The Pohlads were they biggest target of criticism, after they racked up debt that has ballooned near $500 million. ‘Will the Twins trade X player’, how much money are they looking to cut, who can they afford to keep, etc? Those are the topics that have taken up the bulk of MN Twins media coverage over the past 24+ months.

But that all changed over the weekend, when reports dropped that Minnesota had decided NOT to trade away any of Byron Buxton, Joe Ryan or Pablo Lopez, flying in the face of a number of rumors running wild across the league in recent months.

Still, fans and media across Twins Territory remain skeptical of the Pohlads’ willingness to spend. Sure, the new minority owners are dangerously close to being finalized, but would that really warrant such a drastic change in offseason planning?

Derek Falvey confirms Minnesota Twins’ new offseason plan

Well Minnesota Twins president Derek Falvey met with reporters on Monday at the MLB Winter Meetings down in Orlando, Florida, where he confirmed the recent reports, and even doubled down.

Not only are the Twins going to keep Buxton, Ryan and Lopez in the Twin Cities, but Falvey told Bobby Nightengale (Star Tribune) that he is very much on the prowl to add more talent around them, specifically in the bullpen and right-handed batter’s box.

The message Twins executives are telling agents during this week’s MLB winter meetings is a different one than they had during face-to-face meetings in November.

I was hopeful [said Derek Falvey], as I said [in November], that we’d get to this place, but I always knew there could be different paths that we choose. I think, at this stage, figuring a way to add to this group was clearly the best fit for all what we aligned around.”

From the Twins’ perspective, it’s better late than never. They want to add relievers to boost a bullpen that was torn apart at the trade deadline four months ago, and they are looking to bring in at least one more power hitter.

Star Tribune

Related: Former MN Twins Infielder Nearing New Deal

If I was funnier, I’d place that one Talladega Nights meme right here, where Ricky Bobby is saying “I don’t know what to do with my hands.” Because that’s how I feel writing about a Minnesota Twins team that has suddenly shifted their offseason gears from “Seller” to “Buyer”.

Many of us had already accepted our sad Twins fan reality, as we believed it to be just days ago. Because of that, it’s extremely difficult to switch gears. And at this point, who in their right minds would trust anything coming from the top of this organization?

Twins confirm they are offseason buyers… on a tight budget

But today in Florida, Falvey told reporters that he presented multiple plans to ownership, prior to the MLB Winter Meetings. He hoped the Pohlads, with help from their new minority partners, would choose a plan forward that included a drive to win baseball games.

As rumors swirled, Falvey did not want to produce false hope by assuming which route the ownership groups would choose. But now that he’s gotten the green light, the Minnesota Twins’ president wants to make it known that he is no longer in sell mode.

“A month ago, I was direct and honest in meetings we had. I said: ‘Guys, I’m not sure I’m in a position right now to tell you exactly where we’re headed, so I’m not sure what I want you to tell your player. We like some of your players and want to talk about them. But I’m not in a position to move the ball forward much.’ Now, it’s a little more clear that we have been able to move the ball forward.”

Derek Falvey (via the Star Tribune)

We do not know how much the Minnesota Twins have in this new “buyer” budget. Rest assured, however, that there is no free agent shopping spree in Derek Falvey’s future. With their current roster, the Twins’ are currently projected at ~$95 million.

CAUTION: Do NOT expect a MN Twins spending spree

So how much higher will it go? Well, Nightengale Jr reports that, while the Twins now plan to add, their final payroll number is still expected to be the lowest it has been in nearly a decade.

That likely means we are looking at a MN Twins roster entering Opening Day 2026 that sits somewhere between $105-$110 million, which would be the lowest it’s been since 2017.

There won’t be a major influx in spending, and their Opening Day payroll will likely be at its lowest figure in about a decade.

Still, this is the path they chose.

Bobby Nightengale – Star Tribune

Related: Washington Nationals Scoop Up Former Twins Coaches

It’s sad that this is obnoxiously good news for Twins fans, and goes to show how far the bar has been lowered. Nonetheless… it’s better than the alternative.

