It left the sport and fans in awe. Maybe not surprisingly, it sent shockwaves through the clubhouse as well. While veteran Byron Buxton did what he could to provide a steadying presence, the implications will be felt for far longer.

It got so bad that players who had futures seemingly already outlined with the club started bowing out. Carlos Correa took the first opportunity to leave. Griffin Jax said enough as well.

Griffin Jax requested trade from Minnesota Twins

It always seemed possible that the Minnesota Twins would move Griffin Jax. He is among the best relievers that was made available at the deadline. That became less straightforward when Jhoan Duran went first. By the time 38% of his teammates were sent packing, Jax had already said he was ready to be out.

With a mass exodus underway, Griffin Jax requested a deal of his own Thursday, one the Minnesota Twins granted only minutes before the clock ran out.

Derek Falvey said, “In Jax’s case, a lot of the other conversations we were having weren’t quite there. … But then the conversation with Tampa bubbled into a discussion about Taj Bradley, who, a very short time ago, was one of the highest-profile young starters coming up to the big leagues in all of baseball.”

Once the teardown was underway Thursday, including the shocking deal which sent Correa back to the Astros, Jax asked his representative to put in the trade request, multiple league sources confirmed.

The Athletic

As The Athletic’s Dan Hayes reported, Jax wasn’t initially certain he would be traded. He didn’t even necessarily want to be. While he was irate with Rocco Baldelli’s usage of him in the 13-1 drubbing against the Boston Red Sox, that wasn’t enough to request a trade. With the carnage unfolding around him though, there was clearly no reason to stick around.

Despite being under team control through the 2027 season, one of the best pitching success stories in recent franchise history had seen enough. Jax put up a 4.50 ERA (2.02 FIP) with Minnesota across 46 innings this season. He has been a top-five reliever in baseball by fWAR and his sweeper is among the nastiest pitches the sport has seen.

Griffin Jax, Wicked Sweepers…and Sword. ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/MEteME6Hkm

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 29, 2025

Ultimately that was enough for the Tampa Bay Rays to be interested. Falvey laid on praise of Taj Bradley a bit thick, and Minnesota certainly is buying low on the starter. That said, they have shown an ability to get more from pitchers.

Related: Rival MLB Owner Talked Pohlads Into MN Twins Deadline Fire Sale

It’s sad it came to this for Jax, but it’s also hardly a result of his own doing. He was mad about a game he was used where his individual performance was cast aside amidst an otherwise laughable effort. He was mad about his individual worth being non-existent on a team that clearly does not care about winning in the present.

This is the road that all leads to.

Early on, the process felt like it might be quick and painless, when Justin Ishbia — billionaire brother of Phoenix Suns majority owner Mat Ishbia — quickly emerged as a suitor, shortly after the Pohlads made their intent to sell public.

The tone surrounding this sales process changed dramatically, however, when Ishbia spurned the Pohlads, in exchange for a greater stake in the Chicago White Sox, which he already owned a minority interest in.

While the people in charge of the sales process at 1 Twins Way continue to speak optimistically about their prospects to complete a deal sooner than later… there has been little physical evidence to substantiate those claims.

Tampa Bay Rays being sold for interesting dollar amount…

But could the winds of change be blowing back in the Pohlads direction this week, thanks to the sale of another MLB organization 1,300 miles away? It’s possible.

According to sports business insider Kurt Badenhausen (Forbes, Sportico), the Tampa Bay Rays are in advanced stages of being sold to Jacksonville, FL billionaire home builder Patrick Zalupski. In fact, the sale is so far along that a letter of intent has been signed agreeing to a whopping $1.7 billion.

SCOOP: The Tampa Bay Rays are in advanced talks to sell the club to a group led by Jacksonville home builder Patrick Zalupski.

Parties have signed a letter of intent, and the price is roughly $1.7B. Details at @Sportico from @soshnick and me.https://t.co/gugFFMBnJe

— Kurt Badenhausen (@kbadenhausen) June 18, 2025

If that $1.7 billion sales price sounds familiar, it’s probably because it’s the exact amount the Pohlad family has been asking for the Minnesota Twins, a price that has reportedly been holding up a sale from going through.

Forbes recently valued the Minnesota Twins at $1.5 billion (23rd in MLB), which is similar to what interested parties have been willing to offer the Pohlads, according to reports. Guess where the Rays sit on that Forbes list?

Shocker (not), it’s far below the Twins. In that same analysis, Forbes valued the Tampa Bay Rays at $1.25 billion, ranking 29th in Major League Baseball. To make matters more intriguing, the Rays don’t even have a home stadium right now, after Tropicana Field was torn to shreds by Hurricane Milton.

Rays sale will likely affect Minnesota Twins sale process

Yet, even with all of that being true, Rays ownership somehow has a letter of intent signed for $450 million north of the organization’s latest valuation and $200 million more than what the Minnesota Twins are supposedly worth. But after this sale, that could change.

