A new 2026 threat is taking shape as Minnesota gains momentum—putting the Guardians on alert far earlier than expected.NL
After a rough 2024 campaign that saw the Minnesota Twins stumble to a 70-92 finish and trade away franchise cornerstone Carlos Correa, it looked like the club was headed into full rebuild mode. Add in the uncertainty surrounding the Pohlad family’s exploration of a possible sale, and the Twins spent much of last season stuck in a holding pattern – not quite tearing it all down, but not building anything up either.
At the trade deadline, the team signaled its intentions loud and clear: the fire sale was on. Correa was the headliner, but the buzz didn’t stop there. Early offseason reports suggested Minnesota could continue its teardown by shopping key veterans like Byron Buxton, Joe Ryan, and Pablo López – players who, just a year earlier, were expected to be central to a contending core.
But now, the tone out of Minnesota has shifted.
According to reporting from Ken Rosenthal, the Twins are no longer looking to move those veterans. In fact, they’re reportedly planning to keep the trio and gear up for a push in 2026. That’s a significant pivot from where things seemed to be headed just a few weeks ago.
Of course, the financial picture remains murky. The Twins are reportedly carrying $425 million in debt – a hefty figure that would make any front office think twice about long-term commitments. But despite that, the message coming out of Minnesota is clear: this isn’t a team that’s planning to fade into the background of the AL Central.
Now, this doesn’t mean the Twins are suddenly favorites in the division. They’ve only won 152 games over the past two seasons combined – a far cry from the 2023 squad that captured the division crown.
And even with Buxton, Ryan, and López staying put, this roster has holes. The bullpen needs reinforcements, and the infield depth is a concern.
If the Twins are serious about competing in 2026, those areas will need to be addressed.
Byron Buxton remains one of the most electric players in the league when healthy, a dynamic talent who can change a game with his glove, his bat, or his legs. But durability has always been the question. Last season was just the second time in his career he played more than 120 games – a reminder of both his immense upside and the risk that comes with counting on him as a foundational piece.
Meanwhile, over in Cleveland, the Guardians are still the team to beat in the division – at least for now. They’ve won back-to-back AL Central titles, thanks in large part to the steady brilliance of José Ramírez and a pitching staff that continues to punch above its weight. But even with that success, the margin for error is shrinking.
The Guardians had to go on a late-season surge just to secure the division in 2025, and their playoff run was cut short by a surging Tigers team. That early exit served as a wake-up call: standing pat this winter isn’t going to cut it.
Yes, Detroit might explore moving Tarik Skubal – a potential game-changer if it happens – but the Tigers have now made back-to-back postseason appearances and could be buyers at the upcoming Winter Meetings. They’ve got a young core that’s gaining experience and confidence, and they’re not going away anytime soon.
So what does this all mean for the AL Central?
It means the division is tightening. The Guardians have been the standard, but the gap is closing.
The Tigers are on the rise. And now, the Twins are signaling they’re not ready to be left behind.
If Minnesota can stabilize its roster, plug the right holes, and get a healthy season from Buxton, they could be a real factor in 2026. There’s still work to do – and plenty of questions to answer – but the idea of the Twins as a rebuilding afterthought? That narrative might need to be shelved.
The AL Central isn’t the flashiest division in baseball, but it’s quietly becoming one of the more intriguing ones. And if the Twins are truly back in the mix, things are about to get a lot more competitive.
