The Minnesota Twins are headed into an offseason defined by two clear problems: a bullpen that unraveled too often and an offense that never got the chance to show its full shape.
That second-half collapse still hangs over everything. After buying at the trade deadline, the Twins faded badly and were out of contention by the middle of September. The front office now has to pick through what went wrong and decide how to patch the roster for 2027.
The bullpen sits at the top of the to-do list. It was the biggest issue in 2026, and too many tight games got blown open because that group couldn’t hold the line.
There will be openings there because of departures, but the need goes beyond simply replacing bodies. Minnesota has to rebuild that unit into something far more reliable.
Offense is the other major area to watch, though the Twins’ lineup never really got a fair shot to prove what it could be. The injuries and inconsistency kept it from ever being at full strength. Even so, the plan this winter is less about a major overhaul and more about making small upgrades to a group that could still be good.
Ryan Jeffers is one of the first roster decisions on deck. He’ll be a free agent, and the Twins will have to decide whether bringing him back for 2027 makes sense.
There’s also a trade route to consider, especially if Minnesota wants to add offense while navigating payroll questions heading into 2027. That avenue could become especially important if the market gives them a better path than free agency.
And the changes aren’t limited to the roster. The Twins have already made coaching staff evaluations and decided to go in another direction after the way the season ended. More staff moves could follow as they continue building for next year.
In Other News...
Twins Have A Few 2027 Lineup Locks But One Debate Looms
The Twins are already starting to sketch out what their lineup could look like next season, and a few names stand out as the kinds of players who should be hard to keep off the field. Brooks Lee, Kaelen Culpepper and Walker Jenkins all fit into that conversation, with each offering a different kind of upside as Minnesota weighs how its infield and outfield might take shape.
But even with those potential everyday pieces in view, the bigger question is how the rest of the roster settles around them. Recent performance gives the Twins reasons to feel good about the young core, yet there is still plenty of uncertainty about where everyone fits and which positions will ultimately be available, making this one of the more interesting lineup debates heading into the future. [Read more 🡒]
Ryan Jeffers Just Made The Twins Offseason Feel More Emotional
Ryan Jeffers may have turned in one of his most memorable nights in a Twins uniform at just the right time, helping Minnesota beat the Texas Rangers with two hits, a walk and an RBI. The performance fit the kind of steady, all-around value he has brought behind the plate and in the lineup, which is why his status now carries more weight than a single game usually would.
After the win, Jeffers shared an emotional moment with owner Tom Pohlad, then declined to get into what comes next as he heads into free agency. The Twins are expected to extend a one-year qualifying offer, and the fact that there was deadline interest from teams such as the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees only adds another layer to an offseason that suddenly feels a lot more personal. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Bullpen Overhaul Could Hinge On One Costly Free Agent
With several key relievers moved out of the picture, the Twins are heading into the offseason with a clear bullpen need and a willingness at the top of the organization to address it. Ownership has signaled it is prepared to invest aggressively in the relief corps, and that kind of commitment could shape how the front office approaches a market that is likely to be thin on impact arms.
One name to watch is David Bednar, a proven closer who also comes with a familiar connection to manager Derek Shelton from their time together. For a club that has already made the first steps of a bullpen overhaul, a pursuit like that would send a strong message about how seriously it plans to rebuild the late innings, even if landing him may come at a steep price. [Read more 🡒]