If there was any news that could help kickstart sales talks in the Pohlads’ favor, outside of a freshly-minted profitable TV deal or surge in millions of Twins.TV subscriptions, it’s the Tampa Bay Rays selling for the exact asking price of the Minnesota Twins.

Related: Minnesota Twins Catcher Exits With Injury

And to add more validity to the Pohlad asking price of $1.7 billion, it’s worth noting that the Baltimore Orioles were purchased for $1.73 billion just over a year ago. What makes the Orioles more valuable than the Twins?

Now, if the Rays become the second team sold for that price, after Steve Cohen bought the New York Mets in 2020 for $2.42 billion… you’d have to think these prospective buyers up their willingness to pay $1.7-$1.8 billion for the Twins.

So, is Stu Sternberg a much better negotiator than Joe Pohlad and his family? That’s certainly plausible. There’s no denying that a sale of this magnitude could have ripple effects for the Minnesota Twins as well.

In their recent string of losses, it’s been the Twins bats that have gone to sleep. Minnesota’s pitching staff remains among the best in the MLB. But the Twins’ starting rotation wasn’t always the bright spot of this roster.

Kyle Gibson signing with Tampa Bay Rays

Not that long ago, it was a group lead by names like Phil Hughes, Michael Pineda and Kyle Gibson. Those were not the good old days. Speaking of Gibby, who is now at the end of his career and recently released by the Baltimore Orioles, he has a new team. Coincidentally, it’s the aforementioned Tampa Bay Rays.

Veteran righthander Kyle Gibson is signing with the Rays

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) May 28, 2025

This offseason, Gibson flirted with retirement, before the Baltimore Orioles lured him back onto the mound with a $5.25 million salary. Unfortunately for Kyle and the Orioles, he struggled (along with the rest of the staff) and he was DFA’d last week.

The Rays play in the same AL East that the Baltimore Orioles, whose starting staff has been the worst in all of baseball. Tampa Bay — who held the Twins to four runs in three games during their series — checks in at 25th overall.

In four starts with Baltimore, Gibson allowed 23 runs on 29 hits across just 12 1/3 innings. He had a paltry 10/7 K/BB and served up seven dingers. It’s possible that Gibson provides the Rays some length out of the bullpen, and is able to show a level of veteran leadership.

Related: Byron Buxton Return Timeline Updated…

There isn’t much on the line for Tampa Bay either. Baltimore is footing the entire $5.25 million bill after Gibson cleared waivers. The Rays are on the hook for just a prorated portion of the big league minimum. The Rays will come to Minnesota over 4th of July weekend at Target Field. We’ll see if Gibby is still around by then.

Rays send former Minnesota Twins catcher packing

On Tuesday night, former Minnesota Twins catching prospect Ben Rortvedt played against his former franchise. The Rays designated him for assignment, immediately after that game vs the Twins, because they needed to make room for newly acquired Matt Thais from the Chicago White Sox.

#Rays are expected to DFA C Ben Rortvedt to make room for Thaiss to be added to roster Wednesday. Rortvedt was emotional in clubhouse saying goodbyes to players.

— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) May 28, 2025

Rortvedt was in his second year with Tampa Bay, after joining them in 2024, following a stop with the New York Yankees. The former second round pick from Wisconsin has always been a defensive player first. Last season, he batted .228/.317/.303 in 112 games for Tampa Bay. The 80 OPS+ with plus defense.

This season, Rortvedt appeared in 26 games and batted just .095/.186/.297 (-11 OPS+). At 27 years old, however, it’s likely he’ll find another shot somewhere. Wherever he lands, it’s probably be in the minors.

Then, in the top of the second, a Trevor Larnach home run (with an exit velocity of 112 MPH) drove three more runs in. But that wasn’t all the damage Trevor’s homer caused.

Trevor Larnach Home run knocks out Rays fan in right field

Larnach’s blast left Tropicana Field so fast that if you blinked, you might have missed it. Just like the Rays fan in right field, who tried to catch the rocket shot. Instead, the baseball went right through the guy’s hands. And right behind those hands, was his face. The result was reminiscent of what ends a lot of MMA fights.

I’m pretty sure Trevor Larnach just killed a Rays fan in RF… pic.twitter.com/uxZd1owvrR

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) September 2, 2024

bro got smacked in the face.. larnach homerun tho! pic.twitter.com/2tjiHGYWAR

— Dylan 🟣 (@PrimeMargot) September 2, 2024

No update on fan’s condition yet

After the game went on for an hour or two, without any mention on the broadcast or from reporters on what happened with the fan (or that the event occured at all), Dyoung-Ho Park (MLB.com) confirmed that the fan is okay.