A final group of four candidates earned second round interviews. That was after Twins legend Torii Hunter turned down any idea of interest, before things even got off the ground.

When the last crop of names were announced, familiar faces in the form of Derek Shelton and James Rowson stood out as logical choices.

Derek Shelton takes over as next MN Twins manager

When we last saw Derek Shelton he was managing the Pittsburgh Pirates. After being fired earlier this season following a 12-26 start, he makes his way back to the clubhouse where he operated as Baldelli’s bench coach. Shelton becomes the 14th manager in Minnesota Twins history.

Breaking: Derek Shelton is being hired as Twins manager

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) October 29, 2025

Shelton left the Twins after the 2019 season and started in Pittsburgh during the 60-game Covid-19 season. His team went just 19-41 that year. After 61 and 62 win seasons, Shelton pushed the bar and had the Pirates win 76 games in each of the 2023 and 2024 years. Across parts of six seasons, Shelton finished with a 306-440 record (.410%) with Pittsburgh.

Similarly to the Twins, Pittsburgh is a desolate place for a manager to succeed given the kneecapping of a front office by ownership. Of course that is what the Pohlads continue to do in Minnesota, but the extent is a bit less.

Shelton will now return to manage a team that has plenty of familiar faces. That’s probably a positive from a place of rapport, but it remains to be seen what level of impact he will truly have.

An uninspiring managerial choice for the Minnesota Twins

This sort of outcome is about as unfortunate as things can get, at least on paper. It’s entirely possible that Shelton provides a fresh voice and sees immediate success with the Twins. However, he is a retread and returns to the same organization he once was hired to a lesser position by.

When Derek Falvey chose Rocco Baldelli to be his handpicked manager, Shelton very well could have been tabbed as the leader at that point. The front office decided that Falvey was the better choice.

It has also been reported that Minnesota would likely consider finances when picking their next skipper. Baldelli had his contract option for 2026 exercised by the Twins. In what would have been his eighth season for Minnesota, he will unquestionably make more from the team for not coaching them than Shelton will in his place.

At the end of the day, the manager has not been the problem for the Minnesota Twins in recent seasons. The blame starts at the top and trickles down. Now Falvey’s next pick as manager though, Shelton will be the guy that either bails out the front office, or forces ownership to pin blame on someone else and clean house.

Of course it’s the manager that was made the fall guy for the failures of ownership and the front office. While neither directly responsible party is interested in holding themselves accountable, someone else has to take over and lead the clubhouse.

Thus far we have gotten very little in terms of what criteria the Twins are looking for in the form of their next manager. Some logical names have been floated. Now we have a bit more substance than that.

Darren Wolfson reveals notes on next Minnesota Twins manager

There are currently multiple managerial openings across Major League Baseball. Only the Texas Rangers have made a decision in hiring Skip Schumaker. Other teams have begun to interview potential candidates. The Twins are putting together lists, and local insider Darren “Doogie” Wolfson unveiled some substance behind their search.

#MNTwins manager search update: Feelers put out, including 1 w/ prior MLB managing experience. TBD if interview occurs, both sides still weighing. Hear Twins doing homework on at least 1 college coach + others w/ no previous MLB managing experience (KC, Cle. staffs included).

— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) October 5, 2025

Beyond just what he stated on his own, Wolfson fielded a few questions. He noted that his bet would be on someone without previous major league managerial experience. Of course, in true Pohlad fashion, that would come at a discount.

Torii Hunter, George Lombard, Kai Correa, Craig Albernaz, James Rowson, and David Bell are all potential names that have been linked and don’t have previous experience. It’s also not shocking that the Twins would be interested in dipping into the collegiate ranks. Wes Johnson was a highly coveted hire as their pitching coach, and he abruptly left for a more lucrative deal at the college level.

