The Minnesota Twins don’t need a reminder that they operate in a smaller market. That part of the conversation has been around for years. But the bigger point is that small-market status is no longer a built-in excuse, especially with a World Series matchup on the horizon between the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays.
The Brewers and Rays have shown a path the Twins should be paying attention to. Both clubs are built around offenses that keep opponents guessing, mixing enough contact, enough small ball and just enough power to punish mistakes.
They don’t rely on one offensive trick. They keep pressure on every inning.
That’s the kind of balance the Twins could use more of. The power element is already starting to show up in the conversation around their roster.
Walker Jenkins may strike out plenty as a power bat, but the point is that the Twins need that kind of slug in the lineup. If you’re looking for the biggest power threat for Tampa Bay, it’s Junior Caminero.
For Minnesota, it’s probably Byron Buxton, with hopes that Jenkins gets there soon.
The other thing the Brewers and Rays have in common is a willingness to put the ball in play. They make contact, they stay competitive in the at-bat, and they win even when the strikeouts pile up.
Milwaukee showed that in the NLCS. That approach is a model the Twins would be smart to chase.
Pitching depth is part of the story, too. Both managers, Pat Murphy and Kevin Cash, trust their bullpens to deliver, and those relief groups have been almost impossible to crack during the playoffs. Minnesota has already made several changes in its pitching department after the season, and those moves could pay off in 2027 with tweaks to players’ stuff and approach.
There’s also the analytics side of it, and this is where the Brewers and Rays make a strong case. A lot of fans bristle at how analytics have been folded into modern baseball, but this matchup points in the opposite direction. Both teams are among the leaders in the sport when it comes to analytics use, and Zack Scott, a former front office employee, has said they’re at the forefront of integrating it into baseball.
Three teams left, and all three have bigger-than-average analytics staffs.Brewers: 46 (2nd in MLB)Rays: 39Guardians: 30League average: 28.5The Phillies have the biggest staff in baseball, and they're already home. Like payroll, it's one input. Everything else combined… pic.twitter.com/EbV5BXkpnr
That graphic shows the Twins with a below-league-average analytics department, but the size of the staff isn’t really the issue. What matters is how that information gets used once it reaches the dugout, the players and the coaches. Interpretation and buy-in are the real test.
If Minnesota wants to take a step forward in 2027, using analytics better ought to be part of the plan. It won’t solve everything by itself, and the Twins still need more talent on the roster. But the Brewers and Rays are proof that the right mix of roster construction, bullpen trust and smart data use can create an edge.
In Other News...
Twins Face A Tough Khadim Diaw Decision As His Bat Keeps Rising
Khadim Diaw has given the Twins something to think about as his bat continues to trend up in Double-A, and the conversation around him is no longer just about where he fits on the diamond. Minnesota has a deeper-than-usual group of catching prospects, with Ryan Jeffers, Vahn Lackey and Eduardo Tait also in the mix, but Diaws offensive versatility and steady work behind the plate have made him one of the more intriguing names in the system.
The question now is whether the Twins keep developing him as a catcher or push him toward a different position and let the bat take center stage. There is real roster pressure behind that decision, too, with Jeffers approaching free agency and the organization having to balance short-term major league needs against the longer view of how best to maximize Diaws value. [Read more 🡒]
Former Twins Catcher Suddenly Caught Up In MLB's Manager Shakeup
The Angels are back in the market for a manager after declining Kurt Suzukis 2027 contract option, a move that sends the former Twins catcher into the center of another front-office reset. Suzukis first season on the bench ended with a 62-100 record, and the franchise will now begin searching for a new manager and coaching staff for 2027.
For Twins fans, the news lands with a familiar twist because Suzukis playing career in Minnesota included his lone All-Star nod in 2014 at Target Field. While the Angels sort through their next steps, the Twins have more stability for the moment, with executive chair Tom Pohlad confirming that Derek Shelton will remain manager for at least one more season. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Pitching Staff Could Be Headed For A Dramatic New Direction
The Twins have turned their pitching operation over to Brian Reith, bringing in a coach with a reputation for helping shape arms inside the Rays system. Reith arrives from Durham, where he spent the past five seasons guiding the Bulls as their pitching coach, and he steps into a role that has mattered plenty in Minnesota as the club looks for a fresh voice after Pete Makis exit.
What makes the hire especially intriguing is the Rays connection, given the overlap with pitchers already in the Twins orbit. Reiths influence on Joe Ryan and Taj Bradley will be worth watching as Minnesota tries to see whether his approach translates quickly at the major league level, but for now the real answer is still ahead of them. [Read more 🡒]