The Minnesota Twins are heading into the offseason with a familiar set of problems and, maybe, a little more urgency attached to them.
They made a push to get into the American League wild-card race, even if the approach was modest. Minnesota added to the bullpen in relatively small trades and tried to ride that enough to climb the standings. Instead, the season ended at 77-85, seven games short of the White Sox and the final playoff spot.
Now the conversation turns to what comes next, and the biggest question is whether the organization can actually build something sturdier than another decent-but-fragile roster.
The rotation is the first place the Twins have to look. When Joe Ryan and Pablo Lopez are on the mound and right physically, the top of the staff can stack up with just about anyone.
That hasn’t been the problem. The issue has been getting both through a season intact.
Lopez was limited to 14 appearances in 2025 while dealing with hamstring and shoulder injuries, then missed the entire 2026 season after an internal brace procedure in his right elbow. Ryan also spent time on the shelf, missing nearly a month with a strained left glute while also dealing with arm fatigue and minor back and elbow issues.
There is still upside behind them. Taj Bradley broke out this past season and looks like he could finally be ready to match the hype that came with his prospect status.
Bailey Ober gives the Twins a dependable middle-of-the-rotation arm. But if Minnesota is going to get back into the mix, Ryan and Lopez have to be healthy and effective again.
The payroll question hangs over everything else. For years, the Twins have been able to stay competitive by developing players, but not by simply outspending problems.
That may be changing. Bobby Nightengale of the Minnesota Star Tribune reported that team owner Tom Pohlad has vowed to increase payroll for 2027.
If that promise turns into action, the Twins have a clear list of places to use it. The bullpen needs a full reset.
First base and right field were dead spots in the lineup. And catcher Ryan Jeffers is now a free agent, which only adds to the list of needs.
If Pohlad is serious about spending, there should be no shortage of places to show it.
And then there’s the catcher spot itself, which could become one of the most important decisions of the offseason. Jeffers was one of Minnesota’s better hitters in 2026, hitting .256/.353/.461 with 14 homers and 19 doubles in 369 plate appearances. He also missed nearly two months with a fractured left hamate bone, another reminder of how much the Twins have had to patch together around injuries.
If Jeffers departs in free agency, the market is not exactly overflowing with easy answers. Cubs catcher Carson Kelly has a mutual option for 2027 and is expected to draw plenty of interest if he reaches free agency. After that, the names at the top of the list include Tyler Stephenson, Austin Hedges and James McCann.
The Twins have talent. They also have health concerns, financial questions and some major roster holes to fill. That’s the offseason in a nutshell.
In Other News...
Joe Ryans Twins Future Just Became A Real Offseason Debate
Joe Ryan has gone from a stabilizing presence in the Twins rotation to one of the more interesting offseason names on the roster, and the reason is simple enough: Minnesota has pitching depth, and Ryan is getting closer to a point where his contract situation starts to matter more. He has been a quality starter over his career, but the Twins also have enough arms in the system and on the staff that they can at least entertain difficult conversations rather than treating every rotation piece as untouchable.
The bigger question now is whether the Twins decide to listen if the right offer comes along, especially with clubs around the league still searching for starting pitching. San Francisco has emerged as a logical match because of its need and its farm system assets, but for Minnesota the debate goes beyond one possible trade partner. It is about whether Ryans value is at its peak now, or whether keeping him for another season is worth the risk if the second half trends that have followed him begin to carry more weight. [Read more 🡒]
Yasser Mercedes Is Forcing A Twins Decision That Could Cost Depth
Yasser Mercedes is making his case in the Arizona Fall League at just the right time for the Twins, who have one more major roster decision to weigh before the Rule 5 draft window arrives on Dec. 9, pending whatever happens with the MLB collective bargaining agreement. Mercedes has shown improvement recently, and that has only sharpened the attention on a player whose performance this fall could affect how Minnesota plans for the winter.
The bigger question is how aggressively the Twins want to protect that depth. Mercedes is squarely in the conversation because the club has to balance keeping him out of other teams hands with preserving his development path in the minors, and the AFL is giving him a final chance to strengthen that argument. His standing will keep depending on both how he plays and whether the Rule 5 draft even goes forward under the current labor setup. [Read more 🡒]
Twins First Base Search Just Sparked A Risky Big-Name Debate
With Josh Bell potentially on the way out, the Twins offseason search at first base and designated hitter is already drawing some outside noise, and former club reliever Tyler Duffey added a notable name to the mix. He floated Seattle first baseman Josh Naylor as a possible fit, a suggestion that at least makes sense on paper for a club looking to shore up the middle of the lineup and keep its options open at a spot that could need immediate help.
The problem is that the idea comes with plenty of baggage. Naylor is already tied to Seattle long term, and his stock has taken a hit after a rough season and wrist surgery following the year, which makes the kind of trade Minnesota would have to assemble feel like a steep ask. Even if the Twins liked the fit, the Mariners would have little incentive to move him, so this is the sort of name that fuels debate more than it points to a realistic deal. [Read more 🡒]