4 key reasons why the Minnesota Twins aren't playing playoff baseball right now
It was a lost season for the Minnesota Twins, one that should have never ended the way it did.
As the MLB season comes to a close, Minnesota Twins fans find themselves reflecting on a year filled with potential yet ultimately marred by disappointment.
Despite the team's promising start, an epic six week fall from grace has the Twins and their fans booking tee times instead of playoff tickets. It was a tremendous collapse, one that has already started to cost jobs and will surely lead to significant changes this winter.
Before we look ahead, though, we need to look back to see exactly how we got to this point.
4 key reasons the Twins missing the playoffs this season
Lack of spending
In today’s competitive baseball landscape, proper financial investment is often a crucial to success. The Twins have historically been perceived as a small-market team, and this season was no exception. While the front office made some late minor strategic moves, they largely refrained from pursuing impact free agents or making significant trades to bolster the roster.
This reluctance to spend, particularly on high-impact pitchers and position players, left the team with a roster that struggled to compete against the league's powerhouses.
The Twins had the potential to acquire talent that could have made a difference in close games at the trade deadline. However, the hesitation to open the checkbook left them with a roster that, while young and talented, lacked the depth necessary for a playoff push. In an era where teams are increasingly willing to invest in talent to secure postseason success, the Twins' cautious approach proved costly.
Ownership completely botched a TV deal that made the Twins hard to watch in more ways than one. Comcast dropping Bally Sports a month into the season meant the team was inaccessible to a large portion of the fan base. The lack of deal over the winter meant a reduced payroll and zero meaningful moves.
There's a lot of trust that needs to be earned back in 2025.
Pitching woes
Pitching is often the backbone of a successful baseball team, and the Twins’ struggles on the mound were glaring.
The starting rotation, which was supposed to be a strength, fell short of expectations. Several key pitchers failed to deliver consistent performances, leading to an increased reliance on a young starters and a shaky bullpen.
Pablo Lopez, who earned Cy Young votes last season, was a shell of himself for most of the year. Joe Ryan was a shining star but went down with an injury, and Bailey Ober's consistency flucuated throughout the season. Louie Varland was up-and-down between the minors, Simeon Woods-Richardson was a revelation but also had a knack for struggling, and youngsters David Festa and Zebby Matthews very much had Baby Deer Legs despite having some strong showing.
What makes things worse is the fact that fans were sold snake oil last winter about how the Twins were looking to trade for frontline starting pitching. Instead, Jorge Polanco was salary dumped and the bullpen saw low wattage additions than ultimately proved to be more harmful than anything else.
A more aggressive approach in bolstering the pitching staff during the offseason could have addressed these issues and provided the team with a fighting chance down the stretch.
Injuries to key players
Injuries are an unfortunate reality in professional sports, and the Twins faced their fair share this season. Key players, including stars Carlos Correra, Byron Buxton, Royce Lewis and pitchers, Chris Paddack, Joe Ryan amongst others, spent significant time on the injured list, which disrupted team chemistry and performance.
The absence of these players not only weakened the lineup but also put added pressure on others to step up—something that, unfortunately, did not happen consistently.
The loss of superstar talents in pivotal moments can derail even the most promising campaigns. For the Twins, injuries meant that they often fielded a less competitive lineup, which resulted in struggles against both divisional and non-divisional opponents. When healthy, these players are game-changers, but their absence proved detrimental.
Poor performance and tough slumps
Even when the Twins managed to put a full roster on the field, inconsistent performance plagued them throughout the season.
Key hitters failed to produce at expected levels, leading to a lack of run support for a pitching staff already under pressure. Slumps from players who were counted on to deliver crucial hits meant that the team often found itself on the wrong side of one-run games.
In addition, defensive lapses and mental mistakes compounded the Twins’ woes, leading to lost opportunities and momentum shifts. The inability to execute fundamental baseball at critical moments highlighted the need for a more disciplined approach, one that could have turned tight contests in their favor.
Missing the playoff this year wasn't about one single thing going wrong, it was a multifaceted issue, driven by a lack of financial commitment, pitching inconsistencies, injuries to key players, and poor on-field performance.
As the team looks to the future, addressing these concerns will be essential, as will avoiding the same mistakes. With the right investments and strategic adjustments, the Twins can aim to reclaim their place among the postseason contenders in the coming years. For now, however, fans are left to ponder what might have been.
More Minnesota Twins news and rumors
feed