It’s genuinely a stain on the current state of the Minnesota Twins organization that a coach would be welcomed to interview for one of 30 big league managerial jobs and turn it down. Wolfson said one such candidate is still “weighing” options.

Part of the equation is that Minnesota will still owe Baldelli his 2026 salary. The option was exercised earlier this year, and they are now on the hook for that. The Pohlads have not shown any affinity towards spending money. Finding a way to save on the next manager fits their typical process.

MN Twins front office can’t miss on next manager

The Minnesota Twins just finished a 70-92 season and took away nearly 40% of the active roster at the trade deadline. This front office is more responsible for that reality than the manager ever was.

Derek Falvey and Jeremy Zoll, both promoted prior to the season, can’t afford to be wrong on the next hire. Falvey handpicked Baldelli, and he is escaping the same fate that the last leader did following a 90-loss season.

Minnesota could struggle to be competitive next season, but they are going to shuttle a significant amount of top prospects to Target Field. Whoever is leading the clubhouse must get the most out of the previous core, and find a way to integrate more players in the same successful vein as Luke Keaschall.

This may be the last pivotal move that Derek Falvey and those below him get to make. If he gets it wrong, then cleaning house has to be the only outcome.

Thus, their manager became the fall guy, and that means the Twins should be on the hunt for a new clubhouse leader. Unfortunately for fans, and those vying for the job, Falvey couldn’t even articulate what the organization is looking for in its next hire.

Unfortunately, it’s difficult to complete a search when you don’t know what you are looking for. Meanwhile, other teams around the MLB are already making moves. Some manager vacancies have already been filled, others looking to hire have begun interviewing candidates.

Kurt Suzuki interviews with San Francisco Giants

That includes the San Francisco Giants, who interviewed former Twins catcher Kurt Suzuki on Friday. Suzuki spent 16 years in the big leagues, three of which came in Minnesota, where he was named to his only All-Star team in 2014.

Suzuki has been working with the Los Angeles Angels, alongside with Torii Hunter, who has been floated as the next Minnesota Twins manager.

Kurt Suzuki interviewed for the San Francisco Giants’ managerial opening today, sources say. Suzuki, 41, played 16 seasons in the majors and is currently a special assistant to the general manager with the Angels.

— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) October 3, 2025

Catchers are often considered quality managerial types given their view of the game. They direct so much on the field, and have a perspective rivaled by virtually no other position. Prior to the 2023 season, the Cleveland Guardians named Stephen Vogt, a former catcher, their manager despite no previous experience.

What are the MN Twins doing?

It has been five days since the Minnesota Twins fired manager Rocco Baldelli. Despite whatever drivel Derek Falvey would like to sell the media, this decision was made a long time ago. Even with the understanding that a search needed to happen, they have done effectively nothing with that time.

After an 81-81 season, the Rangers moved on from Bruce Bochy at the same time Minnesota did Baldelli. They have already hired Skip Schumaker as their next leader.

The Texas Rangers have hired Skip Schumaker as their new manager. Schumaker, 45, was the National League Manager of the Year in 2023 and spent the last year as a special assistant with the Rangers. He takes over for future Hall of Famer Bruce Bochy.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 4, 2025

Schumaker was someone Bobby Nightengale floated as a potential candidate for the Twins, but that never seemed logical given the interest Texas was known to have. There are other very strong candidates that Nightengale also identified, but none of that matters while the front office sits on their hands.

Less than a week removed from firing Baldelli, the Twins didn’t need to follow the Rangers path and already have made a hire. With the foresight of this outcome looming though, appearing to have a clue, conducting interviews, and names being publicly stated all would have been logical.

Then again, the Minnesota Twins continue to operate with rudderless ownership and a president that is more worried about spending time in front of a microphone to say nothing, than actually making meaningful improvement.

If you are trying to write a book on how NOT to operate a professional sports franchise, look no further than the Pohlad family, and their top ranking front office executive at 1 Twins Way.

