Ken Rosenthal points out why Twins slashing payroll this offseason is a total joke
By Josh Hill
As the Minnesota Twins offseason remains quiet, fans are starting to get louder with their frustration.
Historically a frugal franchise, this winter has been one of the worst offseasons in recent memory, due in large part to the context around it. Twins fans were hoping the team would build off the most successful postseason trip in two decades by, you know, adding to the roster and solidifying its status as a contender.
Rather than do anything, the team has instead sat on its hands, shrugging off the lack of movement by blaming lost future revenue due to the ongoing drama with Bally Sports North and Diamond Sports Group. The only move the Twins have made this offseason is slashing the payroll by $30 million, a move that has forced the team to watch free agents like Sonny Gray and Kenta Maeda hit the road while sitting out negotiations on affordable deals other teams have landed.
It's those other teams that The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, in a round about way, pointed to as a justification for the rage in Twins Territory.
Ken Rosenthal debunks Twins excuse for not spending any money this offseason
While talking about the Miami Marlins payroll situation, Rosenthal unintentionally threw the Twins under all 18-wheels of the bus. He points to the Cincinnati Reds and Kansas City Royals as small market teams that didn't let the regional sports network TV drama stop them from spending in free agency.
"At least [Miami] is not publicly using uncertain future revenues from its regional sports network as an excuse for its lack of spending. Such a rationale would ring hollow when the Reds and Royals, two other low-revenue clubs in a similar position with bankrupt broadcaster Diamond Sports, have spent$106.2 million and $105 million on free agents, respectively," Rosenthal wrote.
It's hard to not read that and immediately pull out even more hair over what the Twins are doing.
Kansas City is specifically frustration to watch spend money, as the team is still viewed as being third-best in the AL Central but landed Twins targets on deals the front office easily could have matched or beaten. The Royals signed pitchers Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo, as well as outfielder Hunter Renfroe -- all players viewed as potential fits in Minnesota.
Meanwhile the only signing the Twins made was a low-budget deal for Josh Staumont. Gray still needs to be replaced, Jorge Polanco needs to be traded, and Minnesota has yet to address the roster in any meaningful way.
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