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Suddenly Spend Happy Twins Want to Make More Moves
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- Suddenly Spend Happy Twins Want to Make More Moves
Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
All offseason we have been told that the Minnesota Twins were financially broke (relatively speaking). For months, we've been fed the same old narrative. As long as the Pohlads were in charge, the Twins — who were over their $130 million player budget before the offseason even started — would have little money to spend on talent.
During the past two offseasons, Twins decision makers made it very clear that balancing the yearly budget had become the organization's No. 1 priority, even over winning. That was until earlier this week, when the front office signed OF Harrison Bader and RP Danny Coulombe , adding about $10 million of additional salary for 2025.
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Shortly after those signings were announced — with player payroll now $11 million over budget ($141 million) — reports surfaced that Twins president Derek Falvey had to go directly to representing owner Joe Pohlad with a request to increase the team's 2025 player budget, so they could sign Bader and Coulombe.
Minnesota Twins still have more moves planned?
Not only did Falvey get the green light on budget increases that have already taken place. But according to what the new team president told Dan Hayes (The Athletic) this weekend, the MN Twins still have more moves they want to make before spring training starts next week.
Even though the Twins' $141.6 million payroll is much more than it was believed they had to spend, potentially there could be more wiggle room if the fit is right. Falvey suggested Pohlad has been open-minded to adding payroll even though his family put the team up for sale in October…
We do not know why this sudden influx of available cash is coming from for the Minnesota Twins. One more signing and they will be nearing the total payroll pre 2024, before it was announced last offseason that they were cutting the budget by $20-$30 million.
Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Related: Twins Make Trade to Open Roster Space
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Why is this happening? Why are the Twins suddenly willing to throw $10-$20 million around all of a sudden? That's a great question, and there's no way to know for sure. But it's impossible to ignore the previously reported timeline for this sale.
"We knew that early on in the offseason, maybe some of those (opportunities) weren't going to present as well in terms of the fit financially and on the roster. We knew we might have to just be patient. … I've had active conversations with Joe the last couple of weeks and he greenlighted the ability to add a little bit."
Remember, we were told last month that, while this deal is unlikely to be finalized by Opening Day, it's expected that a handshake deal is in place by then . So… could this recent influx of cash be at the request of this new owner, whose identity is yet to be revealed to the public? It certainly seems plausible.
What are the Twins shopping for?
Per Hayes (and multiple other reports), the Minnesota Twins are still on the hunt for improvements at two different positions. They want to add a veteran presence at first base, with a focus on defense, and a better backup option for Carlos Correa at shortstop.
The Twins ideally prefer a steadier glove at shortstop than utilityman Willi Castro, whom they like to move around the diamond, in the case of a long-term absence for Correa. Earlier this week, multiple league sources confirmed the Twins inquired about backup shortstop options Luis Urías and Paul DeJong after previously reaching out to infielder Jon Berti before he signed with the Chicago Cubs.
Related: Royce Lewis Ultimately Destined to Play… First Base?
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No matter what happens over the next five weeks, as we wait for the MN Twins 2025 regular season to start, there are sure to be plenty of fireworks coming out of the Twins PR department. Between late offseason roster additions and new ownership announcements… maybe some fun will come back to Target Field this summer.
