Headlines

  • Nationals Fire PBO Mike Rizzo, Manager Dave Martinez
  • Brewers Activate Brandon Woodruff
  • Clarke Schmidt Expected To Undergo Tommy John Surgery
  • Bobby Jenks Passes Away
  • Braves Release Alex Verdugo
  • Top 40 Trade Candidates For The 2025 Deadline
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

Remove Ads
  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2025 Trade Deadline Outlook Series
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Twins Turn Daily Ownership Oversight Over To Joe Pohlad

By Anthony Franco | November 29, 2022 at 9:47pm CDT

Twins chairman Jim Pohlad stepped aside as the franchise’s executive chair yesterday, turning day-to-day ownership responsibilities over to his nephew Joe Pohlad (relayed by Aaron Gleeman of the Athletic). President of baseball operations Derek Falvey and president Dave St. Peter will report to Joe Pohlad moving forward.

It’s not a complete ownership overhaul, as Jim Pohlad will remain the Twins’ official control person and continue to work with Major League Baseball, writes Jim Souhan of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. However, it does mark a notable step for the organization, as 40-year-old Joe Pohlad will take on a significantly more meaningful role. Jim Pohlad, who’s now 69 years old, has held the lead role since the passing of his father Carl in 2009. The Twins have been owned by the family for nearly four decades. Carl Pohlad purchased the organization from Calvin Griffith back in 1984.

Joe Pohlad, a graduate of Stonehill College, has worked for the Twins since 2007. He had held the title of executive vice president of brand strategy/growth for the past four years. Souhan notes he’s gotten some experience in baseball operations in addition to his work in the marketing department, presumably in preparation for eventually assuming control of the franchise.

In an interview with Souhan published at the Star-Tribune, Joe Pohlad downplayed the potential for any major changes relative to his uncle’s leadership. He expressed his support for the front office duo of Falvey and general manager Thad Levine, as well as for manager Rocco Baldelli. “It’s not like how we’re going to operate as a business is going to change on Day 1 because I’m in this chair,” Pohlad told Souhan. “To this point, we are having all of the same conversations. Dave, Derek and I are operating in the same way. I am certainly not one to all of a sudden blow things up because I’m the guy in this seat.”

While there may not be any immediate overhauls in the franchise’s daily operation, any ownership change is certain to lead to questions among the fanbase about the payroll outlook. Minnesota opened the 2022 season with a team-record player payroll just above $134MM, in the estimation of Cot’s Baseball Contracts. That ranked 18th in the majors, and they’ve opened each of the past 10 seasons with a payroll that sat between 16th and 21st among the game’s 30 clubs.

Predictably, Joe Pohlad didn’t delve into specifics about the franchise’s long-term payroll trajectory. He reiterated the team’s interest in re-signing Carlos Correa, to whom the club has reportedly made a number of six-plus year offers. Joe Pohlad told Souhan he “(knows) that Jim was not a big fan of long-term contracts” but didn’t elaborate as to whether he’s similarly averse to those kinds of commitments.

The Twins haven’t signed a free agent to a guarantee longer than four years ($92MM for Josh Donaldson, $54MM for Ervin Santana and $49MM for Ricky Nolasco) since Jim Pohlad took control. The organization did go beyond four years on extensions (most notably for Joe Mauer and Byron Buxton) and they handed Correa the largest per-year salary for a free agent position player in MLB history over a three-year guarantee last offseason.

Jason Martinez of Roster Resource projects the Twins’ 2023 payroll commitments around $98MM. Buxton and Randy Dobnak are the only players on guaranteed deals beyond next season, providing the franchise plenty of long-term flexibility to reload after a second straight underwhelming season. Beyond shortstop, Minnesota has some question marks in the bullpen and the corner outfield. Falvey has also noted a desire to add another catcher to somewhat evenly split duties with Ryan Jeffers after the organization watched Gary Sánchez hit free agency.

Levine recently expressed a similar sentiment, telling Dan Hayes of the Athletic the Twins “feel the best roster will include two catchers really capable of delivering about 100 games started.” Jeffers is currently the only backstop on the 40-man roster, so it’s inevitable the club will add some help from outside the organization. Hayes suggests that’s likelier to be via free agency than trade, with the Twins believing teams with trade candidates behind the dish (i.e. the A’s with Sean Murphy and the Blue Jays with Danny Jansen) may prefer to wait out the free agent market.

Free agency doesn’t offer a ton of certainty. Willson Contreras is easily the top catcher available, although he’s likely to require a four-plus year commitment the Twins seem unlikely to dole out with Jeffers in the fold. Christian Vázquez is the next-best option, followed by Omar Narváez, Tucker Barnhart and Sánchez. The lefty-swinging Narváez and switch-hitting Barnhart would make for more natural complements to the right-handed Jeffers, although Falvey has previously suggested the team doesn’t intend to relegate Jeffers solely to the lesser side of a platoon.

Share 0 Retweet 4 Send via email0

Minnesota Twins Joe Pohlad

Reds Promote Joel McKeithan To Hitting Coach
Main
Shaun Anderson Signs With KBO’s Kia Tigers
View Comments (44)
Post a Comment

44 Comments

  1. The Baseball Fan

    3 years ago

    How about the sox get a new owner?

