Confirmed: Cheap Pohlads Ordered MN Twins’ Deadline Demolition

The Minnesota Twins tore it all down on Thursday, at the 2025 MLB trade deadline. And they did it in a way that, quite frankly, we’ve never really seen before, dealing 10 of the 26 players on their active roster, including all of their best relievers, along with Willi Castro and Carlos Correa, among others.

Some returns were better than others. The Twins have received good reviews on their deals for Jhoan Duran and Louie Varland. Trading away Correa was nothing more than a salary dump. All Minnesota got back from Houston in that reunion deal, was a 26-year-old prospect who has yet to advance beyond single-A.

Pohlads called for Minnesota Twins roster demolition

But in an article at The Athletic Friday, the real reason for the Minnesota Twins’ 2025 roster demolition project came down to one thing — the cheap Pohlad family.

According to Dan Hayes and Ken Rosenthal, Falvey was given strict orders in the final 48 hours before the deadline to “make the best possible trades for the organization’s long-term benefit”.

It was merely a prelude to an even more consequential day on Thursday, which Falvey began intending to fulfill ownership’s request of making the best possible trades for the organization’s long-term benefit. Once he started, to the shock of fans, his players, and his industry colleagues, he did not stop.

Dan Hayes and Ken Rosenthal – The Athletic

Related: Details Behind Red Sox’ Failed Attempt to Pry Joe Ryan from MN Twins

That’s Falvey’s way of spinning the real conversation he had with the Pohlads. This team is costing them money and, now that they’re in full-sell mode with the organization, they wanted to do the same thing with the roster.

So, that’s what they did, saving $70 million in future salary payments and clearing the books for whoever the next owner is. One of the first to know of the new Pohlad directive was Carlos Correa.

Falvey offered Carlos Correa a way out of misery

According to The Athletic, Falvey was honest with the 30-year-old shortstop, letting him know that the Twins were no longer interested in fulfilling their end of the original promises made when Correa signed here the second time around.

Winning in Minnesota is no longer a priority. So, when Correa’s former team called, he agreed to waive his no trade clause, something he reportedly would not have done for any other organization.

“When he told (me) that we were going to go into rebuild mode, I said then I deserve to go somewhere where I have a chance to win and my kids can watch me go out there in the playoffs and perform,” Correa said. “He agreed with me and he said out of respect for me he would get to work.”

Falvey got to work, all right. And when deadline day was complete, Correa’s agent, Scott Boras, referenced the nickname of Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh to describe the Twins’ maneuvers to slash payroll.

“Apparently the Big Dumper has a Twin.”

The Athletic

Related: Trade Gives Carlos Correa Long-Desired Position Change Twins Couldn’t

Carlos Correa is in the midst of the worst season of his Major League Baseball career, batting .267 with a .704 OPS and a 92 OPS+. But I have little doubt those numbers will quickly turnaround back in Houston, with an organization that prioritizes winning over all else.

That’s not something any Minnesota Twins player can say, especially after Thursday’s deconstruction. The only hope now for Twins fans is that recent steam that a sale could be imminent turns from rumors to reality and that this team is sold to someone who cares as soon as possible.

Until that happens, there is no hope on the horizon in downtown Minneapolis. Lucky for Correa, he was able to escape just in time. We aren’t as fortunate.