After cutting tens of millions in payroll following their 2023 playoff run, the Minnesota Twins have been horrendous on the field the past two seasons, resulting in desks and lockers being cleared out throughout the organization the two-plus offseasons since.

Players have been traded, executives and coaches fired. The latest fall guy victim was manager Rocco Baldelli, who was canned at the start of this week.

The Twins fired Rocco Baldelli after their 70-92 season.

Derek Falvey: “This game is ultimately measured by results, and over the past two seasons we did not reach the goals we set.”

— Bobby Nightengale (@nightengalejr) September 29, 2025

All of this has been going on amid a 10-month waffling by Pohlad ownership on whether or not to sell the MLB franchise they have owned for more than 40 years, before they ultimately chose to retain control. The craziest part of the past couple years of Twins existence, however, has been the crowning of Derek Falvey.

Somehow, through this slow-motion train crash, the organization’s head decisionmaker has found a way to — not only keep his job — but receive a massive promotion, going from president of baseball operations, to president of both baseball and business ops, a dual title that makes him one of the most powerful executives in all of baseball.

Minnesota Twins media growing sick and tired of Derek Falvey

But during his annual season-ending press conference with reporters, Mr. Almighty Twins President was a man of VERY few answers. And that left a frustrated Aaron Gleeman (The Athletic) and his media colleagues without any sense of direction on the team’s offseason.

Like a lot of things happening with the MN Twins recently, his group sit-down with Falvey did not sit well with Gleeman, a longtime Twins fan-turned team media member (The Athletic).

So on Wednesday’s subscriber-only Patreon episode of Gleeman and the Geek (a podcast he co-hosts with John Bonnes of Twins Daily) Gleeman voiced his Falvey displeasure for about 1.5 hours of the nearly 2-hour show. And it was like music to the ears of a depressed Minnesota Twins fan.

If you are an angry Twins fan looking for a cheap therapist, I recommend @AaronGleeman. Rants like this will bring you peace.

"[Derek Falvey] couldn't even answer a question about what traits they are looking for in a manager, which is the easiest tee'd up question a person… pic.twitter.com/8rtmTDyJFG

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) October 3, 2025

“[Derek Falvey] couldn’t even answer a question about what traits they are looking for in a manager, which is the easiest tee’d up question a person could ever get! What do you say? ‘We want someone who’s a good leader, we want someone who is going to shake things up. We want someone who is going to lean on fundamentals and aggressiveness and situational hitting.

I’ve never hired a manager and I could give you a 20-minute speech that would satiate that question and come across well. And instead, they were like, ‘yeah I’m not comfortable even saying the traits we’re looking for. What do you mean you’re not [comfortable]?… A stork did not drop this situation on the Twins’ doorstep yesterday morning.”

Aaron Gleeman – Gleeman and the Geek Podcast

Normally, you’d expect one of the highest-ranking league executives in baseball — and one who is supposedly running the entire Twins show — to have answers about standard offseason questions for a team very much in flux.

Topics that include who will be the team’s next manager; what the plan for payroll is next season and beyond; or what the future might look like in general, given everything that has happened in recent months. But instead, the got long-winded wordy answers that took up tons of time but revealed absolutely nothing… a Falvey specialty.

Is Falvey bluffing or is he really in the dark like us?

Clearly, even reporters at this point are left to wonder if the Minnesota Twins’ president really is playing dumb or if he actually has no idea what the plan is for an organization he supposedly is in charge of? Because lately, Falvey sounds more like a confused messenger boy than he does a decision-maker.

No matter whether his ignorance is a bluff, or Derek Falvey really is in the dark, neither is a good look for someone who supposedly has as much power as he does. But to the local media’s credit, they are growing just as tired of his 500-1000 bullshit answers.

Gleeman, specifically, might lose his mind if forced to take in one more pile of bullshit from the Minnesota Twins’ Propaganda President.

Posting a couple more minutes worth of this week's @GleemanAndGeek Patreon just so I can embed more of Gleeman's rant in an article and share it with those who might need it.

