The Twins have some questions to answer ahead of the season.
The Minnesota Twins are not the worst team in baseball. They also are far from the best ball club in the sport. The team is seemingly stuck in the middle -- which is far from an ideal place to be.
Today, we will discuss that subject among others. Uncertain is the word that best describes the Twins at the moment.
Here are three questions for the Twins ahead of the upcoming 2026 MLB season.
Who will be the Closer During the 2026 Season?#
There is not a clear closer on the roster at the moment following last season's Jhoan Duran trade. Justin Topa, Kody Funderburk and Cole Sands are among the candidates for the role.
Minnesota could always turn to a closer-by-committee approach as well. Perhaps the Twins will end up giving potential candidates the opportunity to earn the role in spring training, however.
Are the Twins Trying to Win Right Now?#
The Twins' franchise direction is extremely unclear. They are not talented enough to seriously compete for a World Series title as currently constructed. As mentioned, they are not the worst team in baseball either.
Joe Ryan, Byron Buxton and Pablo Lopez are seemingly not being traded (more on that later), which suggests Minnesota is looking to win in 2026. Yet, the Twins have not made many additions either. The Josh Bell signing will give the lineup a boost, but the Twins need to add more if they want to compete during the upcoming campaign.
Do the Twins have any Trade Candidates?#
Are there any trade candidates on the Twins? This question works well with the previously discussed trying to win subject.
If Minnesota receives a jaw-dropping offer tomorrow for Joe Ryan, would they accept it? Are there any trade candidates on the roster right now? Will the Twins consider moving any of their top prospects for MLB talent that can help the ball club in 2026?
The team's current trade outlook is defined by uncertainty. Early in the offseason, it appeared that Buxton, Ryan and Lopez would be among the trade candidates. A report later surfaced that stated Minnesota was not looking to move their stars. The Twins' lack of overall additions only adds more uncertainty to their current situation.
The Twins need to figure out their franchise direction as soon as possible. Once they decide on a direction, they can begin either trading prospects or MLB players.