After rallying to win games six and seven and becoming the first repeat champions since the 2000s Yankees, the baseball world is out to take down the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers. The work begins now in the offseason.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s still unclear what the Minnesota Twins plan to do this offseason. They have the core talent and financial flexibility to compete for a playoff spot again in a weak division, but Derek Falvey and Co. may opt to go a different route after back-to-back disappointing seasons in the wake of 2023\u2019s achievements. There\u2019s also the Pohlad factor as both managing owner Joe Pohlad and Derek Falvey have been non-committal on a payroll figure for 2026. Whatever route the Twins choose, it\u2019s bound to be an eventful offseason.<\/p>\n
November 6: Free Agency Begins<\/p>\n
Technically, free agency is already underway, but players aren\u2019t eligible to sign with new teams until November 6th. Players on the 40-man roster are also eligible to be traded again. Players and teams with contract options must also make those decisions by this deadline.<\/p>\n
Twins Players Impacted: Justin Topa ($2M club option for 2026)<\/p>\n
Topa carries a $2M club option with a $225K buyout if the option is declined. With Topa projected to make around $1.75M in arbitration anyway, it\u2019s likely the Twins pick up Topa\u2019s option to keep his veteran presence in an inexperienced bullpen.<\/p>\n
November 10-13: GM Meetings<\/p>\n
There won\u2019t be as much player movement in these initial gatherings as in the Winter Meetings in December, but the groundwork for future moves is often laid here. Regardless, this is around when the dominoes begin to fall and teams start to zone in on their targets for this offseason.<\/p>\n
November 18: Roster Protection Deadline<\/p>\n
By the 18th, MLB teams will have to add players to the 40-man roster if they want to protect them from the Rule 5 Draft. The Twins have quite a few interesting players who could be added before the deadline.<\/p>\n
Gabriel Gonzalez, OFHendry Mendez, OF\/1BConnor Prielipp, SPAndrew Morris, SPKendry Rojas, SP\/RPKyler Fedko, OF\/1BKala\u2019i Rosario, OFAndy Lugo, UTILCory Lewis, SPCJ Culpepper, SP<\/p>\n
Other Notable R5 Eligible Players<\/p>\n
Ricardo Olivar, CAaron Sabato, 1BTanner Schobel, SSDanny De Andrade, SSJose Olivares, SPDarren Bowen, SPAlejandro Hidalgo, SP<\/p>\n
The Twins currently only have 2 open 40-man roster spots, but can easily create 5-7 more by non-tendering\/DFA-ing players like Genesis Cabrera, Thomas Hatch, Michael Tonkin, and Jose Miranda.<\/p>\n
November 21: Non-tender Deadline<\/p>\n
Speaking of non-tendering, teams must decide whether to offer contracts to their arbitration-eligible and pre-arb players by this date. You don\u2019t have to agree to a specific contract, just tender a contract with the final figure to be decided at a future date either via negotiation or the arbitration process. There\u2019s typically of flurry of deals around this date for teams that prefer not to settle salaries in court. The Twins announced deals with all of their arbitration-eligible players on the deadline last year.<\/p>\n
Arbitration-Eligible Twins<\/p>\n