Barring something wild, the Twins are headed for a season-ending three-game set against the Texas Rangers at Target Field later this month, and that also means a few familiar faces are staring at the end of the line in Minnesota.
Most of the roster is already spoken for beyond this year, but there are a handful of players who are set to test free agency this offseason. Ryan Jeffers, Josh Bell and Danny Coulombe all look like names the Twins may not bring back.
Jeffers is the cleanest example of that transition. The catcher is in the final year of his rookie contract, and with Minnesota stocked with catching talent, a reunion looks shaky. Recent first-round pick Vahn Lackey is part of that pipeline, Victor Caratini can step in as the starting catcher in 2027, and Lackey should be close to his MLB debut not long after that.
Even with the uncertainty ahead, Jeffers has given the Twins a strong season overall. He missed nearly two months after breaking his left hamate bone in mid-May, and he’s had a rough stretch lately, but his line still sits at .262/.362/.483 with 14 home runs and 54 RBI over - games. He’s been in the organization since 2018, so there’s real history there, but Minnesota may decide its money is better spent elsewhere.
Bell’s situation is a little different because of the contract structure, but the end result probably won’t change. He technically has a $10 million mutual option for next season, though that path looks extremely unlikely. Spotrac says the last mutual option exercised was Aramis Ramirez with the Milwaukee Brewers in November 2014.
The Twins brought Bell in on a one-year, $8 million deal with that option attached, and his year has been streaky. He’s hit .255/.320/.427 with 20 home runs and 87 RBI over 143 games.
Minnesota has mostly used him as its designated hitter, and he’s appeared in only 20 games at first base, where the defense has been a problem. With a wave of top prospects already in the majors or on the way, the Twins are expected to let him hit the market.
Coulombe’s case is the toughest one. The left-hander has had a rough year, putting up a 4.86 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP with 47 strikeouts over 53 2/3 innings. He’s 35 and has 11 years of big-league experience, but his recent struggles may force him into a minor-league deal if he wants to keep pitching.
Minnesota could still bring Coulombe back, but right now the numbers point the other way.
In Other News...
Twins Prospect Ricky Castro Is Starting To Answer A Bigger Question
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What makes Castros stretch worth watching is less the immediate stat line than the way he is handling the adjustment. He has been limiting runs and hits in recent outings while the organization asks for the same thing every developing pitcher needs to show: consistency. For a pitcher still finding his footing in Triple-A, thats the bigger test now. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Just Got Linked To A Buy-Low Bat With An Awkward Fit
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For the Twins, the fit is more complicated than it looks at first glance. Analyst Jake Elman floated Vientos as a buy-low option for a rebuilding team, and Minnesota was mentioned as a possible landing spot, but there have been no official trade offers reported. It is the kind of speculative link that makes sense on paper for a club looking to find value, even if the roster questions around where Vientos would slot in make it an awkward one to project just yet. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Suddenly Have A Bigger Left Field Concern Than Expected
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Rodriguez started in left field in Larnachs absence and could keep getting chances if the Twins have to play it cautious. There is a little more good news elsewhere on the roster: Kaelen Culpepper is expected to be available off the bench after a right shoulder injury, and Royce Lewis is working through a sore left shoulder but is not expected to miss much time. [Read more 🡒]