Still, teams meet with plenty of agents and swap ideas, if not necessarily players, with other teams while together at the same venue. Most of the Twins’ major trades and signings of the past few years were discussed in early December, and acted upon in January and February.“Teams come at us all the time,” said Falvey, who has pulled off major trades in each of the past two Januarys, dealing Jorge Polanco to Seattle in 2024 and Luis Arraez to Miami a year earlier.It’s a little trickier this year, since the Twins, who still have eight arbitration-eligible players unsigned for 2025 but likely in line for substantial raises, want to keep their payroll close to the $130 million level it was at in 2024.“Everyone is always going to ask, when you’re a team in the payroll bracket that we are, ‘How do you gain flexibility and what does that look like?” Falvey said. “Obviously we’ll need to be creative around how we make our roster work and fit together.”It’s possible that next week’s biggest news for the Twins won’t be a result of their own actions. On Tuesday, MLB holds its third lottery to set the draft order for the first six picks in next July’s amateur draft, and the Twins, who finished with the 12th-worst record in MLB at 82-80, have a 1.09% chance of capturing the overall No. 1 pick and roughly a 7% chance of moving into the top six.Those odds may sound long, but the Twins hit similar odds in 2022, moving from the midteens to No. 5, where they selected outfielder Walker Jenkins, now rated by most scouts as one of the team’s top three prospects. The Twins already learned last week that they will also choose in the mid-30s overall with a “competitive balance” pick.

Twins getting ready for MLB winter gatherings, significant changes improbable with Derek Falvey at the helm.

Nevertheless, teams frequently engage with numerous agents and exchange ideas, even if not necessarily players, while gathered at the same event. Many of the Twins’ significant trades and signings from recent years were initiated in early December and acted upon in January and February. “Teams approach us constantly,” remarked Falvey, who has executed major trades […]

Nevertheless, teams frequently engage with numerous agents and exchange ideas, even if not necessarily players, while gathered at the same event. Many of the Twins’ significant trades and signings from recent years were initiated in early December and acted upon in January and February.

“Teams approach us constantly,” remarked Falvey, who has executed major trades in both of the last two Januarys, trading Jorge Polanco to Seattle in 2024 and Luis Arraez to Miami the previous year.

This year is slightly more complicated, as the Twins still have eight players eligible for arbitration unsigned for 2025 who are expected to receive considerable raises, while aiming to maintain their payroll around the $130 million mark reached in 2024.

“People will always inquire, when you’re a team within our salary range, ‘How do you achieve flexibility and what shape does that take?’” Falvey stated. “Clearly, we will need to be inventive in how we construct our roster and ensure it fits effectively.”

It’s quite possible that the most significant news for the Twins next week will arise from events outside their control. On Tuesday, MLB will conduct its third lottery to determine the draft order for the top six selections in next July’s amateur draft, with the Twins, who concluded the season with the 12th-worst record in MLB at 82-80, having a 1.09% chance of securing the overall No. 1 pick and about a 7% likelihood of landing in the top six.

While those odds might appear slim, the Twins faced comparable odds in 2022, advancing from the mid-teens to the fifth pick, where they selected outfielder Walker Jenkins, currently regarded by most scouts as one of the team’s top three prospects. The Twins also discovered last week that they will select in the mid-30s overall with a “competitive balance” pick.