At 71-91 last season, new Minnesota Twins manager Derek Shelton’s former team actually had a better season than the 70-92 hometown nine. The Pohlads also don’t appear committed to adding additional dollars this offseason, and with the Pirates hinting that they will, the two franchises may be headed in different directions.

There are multiple holes for Pittsburgh to fill, but former MN Twins infielder Jorge Polanco is someone generating a level of interest.

Jorge Polanco a Pittsburgh Pirates free agent target

Last season, Jorge Polanco re-upped with the Seattle Mariners after a disappointing first year in the AL West, with the Mariners. Traded from the MN Twins prior to the 2024 season, he turned things around in 2025. Polanco hit some massive home runs this postseason, and he’s going to have suitors for a multi-year deal. Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drellich of The Athletic are reporting that the Buccos are among them.

The Pittsburgh Pirates, after expressing interest in first baseman Josh Naylor, are doing the same with designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, while considering infielders Jorge Polanco, Ryan O’Hearn and Kazuma Okamoto as perhaps more realistic free-agent options.

Free agents such as O’Hearn, Polanco and Okamoto also might shun the Pirates if offered deals by clubs more likely to contend. Which is why the Pirates also are actively exploring trades, checking in with the St. Louis Cardinals on their available left-handed hitters, Brendan Donovan, Lars Nootbaar and Nolan Gorman, and also speaking with other teams.

The Athletic

For a team like the Pirates to go out and add, they’ll probably have to pay a premium after years of choosing to avoid doing so. The team hasn’t finished better than 4th in the division since 2016, and they haven’t won a playoff game since 2013.

It makes sense to build around Skenes and Cruz with both Bubba Chandler and Konnor Griffin on their way up. This could be a dangerous team in the NL Central if they play their cards right.

JORGE POLANCO IS JUST RIDICULOUS! #ALCS pic.twitter.com/vkairlteWX

— MLB (@MLB) October 13, 2025

Polanco just experienced a postseason run with the Mariners, and he’s likely to want a repeat. At 32 years old, and with a relatively riddled injury history, his career doesn’t have a significant amount of time left, however. The longtime Minnesota Twins fan favorite definitely wants to add to his career accolades before all is said and done.

Last season with the Mariners Polanco batted .265/.326/.495 while playing in 138 games. Even despite playing in just 198 games the two seasons prior, he’ll probably still find a pretty lucrative deal.

Pittsburgh is no longer limited by the National League not having a designated hitter position, and Polanco fits well there also. It remains to be seen where the Dominican Republic native will land, but it’s great to hear that he should have a robust market.

A key focus for Derek Falvey has to be the bullpen. That unit was gutted at the trade deadline, but thankfully it’s a place he’s proven capable of building previously. There isn’t a ton of room on the dirt, but former infielder Jorge Polanco is back out there as well.

Jorge Polanco is now a free agent, again

Minnesota traded Jorge Polanco to the Seattle Mariners prior to the 2024 season. It didn’t go well for anyone involved and Polanco was back on the open market. He signed a one-year deal with Seattle again in 2025, and after a strong postseason performance, he’s looking to parlay the production into a multi-year payday.

Jorge Polanco is turning down $8M mutual option. Now a free agent.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 5, 2025

In his second year with the Mariners, Jorge Polanco posted a .265/.326/.495 slash line. The 134 OPS+ was a career high, and he more than earned his $7.75 million deal. The Mariners would have loved to have him back at $8 million, but the 32-year-old wants to cash in.

Polanco hit three big home runs for the Mariners during the postseason, and none were bigger than the two blasts he got against Tarik Skubal in the Division Series. He’s never been much of a fielder, and Polanco spent the vast majority of his 2025 as the Seattle designated hitter. Health concerns are real, but the 138 games played this year is a feather in his cap too.

It wouldn’t be surprising to see Polanco get a two or three year deal that winds up paying him north of his $8 million option on an annual basis.

More former Minnesota Twins on the move

The offseason always includes lots of shuffling. That happens on both the coaching and player front. Tuesday the Chicago White Sox hired Derek Shomon and Zach Bove for their hitting and pitching coaches. The Atlanta Braves then grabbed former pitching coach Jeremy Hefner to assume that role with them on Wednesday.

