3 cost-cutting questions the Pohlad's will probably be asking themselves this winter

The Minnesota Twins collapse this season needs to be studied, mostly by those who were responsible for it happening. However, the stumble at the finish line was truly just a microcosm of their season.

On occasion, the Twins looked like the best team in baseball, and at other times, they looked like one of the worst. Toward the bitter end, it was similar to an episode of South Park where the kids were trying to lose so they no longer had to play.

That said, the Twins need to be brave in the offseason. Unfortunately for fans, the ownership won’t change, and seem unlikely to add to the payroll. Due to this, the Twins should brace for what could be a messy offseason of reshuffling with some hard cost-cutting questions needing to be asked.

This strategy has worked for the Milwaukee Brewers, who traded their star pitcher Corbin Burnes to the Baltimore Orioles in the offseason, called up one of their top prospects, brought in some cheap veterans, and parlayed that into an NL Central title and postseason berth. Right in the AL Central the Tigers were sellers at the deadline but made the postseason after trusting its young core.

While the payroll isn't shrinking, the Twins ownership will likely get creative with shuffling things around to ensure money is still saved. Could the Twins employ this strategy, even if it means making some messy and uncomfortable decisions?

Should the Twins cash in on Byron Buxton's trade value?

Before we get too deep into this one, let it be known that it's incredibly unlikely from a baseball perspective for this to happen. Buxton just wrapped up one of his most consistent seasons in recent memory and was the best player on the roster not named Carlos Correa for most of the season.

That being said, one of the hottest buttons to touch in Twins Territory is begging the question of what the future holds for Byron Buxton. He's been polarizing to watch; when he is fully healthy, he looks like one of the league's best, but injuries have plagued him and held both him and the team back. 

Across the Target Field plaza, the Minnesota Timberwolves just traded away Karl-Anthony Towns. You could argue he was the Wolves' version of Buxton, someone fans watched grow with the organization, battle through injuries, and help usher in a new era for the franchise. He's also someone the Timberwolves traded largely as a cost saving measure, which is a gospel the Pohlad family preaches.

Moving on from Buxton might ultimately be less about performance and more about saving on his contract to add elsewhere on the roster. Whether this makes baseball sense is almost irrelevant as ownership has made it clear that profits come over everything else.

Buxton has certainly lost value around the league because of his injury history and he has a full no-trade clause and would likely only want to go to a contending team.

The full no-trade clause will make it difficult but if the Twins make the controversial -- and potentially misguided -- decision to move on from Buxton this offseason, they could replace him with the crop of young outfield talent in the minors.