More than 2,500 days ago, the Twins made a bold and calculated move-inking Jorge Polanco and Max Kepler to a pair of five-year extensions. Both were rising talents at the time, signed out of the same international class, and had grown into core pieces of a roster that was being built around Byron Buxton, Miguel Sanó, and José Berríos. While neither Polanco nor Kepler had fully broken out yet, the Twins were betting on potential-and they hit big, especially in 2019 when both played key roles in a 101-win season.
That kind of early investment in young, unproven players has become a trend across the league. Teams are looking to lock in pre-arbitration talent before they get expensive, and the upside can be massive.
Polanco averaged more than 3 WAR per season at a price tag that might’ve landed you a mid-tier bullpen arm. Kepler was a two-win player getting paid like a bench bat.
Even if the gamble doesn’t pay off-as the Phillies and Mariners found out with Scott Kingery and Evan White-the financial hit is usually manageable.
With the Royals recently locking up breakout infielder Maikel García, the question now becomes: do the Twins have a player worth betting on in a similar way?
Let’s break down the leading candidates.
Matt Wallner: Tools to Dream On, Questions to Answer
Wallner has shown flashes of being a true middle-of-the-order masher. Back-to-back seasons with a .370 OBP and .500 slugging in 2023 and 2024 put him on the radar as a potential long-term piece. But 2025 brought a dip in production, and suddenly, the conversation around Wallner got a lot more complicated.
When he's locked in, Wallner brings a rare power profile. His swing is violent, his exit velocities are elite, and when he connects, the ball doesn’t just leave the yard-it disappears. He even made some progress with his plate discipline last season, trimming his strikeout rate to 29.1% while maintaining a solid 11.7% walk rate.
Still, there are real concerns. His defense is a liability, and when the bat cools off-as it did this past year-his value drops fast.
Add in the fact that he’s already 28, and the window to buy out his free-agent years is narrow. It’s not impossible to imagine a deal, but it would have to be team-friendly and come with a clear belief that Wallner’s best offensive version is the one that sticks.
Royce Lewis: High Ceiling, Uncertain Ground
Lewis isn’t technically pre-arbitration anymore-he just entered his first year of arbitration-but the idea remains the same. He’s a young, talented player with star upside, and the Twins have to decide whether to commit to him long-term.
Few players in recent memory have had a moment like Lewis did in 2023. He looked like a future face of the franchise, launching homers at a ridiculous clip and powering the Twins into the postseason. Even hobbled by injury, he delivered four playoff bombs and gave the fanbase a reason to believe.
But 2025 was a different story. His production cratered, and his 85 wRC+ from third base raised real questions about his long-term role. Injuries, inconsistency, and what appears to be a strained relationship with the organization have clouded his outlook.
That said, this is exactly the kind of player teams often bet on. Lewis is still young enough to justify a long-term deal, and the Twins could potentially buy low.
A contract could be a sign of faith from the front office-a signal that they still believe in his talent and want him to be part of the future. It could also provide the stability Lewis seems to need to make adjustments without feeling like he’s constantly playing for his job.
There’s risk here, no doubt. But there’s also a potential reward that few players on the roster can match.
Luke Keaschall: A Name to Watch, But Not Yet
Keaschall has quietly put himself on the radar with strong recent performances, and he’s shaping up to be a serious contributor. But at just 22 years old, and with limited major league time under his belt, it’s probably too early to talk extensions.
That could change quickly. If he continues to produce in 2026, the Twins might want to get ahead of the market and lock him in before arbitration starts. For now, though, he’s more of a future candidate than a current one.
Brooks Lee: Pedigree Without the Production (Yet)
Lee entered the league with plenty of hype, but nearly 200 games into his big-league career, the numbers haven’t matched the promise. With negative WAR to his name, he’s not someone the Twins are likely to extend right now.
Still, the organization believes in his potential. If he can turn things around and show he belongs at this level, he could enter the conversation down the line. But he’ll have to earn it first.
So, Who Should the Twins Extend?
If the Twins are going to make a move, Lewis is the most intriguing option. Despite the struggles, his age, pedigree, and past flashes of brilliance make him the kind of talent worth betting on-especially if it helps repair a rocky relationship and unlocks the player we saw just two seasons ago.
Wallner has the tools, but the age and inconsistency give pause. Keaschall and Lee are more “wait and see” cases.
The Twins have seen this strategy work before. Polanco and Kepler gave them years of surplus value and helped build a contender.
The next wave of extensions might not be as clear-cut, but the opportunity is there. The question is: who do they trust to be part of the next great Twins core?
Let’s see if Minnesota is ready to place another bet.