The Minnesota Twins are in a dire situation that requires the franchise to prove to the fans that they actually want to succeed. Just a couple of weeks ahead of Spring Training, the organization parted ways with Derek Falvey, ending a nine-year relationship in bizarre fashion. This all comes after a disastrous 2025 campaign, plus a poor offseason.
There are a lot of questions surrounding what the team is going to do moving forward on an executive level and on a roster level. Is this team going to spend more? If the Pohlad family is serious about their claims of making the Twins relevant again, then one thing they can do is follow the blueprint that the Athletics have mapped out.
One of the cheapest spenders in baseball, the Athletics just extended Jacob Wilson for seven years on a $70 million deal, marking another move by the franchise to keep their young talent long-term (along with Lawrence Butler, Brent Rooker, Tyler Soderstrom, Nick Kurtz).
If the Pohlad family and the Twins front office has the guts, they would extend Luke Keaschall to a similar contract that Wilson was given. Is it risky? Or is it exactly the spark that this team needs?
Twins should extend Luke Keaschall following Derek Falvey's departure to show fans they mean business
Keaschall was a breakout player in 2025. In 49 games, he produced 55 hits, including 18 for extra bases, as well as 14 stolen bases. Yes, it is a small sample size, but Keaschall's projections have him being one of the top offensive second baseman in the league in 2026. If he lives up to that after receiving an extension offer, then the organization would look genius.
Keaschall and Wilson were each drafted in 2023 out of a college in Arizona. The only difference is that Wilson, also a middle infielder, made his MLB debut in 2024. He played in 28 games and struggled a bit before completely unleashing in 2025 en route to placing second in the American League Rookie of the Year race.
Does the same path exist for Keaschall in 2026? All signs point towards him having a great year in his first full season in the bigs. All things considered, the Twins would be smart to consider offering him a multi-year extension in the $10-$12 million salary range. This would not only show legitimacy to the shake-up of the front office, but it would also tell the fans that they are prepared to take a positive step forward in this franchise's tumultuous history. It also shows Keaschall that he is an important piece to the future of this franchise. It worked for the Athletics, so why can't it also for Minnesota?