Report: Twins Players Growing Frustrated with Organization

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Royce Lewis, Minnesota Twins
Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

When 2025 MLB trade deadline rolled around, the Minnesota Twins — who lost four consecutive series coming out of the All-Star break — had moved off any playoff dreams they once had of being deadline buyers.

In the days leading up to July 31, team president Derek Falvey had made it pretty clear the Twins were going to be serious about moving their impending free agents. Still, no one was prepared for the wall-to-wall teardown that took place in those 48-72 hours pre-deadline.

It started when Carlos Correa — whose poor performance since coming back from his most recent bout with Plantar Facilities helped lead to the Twins’ firesale — decided he wanted out.

Correa going back to Houston paved the way for relievers Griffin Jax and Louie Varland to be dealt at the closing bell, as well. Of course, Jax’s exit interview with Rocco Baldelli was a bit different than Varland’s.

Remaining Minnesota Twins players starting to turn in the clubhouse

I’ll be the first person to tell you the Pohlads are terrible owners. I can also comfortably say Derek Falvey has been a failure for at least a couple of years now. That doesn’t absolve the roster from failing to uphold their end of the bargain, of course, but Falvey’s role in the Twins’ demise should not be understated.

This organization lacks a sense of direction, something that both fans and players in the clubhouse both feel is a problem. In fact, beat reporter Declan Goff (SKOR North) feels like players especially are growing frustration with those running the organization.

“So we’re about three weeks into this new roster with the Twins, and I get the sense now that we’re three weeks into this and we’ve been back at home a few times talking to some players. I still remain kind of skeptical of what exactly the plan is, and even some players and people that I’ve talked to seem a little bit frustrated and confused with the direction of the organization.

I think this stems from trying to understand where are we going? We’re going younger and athletic. Okay, are we gonna start empowering more of the other core players that have been here [too]?…I just get this sense that some players get are very frustrated with the either lack of communication the lack of development, and they still don’t really know exactly where this club is heading towards.

Declan Goff – SKOR North

First things first: The lack of communication — from the Minnesota Twins front office, to the coaching staff and on down to the active roster — has been a problem for much of the Derek Falvey era.

When he and new GM Jeremy Zoll flew to Cleveland to meet with the team, following their deadline teardown, they NEEDED to establish a vision, message, and path forward that players could tangibly hold onto. Clearly, if Falvey left that meeting feeling he had accomplished that, he is sorely mistaken.

Everyone deserves blame but the Twins’ biggest problem remains…

With that being said, there’s plenty of internal soul-searching that needs to take place. Royce Lewis has a .648 OPS (77 OPS+). Trevor Larnach is in year five of being exactly league-average and now on the verge of being traded. Edouard Julien looks lost, and Jose Miranda isn’t even part of this because he’s never been found.

The fan fallout that occured after the MN Twins’ 2025 deadline bulldozer project was somewhat extreme. At the time, all we had left to grasp onto as a fanbase was the’ Pohlads’ plan to sell the team.

But then, the owners of 40+ years changed course on that too. Instead of selling their majority share, the Pohlads opted for two minority investor groups, one local and one from out East.

It hasn’t been widely reported on, but there are trusted MLB insiders who have it floating out there that the Twins’ new investors paid upwards of $500 million for a total ~20% share. Conveniently, that amount would be enough for the Pohlad family to pay off their $400+ million in organizational debt, and then some.

MN Twins shakeup not really a shakeup…

Did the Minnesota Twins really shake up their core at the deadline? Not really. He traded an overpaid veteran who hadn’t produced near his contract value in a full season, some expiring contracts and most (if not all) of your good relievers.

But in all reality, this Twins’ “overhaul” cannot be complete until they get rid of their year-over-year (youngish) underperformers — guys like Edouard Julien (26), Jose Miranda (27) and Trevor Larnach (28).

Related: Another MN Twins Television Shakeup Incoming

Speaking of struggling former top prospects, it’s worth the MN Twins’ capabilities of developing their best young players, especially once prospects graduate to the big leagues. Most top talents are drafted into the MLB because of their raw tools and high-end potential.

Once they land with an NFL organization, unlocking a top prospect’s ceiling becomes just as much about the coaching staff and development plan, as the physical and mental capabilities of said player. When the Twins brought Derek Falvey over from Cleveland, his reputation was that of executive-level pitching guru.

He supposedly knew better than any exec in the league how to, not just identify future MLB talent, but then how to develop it too. In Falvey’s time leading the Twins, he’s constructed some good bullpens, not to mention trading for and overseeing the development of 2025 All-Star Joe Ryan.

Falvey-led Minnesota Twins struggling to develop top prospects?

With most top prospects, however, the Twins have come up short over and over again. As Dex pointed out, Minnesota has a roster full of early-round picks and former top prospects. But whenever they get to the big leagues, they eventually struggle. Why?

“It just feels like you have a collection of young players that I’ve been here for a little bit and they are stalling out. Something we have talked about on the show, that if you look down the Twins core roster right now, they’re all first-round picks for the most part, the ones that are contributing when they’re getting to their peak, then they’re regressing, after having really hot starts to their career.”

Declan Goff – SKOR North

The last homegrown hitter the Minnesota Twins developed into a consistent producer was Byron Buxton. And it only took 15 years in the organization, two different leadership groups, multiple contracts and a historic number of injuries to get there.

Since taking over in late 2016, Falvey has drafted “proven” top college prospects and he’s taken flyers on fast-rising prep kids. But ultimately, they all wind up in the same place when they put on a Minnesota Twins uniform.

Related: Rocco Baldelli Takes Responsibility Minnesota Twins Bosses Won’t

Players certainly want to be better than they are finding themselves perform too. It’s difficult to think they are all tapped out on potential though, and a change of scenery unlocking more would only be a further indictment against this franchise.

Falvey was promoted amidst his failures. If he’s ever going to show a shred of being worth of that, he’ll need to right this ship. That requires messaging, communication, and follow through. Right now none of that appears to be happening.

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