The Minnesota Twins have been among the many unluckiest groups in baseball for a lot of the twenty first century. Extra lately, they’ve assembled one of many higher rosters within the American League, however it hasn’t led to a lot success within the postseason. They haven’t made it out of the ALDS since 2002, and with how their roster continued to collapse on the worst occasions, they determined to shut their window of rivalry on the commerce deadline final season.
Minnesota blew up their roster, buying and selling 10 gamers on the deadline, together with Carlos Correa, Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax, and plenty of different vital items. They received some first rate items again in these trades, however they made many of those strikes to shed wage.
The best way they tore issues down by no means made a lot sense. They gutted their roster however saved their three most dear commerce belongings, which is able to by no means be useful items on a contender in Minnesota.
Byron Buxton is coming off one of many healthiest years in his profession, however at age 32, how a lot time does he have earlier than his play begins to undergo after coping with as many accidents as he has? Buxton is signed to a comparatively team-friendly deal, however solely by way of 2028. I don’t see Minnesota as a critical contender over the following three years, so holding on to him solely retains this crew from actually bottoming out and touchdown a prime draft choose.
The transfer that basically by no means made sense for the Twins was holding on to Pablo Lopez. After all, it’s simpler for me to say this after seeing that he’ll miss all of 2026 with a torn UCL Ligament, however even on the time, it by no means made sense to carry on to him.
The Twins have been trying to shed cash on the deadline, and Lopez was making $21.5 million. Not solely that, however the final deadline was a whole vendor’s marketplace for pitchers. Even with a questionable invoice of well being for Lopez, he might’ve gotten a large return for Minnesota.
Once more, hindsight is 20/20, and no one anticipated him to overlook this whole season, however not cashing in on him after you had already traded 10 different gamers is organizational malpractice. It’s not just like the Twins have been even near a playoff spot. Issues actually received worse down the stretch, however they nonetheless misplaced 92 video games final 12 months; it was merely not baseball crew.
It may be a protracted few years for Twins followers. Detroit has among the best rotations in baseball and a number of prime prospects on the best way. Kansas Metropolis has Bobby Whitt Jr. and a younger core trying to compete.
Then there’s all the time Cleveland who manages to interrupt the Twins’ hearts 12 months after 12 months. Prepare for some tough occasions within the Twin Cities.
