The Minnesota Twins have become the talk of Major League Baseball, but not for the reasons fans might have hoped. In a whirlwind stretch of trades and roster shake-ups, the Twins have transformed their roster almost overnight, leaving both supporters and analysts scrambling to keep up. As the dust settles, the Twins are set to take on the Arizona Diamondbacks in a pivotal three-game series beginning Friday, September 12, 2025, with questions swirling about the franchise's future and the impact of its recent moves.
It all started innocuously enough on July 28, when the Twins traded starting pitcher Chris Paddack and Randy Dobnak to the Detroit Tigers for catcher Enrique Jimenez. At the time, it seemed like a routine deal—nothing to set the baseball world alight. But as July turned to August, the Twins front office unleashed a flurry of transactions that would reshape the team’s identity. Willi Castro was shipped to the Chicago Cubs for Sam Armstrong and Ryan Gallagher. Harrison Bader headed to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for Geremy Villoria and Hendry Mendez. Even franchise shortstop Carlos Correa, along with cash, was sent to the Houston Astros in return for Matt Mikulski—a clear sign that the organization was ready to hit the reset button.
The list didn’t end there. Griffin Jax found himself traded to the Tampa Bay Rays for Taj Bradley. Louis Varland and Ty France were sent to the Toronto Blue Jays for Alan Roden and Kendry Rojas. Brock Stewart was dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers for James Outman, and Danny Coulombe joined the Texas Rangers in exchange for Garrett Horn. In one of the more eye-catching moves, Jhoan Duran was sent to the Phillies for Eduardo Tait and Mick Abel, a promising right-handed pitcher. The sheer volume of trades—over 60 player transactions in August alone—left fans and commentators reeling.
“Not only was it outrageous to trade away an entire team, it is also incomprehensible to do it before the trade deadline,” wrote one analyst on AZSnakePit, capturing the bewilderment of many. The trades were seen by some as a calculated attempt by ownership to clean up the books, making the team more attractive to potential buyers by jettisoning expensive or long-term contracts like Correa’s. “That is a sad conclusion but reality in a money driven society and sport like baseball,” the same analyst noted, reflecting the growing sentiment that financial considerations have overtaken competitive ambitions in Minnesota.
On the field, the results have been predictably rocky. The Twins were seven games above .500 in early June and still very much in the AL Central race. But a series of defeats—first to the Rockies, then the Dodgers, and finally the Nationals—sent the team into a tailspin. By the All-Star break, the Twins had slipped to a 47-49 record. The post-trade deadline period was even more brutal: Minnesota tumbled to a 64-82 record by early September, winning just 13 games and losing 25, for a paltry .342 winning percentage. The sense of a lost season is palpable.
Yet, despite the upheaval, the Twins are not entirely devoid of talent. Byron Buxton, the oft-injured but electrifying center fielder, remains healthy and has made it clear he intends to stay put, at least for now. His contract, which runs through 2028 with a $15 million average annual value, is manageable for the team. Pablo López, another key piece, returned from a Grade 2 Teres major strain on September 5 after a two-month stint on the injured list. In his return, López pitched six innings and allowed just two runs on six hits and a walk—an encouraging sign for Minnesota fans.
Looking ahead to the series against Arizona, the Twins’ rotation features both established arms and new faces. Game one will see Pablo López (5-4, 2.84 ERA) square off against Brandon Pfaadt (13-8, 5.18 ERA) at 5:10 p.m. MST on Friday, September 12. López’s return to form will be crucial if the Twins hope to steady their ship. Game two, scheduled for Saturday at 4:10 p.m. MST, is a tantalizing matchup between Joe Ryan (13-8, 3.32 ERA) and Ryne Nelson (7-3, 3.48 ERA). Ryan, still in his prime at 29, has been the subject of offseason trade chatter but remains a cornerstone of the rotation for now. The series concludes on Sunday, September 14, with Bailey Ober (5-7, 5.08 ERA) taking the mound against Nabil Crismatt (2-0, 3.24 ERA) at 11:10 a.m. MST. Ober, once a promising mid-rotation arm, has struggled with consistency, and his secondary pitches have lost much of their bite.
The Twins’ lineup, too, is a mix of the familiar and the fresh. Byron Buxton is back in action, while former top prospect Royce Lewis continues to search for his groove, posting a .682 OPS since August 1. Catcher Ryan Jeffers provides some continuity, but many names—like Austin Martin and rookie second baseman Luke Keaschall—are new to fans. Keaschall, who made his MLB debut following the trade exodus, has impressed with a .373 OBP since August. The question remains: can this patchwork squad gel quickly enough to salvage some pride in the season’s final weeks?
Off the field, the shakeup has sparked debate about the direction of the franchise. Some observers argue that the Twins’ ownership is preparing for a sale, while others see the moves as a necessary, if painful, retooling. The impact on the fan base has been profound, with many expressing frustration at the loss of beloved players and the apparent prioritization of finances over fielding a competitive team. “Players said hi and bye in a moment of time,” one commentator quipped, highlighting the dizzying pace of roster turnover.
Meanwhile, the minor league system has provided a rare bright spot. As reported by Twins Daily, the Cedar Rapids Kernels are headed to their championship series, offering hope that the next wave of Twins talent may soon arrive in Minneapolis.
As the Twins prepare to face the Diamondbacks, all eyes will be on how the new-look roster responds to adversity. Will the infusion of young talent and returning veterans like Buxton and López spark a late-season surge, or will the team’s recent turmoil continue to cast a shadow over the remainder of 2025? The answers will begin to unfold under the bright lights this weekend, as Minnesota looks to prove that there’s still plenty of fight left in the Twin Cities.
