further by another 15-20 million.

I thought he was implying a spoonful of medicine would get this squad "flyin like a G6."

yeah if they lose 6 out of the next 9 which I fully expect to happen. Rocco might be in a pickle.

Definitely over. This team blew it down the stretch and gave up. All one has to do is look at the players in the dugout. No fire, no fight, just guys sitting on the bench, kicking the dirt, picking their noses, etc. Still 9 games left, but they've already accepted they are not gonna make it. It's truly pathetic.

Injuries have played a factor no doubt. But At SOME point the Twins just have to move on from these players that are consistently out 1/3 of the season EVERY season it seems (we all know who they are, and there are a few that are habitual at it). You can't field a competitive team when you have core players consistently missing time like this every year.