ESPN slams Twins offseason with lowest grade in AL Central

To say it's been a slow offseason for the Minnesota Twins is to severely understate how truly frustrating things have been. After making the postseason and ending a historic losing streak, the Twins have done absolutely nothing to improve the roster.

Only subtractions have been made, from free agents like Sonny Gray and Kenta Maeda leaving to the payroll being reduced. Minnesota has always been a frugal franchise, but this winter has been uniquely cold thanks to the context that surrounds it.

The Twins still have moves on the board, from trading Max Kepler and/or Jorge Polanco to finding whoever is this year's low-risk veteran addition. Minnesota hasn't typically gotten into the mix until the new year rolls around, but the clock is ticking louder than usual and more than just Twins fans are starting to get impatient.

MLB experts aren't very impressed with Twins offseason so far

In a piece grading each MLB team's offseason so far, David Schoenfield ranked the Twins at the bottom of the AL Central. Minnesota received the worst grade -- a D- -- and a scathing blurb that was essentially a point-and-laugh laced with frustration.

Truthfully, it was cathartic to read.

The Twins' response after winning their first playoff game since 2004? We're cutting payroll! That set up expectations for a cold offseason, and the Twins have delivered. They've lost Gray, Maeda, Pagan and Mahle, while Michael A. Taylor, Donovan Solano and Joey Gallo are also free agents. That's 12.4 WAR missing from the 2023 roster. The one major league free agent they've signed is reliever Josh Staumont.

For what it's worth, ESPN isn't the only outlet dogging the Twins. The Athletic isn't impressed either, lumping Minnesota into its 'From Postseason to Paralysis' category while assessing the offseason so dar.

"The Twins were super fun to watch in October, but so far this offseason they’ve only disappointed, as they’ve decided to trim payroll and watch a parade of players head off into free agency," Chad Jennings and Stephen Nesbitt wrote.

Amen to that.

Every other team in the AL Central got a higher grade, even the Cleveland Guardians who were only marginally higher with a D+ grade but higher nonetheless.

• Royals: B+
• Tigers: B
• White Sox: C
• Guardians: D+
• Twins: D-

That's how things stacked up, and it's not pretty. When even the hapless White Sox, who couldn't even keep their own announcer from jumping ship, are doing better than you in the eyes of experts it might be time to reconsider some things.

Historically the Twins have benefited from holding out, and a ranking in January hardly defines a season. It's notable that more than just fans are getting annoyed with tapping their foot and their watch waiting for Minnesota to do anything meaningful to try and build on the unprecedented success it had last season.

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