Minnesota Twins: After missing out on Correa, what comes next?

Minnesota Twins Offseason Option No. 3: Let the young talent take the lead and start planning for 2024

When the offseason started, this wasn’t an option in anyone’s mind. The fans and baseball writers alike expected the Twins to be active in the free agent market, bring home a big fish, and compete again in 2023. Instead, this third (and pretty unlikely) option does the opposite.

In this scenario, the front office, realizing it has missed nearly all the top options, strikes out again on Rodon and Dansby while other options sign elsewhere. Realizing the roster is loaded with young potential, they dash the hopes for 2023 and began to tear down.

Max Kepler, Sonny Gray, Tyler Mahle, and Kenta Maeda are dealt to contenders, followed shortly by Jorge Polanco and Kyle Garlick. Christian Vázquez, Jose Miranda, Luis Arraez, Kyle Farmer, Nick Gordon, Alex Kirilloff, and Trevor Larnach are joined by lone holdover Byron Buxton in a lineup that patiently awaits Edouard Julien, Brooks Lee, and Royce Lewis.

Joe Ryan, Josh Winder, Bailey Ober, Simeon Woods Richardson, Louie Varland and Cole Sands get the lion’s share of the starts while the team adds someone like Michael Wacha is added to eat innings. Caleb Thielbar is dealt, as the bullpen continues to add new pieces.

The team has enough young talent to look like a Wild Card team for a while before falling apart and bowing out of the playoff race. The Pohlads opt for a clean sweep, firing Derek Falvey, Thad Levine, and Rocco Baldelli, for someone who will actually spend money to aid a talented young roster for 2024.

Of course, it’s likely that we don’t see this option or the spending option, with a medium approach lulling fans to sleep. Either way, the franchise missed a golden opportunity this year, and whatever comes next will only feel like a consolation prize.