Twins’ Bullpen Looks Sharper, But Playoff Hopes Still Hinge on Offense and Defense
The Minnesota Twins have taken a step forward this offseason-but it’s more of a shuffle than a sprint. Yes, the bullpen is better.
Yes, the front office made moves to stabilize the late innings. But if the Twins are going to punch a ticket to the 2026 postseason, they’ll need more than a few veteran arms.
They’ll need a lineup that can find consistency and a defense that can hold its own. Right now, those pieces still feel like question marks.
Bullpen: From Liability to Respectable
Let’s start with the good news. The Twins' bullpen, which was a recurring nightmare in 2025, has been rebuilt into a unit that should at least keep them in games.
The additions of Taylor Rogers, Liam Hendriks, and Anthony Banda give this group a much-needed veteran presence. These aren’t just arms with experience-they’re guys who’ve closed games, pitched in high-leverage spots, and know what it takes to get outs under pressure.
Pair them with returning pieces like Justin Topa and Cole Sands, and suddenly the bullpen looks like a group that can hold a lead instead of surrendering it. That’s a significant upgrade from a unit that relied far too heavily on rookies and journeymen with ERAs north of 7.00. The floor has been raised from “disaster” to “respectable.”
But let’s not confuse stability with dominance. This bullpen still lacks a true lockdown closer, and with several of these arms on the wrong side of 30, durability is a real concern. If the Twins are counting on this group to carry them through the summer, they’ll need to manage innings carefully and hope the injury bug stays away.
Offense: Talent, But Too Many “Ifs”
While the bullpen has been patched up, the offense remains a work in progress. The talent is there-Royce Lewis and Byron Buxton have All-Star ceilings-but both have struggled to stay on the field. That’s a tough foundation to build on when your top two bats are constantly battling injuries.
Minnesota brought in Josh Bell and Victor Caratini to help steady the lineup, but these are more “glue guys” than game-breakers. They’ll help, no doubt, but they’re not going to carry an offense by themselves.
The rest of the lineup is filled with players who have flashed potential but haven’t quite put it all together. Brooks Lee, Matt Wallner, Trevor Larnach, Austin Martin, Luke Keaschall, and Ryan Jeffers all have the tools to make an impact.
But potential needs to turn into production. If even two or three of these guys can take a step forward, the offense could have enough depth to hang in a tight AL Central race.
If not, we could be looking at another year of streaky, below-average run production.
Defense: A Middle-of-the-Pack Unit With Little Margin for Error
Then there’s the defense, which, to put it bluntly, isn’t going to win the Twins many games. Statistically, it’s a middle-of-the-road unit, and that might be generous. Several key players-Keaschall, Bell, Wallner, Larnach, and Lee-have posted negative Outs Above Average (OAA), which doesn’t bode well for a team trying to grind out close games.
In a division where the Guardians and Tigers pride themselves on pitching and defense, the Twins are leaning heavily on their arms to overcome defensive lapses. That puts added pressure on a starting rotation led by Pablo López and Joe Ryan, and even more on a bullpen that, while improved, isn’t built to clean up sloppy play behind it.
The Path Forward: Tightrope Walk to October
So where does that leave the Twins? Right on the fringe.
In a division where 85 wins might be enough to sneak into the playoffs, Minnesota has a shot-but it’s a narrow one. They’ll need a lot to go right: bounce-back years, breakout performances, and most importantly, health.
The bullpen may no longer be a glaring weakness, but it’s not strong enough to carry a team with a fragile offense and average defense. If the Twins are going to make noise in 2026, they’ll need more than competence-they’ll need stars to shine, role players to rise, and a little bit of luck along the way.
Otherwise, this season could feel a lot like the last: close, but not quite enough.