The Twins have a chance this offseason to shop the way smarter teams do: not by chasing the loudest names, but by finding the right fits at the right price. With free agency expected to get busy before the December 1st lockout, Minnesota’s next moves matter, especially with its financial picture heading into 2027 still unclear.
One name that stands out immediately is A.J. Minter.
The Twins should bring him back. Quality relief pitching is hard to find, and Minter delivered for Minnesota after coming over from the Mets in July.
In 22.2 innings with the Twins, he posted a 2.78 ERA and a 1.103 WHIP. Across the full season, his line was even stronger: 45.2 innings and a 2.56 ERA.
He also brings something that can matter in free agency negotiations - familiarity, even with the pitching staff’s turnover.
Nathaniel Lowe is another possible fit. The Guardians gave up assets to get him at the trade deadline, and now he’s set to hit free agency.
He wouldn’t be coming in as the locked-in answer at first base, but that may not be the point. FanGraphs currently projects Royce Lewis to be the Twins’ starting first baseman going into 2027.
Lewis is someone Minnesota should move on from this offseason, flat out. Lowe would bring a veteran presence, some pop and postseason experience, giving the young core a steadier big-league bat around it.
Then there’s the catching situation, which is about to get thin in a hurry. Ryan Jeffers and Victor Caratini are both headed for free agency, and it sounds more likely the Twins would try to keep Caratini than Jeffers, especially with Jeffers likely to draw plenty of interest.
That opens the door for Carson Kelly, a veteran backup who brings experience and postseason time. Kelly can start, but he fits better as a backup or in a split role, which lines up well with what Caratini could provide.
In Other News...
Twins Prospects Are Already Raising A Bigger Arizona Fall League Question
The Twins sent eight players to the Arizona Fall League, and the assignment list says plenty about where the organization sees this group in its development. Most of the names are coming from Class-A or High-A, with infielder Kyle DeBarge the lone Double-A presence, a mix that gives Minnesota a chance to push some younger talent into a tougher setting before winter really sets in. DeBarge and outfielder Yasser Mercedes were in the Salt River lineup for the AFL opener and helped the Rafters roll to a 9-3 win, giving the Twins an early look at two players who have been on different tracks in the system.
What makes the setup interesting is the bigger question it raises about what the AFL is meant to solve for Minnesota this fall. This is usually a stage for prospects to face better pitching, sharpen routines and show whether they can handle a faster pace, but the Twins are leaning heavily on players who are still early in the climb. For a front office that has plenty of prospect context to work with already, the real value may come less from the scoreboard than from how these players respond to being challenged a little sooner than expected. [Read more 🡒]
Twins May Finally Make The Early Offseason Push Fans Wanted
The Twins are signaling that this winter could look a lot different from the usual slow burn around the holidays. Owner Tom Pohlad and GM Jeremy Zoll have both said Minnesota intends to be aggressive in the coming offseason, with a preference for getting business done early instead of waiting until late January or February when the market can narrow and opportunities can dry up.
For a club trying to build on the momentum it found at the trade deadline, the timing matters almost as much as the targets. The bullpen remains a clear area to address, and the front office is weighing both free agency and trades as it looks to improve the roster before a possible lockout on Dec. 1 complicates the calendar and, potentially, the clubs plans. [Read more 🡒]
Twins 2027 Outlook Already Puts One Long Term Pressure Point In Focus
Looking ahead to 2027, the Twins already have a few pressure points taking shape in the way their projected roster is expected to fit together. A baseline look at the clubs arbitration-eligible players and payroll picture suggests the front office will be juggling the usual tradeoffs, but the most pressing questions appear to be in the same familiar places: how much starting pitching depth will be available, who will handle first base, and how the bullpen will be pieced together.
Those issues are still a long way from being solved, which is part of why the discussion is more about planning than prediction at this stage. There are possible player moves and areas where the Twins could choose to invest, but for now the bigger takeaway is that the organization already has enough uncertainty on the horizon to make 2027 a meaningful checkpoint for the roster it is trying to build. [Read more 🡒]