    Reply
    • Samuel

      3 years ago

      The Baseball Fan;

      This article is about the Twins.

      2
      Reply
      • The Baseball Fan

        3 years ago

        That is true… in the wake of the Abreu signing ownership has made me furious but I understand it is off topic

        Reply
        • JoeBrady

          3 years ago

          It was the right thing to do. The development side of the organization kind of tripped over themselves, but they have more 1B/DH types than they need.

          Think of it this way. You can either have Abreu & a minimum wage 2B, or you can have Vaughn & a $20M 2B (theoretically). In hindsight, they could’ve offered Abreu a QO, but imo, Vaughn & Abreu will have very similar stats over the next three years.

          1
          Reply
    • someoldguy

      3 years ago

      Twins 1st…

      1
      Reply
      • User 3044878754

        3 years ago

        Paul Dolan of the Guardians finished runner up as owner of the Twins

        2
        Reply
  2. .

    3 years ago

    I couldn’t make out the background pic on the post for like 5mins. I thought it was Solomon’s Temple at first.

    3
    Reply
    • Yankee Clipper

      3 years ago

      It’s Sea World, right?

      1
      Reply
      • .

        3 years ago

        At 2nd glance Clip, it looked like a “Twins” sign…But now that I give it a close look, it is indeed Solomon’s Temple…..You just wanna go to Sea World is all!!! What do you know about Sea World anyway Clip?!?? I thought you were an east coaster?? On the eastern hemisphere of the U.S. ??

        1
        Reply
        • Yankee Clipper

          3 years ago

          Probably right, Trumbo. I just want to go there. But, there is one on the east coast too, my friend. Florida.

          I’d go to Solomon’s Temple too! Goes to show you that I wouldn’t know it if I saw it!

          1
          Reply
        • .

          3 years ago

          Clip you smart alek I had no idea!!!! Hahaha Florida?! Wow I don’t know squat myself….San Dimas CA is actually where it is at out here. Very hard city to even find haha.

          1
          Reply
        • .

          3 years ago

          P.S. Clip, we’ll make our way out to the outskirts of Israel eventually and scout it out. We’ll circle around and meet towards the middle.

          1
          Reply
        • Yankee Clipper

          3 years ago

          Okay, bring your chain whistle just in case you encounter any…..undiscerning folk out there. They’re a rowdy bunch on the borderlands.

          Reply
        • .

          3 years ago

          Hahahahahahhaa Clip I wear my whistle to sleep. If anyone asks what we are doing, we don’t tell them we are looking for the Temple..We say we are looking for Noah’s Ark and we took a wrong turn from Turkey..

          Reply
        • .

          3 years ago

          Wow Clip I am all backwards tonight. Sea World is not in San Dimas CA. That is “Raging Waters” haha. Sea World is definitely in San Diego.

          Reply
  3. Yankee Clipper

    3 years ago

    For the Twins fans, how does this impact their operations? Is it good, bad, or is he a relative unknown? The fact they want to go after Correa again, and have made “multiple offers” says something, I assume.

    As a Yankees fan, we went through a similar pass-down after George died.

    Reply
    • Zakis

      3 years ago

      Yankee Clipper- as a Twins fan I don’t know how it’s going to be, but my friends and I all say new guy in charge, same family. Hopefully it spurs the Twins to make more aggressive moves but MN isn’t exactly a hot free agent destination.

      3
      Reply
      • phantomofdb

        3 years ago

        Stop buying the excuses. The free agents go where the money is. Guys aren’t regularly turning down more money to avoid playing for the twins

        2
        Reply
        • Zakis

          3 years ago

          I’m not buying the excuses. Hoping for a different path, like, you know, spending money. Could I sound more like a teenager?

          2
          Reply
      • DBH1969

        3 years ago

        It’s not a bad thing that the Twins avoid stupid long, over bloated contracts. It’s smart.

        1
        Reply
  4. Curly Was The Smart Stooge

    3 years ago

    Good, keep the ownership in the family, that’s why Curly gave it to Moe, but Moe has no Twin, only Shemp. Good luck with Shemp…
    By the way, Curly was considered the “handsome” stooge…
    Shemp was so ugly he could stop time

    2
    Reply
    • Yankee Clipper

      3 years ago

      Curly, did you pass out mid-sentence again? I told you to stop sneaking grampa’s cough medicine!

      Reply
      • Curly Was The Smart Stooge

        3 years ago

        I didn’t pass out…in mid sentence..,hand me that bottle Pa Kettle…

        3
        Reply
        • Yankee Clipper

          3 years ago

          Haha! Only if you promise to pass it back.

          Reply
  5. Samuel

    3 years ago

    I mentioned a week or so ago that Jim Pohlad was causing problems.

    The word going into 2022 was that the FO wanted to do a form of a rebuild. Jim said no, and went out and signed Carlos Correa to a screwy one sided contract.

    Now he’s doing the same thing again this off-season.

    It appears the family stepped in (the family owns the Twins, not just one member).

    1
    Reply
    • Samuel

      3 years ago

      The Urshela trade was mind-boggling. It’s pretty obvious that the Twins were trying to free up money to pay Correa…..who did what he could do in 2022 and the Twins didn’t go anywhere. So they trade a quality infielder for a so-so guy in the lower minors and that makes the team better?

      The Twins have been in circles for years. