This piece digs into why the Minnesota Twins, even with financial headaches and a recent roster shakeup, are refusing to trade their core trio: Byron Buxton, Joe Ryan, and Pablo López. We’ll get into the front office’s big-picture thinking, the ownership’s money situation, the fanbase’s mood, and what all of this actually means for the club’s shot at contending by 2026.
Twins Commit to Core: No Trade Plans for Buxton, Ryan, or López
League sources say the Twins have drawn a line in the sand: there are no current plans to trade Buxton, Ryan, or López. The front office wants to build around these players—not flip them for prospects or salary relief.
The timing’s interesting. After breaking up big chunks of the roster in July, plenty of folks thought a full reset was coming. Instead, the Twins are trying a more targeted approach, keeping their stars and working around them.
Why the Twins Are Protecting Their Stars
Other teams keep calling about Buxton, Ryan, and López. The Twins aren’t budging, though—it’d take an overwhelming offer to pry any of them loose.
From a baseball angle, it’s obvious. You just can’t contend in 2026 if you dump your best players in 2025. On the business side, management thinks trading those names would risk alienating the fan base, especially after already sending much of the bullpen packing at the deadline.
Financial Pressure, New Investors, and the Pohlad Plan
The club’s financial situation hangs over everything. The Twins are staring down about $425 million in debt—a number that forced tough calls and led to that July teardown.
The Pohlad family, who’ve owned the team for years, brought in two minority ownership groups in August. Those new investors aren’t just for show; they’re here to help ease the debt and keep things stable without having to tear the roster apart.
“Mild Flexibility” in a Tight Budget Environment
Even with new investment, the front office calls its offseason spending power just “mild flexibility”. Basically, the Twins can make tweaks and look for bargains, but there’s no blank check for big names.
Every move has to matter. The club needs value signings, clever trades, and internal development rather than splashy free agents. Keeping Buxton, López, and Ryan is step one; the real trick is building a winner around them without blowing up the payroll.
Contracts and Control: What Buxton, López, and Ryan Really Cost
What makes this trio so central is their talent and cost certainty. Each contract lines up with the Twins’ timeline in its own way.
Byron Buxton (32)
Buxton’s no-trade clause pretty much locks him in through this competitive window. His upside as a defender and power bat is exactly what the Twins want to bet on.
Pablo López (29)
López earns what a frontline starter should, but it’s still less than what he’d get on the open market. That deal fits neatly with the 2026 push, giving the Twins a steady rotation anchor.
Joe Ryan (29)
Ryan’s situation is a bit more up in the air, but arbitration gives the Twins short-term cost control. The big question: do you lock him up long-term, or just use those control years and figure it out later?
Roster Needs: Bullpen Overhaul and First Base Questions
If the Twins want to go from “decent” to “contender,” they’ve got some obvious roster holes. The bullpen is priority number one.
At the deadline, Minnesota moved out most of its veteran relievers to save money and get long-term value. Now, they have to build that bullpen back up from scratch.
Rebuilding the Bullpen and Finding a First Baseman
The front office knows they need to bolster the bullpen with several arms, not just one big-name closer. Expect a mix of:
First base is another spot under the microscope. After all the trades and shuffling, the Twins are looking for a first baseman who can lengthen the lineup and steady the infield—without breaking the bank.
Projections vs. Reality: Chasing the Guardians in the AL Central
Analytics say the Twins are on the edge of contention. FanGraphs puts them at an 82–80 record, just above .500 but not quite where they need to be in the division.
Last year, the Cleveland Guardians took the AL Central with an 88–74 record. That’s the bar. Minnesota needs a real, 5–7 win jump—not just a little improvement—if they want to make Cleveland sweat over a full season.
The Path to 2026 Contention
The Twins’ roadmap is clear, even if it’s narrow:
They aren’t rebuilding. But they’re not exactly going all-in, either.
Minnesota’s threading the needle, hoping to contend by 2026 without gutting its star power or losing more of a fan base that’s already been through a mid-season teardown. If the roster stays healthy and the front office gets those small decisions right, maybe—just maybe—that plan holds up.
Here is the source article for this story: Twins not planning to trade stars like Byron Buxton, Joe Ryan this winter: Sources
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