Since then, there the signals coming out of Target Field regarding the ongoing sale, have been mixed. Some reports have suggested that a new purchasing group is making their way down the purchasing path. Others have reported that it’s been mostly quiet behind the Twins’ scenes, of late.

Then, during the All-Star Break, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred stood in front of MLB media and STRONGLY suggested that the sale of the Minnesota Twins is imminent, or at the least, moving in the right direction. If anyone outside of those directly involved in the sale negotiations/process would know, it’s the MLB Commish.

LaVelle E. Neal reports Minnesota Twins have their whale

Appearing on the Chin Music Podcast (Talk North) Friday, Star Tribune columnist LaVelle E. Neal provided an update on the Twins sale, reporting that the deal now includes a secret majority investor who has stepped up behind closed doors to anchor this mysterious new purchasing group.

LaVelle’s report adds to a string of recent news that suggests the sale of the Minnesota Twins is getting far enough down the road that more reporters, with their finger on the pulse of the local baseball community, are starting to feel comfortable reporting on this deal gaining momentum.

Chin Music -Twins' hopes & plans@roysmalley5, @LaVelleNeal & @SouhanStrib on the ASG, trade deadline & stretch run.

BTYB@Aquarius_Home
@MNMasonCharity@onXmaps
Clamshell Beach Resort@getGiglihttps://t.co/uHUnEVYEn4

— Talk North (@TalkNorthPod) July 18, 2025

“Tuesday ended up being a very interesting day because I made a call in the morning and then I made a call in the afternoon. The one thing I found out is that [the Twins have] had people express interest in being part of an ownership group — to own maybe 10%, or 20%, or 30%.

They really didn’t have a lead dog to be that anchor investor. Apparently that anchor investor has emerged. So, things are moving in a positive direction here. I think they’ve got some hurdles to cross and more meetings to take place. But apparently, they found an anchor investor to be the main person owning the team. That’s definitely a solid development.”

LaVelle E. Neal – Chin Music Podcast

How excited should we be about this?

Neal’s unearthing is a substantial development, in what has been an ever-evolving situation. Neal went on to say that the next four weeks could be very interesting, and that he wouldn’t be surprised to see a new owner identified before the end of the 2025 regular season.

That timeline would be a welcomed reality for MN Twins fans who would love nothing more than to enter the upcoming offseason with a new ownership group making the decisions. No doubt, it would spring hope within this fanbase that we haven’t seen in over a decade.

Related: 2025 Minnesota Twins MLB Draft Tracker

It’s also possible that new ownership would want to speak into the front office decision making as well. There could be an interest to bring new voices to the group despite recent promotions at the top. With a transition of power it should be expected that there will be a lot of moving pieces.

For everyone involved, from current owners, to new ones, to those employed by the organization and fans like us who just want a baseball team that cares as much about winning as it does turning a profit… everyone wants some clarity/finality on this process. And it sounds like we could get some very soon.

The bullpen issues became a noticeable problem last week. Twins’ relievers blew late leads in three of their last four games and all three ended in losses. It happened twice in LA vs the Dodgers and again on Friday night vs the Angels.

HOW DOES EMILIO PAGAN KEEP FINDING HIMSELF IN HIGH-LEVERAGE SITUATIONS pic.twitter.com/HddAMLtzGA

— MLB Deadline News (@MLBDeadlineNews) May 17, 2023

There have been two pitchers, specifically, who have struggled. Emilio Pagan has given up 4 earned runs on 2 hits and 3 walks in his last two appearances. Griffen Jax has been nearly as bad, allowing 3 earned runs on 6 hits and 1 walk, all coming in the Twins last three losses.

When this sort of thing happens, it’s expected that fans will react negatively. In Emilio Pagan’s case, the fans are demanding the Twins cut bait. Can you blame them? We’re talking about the team’s worst reliever for each of the last two seasons. We get it, he has great stuff. But, that doesn’t matter if your great stuff doesn’t get anyone out.

LaVelle E Neal III stands up for Emilio Pagan

Unless, of course, you are talking to or reading Star Tribune columnist and former Minnesota Twins beat writer, LaVelle E. Neal III, who has decided he will die on the ‘Emilio Pagan is better than you think’ hill.

See, LaVelle is one of the most loyal sports writers the Twins have in this market. Rarely will he question or criticize anything the front office or coaching staff does. And that has proven true again over the last few days, as LaVelle has battled tooth and nail for days with fans on Twitter who are ready to rid the roster of Emilo Pagan.

Twins Twitter is a cesspool of people wanting to dump players after a couple bad outings.

Brock Stewart tho.

Anyway. It's May. Stop firing people in May. Pagan actually has the third best FIP among Twins relievers.

— LaVelle E. Neal III (@LaVelleNeal) May 20, 2023

Don't bleeping come at me with other people's crap. There's numbers out there that show he can be an asset. https://t.co/pMQvlFsXRe

— LaVelle E. Neal III (@LaVelleNeal) May 19, 2023

Looking at some Pagan numbers for a Sunday column. It's not as bad as some think.

— LaVelle E. Neal III (@LaVelleNeal) May 18, 2023

Yes, you read that right. LaVelle E. Neal’s column in this Sunday’s Star Tribune was written in defense of Emilio Pagan, who has a 5.60 ERA, 1.472 WHIP and 79 ERA+ this season, after posting 4.43 ERA, 1.365 WHIP and 88 ERA+ in 63 IP last season.

Neal tries to plead Pagan’s case…

What numbers did he have to prove everyone wrong? Well, his Sunday column is available online Saturday evening and his big “gotcha” stat is right handed batting average against. See, Pagan is using his cut fastball more often and now, righties are hitting just .159 against him vs .270 last summer.

Pagán entered the season looking to establish his cut fastball. After throwing it 19.2% of the time a year ago, he is throwing it 33% of the time this season. And he’s throwing it harder, averaging 87.1 miles per hour. It has allowed him to hold righthanded hitters to a .159 average after they hit .270 against him last year.

LaVelle E. Neal – Star Tribune

It’s true that Emilio Pagan was terrible in 2022. We already established that above. But Neal is the only person in town who would look at his numbers this season and tell you Pagán is better now than he was then. Nearly every single metric suggests he is not. Except one. LaVelle dove deep into Emilio’s numbers from the last two years found literally the only statistic that would shine Pagan in a more positive light this season vs last.

But, even if you accept the false premise that Pagán has been slightly better in 2023 than in 2022, in what world does that mean he should keep his job? At the end of the day, he’s still been terrible for two straight summers. Argue semantics of when he was worse, if you’d like.

Aaron Gleeman (The Athletic), who is much more of an advanced statistics guy than LaVelle, can’t even find any excuses for Pagan. His Win Probability Added (WPA) is worst among MLB relievers since 2020.

Emilio Pagán is the only MLB reliever with an ERA+ below 100 and negative Win Probability Added every season since 2020.

2020: 94 ERA+, -1.0 WPA
2021: 81 ERA+, -0.6 WPA
2022: 89 ERA+, -1.0 WPA
2023: 79 ERA+, -0.3 WPA

His combined -2.9 WPA since 2020 is dead last for relievers.

— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) May 18, 2023

This isn’t the first time LaVelle E Neal III has defended the Minnesota Twins in a moment that is indefensible. He was one of the biggest “Pohlad Pocket Protectors” in town before the Twins decided to pay for a competitive roster the last handful of years.his premise was the same then as it is now. It’s not as bad as it used to be so why worry about improving?

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan