Pohlad family addresses rumors that they might sell the Twins

It's been more than just players changing places this MLB offseason. One of the biggest moves of the winter didn't involve any free agents or trades, rather the sale of a franchise.

Fans might not be familiar with the Angelos family but they probably know the team they own -- well, owned. January closed out with the stunning annoucement that the Baltimore Orioles were being sold for $1.7B, which sent a few shockwaves throughout baseball and also naturally raised questions about what other ownership groups might do.

That price tag is outrageous, and considering some baseball owners treat their teams like revenue machines rather than ballclubs, it's the type of figure that could entice someone to sell.

Outside of a select few, almost every team in the league was roped into some sort of conversation about potentially selling. The Minnesota Twins and the Pohlad family weren't immune, but Joe Pohlad is using the opportunity to set the record straight about his family's intentions.

Pohlad family addresses rumors that they might sell the Twins

Joe Pohlad recently sat down with Star Tribune Twins beat writer Phil Miller and set the record straight about the idea that his family might sell the team.

"We are not considering [selling]. We are in it for the long term," Pohlad said. "This is something that brings our family together, something we enjoy being a part of. We love getting together at the ballpark. Not only is it a family asset, it’s a community asset.  We take that seriously, being part of the community and stewards of the team.” 

When asked if he expects his family to still own the team in a decade -- when the value of the franchise will likely be much higher -- Pohlad didn't bat an eye.

"I expect us to," he said. We are not looking to do otherwise."

As frustrating as the family has been for some Twins fans, the relationship goes back almost 40 years. The Pohlads bought the franchise back in 1984 by pruchasing Calvin Griffith's 52-percent share of the team, which ended up being around $32 million.

Considering that investment could now be worth $1B, it's not a surprise that the question would be begged about the Pohlad's cashing in. That doesn't sound like it's in the cards, though, at least for now.

Fun fact: Carl Pohlad's bid for the Twins beat one from a New York businessman who was desperately trying to buy a ballclub. The bidder he beat out was Donald Trump.

Twins fans have had their gripes with the Pohlad's over the years, specifically when it comes to how much money gets pumped back into the team. Minnesota has always been a small ball club, and the anemic nature of the payroll has never been more frustrating than this winter.

For all the frustrations, the Pohlad's have generally been great owners and haven't been afraid to spend money when it makes sense. Just a year ago the team invested $200 million in Carlos Correa, which was the largest contract in team history. A new TV deal -- and a potentially even better situation in 2025 -- will create more revenue and hopefully motivate the family to invest more in the team.

Whether or not that happens is yet to be seen, but it sounds like the Pohald's will be doing more buying in Minnesota than selling over the next decade.

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