Twins enter a winter of uncertainty
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Rocco Baldelli might be the fall guy for a bad Twins season. Photo: Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images
As baseball's regular season wraps up on Sunday, the Twins will return to Minneapolis having missed the playoffs four of the past five years.
Why it matters: This year's team will finish with its worst record since 2016. Things could get even worse this winter.
Here's what we're watching:
馃Б Manager Rocco Baldelli: He led the team in 2023 to its first postseason series win in 21 years, but last year's late-season collapse and this year's malaise don't inspire confidence and he could be in the hot seat.
- Yes, but: Could they find someone better to replace him, considering the state of the roster and a dwindling payroll? And would the Pohlads, in cost-cutting mode, be willing to pay Baldelli's guaranteed salary in addition to a new manager's?
馃捀 The Pohlads' purse: In 2023 the Twins owners spent $156 million on payroll. This year they spent $129 million.
- With few big salaries on the books for next year, a sub-$100 million payroll is very possible, which would put the team among the six or seven lowest spenders in MLB.
鈿撅笍 Pablo L贸pez and Joe Ryan: These two frontline starting pitchers are excellent, but with L贸pez set to make $21.2 million and Ryan projected to get more than $6 million, they could be on the trade block as the team continues with a rebuild.
馃 Byron Buxton: The star centerfielder is wrapping up his best year as a pro and has said he has no interest in waiving his no-trade clause because he loves it here.
- Yes, but: Will he love it if the front office continues to gut the roster? Buxton is 31 and could spend the last of his prime years on a team that doesn't appear close to competing for the playoffs.
馃 Walker Jenkins: If one thing could reengage fans, it's the rise of Jenkins, the team's best prospect in many years. He is likely to be called up to the big leagues next year.
The bottom line: Rock bottom might not be here yet.