Dear Derek Falvey, the Pohlad family, and the Minnesota Twins front office,
Thank you for your recent note to season ticket holders. It’s always good to hear directly from leadership in a time like this, when the dust is still settling on one of the most dramatic trade deadlines in franchise history. A dozen moves in 24 hours. The largest contract in team history is gone. A flame-throwing closer sent to a contender. The team’s emotional leader and utility man shipped to the North Side. Ten players out the door. A completely different clubhouse was left behind.
You said this was “a clear and deliberate decision to strengthen the next chapter of championship-caliber baseball.” That sounds noble, and I believe the intention behind the moves was real. But from this seat, it looks less like a “next push” and more like an organizational white flag. After weeks of treading water, the Twins didn’t just pivot to the future. They sprinted toward it, carrying half the roster in their arms.
Let’s be honest: this wasn’t a pivot. It was a purge.
And if we’re talking about reactions, you’re right, we’ve got plenty. You said our response reflects how much we care, and that’s absolutely true. But passion only goes so far when fans are asked to watch stars leave year after year. Carlos Correa, the marquee signing we were told represented a new era, is gone. Jhoan Duran, the face of the bullpen and a guy who could have anchored the back end for years, gone. Fan favorites like Griffin Jax and Willi Castro, who grinded it out daily, gone.
In return, the Twins acquired several names most fans have never heard of and a few fringe contributors who might get a look in September. We understand the logic. These are moves aimed at 2026, maybe even 2027. But that’s a tough sell when fans are still waiting to see the supposed long-term core stay healthy and produce consistently. These are guys like Royce Lewis, Brooks Lee, and Matt Wallner.
You pointed out that this wasn’t “about patchwork or small adjustments,” and we agree. You tore it down to the studs. But after cutting payroll over the last two seasons and backing away from adding at multiple deadlines, the question isn’t just “what’s next?” It’s why should fans still believe you’ll follow through when the time comes to spend again?
You can’t build long-term success if you’re always in transition. This was supposed to be the competitive window. You signed Correa long-term. You extended Pablo López. You told fans this was the team that could break through. And then, two years after winning your first playoff game in nearly two decades, you sold off half the roster and didn’t leave a lot of hope for the future.
The most telling move might be Louis Varland. You dealt a guy who’s under team control, has been a revelation in the bullpen, and was pitching well in July. That’s not a deadline move teams make when they believe they’re retooling. That’s a move you make when you’re starting over.
We want to believe there’s a plan. We want to believe this pipeline you’ve built is going to blossom into a contender. But those are promises we’ve heard before. Fans can only be asked to stay patient so many times before they start looking for something else to do on a summer night.
So, to borrow your own words: this wasn’t about small adjustments. This was about accountability. And now, the Twins’ front office needs to hold itself to the same standard it set for the players it just sent packing.
Twins fans want a championship-caliber product. And we don’t want to wait until 2026 to get a taste of it again.
Sincerely,
A fan who still cares.