Expect Less Payroll for Crumbling MN Twins in 2026

The Minnesota Twins greatest sliver of hope for the future was dashed when the Pohlad family recently announced it would be keeping the team. After crushing fan morale following the most successful playoff run in years in 2023, joy was brought on by last fall’s announcement that the team was up for sale.

That reality has since ceased to exist. Minority investors were brought on to eat up debt that poor business decisions by the Pohlads dumped into the franchise. A trade deadline selloff this year cut substantial payroll considerations for the future. No move was more significant than paying the Houston Astros $30 million to make Carlos Correa and the rest of his contract go away.

It’s hard to believe that the front office, or ownership for that matter, are done though. More trades this offseason make sense considering their strategy, and payroll will take a dip even further.

Metrodome-level spending to continue for Minnesota Twins

The Minnesota Twins still have two prominent trade chips this offseason. And, both of them are in line for substantial paydays. Pablo Lopez is set to make $21.75 million each of the next two seasons, while Joe Ryan should get more than $6 million via arbitration. The Athletic’s Aaron Gleeman sees the possibility of each being moved as more than plausible.

If the Twins are looking to shed more payroll, López and Ryan are basically the only remaining ways to do so in a major way. If the Twins are looking to add more prospect capital for a rebuild, López and Ryan are their two most desirable remaining trade chips.

Aaron Gleeman – The Athletic

In moving Lopez and Ryan, the Twins payroll (currently projected around $95 million) could get to something near $70 million. A number they haven’t been as low as since 2009. Even if they don’t get there, numbers in the $80 million-range like they were in years 2013 and 2014 are beyond probable. Gleeman then got into the numbers.

At this point, I’d be more surprised by a payroll over $140 million than by a payroll under $100 million.

Also, keep in mind: MLB’s median payroll is about $165 million this season and will likely rise above $170 million next season. Relative to MLB as a whole, the Twins have already been spending at Metrodome-era levels the past two seasons.

Aaron Gleeman – The Athletic

That level of spending should be mocked by the rest of the league itself. Major League Baseball told the Athletics they had to spend money this season in order to remain eligible for revenue sharing. Minnesota isn’t going to be that dire given their recent payrolls. However, coming in close to 50% of the median payroll is a joke.

MN Twins reaping what they have sown

Attendance for the Minnesota Twins this season will again fail to crack 2 million. In fact, they’re destined to see a number so bad it will be on par with the 2001 season. That team was coming off a 93-loss campaign, and this team will most likely surpass 90 losses as well.

Of course, the crowds are all a direct reflection of the choices that the Pohlad family made following the 2023 playoff run. Missteps by ownership have only been exaggerated with continued lack of action from the front office.

Small crowd at Target Field for the Twins-White Sox game tonight. pic.twitter.com/afIoyruk5O

— Bobby Nightengale (@nightengalejr) September 2, 2025

The MN Twins season ticket fanbase is likely somewhere around 6-8,000. That number will also dip this offseason and leave crowds looking sparse next year as well. Further reductions to the payroll won’t bring fans back, and continued miscalculations to renew fan interest seem more likely than not.

Related: Top MLB Insider Floats Possible Rocco Baldelli Replacements…

It’s a disappointing and dark time to be a Twins fan, but it was all avoidable and instead has become a reflection of self-inflicted missteps.