Ted Schwerzler | minnesotasportsfan.com

New face of the Minnesota Twins ownership group, Tom Pohlad, has been talking a big game since he took the place of his brother Joe, at the top of the organizational hierarchy.

He took responsibility for past Pohlad mistakes and promised the future would brighter, with him in charge. Then, the Twins entered the regular season with one of the lower payrolls in baseball, at just over $100 million, in total.

Still, Tom promised that, if given the opportunity, he was eager to improve the team. At the trade deadline, with the Twins floating around .500 and on the outskirts of the AL playoff race, he paid off previous promises by trading for four pitching improvements before the August 3 trade deadline.

In total, the new arms (mostly in the bullpen) added $8.3 million to the 2026 payroll, bringing their total to projected payroll for the season to $138 million, good for 21st in Major League Baseball, per Spotrac.com.

Expect Minnesota Twins payroll to rise

But according to Tom Pohlad, Minnesota’s more flexible spending before the trade deadline is only the beginning of what Twins fans can expect out of this new era of Twins baseball.

Speaking with reporters like Bobby Nightengale (Star Tribune) on Tuesday, Tom didn’t just suggest a higher payroll in the future, he guaranteed a heavier investment in the roster going forward — next year, in fact.

“I’m not hoping. It will be higher. I’ve been consistent, right? For us to accomplish the things that we want to accomplish, and be a consistently competitive team in the playoffs, and going deep, we have to make an investment into this team. We did that in a small way at the trade deadline. You’ll see more of it next year.”
Tom Pohlad – Star Tribune

It’s great that Pohlad is committed to working with an enhanced payroll next season. You could easily argue that, in a wide open American League, the Minnesota Twins would have been smart to carry that same energy into the 2026 spring training, instead of fielding a half-built baseball team for most of the season.

Entering Wednesday in Kansas City, the MN Twins are 56-58 with playoff odds that currently sit at only 25.2%. Unfortunately, they’ve lost three-straight and now look to avoid a sweep by the hapless Royals, who came in over 20 games below .500.

Any discussions over Tom Pohlad increasing payroll can’t be had without mentioning the $60 million his family cut from that same talent pool since 2023, the last time the Twins reached the postseason. The $8 million he added at the trade deadline is just a drop in the bucket.

Early victory lap for MN Twins owner

In order to convince fans that he and the organization are now serious about winning, we will have to see the Minnesota Twins make some splashier moves during the offseason. Despite what Tom might believe, only then will he earn ANY credibility back for his family.

“On behalf of the organization, I think we earned some credibility. But most importantly, to be able to invest in this team when the team has earned it, that was the most gratifying. I certainly hope that it’s another small step to earning back the trust of the fanbase. What I like to believe happens is that as a result of these moves, more people come out to the ballpark and support a team that I think has the earned the right to be supported.” Tom Pohlad – Star Tribune

The Twins owner is imploring fans to return to Target Field. This team deserves our support, even if ownership doesn’t. The Pohlads are certainly feeling the affects of their past transgressions recently with the low numbers filing into Target Field for games.

In 2025, the Minnesota Twins recorded their lowest attendance numbers in over two decades. This season, they are tracking to go even lower. Hanging over any conversations about what could happen during the upcoming MLB offseason must include the fact that there may not be one.

Around the league, people are preparing for a lockout, as both owners and the MLBPA are forever apart in CBA negotiations that must be done by January, in order to avoid said lockout.

When the dust settles, there may even be a salary cap floor… which could force the Pohlads to spend whether they want to or not.