#Braves hired Jeremy Hefner as pitching coach. Hefner, 39, spent past 6 seasons with Mets, who had MLB's 6th-best ERA in that span. They also hired Antoan Richardson, 42, as 1st-base coach. He spent past 2 seasons in that role with Mets and was also OF & baserunning instructor.

— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) November 5, 2025

On the player side, after being traded at the deadline, Harrison Bader declined his mutual option with the Philadelphia Phillies.

It's no surprise, but Harrison Bader yesterday declined his side of a $10 million mutual open for 2026. He's a free agent: https://t.co/vHgW9VH3WT

— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) November 5, 2025

Bader was making $6.25 million in 2025, and clearly believes there’s a multi-year deal on the table to decline the $10 million payday. He was paid $10 million in 2024 on a one-year deal with the New York Mets.

After an 86 OPS+ in New York, Bader rebounded with a .277/.347/.449 slash line and a 117 OPS+ this season. He played exceptional outfield defense again, and could get a multi-year deal heading into his age-32 season.

It would have been fun to see Bader back for the Twins, but a robust market will undoubtedly price him out of their range.

Thus far the Seattle Mariners have gone to Canada and absolutely hammered the Toronto Blue Jays. Even after their 15-inning Division Series win against the Detroit Tigers, it’s been Dan Wilson’s team besting baseball’s top offense.

Jorge Polanco has been at the center of all of it, and the former Twins second baseman is drawing high praise from Yankees legend Derek Jeter.

Derek Jeter fawning over Jorge Polanco’s postseason impact

Jorge Polanco was traded to the Seattle Mariners before the 2024 season with one year left on his contract. The return has largely gone belly up for the Minnesota Twins. Polanco struggled in his first season with the Mariners, but returned, and has more than made up for it this year.

Derek Jeter has seen enough of the dominance during the postseason that he made sure to specifically call out the Mariners second baseman prior to Game 2 on Monday.

Praise from one clutch player to another 🤝@DerekJeter has been impressed from what he's seen the last couple of games from @Mariners 2B Jorge Polanco. pic.twitter.com/w3MDslqT8r

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 13, 2025

“My biggest takeaway is [Jorge] Polanco. I mean, for him to come up with the two biggest RBI singles in last nights [Sunday] game. In the Division Series he had two huge home runs against Tarik Skubal. Then he had the game-winning RBI in the 15th inning to send the Seattle Mariners to the ALCS. You know, when you come into series like this, big stars is what all of us talk about. Usually it’s somebody that you may not expect, or somebody you may not have spent as much time talking about that comes up with the big moments. He is the one, for the Seattle Mariners, that is playing a huge part in their success.”

Derek Jeter

Derek Jeter certainly knows a thing or two about big moments. The five-time World Series champion, and Hall of Famer, has contributed plenty in October.

Jorge Polanco had played in 12 postseason games with the Twins. He was among the payroll cuts following a decades-ending postseason drought for Minnesota. What he is doing with Seattle has been exceptional.

In six games this postseason with the Mariners, Polanco has three runs, two homers, and five RBI. Then, following Jeter’s remarks, he put his touch on Monday night’s game as well.

HE'S DONE IT AGAIN! #SeizeTheMoment pic.twitter.com/Wb9r5Q4KH2

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) October 13, 2025

Facing former Twins reliever Louie Varland, Polanco went deep for the third time this October. The big fly brought in two more runs and pushed his RBI tally to eight. Despite a depleted pitching staff due to the 15-inning Game 5 against Detroit, the Blue Jays have jumped out to a 2-0 lead on the road against Toronto.

Former Minnesota Twins catcher Mitch Garver also recorded a pinch-hit triple in the contest, and Seattle will head home needing just two wins across the next five games to reach their first World Series.

Free agency is part of the process in big league baseball. Players are always going to come and go. Minnesotans love those that become one of us though. We definitely don’t want to see them forced to shave and wearing pinstripes. Unfortunately, that may be a reality once again.

