If the Twins’ offseason feels unfinished, that’s because it is. With roughly three weeks remaining before players report to Fort Myers, the front office has made it clear that the current roster is more of a foundation than a final product. Minnesota is comfortable waiting, watching, and pouncing when the right opportunity presents itself.
That mindset was reinforced again over the weekend, when general manager Jeremy Zoll spoke openly about the next phase of roster building.
“I think that feels like the most obvious opportunity for us to find ways to raise the floor and improve the club,” Zoll said, “so we’ll keep working on that and figure it out.”
“There’s also obviously trade opportunities that could come about, so I think the trade market is starting to open up more as some of the dominoes are falling across the rest of the league,” said Zoll. “So whether that is free agency or trade, we’ll just have to see as we keep working through these next couple weeks.”
The key phrase there is “raise the floor”. This is not a front-office hinting at a blockbuster. Instead, the Twins appear focused on incremental improvements that stabilize the roster and protect against the volatility that defined last season. Bullpen depth remains the most obvious need, but it is far from the only one.
Zoll also made sure to remind everyone that patience has paid off before. Last winter, three major-league signings came after TwinsFest, well into the portion of the calendar where many fans assume the heavy lifting is done. Under the Derek Falvey-led front office, there have been many winters when the team’s biggest moves came late in the game. For fans, it can be tough to see the long-term vision, but there have been positive late additions in recent years.
“We’re really optimistic that we’re going to have some good chances to be opportunistic here over these next few weeks before we head down to Fort Myers, to keep finding ways to supplement the club, complement it, strengthen the bullpen, and find any other creative ways to put the best team on the field for this year,” he said.
That optimism matters, especially given the constant questions surrounding payroll. While exact numbers remain murky, both Zoll and primary owner Tom Pohlad strongly suggested the Twins are not locked into their current spending level.
“We’re going to continue,” Pohlad said. “The clock doesn’t stop until Opening Day, right? For better or worse, Derek and Jeremy have a history of adding pieces late. I’m sure you are going to continue to see that. We know that we have to continue to improve the bullpen, and we’re going to continue to be opportunistic about creative pieces that can improve this team across the field.”
‘Creative’ is doing a lot of work there, and it offers a clue as to how the Twins may operate. Rather than simply adding salary, Minnesota is well-positioned to trade from its areas of strength. Starting pitching depth is an obvious example. Even after injuries and innings management are considered, the organization has more viable arms than rotation spots. That depth can be leveraged to address needs elsewhere, without weakening the core.
Another area to watch is left-handed-hitting corner outfielders. The Twins have an abundance of similar offensive profiles, particularly from the left side, and not all of them will have everyday roles. Trevor Larnach seems like an ideal trade candidate, but other names (like Matt Wallner) might have more trade value. Packaging from that surplus could help bring back bullpen help or versatile depth pieces that fit the front office’s preference for flexibility.
All of these messages point to a familiar Twins approach. The roster that reports to Fort Myers will not look drastically different, but it likely will not be identical, either. Small additions, depth moves, and calculated trades have long been a part of this regime’s playbook, especially late in the winter when prices soften and options expand.
Do you support the front office’s strategy? What moves do you think fit within their payroll flexibility? Leave a comment and start the discussion.