Related: Byron Buxton on His Way Back to Minnesota Twins Lineup Once Again

I hope and pray that this Rays fan is getting the medical attention he needs. Taking a baseball to the face, at that velocity, is a serious injury. If an update comes out on the fan’s condition or more videos surface, we will post them here.

Yes, three wildcard teams will make the MLB Postseason in 2022, and going forward. That means 6 teams in each conference and 12 playoff teams in total. Two teams in each conference will receive a 1st-round bye and will not participate in Wildcard Weekend. That leaves the worst division winner of the three (the AL Central this season), and three wildcard teams to duke it out.

Twins’ Playoff Picture

The AL West (Astros) and AL East (Yankees) have far better records than the teams battling for AL Central superiority. That means, unless the Yankees continue to lose at the same pace they have been lately, the Twins will play on Wildcard Weekend, even if they win the division.

As of Saturday morning, the Minnesota Twins sit 1 game back of the Cleveland Guardians, in the AL Central standings. The White Sox are 3.5 games behind the division leaders. But winning the AL Central isn’t the Twins’ only opportunity to get into the postseason.

Earlier in the year, many believed the AL East was so good that they would run away with all three wildcard sports in the American League. But with 45 games remaining on the Twins schedule, they sit just 0.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays for the 3rd wildcard spot and just 2 games behind the Seattle Mariners for the 1st wildcard.

Wildcard Weekend explained

There are more significant changes that need to be mentioned, as it pertains to the 1st round of the upcoming playoffs. There will be two wildcard series in each conference (four total). Three wildcard teams and the worst of the three division winners. All 1st round series will be “best-of-3”. So, the first team to win two games will move onto the Divisional Round.

The other twist? All three games of each series will be played at the higher seed’s stadium. No switching locations. That means, should the Minnesota Twins win the AL Central, but miss out on a 1st round bye, they’d play all 1st round games at Target Field (vs the #3 wildcard team). The #1 wildcard will also play all of that weekend at home (vs the #2 wildcard team).

After the wildcard round, the playoff bracket looks much more familiar. Eight teams battling through the Divisional and Championship rounds, to reach the World Series. All games, from the Divisional round on will be “best-of-7”.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

As Minnesota gets set for this weekend’s three-game series  vs the Tampa Bay Rays, the A.L. Central leading ballclub should be plenty rested. Between a bullshit April blizzard, and off days surrounding the Puerto Rico trip, the Twins have played two games (25 innings, though) over the past week.

With their next trio of contests taking place away from Target Field, there’s no need to sweat the forecast. The Rays play their home games at Tropicana Field.

Tropicana Field is the Metrodome’s doppelgänger pic.twitter.com/egaWEWfFoL

— Johnny Minnesota (@TheJohnnyMN) April 20, 2018

Sidebar: My sources say there’s no chance there of a dome collapse due to snow.

After Lance Lynn takes the mound on Friday, barring any unforeseen events, Kyle Gibson will do the same on Saturday. While Lynn and Gibson have already combined for five starts, Sunday’s pitcher will be making his MLB season debut:

Sunday starter? Phil Hughes looks ready for first start for #mntwins since July, @LaVelleNeal reports https://t.co/jMLt6KOs53 pic.twitter.com/DW5rUewv6C

— Star Tribune Sports (@StribSports) April 20, 2018

Per LaVelle E. Neal III, the 31 year-old, Phil Hughes, will be activated from the disabled list in time to start Sunday against Tampa Bay. The move comes in anticipation of next week’s four game series vs. the Evil Empire:

Hughes’ appearance will mark the end of Paul Molitor’s previously employed four-man rotation.

Minnesota’s next (scheduled) off day isn’t until May 17th. With their best pitcher from 2017, Ervin Santana, expected to return around that time, how long Hughes stays among the reigning A.L. Manager of the Year’s Top 5 starters will remain to be seen.

The 2004 first round draft pick is coming off of a 2017 season that was a doppelgänger of his 2016 campaign.

Latest setback ‘disheartening’ for Phil Hughes, who could face 2nd season-ending surgery in 12-plus months. https://t.co/cfZ0RmNz1E

— Mike Berardino (@MikeBerardino) July 18, 2017

According to our friends at the Mayo Clinic, “Thoracic outlet syndrome is a group of disorders that occur when blood vessels or nerves in the space between your collarbone and your first rib are compressed.” While that breakdown makes the condition sound worse, Hughes has expressed that he FEELS better.

#MNTwins MiLB results: Fort Myers wins 5-4. Phil Hughes pitched a second time this season with the Miracle and grabbed the win. His line: 5 innings, 3 hits, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K.

— Martin Schlegel (@mschlegel34) April 15, 2018

Good to hear. Let’s hope that his feeling-better equates to pitching better. Despite starting his Twins’ tenure strong, his last two (shortened) seasons have been brutal.

Phil Hughes’ Twins Career:

Johnny Minnesota (@TheJohnnyMN)
MinnesotaSportsFan.com