Which Twins infielder goes to New York next?

The story of the offseason for New York was their inability to land Juan Soto, and him choosing the little brother New York Mets. That meant Brian Cashman had a bunch to spend. They have filled plenty of their holes, but second base remains open after Gleyber Torres signed a one-year deal with the Detroit Tigers.

So far they haven’t met Alex Bregman’s asking price and that brings a pair of former Minnesota Twins infielders into their view.

“As they sort through options following the departure of Gleyber Torres, the Yankees have checked in on 11-year pro Jorge Polanco, a source said.”

Mark Sanchez on the Yankees 2B pursuits (NY Post)

“The Yankees are unquestionably a deeper team — and they’re not done, either. They’ve continued to discuss Luis Arráez with San Diego”

Jeff Passan on the Yankees pursuits (ESPN)

New York knows that second base remains a priority, and there’s a pair of former Twins options that could fit the bill. Unfortunately neither of them play good defense, and even Arraez’s batting average prowess doesn’t save him there.

Jorge Polanco • 04/30/2024 pic.twitter.com/C3xNqPUQOY

— Random Homers (@randomdingers) November 22, 2024

Polanco posted just a .213/.296/.355 slash line across 118 games for Seattle. Injuries were part of the problem, and he will be 31 years old. Arraez won his third-straight batting title, but has now done so with three different teams. His .314/.346/.392 slash line didn’t stop him from moving to first base, and his defensive metrics everywhere are awful.

Luis Arraez 2024 Defensive Highlights 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/JhIeAzW9x3

— Jacob P.M.🌔 (@JacobBSpeaks) January 6, 2025

New York only has to pay money for Polanco, who is a free agent. Arraez is projected to get just over $14 million in arbitration this season after losing his hearing against the Marlins a year ago. He is a free agent in 2026.

Related: Minnesota Twins Top Prospects to Keep an Eye on in 2025

What the Yankees opt to do could depend heavily on where they go with the starting rotation. Either player, being bad defenders, would not help groundball savant Marcus Stroman. If he is dealt, then there may be more of a willingness to roll the dice.

Related: Minnesota Twins Sale May Be Nearing the Finish Line

It seemed like Max Kepler could be a fit in New York after they missed out on Soto. Instead he went to the Phillies and it’s a pair of infielders stoking the fire instead.

Related: FuboTV Price, Plans and Bundles: Is It the Right Choice for Minnesota Sports Fans?

Seattle Mariners make Jorge Polanco a free agent

Last offseason Derek Falvey dealt Jorge Polanco to the Seattle Mariners in a move that was necessitated by a limited payroll. Ownership dropped the overall outlay by $30 million, and Polanco became a expendable commodity that was turned into a reallocation of assets. Of course that trade went belly up for everyone, but he isn’t sticking around with the Mariners either.

Jorge Polanco’s $12 million club option for 2025 has been declined by the Mariners, the team just announced. He will receive a $750,000 buyout and becomes a free agent.

Also, Luis Urías cleared waivers and has elected free agency.

— Daniel Kramer (@DKramer_) November 1, 2024

Seriously, look at this cursed Twins-Mariners trade:

– Jorge Polanco: 93 OPS+, option declined
– Anthony DeSclafani: Surgery, didn't pitch
– Justin Topa: Knee injury, 2 1/3 innings
– Darren Bowen: 6.07 ERA at High-A
– Gabriel Gonzalez: .706 OPS at High-Ahttps://t.co/vPijYHcfR5

— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) November 1, 2024

It is possible there was an acclimation process for Polanco, and he simply didn’t settle in with a new team. That said, he’s not getting any younger and did again undergo a surgery to his knee. Issues with his lower body have kept his games played below 118 per season for each of the past three years. It will be fascinating to see what sort of a deal the 31-year-old lands in his first experience with free agency.

Related: Juan Soto… You’re Telling Me There’s a Chance for the Minnesota Twins?

Polanco’s 93 OPS+ wasn’t horrific, but he’s not a plus-defender. It’s probably best he seeks out a one-year deal with an option to make it a bit longer.

