Minnesota Twins Offseason Leaves Fans Cold - and They’re Not Arguing About It
When the offseason report cards came out across Major League Baseball, the Minnesota Twins found themselves sitting at the bottom of the class. A “D” grade from The Athletic’s Jim Bowden wasn’t exactly generous, but it also wasn’t met with the kind of outrage you might expect from a passionate fan base.
In fact, many Twins fans looked at the low mark and thought: *Yeah, that tracks. *
This wasn’t a case of a national writer taking cheap shots. If anything, the critique echoed what Twins fans have been saying for weeks - that this winter felt like a missed opportunity.
The moves Minnesota did make - adding first baseman Josh Bell, reliever Taylor Rogers, and catcher Victor Caratini - were modest at best. They might help with depth, sure, but they don’t exactly scream “contender.”
And then came the news that Derek Falvey, the longtime head of baseball operations, was parting ways with the club. That announcement only added to the sense that the organization is drifting into spring training without a clear plan or urgency.
A Fan Base That’s Seen This Movie Before
What’s striking about the reaction in Minnesota isn’t just the agreement with the grade - it’s the tone. There’s no outrage, no fiery defenses of the front office, no “just wait and see” bravado. Instead, there’s a kind of weary acceptance, like fans have read this script before and already know how it ends.
One fan on X (formerly Twitter) summed it up bluntly:
“I don't think @JimBowdenGM was harsh enough.”
Others chimed in with similar sentiments:
“At least the ‘D’ acknowledges the inactivity - but really, it could’ve been worse.”
“Feels like the front office hit snooze this offseason.” “If this is a ‘D,’ what would a real effort even look like?”
The message is clear: this isn’t just about one offseason. It’s about a pattern.
A pattern of cautious, low-impact winters that leave the roster mostly unchanged while division rivals get aggressive. Fans weren’t asking for reckless spending or massive trades just for the headlines.
What they wanted was a sign - any sign - that the front office was serious about improving a team that underperformed last season. Instead, the offseason felt more like a holding pattern than a step forward.
The Three Themes Behind the Frustration
Dig a little deeper into the fan response, and three themes come into focus:
1. Lack of Direction
Fans weren’t expecting a complete overhaul, but they were hoping for at least one clear, targeted upgrade. A move that says, “We see where we fell short, and we’re fixing it.”
Instead, the additions felt like patchwork, not progress.
2. Cumulative Disappointment
This isn’t just about what the Twins did - or didn’t do - this winter. It’s about the buildup over time.
Coming off a disappointing 2025 season, fans were already frustrated. Add in the continued concerns about payroll and the team’s competitiveness, and this offseason felt like another chapter in a story that’s grown stale.
3. Fatigue Over Fury
The tone online wasn’t angry - it was tired. Many fans sounded more like longtime observers connecting the dots than people venting in the heat of the moment.
The frustration has been earned over years of watching the same cautious approach, and now, it’s calcified into resignation.
Ownership’s Payroll Comments Didn’t Help
If fans were looking for reassurance from ownership, they didn’t get it. In fact, comments from Twins owner Tom Pohlad only added fuel to the fire. When asked about payroll and spending philosophy, Pohlad seemed irritated by the topic, brushing it off and asking to be judged by results instead.
“We will be competitive in 2026. ... At some point I'd love to get off this payroll thing for a second…”
That comment didn’t land well. Not when fans are watching other teams in the division make real investments.
Not when the offseason moves barely register. And certainly not when the front office appears to be in reset mode with Falvey’s departure.
The reaction was swift - and not in a good way. To many, it felt like the organization was setting the bar low before the first pitch is even thrown. And for a fan base already feeling neglected, that’s a tough pill to swallow.
Patience Wears Thin
In past years, Twins fans could point to internal development or long-term planning as reasons to stay optimistic. But this winter, even that optimism feels harder to come by.
There’s still talent on the roster, and there’s always a chance that things click once the season begins. But right now, the prevailing feeling isn’t hope - it’s déjà vu.
With spring training just around the corner, there’s still time for the Twins to make a move, to change the narrative before the season starts. But the clock is ticking. And unless something shifts, the “D” grade won’t be remembered for being harsh - it’ll be remembered for being accurate.
For now, the silence from the fan base says it all. They’re not pushing back on the criticism.
They’re nodding along. Because the most frustrating part of this offseason isn’t just what didn’t happen - it’s how familiar that feels.