A sense of dread has returned for the Minnesota Twins this season, as after being one of baseball's best teams in May, the Twins quickly descended toward being one of the worst teams in baseball last month. In July, the Twins have balanced out and remain a part of the crowded American League Wild-Card picture. Still, in the long term, there isn't much to be excited about, considering the pending sale of the team is complicating any decision that could be made at the trade deadline.
ESPN's David Schoenfield, who also had some unhinged Byron Buxton trade ideas, graded teams at the midway point of the season, and for the Twins, it was a forgettable "D+". In his explanation of the grade, Schoenfield got brutally honest about what has failed the Twins.
"The Twins are one organization that might like a do-over of the past five seasons. It feels like they've had the most talent in the division, but all they've done is squeeze out one soft division title in 2023. Now, the Tigers have passed them in talent and other factors, such as payroll flexibility."
ESPN’s latest Twins dig hit a little too close to home
It's hard to pick any flaws with Schoenfield's logic. With a core of Royce Lewis, Carlos Correa, and Pablo López, there was a point in time when the Twins were the most talented team in the American League Central. Now, the Twins have been passed by the Tigers, and the case can be made that the Kansas City Royals have passed Minnesota as well.
For the Twins, their low grade can be tied back to their ownership situation. It's been no secret that the Pohlad family has been trying to sell the Twins for much of the past year. During that time, there have been minimal commitments to the Major League roster--dating back to last season's trade deadline when the Twins were largely inactive despite being a postseason contender.
If the Twins' pitching staff gets healthy, there's a chance the team can go on a run and solidify their chances in the Wild-Card race. However, even that scenario would require upgrades at the trade deadline. Which, to close the loop, doesn't seem too likely based on the precedent that was set last season.