The Twins tore down their bullpen in July, buying and selling 5 relievers as a part of a deadline fireplace sale that shipped a whopping 11 gamers out of the Twin Cities. They’re planning to carry onto stars Byron Buxton, Pablo Lopez and Joe Ryan, nevertheless, and shall be seeking to make some additions by way of free company and commerce over the rest of the offseason. Particularly, president of baseball operations Derek Falvey and common supervisor Jeremy Zoll known as out restocking that barren bullpen and including at the least one energy bat to the lineup as areas of focus (hyperlinks by way of Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune and Dan Hayes of The Athletic).
Minnesota carried among the best bullpens in your entire sport into the commerce deadline. Twins relievers posted a middling 4.29 ERA by means of July 29, however that quantity was skewed by some place gamers working mop-up obligation and a few brutal outcomes from relievers who’d already been designated for project (e.g. Jorge Alcala). Minnesota’s prime relievers had all been good to wonderful. Jhoan Duran (2.01 ERA), Louis Varland (2.02), Griffin Jax (3.91 ERA however a 37 Ok%), Brock Stewart (2.38 ERA) and Danny Coulombe (0.90 ERA) fashioned a terrific nucleus. All had been traded.
The returns from that bunch brough again a mix of well-regarded prospects (e.g. Eduardo Tait, Kendry Rojas) and controllable large leaguers (e.g. Mick Abel, Taj Bradley, Alan Roden). Additionally they trimmed just a few million {dollars} off the 2025 funds and almost $13MM in projected arbitration salaries off the 2026 ledger.
In fact, the results of that dismantling was an MLB-worst bullpen down the stretch and a now-barren group that requires vital retooling. Cole Sands, Justin Topa and commerce pickup Eric Orze are the one issues near established, MLB-caliber arms within the bullpen at current. Left-hander Kody Funderburk was terrific down the stretch (0.75 ERA in 24 post-deadline innings) however has a shakier general observe report within the majors.
The Twins aren’t going to spend at top-of-market ranges. Preliminary studies surrounding their change in tenor have indicated that there’s room for modest payroll development, however Hayes suggests 2026’s Opening Day payroll will most likely nonetheless be at its lowest level in years (excluding the shortened 2020 season, in fact).
At present, Minnesota initiatives for a $95MM payroll, per RosterResource. That quantity would fall nearer to $90MM if the workforce trades outfielder Trevor Larnach, who’s projected by MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz to make $4.7MM however is considerably redundant on a roster additionally together with Matt Wallner and the aforementioned Roden. The Twins’ prime two prospects, Walker Jenkins and Emmanuel Rodriguez, are additionally left-handed-hitting outfielders. Each might make their MLB debut in 2026.
Minnesota figures so as to add a number of arms to the bullpen. It’s additionally potential, if not going, that a number of the rotation candidates at the moment in a deep however unproven combine will wind up pitching significant aid innings. Ryan and Lopez are locked into the highest two rotation spots. Proper-hander Bailey Ober will look to bounce again from an injury-marred season. He’d been a high quality third/fourth starter previous to 2025.
Abel, Bradley, Simeon Woods Richardson, David Festa and Zebby Matthews will all vie for rotation jobs as nicely. All had been top-100 prospects previous to their MLB debuts, however most of that bunch has struggled to various ranges. Woods Richardson, who’s out of minor league choices and posted a flat 3.00 ERA in his remaining 14 begins final 12 months (albeit averaging simply 5 frames per begin) most likely has the most important leg up in the mean time, however spring coaching shall be pivotal in figuring out the composition of the beginning employees.
Even when two of these potential starters find yourself within the ’pen, there’s nonetheless room so as to add a number of arms. The Twins determine to visitors primarily in low-cost one-year offers, although that’s nothing new for this entrance workplace regime. Falvey has been working baseball operations in Minnesota for a decade now, and he’s solely given one multi-year contract to a free agent reliever (Addison Reed, on a two-year deal). Pierce Johnson, Paul Sewald, Tommy Kahnle and Jacob Webb are among the many notable one-year deal candidates in free company. The commerce market will clearly supply a a lot wider and harder-to-predict slate of prospects.
With regard to the lineup, Zoll indicated that Minnesota would really like “one other bat or two with some thump, with some impression.” The Twins didn’t tip their hand as to potential areas of focus, however first base stands out as an apparent on-paper match. The majority of the opposite positions on the diamond are spoken for. Buxton shall be again in middle area. The outfield corners shall be manned by a mix of Wallner, Larnach, Roden, Austin Martin and, ultimately, beforehand talked about prospects like Jenkins and Rodriguez (and probably Gabriel Gonzalez, too). Royce Lewis, Brooks Lee and Luke Keaschall determine to line up at third base, shortstop and second base, respectively. Ryan Jeffers shall be again behind the plate.
First base is way much less sure. Minnesota might at all times attempt a type of nook outfield bats at first, however proper now the highest choice on the depth chart is journeyman Kody Clemens. Inexpensive choices in free company embrace Nathaniel Lowe, Rhys Hoskins, Paul Goldschmidt and Josh Bell. The commerce market might once more current options, with Triston Casas, Alec Burleson, Ryan Mountcastle and Mark Vientos amongst a number of the believable names to contemplate.
Nonetheless issues play out, a spending spree isn’t probably, even with the workforce sitting some $40-45MM shy of final 12 months’s Opening Day payroll. The Twins haven’t and received’t give any indication as to a remaining budgetary goal, however Hayes speculates that one thing within the $110MM vary may be affordable. Even when that’s nearer to $115MM, the Twins could be taking a look at about $20MM in whole 2026 spending (or nearer to $25MM if Larnach is moved). It doesn’t depart a number of house for additions and will push Falvey, Zoll and the remainder of the entrance workplace to pursue trades extra closely than free company, however Minnesota has a deep farm that ought to enable them to pursue the form of “artistic” situations each Falvey and Zoll stated shall be mandatory beneath this new monetary actuality.