"You're just leaving everyone in the dark. And guess what? When you come off back-to-back seasons and… https://t.co/A76zkva4Ix pic.twitter.com/i7TgLJOi5H

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) October 3, 2025

Gleeman: “You won’t even say you’re going to be competitive, or you won’t even say the payroll is going to be similar or it’s going to drop. You’re just leaving everyone in the dark. And guess what? When you come off back-to-back seasons like this, and you’ve been owned by the Pohlads for four decades, when you leave people in the dark, they go to a dark place in the dark.”

“It’s just jarring to ask straightforward question after straightforward question, and to have someone either say ‘I don’t know’, when they know. What do you mean you don’t know? I’d rather they just said, ‘no comment’.”

“One time, I would like a real answer from someone [inside the Twins organization]. Maybe [this] is the case with all teams. I don’t know all teams. I don’t care about all teams. I don’t deal with all teams. I deal with the Minnesota Twins.”

Bonnes: “Either you legitimately don’t know, in which case the question becomes, ‘what is going on above you that you have no idea what is going on?’. You’re in charge of this organization and you have no idea? To me that is the biggest takeaway from this. To me, it feels like there is something going on up there.

Gleeman and the Geek Podcast

There was an obvious vibe of increased frustration that consistently stems back to the MN Twins’ Propaganda President speaking in tongues for an ownership group that seemingly has no clue what it is doing or where its own organization is going.

The couple of minutes from this episode of Gleeman and the Geek that I clipped and posted on X is only a small fraction of the annoyance portrayed by these Minnesota Twins insiders. show that you can listen to in this article, via X.

That’s why, if you are a Twins fan looking for paid content that the Pohlads and their PR department would absolutely NOT approve of, Gleeman and the Geek’s Patreon is a great spot to find it.

FWIW: I’ve never spoken with either man in my life so this is not an ad for their paid podcast. I’m just here to bring good content to MN sports fans.

It’s now solely on team president Derek Falvey, a position he was promoted to as among the most powerful in the sport, to dictate the future of the club. When he was installed as the head of the front office in 2017, it was after a very poor 59-103 season under Terry Ryan, however, Falvey didn’t see the same fate after his 90-loss debacle, this year.

Now the sitting president will need to pick a new manager, and embark on a direction that makes this season a footnote, and not the norm. Unfortunately the confidence throughout Minnesota that he can accomplish that, has waned significantly.

Manager decision reeks of desperation for the MN Twins

It was possible that Rocco Baldelli was going to be on the hot seat this season. He witnessed his team suffer a ridiculous collapse to end last year, and the expectations were another playoff run even after the payroll was dialed back. He survived early-season struggles though, coached a 13-game winning streak, and the front office responded by picking up his 2026 option.

The Twins had initially picked up Rocco Baldelli’s club option for 2026 “at some
point going into the year,” team president Derek Falvey confirmed today.

So the Twins will be on the hook for paying that and their new manager’s salary next season.

— Bobby Nightengale (@nightengalejr) September 30, 2025

President Derek Falvey suggested to the Star Tribune’s Bobby Nightengale that their decision to fire the manager was reflective of the past two seasons, not the last two months. That seems wildly inconsistent with a decision to exercise an option, and put a stingy ownership group on the hook for payroll that isn’t actively working for them.

“This was a decision that was organizationally made, obviously with ownership, around what’s the right direction and new direction for this club. Yes, we knew some of those trades and where those were going were going to put a strained position on that. I made it clear to ownership in different discussions that we had that we should evaluate the second half of the season very differently than just the outcomes on the field.”

Derek Falvey – Star Tribune

With the understanding that results will be subjective after the front office, mandated by ownership, stripped the team of nearly 40% of the roster, the ultimate decision seems odd. Prior to the trade deadline Falvey felt comfortable enough with his manager to extend him.

Fast forward to poor results with the team gutted, and Baldelli becomes the fall guy for a front office and ownership group he has been the only one to accept responsibility for.

