The Twins failed to captalize on the chaos of the AL Wild Card situation last September, bottoming out and failing to make the playoffs for the second-straight season. Heading into 2025, Minnesota’s roster will look roughly the same, as the Twins weren’t significant players this past winter.

Notable Additions

• OF Harrison Bader (0.9 bWAR in 2024)
• C Diego Cartaya (Did not play in MLB)
• RP Danny Coulombe (0.9 bWAR)
• 1B Ty France (-0.6 bWAR)
• INF Mickey Gasper (-0.2 bWAR)

The Twins weren’t very active in the free agent front. Minnesota didn’t sign their first free agent to a MLB deal until February 4. That day, the Twins signed Danny Coulombe, who spent the last two seasons with the Orioles.

Coulombe returns to Minnesota after a very successful run with the O’s, and the veteran lefty should give the Twins consistent help against left-handed bats. The Twins struggled to get production from southpaws Kody Funderburk, Steven Okert, and Caleb Thielbar.

The veteran left-hander was the only notable pitching pickup made by the Twins this winter.

Minnesota added an insurance policy in center field, with Harrison Bader. Bader can get to fastballs and is a plus defender in center, both of which should be assets.

The Twins also picked up two players known for getting on base: Ty France & Mickey Gasper.

France is a former AL All-Star who’s yet to produce like an All-Star since the first half of the 2022 season. And as for Gasper, the ex-Red Sox is a utility infielder who posted a .439 OBP in the Minors last season.

Gapser cost the Twins reliever Jovani Moran, a potent reliever, albeit one with significant command issues. Moran did not pitch in 2024, as he was recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Notable Losses

• OF Max Kepler (1.0 bWAR)
• OF Manuel Margot (-0.9 bWAR)
• 1B Carlos Santana (2.5 bWAR)
• RP Caleb Thielbar (-0.6 bWAR)

Between Trevor Larnach and Matt Wallner, the Twins had enough left-handed hitting corner outfield depth, leaving Max Kepler on the outside. It was expected, although a tough loss given Kepler was a largely productive power hitter throughout his Twins tenure.

Kepler signed with the Phillies.

But most notably, the Twins lost Carlos Santana, who was a key cog for the Minnesota lineup in 2024. Aside from his excellence defensively at first, Santana gave the Twins much-needed help against left-handed pitchers — a .934 OPS — last season.

Santana re-joined the Guardians in December.

What to Expect in 2025

The Twins have a strong roster, headline by a three-headed monster atop their rotation and a solid lineup on paper. Not to mention, an underrated bullpen led by Griffin Jax and Jhoan Duran.

Health will obviously be the key for the Twins, a team that’s been looking to trim payroll over the last two winters. Byron Buxton, Carlos Correa, and Royce Lewis all spent time on the IL last season and all three have a significant injury history. The more games the three can play, the better the Twins’ chances are in 2025.