The Twins' offseason has led to some criticism, but one analyst is a fan of Minnesota's strategy.
The Minnesota Twins have decided to keep their star players despite initial trade rumors early in the offseason. Minnesota seemingly believes it can compete for a postseason spot in 2026. While the Twins' strategy has been questioned by some, analyst Xavier Scruggs is a fan of what the team is doing.
"When I look at the (American League) Central... It could be up for grabs," Scruggs said recently, via MLB Network Radio. "When you think about the Guardians, the Tigers... I know they may have (Tarik) Skubal right now today, but they may not have Skubal tomorrow. And that changes the whole outlook of things... With the talent on the roster now with the Twins, I'm not just throwing that away and thinking I need to start over."
The Twins could certainly compete in the AL Central in 2025. There's no question about that. The Guardians, Tigers and Royals all have question marks on their rosters.
With that being said, this Twins ball club is not currently built for a championship run. Sure, they could win the division -- even that will be a challenge, however. Even if Minnesota wins the AL Central, they are going to have a difficult time matching up with ball clubs such as the Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners and New York Yankees in a potential postseason series.
Should Twins Have Entered a Rebuild?#
Outfielder Byron Buxton is the best player on the Twins and he is 32 years old. He is fresh off the best season of his career. The Twins could have received a quality return for him in a trade.
Starting pitchers Joe Ryan and Pablo Lopez both would have also caught plenty of attention in trade talks. Minnesota could have entered a rebuild and received a plethora of top prospects.
Ryan and Lopez are both 29 years old as well. The Twins' core of stars are not getting any younger, and the team's World Series timeline is behind schedule.
The Twins are set to enter 2026 with an outside chance of competing in a winnable division. Anything can happen once the postseason begins, but the chances of a first round exit if Minnesota reaches the postseason are high.
Scruggs' point about the division is valid. There is no denying that, and if the goal is to win the AL Central then avoiding a rebuild is understandable. If the goal is to win a World Series, however, then restarting would have been the ball club's best option.
Perhaps the Twins can exceed expectations and make a serious run in 2026. It is unlikely, though.