Accountability isn’t in Falvey’s wheelhouse

The best news the Minnesota Twins have provided in the past 12 months was that the team was for sale. The worst was that they were taken off the market after the Pohlads found a pair of limited investors to swallow their debt. The Athletic asked fans to place blame on involved parties earlier this month, and the results were as expected.

One of Aaron Gleeman’s questions was, “Where do you assign the most blame for the Twins’ struggles?” Among 5,021 responses, 78.7% chose ownership, with 11.1% choosing the front office, and just 2.5% pointing at the manager.

“We’ve collectively arrived at this being the right time for a new voice in a new direction. It’s not about Rocco. This is a collective underperformance from our group and it starts with me.”

Derek Falvey – Star Tribune

The line that things start with Falvey rings hollow. He said that to Lavelle E. Neal with a straight face, despite being the steward of ownership and responsible for the roster he provided to the manager. Of course he’s not going to fire himself, but it’s clear self-awareness isn’t a strong suit either.

“I felt like this roster had a lot of talent on it that could go perform. And we didn’t collectively perform to that talent level.”

Derek Falvey – Star Tribune

“We didn’t perform. And I feel like I’ve let down the staff, the coaches, the fans and everybody in here when that happens. And if I don’t take that personal responsibility, then I feel like I’m not doing my job. And that’s what’s going to keep motivating our group to continue to work, to try and put the team in a better position to be successful.”

Derek Falvey – The Athletic

Going back to that two year assessment, Falvey comes up hollow here too. He watched a team he constructed fall apart down the stretch last season. The only changes he made to the roster were signing Harrison Bader, Danny Coulombe, and Ty France.

Why would a team that finished 9-18 during the final month of 2024, had one of the slowest and least athletic rosters, and went virtually unchanged into the next year, be believed to perform at a higher level? That’s either hubris or complete malpractice from Falvey when it comes to assessing what’s in front of him.

The again, as Gleeman points out, why would Falvey remove the shield from himself.

Changes were needed after back-to-back ugly seasons and Falvey made the biggest, easiest change he could while protecting himself and top lieutenant Jeremy Zoll…Self-preservation is expected in these types of situations…But it’s also increasingly clear Falvey is insulated from blame.

Aaron Gleeman – The Athletic

Minnesota Twins will have less resources going forward

You don’t tear down a roster in a monumental way only to go out and spend over the offseason. It’s more likely that Joe Ryan and Pablo Lopez are both traded due to their contracts than it is they are extended. Falvey has no indication of where payroll discussions will fall for 2026. That’s problematic with new investors involved, and the expectation is that the number will be further diminished.

“[To] shoot you super straight. I don’t have that direction yet. That’s a conversation that we’ll continue to have, certainly with the Pohlads and whatever conversation they would like me to have with the limited partners.”

Derek Falvey – Star Tribune

“There will be some limited partners that are coming in and involved in some of the discussions around how we operate going forward. Those have not yet happened. Those are likely to happen in, hopefully, the weeks to come.”

Derek Falvey – Star Tribune

Minnesota already laid off nearly their entire advanced scouting department earlier this summer. The have cut the payroll commitments going forward. The front office business staff should be uncertain about their futures as well.

As Neal succinctly put it, “Rocco looks like he’s getting out at a good time.” Unfortunately for fans, we’re still tied to the existence of the Pohlads and Falvey steering their ship.

Ownership made things worse by botching the sale of the team, and that presents more questions than answers moving forward. When looking back on the year that was though, there’s no way to sugar coat just how bad this team has been.

“F” isn’t bad enough for MN Twins

There are just a few games left in the 2025 regular season. The Minnesota Twins head to Philadelphia for a three-game series. It won’t matter how they fare, and the season can’t come to an end soon enough. ESPN’s David Schoenfield assigned grades to every team for their regular season, and it seems he was kind to Minnesota.