Minnesota Twins decline multiple options as well

There was a level of uncertainty regarding what the Mariners would ultimately do with Polanco. There was no uncertainty when it came to the team options Minnesota had on both Manuel Margot and Kyle Farmer. Each were declined as was expected.

Last season the Twins over-extended themselves when giving Farmer a bloated $6.3 million in arbitration. He has been a key part of the clubhouse, but it seemed that the open market dictated a deal that would have been half that amount at best. He struggled mightily throughout much of the season and finished with just an 82 OPS+. At least we’ll always have this fun home run.

Kyle Farmer inside the park HR, yes really pic.twitter.com/9PfDcJJz0F

— CJ Fogler 🫡 (@cjzero) August 16, 2024

Related: Minnesota Twins OF/1B Alex Kirilloff is Retiring

The Twins needed Byron Buxton insurance in the outfield and opted for Margot as the answer. It was a defendable acquisition that almost immediately went belly-up. He proved to be a bad defender, posted a career-worst 76 OPS+, and goes down as the worst pinch hitter of all-time. Thankfully his $2 million buyout is paid by the Tampa Bay Rays.

Related: 4 Surprising Minnesota Twins Non-Tender Candidates

The next order of business for Minnesota is to place Rule 5 Draft eligible prospects on the 40 man roster. With a payroll destined for $130 million again, Falvey will need to get creative if the Twins are going to improve.

Minnesota Twins don’t need to worry about Jorge Polanco’s latest surgery

When the Minnesota Twins traded Jorge Polanco they did so with an eye on shuffling pieces for the 26-man roster. Edouard Julien was tabbed as the starting second baseman, and moving Polanco brought in pitching. Anthony DeSclafani was a throw-in starter, but Justin Topa was supposed to bolster the bullpen. None of it worked out, but the Twins were right to question Polanco’s durability too. He just underwent yet another knee surgery.

“Seattle Mariners second baseman Jorge Polanco underwent surgery to repair the patellar tendon in his left knee and expects to be ready for the beginning of spring training, sources told ESPN.”

Jeff Passan on Jorge Polanco (ESPN)

Polanco has been plagued by knee issues for some time over the course of his career. They popped up in 2022 and 2023 while he played for the Twins. Polanco posted a 115 OPS+ in those seasons, but played in just 184 of a possible 324 games (56.7%). At 30 years old, he isn’t getting any younger, and the Twins decided it was a good time to cash in.

Related: 3 Rich People Who Make Sense as New Minnesota Twins Owners

Beyond playing only 118 games for Seattle, Polanco posted just a 93 OPS+. That is the second-lowest mark over a full season across his entire career. The Mariners struggled to work through their veterans inability to produce and missed the playoffs.

Jorge Polanco tests free agency for first time

This offseason will be the first time Jorge Polanco has experienced free agency during his career. He was signed, along with Max Kepler, to a six-year extension in 2019. Acquired as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic, Polanco was in the Twins system since he was a 16-year-old in 2010.

The Twins played Jorge Polanco's walkup song for him, and he tipped his helmet to the crowd 🥹 pic.twitter.com/8PZCnOZtyU

— Melissa Berman (@Melissa_Berman) May 6, 2024

The tough year, and surgery, are certainly going to work against Polanco on the open market. The Seattle Mariners do hold a $12 million club option, but that will likely be declined in favor of a $750,000 buyout. Polanco could be a candidate to bounce back for a new team if he is indeed healthy, but the recent track record makes that questionable at best.

Related: The Minnesota Twins are Officially For Sale… Finally

Minnesota won’t be in the market for a second baseman with Julien, Brooks Lee, and even Royce Lewis expected to get time there. While the Pohlad’s explore a sale of the team, they certainly aren’t going to pour more cash into the payroll either.

Both Jorge Polanco and Max Kepler were available from the Minnesota Twins starting lineup this offseason. While Rocco Baldelli would have found a way to pencil either in, and he’s glad Kepler is there, the salaries of each made them movable commodities under the constraints presented by ownership. Ultimately it was Polanco sent to the Seattle Mariners for a return that has since gone belly up.

