The Minnesota Twins have some more financial flexibility after dealing Carlos Correa.
The Minnesota Twins enter this offseason with a much different financial picture after last year’s blockbuster Carlos Correa trade. Moving the All-Star shortstop to the Houston Astros came with a significant cash component.
Minnesota sent roughly $33 million to Houston as part of the deal, but it ultimately cleared close to $70 million of the approximately $100 million still owed on his contract. That level of long-term relief does not suddenly make the Twins big spenders, but it does meaningfully reshape how they can operate over the next several months.
With roster decisions to make and limited payroll flexibility in past winters, Minnesota’s leadership has repeatedly attempted to work the margins in free agency. That theme continued this week at the Winter Meetings, where president of baseball and business operations Derek Falvey again highlighted the importance of strategically resetting the club’s financial structure while still building around their core.
“We want to get with the players and we want to double down on what makes them great,” Falvey said via Matthew Leach of MLB.com. “It was always on my mind that we would find a way to retool our group on the fly, reset things that were payroll-based certainly, the Carlos [Correa] deal in particular, but add to a group that we thought we could go build around to compete.”
Minnesota’s Front Office Signals Plans for More Offense#
General manager Jeremy Zoll echoed that sentiment, while also offering a glimpse into the Twins’ offseason goals.
“And then on the offensive side, another bat or two with some thump, with some impact, to bolster a group that we’re excited about and that young core that we’re excited to keep growing with,” he said.
Even without planning a large-scale spending spree, Minnesota is now better positioned to shop in markets that were previously inaccessible with Correa on the books. That includes mid-tier veterans that could meaningfully upgrade the lineup without long-term financial strain.
Potential Free-Agent Fits for Minnesota#
If the Twins look to add an impact hitter while maintaining budget discipline, several names make sense:
Ryan O’Hearn – A left-handed corner bat coming off one of the best offensive seasons of his career. O’Hearn tallied 133 hits, 17 home runs, 63 RBI and a .281 average in 2025, backed by an .803 OPS and 125 OPS+
Paul Goldschmidt – A seven-time All-Star and former MVP. In 2025 he delivered 134 hits, 10 home runs, 45 RBI, a .274 average and .731 OPS.
Rhys Hoskins – A right-handed power option with a track record of run production. Hoskins’ 2025 line included 66 hits, 12 home runs, 43 RBI, a .237 average, .748 OPS and 108 OPS+.
Marcell Ozuna – Ozuna hit 21 home runs with 68 RBI, 113 hits, and a .232 average in 2025, producing a .756 OPS and 113 OPS+. His career totals of 296 home runs, 948 RBI, 1,627 hits, and an .806 OPS are substantial.