This is the kind of season that can set an organization back five years, where it kind of feels like the whole organization has given up. Ownership/management punted at the trade deadline, dealing away 10 players. The Twins reportedly just recently fired four of their five scouts in the pro scouting department as well. Following the deadline, the team completely tanked on the field, with only the Rockies owning a worse record in the final two months. All this after payroll was cut following the 2023 playoff season and after last year’s late-season collapse. As always, the Pohlads never disappoint in their willingness to pinch pennies.

David Schoenfield – ESPN

Minnesota joined Atlanta and Washington as the only teams to earn an “F” grade. The Colorado Rockies were hit with an “F-.” It’s hard to fathom why the Twins didn’t achieve the worst mark of any team.

This collection was expected to compete and they haven’t. Derek Falvey largely ran back the same roster that colossally fell apart down the stretch last season. Then the front office blew everything up at the trade deadline. They have been directed by ownership in a terrible way, and production on the field has continued to sag.

Rocco Baldelli is likely the one who will take the fall for all of this, but the reality is that Minnesota fell over themselves at every juncture all season long. The Nationals and Rockies were expected to be bad, the Twins were not.

How Minnesota moves forward is the key here, and that’s something that won’t start to reveal itself until the offseason. There should be no expectation that payroll increases for 2026, but decision making absolutely has to change.

The Twins flopped in a very ugly and public way this season. Figuring out a better path forward is a must.

Then, less than a year after being listed for sale, the Pohlads pulled the Twins off the market, instead opting to sell ~20% to new minority partners, in order to help the family pay down debt.

Minnesota Twins scouting department no more down to one

But the latest cost-cutting measure is a doozy. After paring back the team’s pro scouting department in recent years, the group will now cease to exist. At least, that’s what was originally reported by Dan Hayes (The Athletic), after ownership cut four employees from that department on Tuesday evening.

Thanks to a recently added editor’s note in Dan’s story, we’ve learned that the Twins had five employees in that department at 1 Twins Way — meaning it’s still somewhat operational, but only as a one-man band.

The Twins eliminated four of the five members of their pro scouting staff, multiple league sources confirmed on Tuesday night, a move that one league source described as part of cost-cutting measures by team ownership.

Though the terminations were telegraphed by a significant reduction in the scouts’ travel budget in previous years, the four staff members learned early Tuesday their positions would not be renewed.

Dan Hayes -The Athletic

In the midst of Tuesday night’s contest against the New York Yankees, While advance and pro scouting isn’t what it once was, especially for the Minnesota Twins, deciding to chop the entire department to just one person…. is a choice.

Those let go included former Baseball America employee John Manuel, Ken Compton (15 years with Minnesota), Keith Stohr, and Jose Marzan (30 years with Minnesota). Each of them was informed, with two weeks left in the season, that their contracts would not be renewed.

Related: Expect Less Payroll for Crumbling MN Twins in 2026

The last man standing in the MN Twins pro scouting department is Wesley Wright, a 40-year-old former journeyman lefty reliever who in 2017 — after retiring from baseball with eight years of big league experience —signed a scouting contract with the Twins. Less than a decade later, he’s the only pro scout still employed by the organization.

MN Twins budget cuts continue to hit baseball operations dept

Minnesota’s front office has grown exponentially, since Derek Falvey took over for Terry Ryan. That was largely a necessity, given the stone age it was living in previously. Scouting has certainly taken on a different look since then, with the easy access teams have to video and raw data.

However, the Twins have been slowly cutting their scouting budget for years, and now four of the five scouts they employed are the latest victims of the Pohlad Family budget cuts. And more than likely, this isn’t the end.

With the new business arrangement in place, the Twins are looking to restructure a front office that grew exponentially in terms of resources and positions in the past five years, a team source said.

The Twins had leaned less on their pro scouting department in recent years, heavily cutting travel to road games and requiring them to mainly do video-based scouting. Wright and the team’s pro personnel department, which was already scouting via video, will handle the club’s pro scouting duties moving forward, a source confirmed.

Dan Hayes -The Athletic

How the offseason will be handled remains a mystery. But more than likely, there are more cuts to come, including the active roster. It’s also very possible that manager Rocco Baldelli and others within the Twins coaching staff will be on the chopping block, despite the manager’s 2026 option being picked up earlier this year.

Falvey safe, unlike “MyTwins” benefits

Of course, team president Derek Falvey was promoted, following last season’s collapse. Despite his lackluster track record,the head of Minnesota’s snake appears safe.

Earlier this week, the Twins stopped allowing fans to use “MyTwins” benefits for concession stand coupons. It took Twins Daily owner John Bonnes calling them on the move, in order for them to change course.

BREAKING NEWS: You’ve been heard, #MNTwins fans. Concession Cash is available again for rewards points, just in time for dollar dogs tonight. pic.twitter.com/v5ytf8tHXD

— John Bonnes (@TwinsGeek) September 16, 2025

With the Pohlads are seemingly bleeding money out of every orifice, already having rolled other business debt into the team, and attendance into the tank, it’s likely we see more “cost savings” pushed onto the Minnesota Twins organization this offseason.

A year ago Derek Falvey put the blame on coaching and canned David Popkins. He’s now leading baseball’s best hitting team in Toronto. This time around firing another hitting coach doesn’t make much sense.

In fact, firing a coach at all probably doesn’t begin to address the problem. At least that’s what Jim Souhan thinks.

Minnesota Twins change must start at the top

If Popkins was the problem for Minnesota, he’s absolutely been the answer for the Blue Jays. Derek Falvey, who currently is baseball’s most powerful executive, could fire Rocco Baldelli or his coaching staff this offseason. As the Star Tribune’s Jim Souhan put it though, that would be missing the real issue.

Should they keep firing coaches, or should this failed exercise teach us about the nature of hitting coaches and organizational scapegoats?…In baseball, firing coaches is like putting makeup on a rash.

Jim Souhan – Star Tribune

Front offices aren’t going to fire themselves. That buck gets passed down to the coaching staff. Falvey, Jeremy Zoll, and the rest of a collection that has orchestrated terrible baseball for the better part of a year-and-a-half now, need accountability focused on them.

Unfortunately the Pohlad family is not selling the team at this moment. Hopefully that doesn’t mean they are asleep at the wheel. While spending money on players isn’t something they seem to have any interest in doing, hiring the right people to maximize what they have should be.

If there is a case study as to why Falvey, Zoll, and the current Twins front office is a large part of the problem, they’ve outlined it well of late. Firing Falvey and Zoll may result in a new batch of coaches being brought in as well. In that scenario though, it would be done in logical succession rather than a response hoping to spark change while not actually differing procces.

Related: Joe Ryan Exposes Pohlad Budget Cut That Killed the Twins

This offseason should be a fascinating one for Minnesota. It’s unlikely that the payroll will increase, or even remain the same. With the opportunity for new young talent to play their way to the big leagues, process and execution must be at an all-time high.

Should the Twins avoid a path that includes sweeping changes, they best hope that the execution on the fringes gives them a chance for much better results. If that doesn’t wind up being the case, we’ll be right back here next September wondering why another 365 days was spent wasted.

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.

"I get the sense players are very frustrated."

– @DexsTweets on the direction the #MNTwins are going pic.twitter.com/TaeON9JCdE

— SKOR North – Minnesota Sports (@SKORNorth) August 21, 2025

“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.

Royce Lewis just misses a HR, takes it out on his batting helmet in the dugout pic.twitter.com/3TF9qH1PHL

— CJ Fogler 🫡 (@cjzero) August 21, 2025

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).

Truthfully the Twins didn't shake up much of the core because they traded rentals.

Relievers aren't exactly core either.

This offseason I'd hope Falvey moves Julien, Miranda, and Lanach at minimum.

It's not that you'll get much, but it's about trying to figure out what…

— Ted (@tlschwerz) August 20, 2025

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.