Twins controlling owner Tom Pohlad, general manager Jeremy Zoll and manager Derek Shelton held an end-of-year press conference on Tuesday. Bobby Nightengale of the Minnesota Star Tribune, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Aaron Gleeman, SKOR North's Declan Goff and MLB.com’s Matthew Leach were among the reporters at the press conference. Pohlad made it clear that Zoll and Shelton will remain in their current roles. Perhaps even more notably, Pohlad made it known he plans to spend more on the roster this offseason than he did last winter.
“I understand the patience in this market has run out, and I assure you we have a sense of urgency,” Pohlad said. “Our goal this offseason is to field a roster next spring where making the playoffs isn’t a hope; it’s the expectation that everybody in this room agrees is realistic.”
To make the playoffs, the Twins will likely need to increase spending. Minnesota set a franchise record with a $153.7 million payroll on 2023 Opening Day. That season, Minnesota made the playoffs and won its first postseason series in 21 years. Then, with Joe Pohlad in charge, the Twins slashed payroll by $26.4 million for next season. The Twins missed the postseason in 2024. Minnesota increased payroll slightly in 2025, but not enough to get the team back into the postseason.
Twins owner Tom Pohlad needs to put his money where his mouth is
On Opening Day 2026, the Twins had the lowest payroll in over a decade at $104.7 million.
“I have said over and over that a $100 million payroll or anything close to that is not sufficient to be consistently competitive and in the playoffs, and so we intend to take the offseason and meaningfully invest,” Pohlad said. “I know everybody in this room wants me to define what meaningfully is, and I understand that that’s a subjective word. But I am confident that [Zoll], if he has conviction about a move that’s going to improve this roster and help us accomplish our goals, that this ownership group is prepared to support him with the financial resources he needs.”
It's time for Tom Pohlad to put his money where his mouth is. Last offseason, he remained adamant that he planned for the team to be competitive this year. Minnesota was better than many expected, but ultimately finished the year eight games below .500. If he had done more to address the holes in the pitching staff over the offseason, maybe we'd be watching the Twins in the postseason right now. Unfortunately, he didn't do enough.
Pohlad did demonstrate his willingness to increase spending at the trade deadline, as Minnesota acquired right-handers Dean Kremer, Jeff Hoffman and Tommy Nance and left-hander A.J. Minter. Those moves weren't enough to get the Twins into the postseason, but it was nice to see the organization make impactful moves in an attempt to win now. Pohlad's recent statements suggest he will give Zoll the go-ahead to make notable moves this offseason. If the Twins fail to address their biggest needs, fans will be rightfully angry.
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