After winning two of three games against the Colorado Rockies this past weekend, the Twins' record improved to 40-45. Despite being five games under .500 entering Monday, Minnesota trailed the final AL Wild Card spot by just two games and was 4 1/2 games out of first place in the AL Central. So, the Twins are close to a playoff spot, but they're lucky to be in the conversation as playoff contenders given their weak record.
There's a strong case for the Twins to sell at the deadline. While the team has a chance to make the playoffs, they're realistically not World Series contenders. Sure, they led the American League in runs entering Monday, but they also led the league in runs allowed. Is it really worth missing out on maximizing the value of key trade pieces such as Ryan Jeffers and Joe Ryan for a small chance to reach the postseason?
The team's biggest need right now is pitching help, and to get that, they'd likely have to look to the trade market and surrender some promising prospects. It's not worth giving up top prospects such as Walker Jenkins, Eduardo Tait, Kaelen Culpepper and more to acquire a real game changer like Tarik Skubal in a season where they don't appear to be legitimate World Series contenders. If the Twins look to buy at the deadline, they'd likely be seeking mid-tier bullpen arms who wouldn't cost the team top prospects.
However, Twins owner Tom Pohlad has made it clear he believes the 2026 Twins team can win and suggested he is considering buying at the deadline.
“We just want this to be a place where players, particularly homegrown talent, want to be Twins for life,” Pohlad told Mike Mazzeo of the Sports Business Journal on Monday. “And when we find ourselves in a competitive window, we’ve got to do something meaningful at the trade deadline to build on the potential of that team and build on momentum.”
On one hand, props to Pohlad for still believing in this Twins team. They're definitely not uninteresting, and there are various reasons, mainly the offense, to suggest the team could surprisingly reach the postseason. On the other hand, why didn't he ensure the bullpen, which ranked last in ERA (5.45) as of Monday morning, had enough pieces to be competitive? Injuries have decimated the starting rotation, but the bullpen is clearly what has held the team back the most.
Some believe the Twins should sell at the deadline. Some believe the team should keep its valuable assets and add bullpen help. Regardless of what you think, Pohlad clearly is leaning toward buying. Of course, that could change with a rough July. Nonetheless, let's take a look at some of the reasons Pohlad has for not selling.
Twins have one of the best offenses in the American League
Seriously. Entering Monday, the Twins led the AL in runs scored with 412, while the New York Yankees ranked second with 409. Byron Buxton has been leading the offense, while under-the-radar players such as Trevor Larnach, Kody Clemens and Ryan Kreidler have emerged as key contributors. Not to mention, Ryan Jeffers was on a tear before landing on the IL in May, slashing .295/.408/.541 (164 wRC+) in 37 games. If the Twins had even an average bullpen, there's a good chance the team would be in a playoff spot right now given their strong offense.
There are benefits to keeping Ryan Jeffers, Joe Ryan
Jeffers is slated to be a free agent at the conclusion of the season. The Twins could benefit from extending or re-signing the catcher, but it seems likely he could make more money with another team. Therefore, it makes sense for Minnesota to maximize his value by trading him before he hits free agency. However, by keeping him, the team could extend the qualifying offer and receive a compensatory pick if/when he signs with another club. Therefore, the Twins would still get a prospect by keeping Jeffers.
As for Ryan, he's set to be a free agent after next season. So, the Twins could keep him for the remainder of this year, then trade him in the offseason if they really want to. However, that may not be the best idea, since there's a strong possibility of a lockout and his value may be lower with just one year left on his contract.
Pohlad doesn't want to anger Twins fans any further
This may be flawed thinking, since Twins fans are already pretty angry. But from Pohlad's perspective, he may believe another deadline sell-off would further alienate the fanbase. To be honest, it's hard to imagine fans could get angrier after last deadline's sell-off and the substantial decrease in payroll. If the team is no longer in the playoff race at the deadline, then selling will be the right move. But if they're still in the mix, it would make sense if the team's brass doesn't want to completely punt on the season.
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