Minnesota Twins’ return for Jorge Polanco falling apart

From the get go, any move including Jorge Polanco would be required to do a couple of things. The Twins knew they needed some major league value in exchange, and the dollars being swapped with contracts had to be something close to net-neutral. Falvey wound up targeting Justin Topa for now, Gabriel Gonzalez (and Darren Bowen) for the future, and eating Anthony DeSclafani as a throw-in.

We have made the following roster moves: pic.twitter.com/KhTSm64h0M

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) May 28, 2024

It was unlikely that DeSclafani would be anything reliable as he has had a recent litany of injury issues, but working as the fifth starter was still the hope, when he was acquired. That went belly-up before spring training ended, when it was announced he needed surgery.

Topa was supposed to be a solid get for an already good bullpen, but a knee issue has kept him off the roster all season. On Tuesday, it was announced that he was being transferred to the 60-day injured list to make room for former Tampa Bay Rays closer Diego Castillo, meaning Topa will probably never pitch for the Twins this season.

Related: Remember When Edouard Julien was Bad at Defense? Those Days are Over.

Initially, it was suggested that Topa was dealing with a minor knee issue. Then, an MRI revealed he had a 25% tear of the left patellar tendon. He received a platelet-rich plasma injection, but is immobilized while using crutches and won’t resume throwing for another month.

With the severity of Topa’s injury, the injection is simply a first-step move in hopes that a surgical procedure doesn’t follow. Of course, had that been the decision from the get go, his season would be over. Ultimately there is still a decent chance that is the final outcome anyway.

Falvey did well to acquire a top-100 prospect, in Gabriel Gonzalez, and he’s now the only chance that the Twins have at the entire deal going sideways. Gonzalez is hitting .265 with a .775 OPS with Cedar Rapids (High-A).

Gabriel Gonzalez goes DEEP for the first time as a member of the @Twins organization.

MLB's No. 71 prospect has racked up an extra-base hit in four straight games for the @CRKernels. pic.twitter.com/Uaropzj6Kv

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) April 26, 2024

Topa anchoring the bullpen for Baldelli would have been nice to see, but any more setbacks will delay that being a reality until 2025. The former Mariners reliever is under team control through the 2026 season.

On the other end of the trade, Polanco has been a mess for the Mariners, hitting .195 with a .595 OPS before finding his way to Seattle’s inured list, where he sits now. So at least this deal is falling apart all all ends and sides and everywhere in between. Not just for the Twins…?

The Seattle Mariners and Minnesota Twins are in agreement on a trade that will send second baseman Jorge Polanco to Seattle, sources tell ESPN.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 30, 2024

• Justin Topa (RHP)
• Anthony DeSclafani (SP)
• Gabriel Gonzalez (MiLB – OF) – #79 prospect in baseball according to MLB.com
• Darren Bowen (MiLB – SP)

Minnesota Twins trading Jorge Polanco to Seattle Mariners

Polanco was signed by the Twins as a 16-year-old out of the Dominican Republic and he blossomed into one of the sturdiest baseball players in their organization, over the next decade plus. As a big leaguer, Polanco has a .269 batting average, .780 OPS and 111 OPS+.

The move opens up 2nd base for (24 y/o) Edouard Julien in the short-term, and #18 MLB prospect, (22 y/o) Brooks Lee, in the long-term. The organizational depth the Twins have in the infield, with youngsters Lee, Julien and (24 y/o) Royce Lewis, along with the long-term contract of (29 y/o) Carlos Correa, allowed them to make this trade.

Related: Twins GM Says Brooks Lee Can Call Himself Up to Big Leagues Whenever He Feels Ready

The Mariners have been a popular projected trade destination for Polanco all offseason, since Seattle showed interest immediately when it became known that he’d hit the market. In return, the Twins are receiving two major league pitchers, one a back-end bullpen arm (Justin Topa), the other a fringe MLB starter (Anthony DeSclafani).

Twins receive immediate pitching help + top-100 prospect

32-year-old reliever, Justin Topa, was really good last season, tossing 75 innings out of the Mariners bullpen, posting a 2.61 ERA, 1.145 WHIP, 3.15 FIP and 155 ERA+. Unless DeSclafani has a comeback player of the year type season, Topa will be expected to make the biggest immediate impact on this roster, out of the four pieces that Minnesota received in this deal.

