Twins reportedly planning to keep star players Byron Buxton, Joe Ryan, Pablo López despite trade rumors
MLB writers and media members have been speculating all offseason long that the Twins may trade some of their star players to help alleviate the organization's debt and improve their farm system. However, The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported on Friday that the Twins "do not anticipate moving center fielder Byron Buxton or right-handers Joe Ryan and Pablo López, according to league sources briefed on their plans. Minnesota’s goal is to keep those players, build around them and compete in 2026."
While this report brings joy to most Twins fans, it also confuses many of them. Earlier this week, ESPN's Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan gave Buxton a 35% chance of being traded and Ryan and López a 50% chance. Additionally, USA Today's Bob Nightengale wrote earlier in the week that the Twins are deciding whether to trade Ryan or López in an effort to reduce the team's debt.
It seems that ESPN and USA Today's articles were more speculative pieces rather than reports. Rosenthal's recent article about the Twins is clearly a report, and he wouldn't write about it unless he is pretty certain it's accurate. Still, that doesn't mean the Twins 100% won't trade one of their star players. If a team offers them a package for Buxton, Ryan or López that they feel they cannot turn down, they will likely accept it. Just because their plan for now is to hold onto their stars doesn't mean that plan won't change.
For example, Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey had no plans to trade Louis Varland this past summer; the Blue Jays just offered the Twins a package (left-handed pitcher Kendry Rojas and outfielder Alan Roden) for the reliever that Falvey felt was overwhelmingly good.
Still, fans should be happy about Rosenthal's recent report. While things can change, it appears the Twins will most likely keep their stars and fan favorites for next season. If that's the case, and the team calls up promising prospects like Walker Jenkins, Emmanuel Rodríguez, Kaelen Culpepper and more, then Minnesota has a good shot at returning to postseason contention next season.