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The Minnesota Twins hit the halfway point of their 2026 season on Tuesday at Target Field, and what was expected to be a routine set of injury updates turned into something far more interesting.
General Manager Jeremy Zoll stepped in front of reporters before the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers and went right at the trade rumors that have been swirling around Byron Buxton and others for weeks.
"We've been hot, we've gone through some lulls, but at each turn, to see that bounce back has been really encouraging," Zoll said. "So, really proud of the whole group. And I think they're committed, they're battling and want to get this thing going in a good spot."
The Twins entered Tuesday's game with a 38-42 record and then dropped both remaining games against the Dodgers to fall to 38-44 on the season.
They sit in third place in the AL Central, trailing the White Sox and Guardians by 4.5 games.
After last summer's fire sale that saw the front office move 11 players including Carlos Correa, most projections had Minnesota threatening 100 losses in 2026.
Instead the Twins have been far more competitive than anyone expected, even if the ups and downs have been hard to watch at times.
A four-game sweep of the Tigers in early April gave the team real momentum, and Byron Buxton has been on a tear all season with 25 home runs through the first half.
Brooks Lee has taken a legitimate step forward with 13 home runs, and Ryan Jeffers was hitting .295 before landing on the injured list.
But stretches like this week's series against the Dodgers, where Minnesota was outscored 16-6 across two losses, are a reminder of how quickly things can unravel when the pitching and defense slip.
The easiest thing for the Twins to do would be to trade Buxton and Joe Ryan for prospects before the August 3 deadline.
It is also probably the worst thing the organization could do right now.
The fanbase is already running thin on patience after years of cost-cutting, and "sell the team" chants at Target Field during Tuesday's loss said plenty about where trust stands between the front office and the fans.
Beyond the optics there is a real baseball case for holding firm.
No team in the AL Central has run away from the pack this season, and 4.5 games in late June is not an impossible gap to close with 80 games left.
Executive chair Tom Pohlad said before the season that Minnesota has to have a strong 2026, and following through on that means giving this group every chance to make a run rather than waving the white flag again.
Zoll seems to get that.
"It's still June," Zoll said. "I understand all the rumors. None of this is rooted in fact, from our perspective. We're hoping to be competitive this year. I think we're right in the thick of it."
Continue reading...
General Manager Jeremy Zoll stepped in front of reporters before the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers and went right at the trade rumors that have been swirling around Byron Buxton and others for weeks.
"We've been hot, we've gone through some lulls, but at each turn, to see that bounce back has been really encouraging," Zoll said. "So, really proud of the whole group. And I think they're committed, they're battling and want to get this thing going in a good spot."
A Topsy-Turvy First Half
The Twins entered Tuesday's game with a 38-42 record and then dropped both remaining games against the Dodgers to fall to 38-44 on the season.
They sit in third place in the AL Central, trailing the White Sox and Guardians by 4.5 games.
After last summer's fire sale that saw the front office move 11 players including Carlos Correa, most projections had Minnesota threatening 100 losses in 2026.
Instead the Twins have been far more competitive than anyone expected, even if the ups and downs have been hard to watch at times.
A four-game sweep of the Tigers in early April gave the team real momentum, and Byron Buxton has been on a tear all season with 25 home runs through the first half.
Brooks Lee has taken a legitimate step forward with 13 home runs, and Ryan Jeffers was hitting .295 before landing on the injured list.
But stretches like this week's series against the Dodgers, where Minnesota was outscored 16-6 across two losses, are a reminder of how quickly things can unravel when the pitching and defense slip.
Why Another Sell-Off Would Be a Mistake
The easiest thing for the Twins to do would be to trade Buxton and Joe Ryan for prospects before the August 3 deadline.
It is also probably the worst thing the organization could do right now.
The fanbase is already running thin on patience after years of cost-cutting, and "sell the team" chants at Target Field during Tuesday's loss said plenty about where trust stands between the front office and the fans.
Beyond the optics there is a real baseball case for holding firm.
No team in the AL Central has run away from the pack this season, and 4.5 games in late June is not an impossible gap to close with 80 games left.
Executive chair Tom Pohlad said before the season that Minnesota has to have a strong 2026, and following through on that means giving this group every chance to make a run rather than waving the white flag again.
Zoll seems to get that.
"It's still June," Zoll said. "I understand all the rumors. None of this is rooted in fact, from our perspective. We're hoping to be competitive this year. I think we're right in the thick of it."
Continue reading...
