The Minnesota Twins made their first big-league move of the offseason by signing first baseman/designated hitter Josh Bell to on Dec. 19, per their transactions page. However, their offseason budget has now slashed in half, per The Athletic’s Dan Hayes.

“One league source said the Twins have about $20 million to spend on additions, which would bring their payroll to roughly $115 million,” he wrote on Dec. 10, before Minnesota signed Bell.

Team President Derek Falvey insisted at the time that the Twins are trying to improve this offseason despite the modest budget.

“We’re laying some groundwork on ways that we can figure out to add to the group that we have,” Falvey said.

Bell's contract is a one-year deal worth $7 million with a $10 million mutual option for 2027, via Spotrac. That means that Minnesota has $13 million left to spend this winter, according to Hayes' report. 

Bell adds offensive help to a Twins lineup that was carried by star outfielder Byron Buxton in 2025. The latter player led the team with a .264 batting average, 35 homers, 83 RBIs, a .327 OBP, and 129 hits.

Meanwhile, Bell slashed .239/.326/.441 with 22 homers and 63 RBIs over 140 games for the Washington Nationals this past season. The 33-year-old is only one year removed from slashing .279/.361/.436 with five homers and 22 RBIs over 41 games for the Arizona Diamondbacks in the second half of the campaign. The Miami Marlins traded him to Arizona midseason.

However, Minnesota still has another key area of need.

Minnesota manager Derek Shelton wants to upgrade the bullpen, via Hayes.

"Twins manager Derek Shelton cited relief help as perhaps the team’s biggest area of need. The Twins traded five relievers last July and must still rebuild after trading away Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax and other key arms," he wrote.

“There’s so many games won or lost in a bullpen,” Shelton said. “Building out our bullpen is going to be extremely important.”

The Twins finished 24th in baseball with a 4.55 team ERA despite having top-notch starters like Pablo Lopez (5-4, 2.74 ERA) and Joe Ryan (13-10, 3.42 ERA). Those two players alone aren't enough to carry the squad throughout the season, as Minnesota learned the hard way in 2025.

The club hasn't made the playoffs since 2023, and now must work within a limited budget to give Shelton a talented enough roster to end that drought in 2026.