The Twins trade deadline sell-off was so complete that, after two weeks, it’s almost more astonishing than it was the day Derek Falvey and Co. slow-rolled the exits of 10 (mostly) veteran players for prospects the team’s fans knew little to nothing about.
It remains astonishing because the Twins have been so adequate for so long, that even in their non-playoff seasons — at least since Falvey came on as president of baseball operations in 2016 — the team has always had something on the blackboard. One imagines something like the “Good Will Hunting” equation, with young talent such as Jose Miranda, Griffin Jax and Bailey Ober connected to free agent acquisitions like Josh Donaldson, Carlos Correa and Kyle Farmer that — after all the pluses, minuses and co-sines — inevitably equaled a World Series.
That’s gone. Erased, somewhat unceremoniously — and perhaps not even expected by Falvey — between July 28-31. All that’s left is a handful of prospect names in the corner, waiting to be connected to … who knows? The previous plan reaped four playoff appearances, including the team’s first postseason victory since 2006 — a two-game wild card series over Toronto in 2023 — but Falvey had decided it didn’t work.
“We’ve got to find a new way to do it,” Falvey said on deadline day.
This will not be the kind of “competitive rebuild” that the Vikings were able to put together last season.
If the Twins haven’t been stripped to the studs, it’s only because they still have three good starters under contract in Joe Ryan, Pablo Lopez and Bailey Ober. Now, the front office has to decide whether they want to extend those contracts or just cut bait and trade them for more prospects.
Why wait, unless Falvey thinks he can get more for any of those arms at the 2026 deadline?
There are some talented young players in the lineup; chiefly Brooks Lee, Luke Keaschall and struggling third baseman Royce Lewis. And the Twins got some promising prospects from all those trades. Still, it’s (really, really) hard to see this team hitting enough next season for the team to compete at a high level.
This might not be an exciting offseason, but it will be interesting.
One interesting development here is the way the Twins’ two biggest free-agent acquisitions, probably ever, didn’t work out. Whether you want to call them small market or mid-market, the Twins have never been big spenders, and one wonders if signing Josh Donaldson and Carlos Correa will convince Falvey that the traditional Twins’ way is the best way here in the Upper Midwest.
Donaldson, a slugging third baseman, was signed to a four-year, $92 million contract in 2020 and traded after playing just two of those years. Correa signed what amounted to an expensive one-year deal in 2022, then re-signed for six years, $200 million — the largest contract in Twins history — and played less than three of them.
They were OK, helped the Twins win division titles, but they weren’t worth the money and ultimately were sent away because the team decided their presence in the clubhouse wasn’t wanted or needed.
It’s difficult to see the Twins making that kind of free agent splash again anytime soon, which, in one way, is understandable. However, you can’t forget that the Twins were in on Correa because, first, no one would give him the multiyear deal he wanted, then because he failed two physicals with other teams. Donaldson was out for himself and wore out his welcome in every clubhouse he had been in.
These were big names with risks, not slam-dunk acquisitions, and ultimately, neither came close to working. Relative bargains for the perpetually bargain-hunting Twins.
Originally Published: August 9, 2025 at 7:21 PM CDT