Justin Topa another pitcher Twins got in the Polanco trade. Sidewinding reliever who will be nice coming out of the pen. Team has 3 years of control. pic.twitter.com/yktl0Tbp9K

— Jeff (@MNTwinsZealot) January 30, 2024

Anthony DeSclafani is a 33-year-old right-handed starter whose last successful season was in 2021 with the Giants, when he pitched 167 innings, posting a 3.17 ERA with TWO complete game shutouts. Even two years ago, that’s impressive. Unfortunately, he’s pitched just 118.2 innings in two seasons since.

New #MNTwins starter Anthony DeSclafani is expected to be ready for the season. Dealt with injuries last two years, shut down last July with right elbow issue. Talks picked up between Twins and Seattle last 24 hours, seeds planted a while ago. pic.twitter.com/QCvsWVS9pw

— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) January 30, 2024

Related: 4 Big Name Scott Boras Free Agents That Fit Exactly What Minnesota Twins Still Need

But the piece of this trade that the Minnesota Twins front office is most excited about surely is top-100 outfield prospect (#79 – MLB.com), Gabriel Gonzalez, a 20-year-old right-handed hitter who spent last season with Seattle’s high-A affiliate.

Gabriel González is one of the top Venezuelan prospects in baseball, and was ranked #79 in @MLBPipeline’s recent Top 100 Prospects update. 🇻🇪pic.twitter.com/WbWmOPP1bm https://t.co/1tdtwVedhA

— Shawn Spradling (@Shawn_Spradling) January 30, 2024

In 477 minor league at-bats last season, Gonzalez finished with a pretty ridiculous statline: .298 BA | .361 OBP | .837 OPS | 18 HR | 83 RBI | 78 R. Starting pitcher prospect Darren Bowen is 22 years old and had a 3.88 ERA in 55.2 innings pitched last season.

Related: Joe Mauer Projected as 1st Ballot Hall of Fame Lock

It started when president of baseball operations Derek Falvey told media members on the record back in November, that the Twins were planning to cut about $25-$30 million in player payroll this offseason, citing ongoing questions surrounding how much revenue they will receive from TV and streaming broadcasts in 2024.

Minnesota Twins still plan on trading veterans for right price

Next, the Twins revealed plans to trade aging (but still talented and coveted) veterans, from positions of organizational strengths, in order to keep salaries down but still improve in areas of need, like SP and CF. Specifically, they named Max Kepler and Jorge Polanco, among others, as the most likely to go.

One thing the Twins won’t do, though, is trade them for prospects. Falvey has made it clear to teams and media that they want to deal MLB help for MLB help.

Multiple team sources said the Twins won’t simply dump the salaries of [Polanco, Kepler and Kyle Farmer].The Twins instead are looking to swap need for need, which means the club could head to spring training or even into the season with one too many infielders.

Dan Hayes – That Athletic

Max Kepler, Jorge Polanco both participating in Twinsfest

Yet, here we are a couple of months later, with Spring Training now looming, and both Kepler and Polanco remain Minnesota Twins. Not only that, but both guys are currently listed on the team’s roster of players who will be participating and signing autographs at this weekend’s annual “Twins Fest” gathering at Target Field.

Yes, there are are a lot of Twins players who will be there, including most of their best big league pitchers and position players. But it’s also important to not that the team’s president of baseball operations didn’t publicly announce most of the other names as guys he is actively trying to trade away, either.

Related: Timberwolves, Wild Streams Officially Coming to Amazon Prime; Twins’ Future Still in Flux

There are four players that the Twins have up for grabs, publicly. Kepler, Polanco and backup catcher Christian Vazquez will all be present at Target field on Friday and/or Saturday. Kyle Farmer is the only of the four announced trade assets that will not be a Twins Fest participant.

If you want Kepler’s autograph, right before he is traded (apparently), be at the first base lounge with $30 from 10:45 to 11:45 on Saturday. For Polanco and Vazquez, bring $20 to the Skyline Suites from 1:45 PM to 2:45 PM the same day.

