Tuesday, November 04

The season has ended, but the newsletter goes on. The Twins acted quickly with the first task of their offseason, announcing the dismissal of manager Rocco Baldelli less than 24 hours after they’d finished playing their final game in Philadelphia. 

And while it’s four-and-a-half months till camp opens in Fort Myers, a busy offseason awaits the club. It’s a winter filled with uncertainty on multiple fronts, so here is a look at five big questions facing the Twins as the offseason begins. 

Who will be the manager? 

We know it won’t be Baldelli for an eighth year, but beyond that, the club has divulged very little. The process is just beginning, and no timeline has been given. But that doesn’t mean we don’t have some idea of what the Twins might be thinking. 

First, after consecutive disappointing seasons, there can’t help being some heat on the front office. So despite some entertaining speculation, don’t expect them to take a wild swing on someone with minimal relevant experience. It’s not that someone like Nelson Cruz or Torii Hunter couldn’t be hired, but it seems unlikely. 

And while Twins president of baseball and business operations Derek Falvey hasn’t ruled anything or anyone out, it also seems unlikely that the next manager will come from the 2025 staff. So although Jayce Tingler has managing experience, he’s probably a very long shot.  

Early names to know include Derek Shelton and Brandon Hyde, who were candidates when Baldelli was hired. Yankees hitting coach James Rowson, who like Shelton has coached with the Twins before, would be an interesting name, especially because one of the new manager’s top responsibilities will be getting the most out of young hitters like Royce Lewis, Brooks Lee, and Matt Wallner. 

What will the payroll be? 

Minnesota went into Opening Day 2025 with a reported payroll around $143 million, according to USA Today, which ranked 18th in the Majors. At the Trade Deadline, the club parted with five pending free agents, but also Carlos Correa, Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax, bringing its 2026 commitments down significantly. 

So will the 2026 overall payroll remain around where it was in 2025? Will it go up to pre-2024 levels? Will it come down further? The answer will determine what the front office is able to do in Hot Stove season – whether it’s adding or subtracting. And maybe more specifically, whether two of the club’s most essential players, Pablo López and Joe Ryan, are retained. Falvey has said it is his “expectation” that both will be back, but that dynamic changes if payroll comes down. 

As of now, the number isn’t known. It’s likely to be determined, though not made public, over the next month. 

“I don’t have that direction yet,” Falvey said Tuesday. “I think that’s a conversation that we’ll continue to have, certainly with the Pohlads and whatever conversation they’d like me to have with the limited partners.” 

Will the push for athleticism continue? 

The Twins were one of the most aggressive baserunning teams in the game down the stretch. Even in the wake of Baldelli’s dismissal, it seems there is a desire to continue in that direction.  

So, will they further tailor the roster to fit the strategy? Players like Wallner and Trevor Larnach have value, but they’re not a great fit for a lineup built around putting the ball in play, running the bases, and playing defense. Deadline acquisition Alan Roden, on the other hand, is more that kind of player. So is Austin Martin, who thrived in August and September. 

As the front office looks at filling out the roster, it will be intriguing to see if they focus on those kinds of players, and even whether they part ways with some of the current players who are not as athletic. 

How does the rotation shake out? 

Assuming no major changes to payroll (see question No. 2), López and Ryan provide a formidable front of the rotation, and all indications are that López should have a normal, healthy offseason. Beyond that? Questions. Lots of questions. 

The biggest surrounds Bailey Ober, who had some fine games but was inconsistent down the stretch. The Twins are counting on him regaining some of his lost velocity, but it’s an unknown until they see it.  

Then, beyond that, it’s four or five candidates for two spots. Simeon Woods Richardson, Taj Bradley, Zebby Matthews, and Mick Abel all flashed at times, but as of now, there aren’t spots for them. That’s before you even mention David Festa, whom the club believes will be healthy for Spring Training.  

How will they rebuild the bullpen? 

You may have noticed, the late innings were a little rough after the Trade Deadline. There’s basically zero chance the Twins go into 2026 without a significant relief overhaul. The question is, how do they go about that? 

History suggests that they will not spend big on relief help, which doesn’t mean no free agents. A return engagement with Danny Coulombe, for example, wouldn’t be a shock, and a couple of other additions like that are likely in the offing. 

But the more intriguing question may be how much of the 'pen the Twins fill from within. As noted, there are at least eight candidates for five starting spots, plus exciting prospects like Connor Prielipp (No. 9) and Kendry Rojas (No. 5) at Triple-A. They have a history of turning starting prospects into effective relievers. The balance between new additions and internal transitions is a fascinating unknown. 

The mighty Living Colour, one of my all-time favorite bands, made an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel last week, and of course they crushed it. Here are five of my favorites from their great career. 

“Desperate People”
“This Is The Life”
“Never Satisfied”
“Flying”
“That’s What You Taught Me” 

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