The Minnesota Twins had a tough 2024. After slashing $30 million in payroll, the Twins watched a double-digit lead in the American League Wild Card standings evaporate as they missed the playoffs.
But are the Twins as frustrating to their fans as the historically bad Chicago White Sox? ESPN’s David Schoenfield believes so.
Schoenfield listed the Twins fourth on his list of most frustrated fan bases of 2024, right below the White Sox, who checked in third. This is notable considering the White Sox set an MLB record with 121 losses last season but Schoenfield believes the Twins should be right with them after how they handled last season.
“In 2023, the Twins finally ended their long playoff winless streak – and then subsequently cut payroll for 2024, blaming the TV situation,” Schoenfield wrote. “It looks like they’re going to sit out this offseason as well as they haven’t done anything except sign some guys to minor league contracts. That means their best bet for 2025 will be hoping, once again that Carlos Correa, Royce Lewis and Byron Buxton will stay healthy. Rinse, repeat and cry tears of frustration, Twins fans.”
Minnesota Twins fans’ frustration on par with Chicago White Sox fans
It may seem hyperbolous to think that the Twins are in the same boat as the White Sox but there may be some similarities. While the White Sox lost more games, they’ve been in the same salary-slashing mode the Twins have been in, looking to the trade market instead of paying big names in free agency.
Schoenfield noted that the White Sox traded Erick Fedde at last July’s trade deadline and Garrett Crochet earlier this month. Both players combined for 8.8 wins above replacement while the rest of the roster combined for minus-2.2 WAR with Luis Robert Jr. next on the trading block.
White Sox general manager Chris Getz may see this as part of a full-scale rebuild in Chicago but the Twins are having similar rumors. After listening to offers on Carlos Correa at the MLB Winter Meetings and Pablo López according to a Jeff Passan report last week, it appears that any Twins player could be on the block, making a team that missed the playoffs last season markedly worse.
Minnesota Twins could have a quick turnaround in 2025
While the Los Angeles Angels ranked first and the Seattle Mariners ranked second on Schoenfield’s list, the Twins may be in for a quicker turnaround than the White Sox.
The Twins still have the core of Lewis, Buxton and Correa but all three players need to stay healthy for that to happen. Minnesota also needs to find a way to upgrade the back end of the starting rotation, the bullpen and first base and their intention of operating with a payroll of $130 million for the second straight year and their knack for underachieving keeps getting in the way.
“I considered putting the Cleveland Guardians here because they spend even less on payroll than the Twins…but at least the Guardians usually manage to…put a good team on the field including this past season when they reached the ALCS. Cleveland always seems to overachieve whereas Minnesota often underachieves despite a talented roster playing in what has historically been a soft division.”
Schoenfield also noted that things can change quickly. While that not be enough to help the White Sox avoid triple-digit losses for the second straight year, it could inspire some optimism for a Twins fan base that needs it.
“These depressing situations can turn around quicker than people realize,” Schoenfield wrote. “Just last year, the Kansas City Royals went from 56 wins in 2023 to the playoffs the following season. … The Orioles went from 110 losses in 2021 to 101 wins in 2023. The Tigers lost 119 games in 2003 and were in the World Series three years later. It can happen.”
The Twins have a head start in this regard but it remains to be seen if they can put it all together in 2025.