The Twins have started their offseason housekeeping, and the first moves came with some real roster consequences.
Josh Bell and Joe Ryan had their mutual options declined, according to The Athletic’s Dan Hayes. Bell’s was worth $10 million, while Ryan’s checked in at $13 million.
Bell is now a free agent, while Ryan remains under Minnesota’s control through arbitration. MLB Trade Rumors projects Ryan to earn $9.6 million in 2027.
Bell had made it clear he wanted another shot in Minnesota, but the fit looks tight now. He’s a designated hitter at this stage of his career, and the Twins’ position-player picture has changed after Walker Jenkins, Emmanuel Rodriguez and Kaelen Culpepper all reached the majors this year. Bell played 154 games for Minnesota in 2026 and hit .255/.319/.419 with a 106 wRC+.
Ryan’s situation is different. He’s not hitting free agency until after the 2027 season, but the Twins still had to make a call on the option.
He opened 2026 strongly, then faded after the second half and missed a month because of a glute injury. In 27 starts, Ryan finished with a 3.79 ERA, a 25.9% strikeout rate and a 5.0% walk rate.
There’s also a big decision looming on Ryan Jeffers. The qualifying offer deadline is today, and Jeffers is the only Twin eligible to receive one. The offer is valued at $23.15 million this offseason, according to the New York Post.
That puts Minnesota in a tough spot. A one-year commitment at that price is steep, but the club could decide it’s worth it to keep a reliable catcher in place for another season before Vahn Lackey is hopefully ready for his MLB debut.
If the Twins make the offer and Jeffers declines, they would receive draft compensation unless he later re-signs with the team. If he gets the qualifying offer, Jeffers has until the afternoon of Nov. 17 to decide.
Minnesota also cleared out three more names from the 40-man roster, outrighting Anthony Banda, Aaron Sabato and Tristan Gray, according to Hayes. All three are now set to become free agents.
Banda, a two-time World Series champion, came over from the Los Angeles Dodgers last offseason and had his year cut short by season-ending lat surgery in July. In his lone season with the Twins, the left-hander posted a 4.46 ERA with 33 strikeouts over 34 1/3 innings.
Sabato, a first-round pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, finally got to the big leagues in September.
Gray also joined the organization last offseason. In 66 games with Minnesota, he put up a .591 OPS with four home runs and 29 RBI.
In Other News...
Twins Prospect Is Making One Big Question Harder To Ignore
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The Arizona Fall League assignment was designed to help DeBarge clean up the offensive side while giving the Twins another look at how his game plays at different spots on the diamond. He has responded with noticeable improvement at the plate and has also continued to move around defensively, which only adds to the intrigue around a prospect whose path to Minnesota now seems less about whether he can defend and more about how quickly the bat can catch up. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Just Lost Pitching Depth As Another Roster Move Looms
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For Minnesota, the move adds another layer to a roster picture that has been changing quickly. Andersons departure surfaced before the Twins had publicly announced any corresponding roster move, leaving the next step in the shuffle still to be sorted out as the club continues to manage its pitching inventory. [Read more 🡒]
Ryan Jeffers Just Put A Big Twins Offseason Decision In Play
The Twins have put Ryan Jeffers squarely in the center of one of their biggest offseason questions by extending him a qualifying offer, a move that keeps the catcher tied to Minnesota for now while also giving the club a fallback if he ultimately leaves. Jeffers has said he is open to returning, but he also plans to test free agency and see where the market takes him, which is exactly the kind of uncertainty teams try to get ahead of at this stage.
For Minnesota, the decision is about more than just whether Jeffers is back behind the plate next season. His choice will shape the Twins catching picture and determine whether the organization simply retains a familiar piece or gains a future draft asset in return. The clock is now ticking on Jeffers next move, and the Twins will be waiting to see whether his offseason begins with a return or a broader search for his value. [Read more 🡒]