Related: What are the Minnesota Twins Waiting For?

Outside of signing relief pitcher, Josh Staumont, the Twins have done pretty next to nothing for the last couple months. At the start of the MLB offseason, we were told by president of baseball operations, Derek Falvey, that he’d be shopping veterans like Jorge Polanco (2B), Max Kepler (RF) and Kyle Farmer (IF), all of whom play positions that have exciting young talents ready for big league roles.

Will Jorge Polanco, Max Kepler and Kyle Farmer be at Spring Training?

But it doesn’t seem like Falvey is overly concerned about pushing out the old, in favor of more playing time for the future. Minnesota’s PoBO sat down with Dan Hayes (The Athletic) and admitted the Twins are in no hurry to make their moves. And if that means taking this exact roster into Spring Training, then that’s what they’ll do.

“One of the things I’ve gotten more comfortable with, and more used to, is the reality [that] there’s no bow [to put] on an offseason [where your team] shows up in spring training and you’re good to go. It’s not been like that for as many years as I can remember, at this point. We’ll continue to evolve the way our roster looks, the way we think about it, probably going into camp. That’s just a reality of our situation and where we are.”

The Athletic

But let’s be real. High-ceiling prospects like Edouard Julien, Brooks Lee and Matt Wallner are all beating the door down looking for more MLB at-bats in 2024. And as of now, it could be argued that none of the three have MLB roster spots available.

Minnesota Twins facing at major 2024 roster logjam

As long as Jorge Polanco is healthy and on roster, he will be the Minnesota Twins’ 2nd baseman. With Carlos Correa and Royce Lewis already occupying the left side of the infield, Julien would be left fighting with Alex Kirilloff for innings at 1st base and as the team’s designated hitter. And good luck finding a role for Kyle Farmer, outside of paying him $6 million to be a great dugout/clubhouse leader.

Related: Minnesota Twins Sign Top-10 International Prospect, Daiber De Los Santos

Matt Wallner? Yeah, he might slide in as Opening Day left fielder, even if Max Kepler is in a Twins uniform and playing in right field. But Wallner would be far from a shoe-in for 500+ at-bats, as long as Max is still on roster. There aren’t enough to go around with Julien (DH), Alex Kirilloff (1B, DH, OF), Kepler (RF) and others all needing innings.

Are Twins decision-makers really going to suppress the growth of their most important prospects, because they are stubborn on their asking price for aging veterans they no longer have future plans for? Falvey says yes, because until another team offers a requisite package with proven big league talents that can make the Twins better in 2024, they aren’t interested in making a deal.

Twins are not interested in your prospect trade packages

Sources inside the organization have made it very clear to Hayes. They do not want a package in return for any of their available veterans. Bring them a high-caliber starting pitcher, center field help or both. Otherwise, keep your phone in your pocket and have fun picking through what’s left in the free agency scrap pile.

Multiple team sources said the Twins won’t simply dump the salaries of Polanco, who’s set to earn $10.5 million this season with a $12 million club option for 2025, or Farmer, who avoided arbitration by agreeing to a $6.3 million contract earlier this month. Nor is the team looking to move either player or outfielder Max Kepler, who will make $10 million, for prospects. The Twins instead are looking to swap need for need, which means the club could head to spring training or even into the season with one too many infielders.

Dan Hayes – The Athletic

Related: Timberwolves, Wild Streams Officially Coming to Amazon Prime; Twins’ Future Still in Flux

It’s not surprising that Derek Falvey has become very comfortable with waiting out the MLB offseason. It’s something the Twins have been doing for the last few years. Correa was signed in early-January last year and Luis Arraez was traded less than two weeks later. Michael A. Taylor and Donovan Solano were both brought in very late in the offseason process, too.

And don’t forget about the Taylor Rogers for Chris Paddack and Emilio Pagan trade, which happened in April 2022. In other words, something will probably get done. It could happen today, tomorrow or after the Twins convene in Fort Myers, but there are moves coming down the chute eventually.