Twins Finalize Productive Winter Meetings with Strategic Moves

The Minnesota Twins concluded their Winter Meetings in Orlando, Florida, with a series of strategic decisions aimed at reshaping their roster for the upcoming season. General manager Jeremy Zoll characterized the meetings as “a productive few days,” highlighting the team’s focus on building a competitive lineup.

Key Decisions and Draft Picks

One of the highlights for the Twins was securing the No. 3 pick in the 2026 MLB Draft. Although they had the second-best odds to claim the first pick, there was a possibility of falling to eighth in the lottery. This positioning gives the team an opportunity to select a promising prospect in a draft that is expected to feature significant talent.

In addition to the draft pick, the Twins participated in the Rule 5 draft, where they selected catcher Daniel Susac from the Oakland Athletics. Shortly after the selection, Susac was traded to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for 17-year-old catcher Miguel Carabello, who had a solid performance in the Dominican Summer League last year, recording a .264 batting average and an .874 OPS over 41 games.

Roster Plans and Future Strategies

As the offseason progresses, there have been ongoing discussions regarding the status of key players, including all-star center fielder Byron Buxton and star pitchers Pablo López and Joe Ryan. Throughout the Winter Meetings, team officials confirmed that all three players will remain with the organization as they aim to enhance the roster.

To create space for new acquisitions, the Twins placed outfielder Carson McCusker on unconditional waivers, allowing him to continue his playing career in Asia. This move opened up a roster spot that could be utilized to add another reliever, a position of particular need following the departure of five relievers at last season’s trade deadline.

Zoll emphasized the importance of flexibility in roster decisions. Selecting a reliever in the Rule 5 draft would have necessitated keeping that player on the active roster for the entire season, limiting the team’s options. Instead, the Twins are exploring various avenues to bolster their bullpen, which remains a top priority.

“I think it was a productive few days for us,” Zoll stated. He also expressed the team’s intent to add “another bat or two with some thump” as part of their offseason strategy. As the organization continues to gauge market dynamics, Zoll noted that recent player movements, such as Kyle Schwarber remaining in Philadelphia and Pete Alonso moving to Baltimore, can have a cascading effect on the overall market.

As the Twins prepare to return to Minnesota, they carry with them a sense of optimism built on the groundwork laid during these meetings, setting the stage for a potentially transformative offseason.