There are reasons for Twins fans to be optimistic about the 2026 season. Pablo López, Joe Ryan and Byron Buxton are superstars. Luke Keaschall, Royce Lewis, Matt Wallner and more have shown flashes of stardom. Walker Jenkins, Kaelen Culpepper and Emmanuel Rodriguez are exciting prospects who will likely make their MLB debuts next year.
However, even though there are reasons to believe the Twins can be competitive in 2026, a lot has to go right for them to return to the playoffs. Fans are already upset about the 2024 collapse and last season's trade-deadline fire sale, creating immense pressure on the organization to be much better next season.
ESPN names Twins fans most frustrated fanbase in 2025
ESPN's David Schoenfield named Twins fans the most frustrated MLB fanbase in 2025.
Let's go back to 2023. The Twins won their first playoff series in 21 years, sweeping the Toronto Blue Jays in two games to advance to the ALDS against the Houston Astros. Minnesota fell short against Houston, but optimism was high heading into 2024.
However, the Pohlads decided to slash payroll by $30 million rather than add to a playoff team. As a result, the team missed the playoffs in 2024 despite having a 95.4% chance to make the playoffs on September 5, per FanGraphs.
Then, the Pohlads announced they were seeking to sell the Twins in October 2024. They failed to find a seller, likely due to their reported $500 million in debt, and instead eventually added three minority investors and made a leadership change, further frustrating Twins fans who thought the Pohlads would no longer be involved with the Twins.
If the Twins made the playoffs last season, then fans wouldn't be as frustrated with the Pohalds. However, Minnesota wasn't good in 2025 and traded nearly 40% of its roster, including infielder Carlos Correa, at the trade deadline to lower payroll and bolster their farm system.
Many media members and writers thought the Twins would trade Buxton and Ryan/López this offseason, continuing what they started at the trade deadline. However, the team has made it clear that it intends to compete next year, adding first baseman Josh Bell and reliever Eric Orze. Still, the Twins aren't going to add any superstars this offseason, making a postseason return unlikely. A third straight year missing the playoffs would further anger fans.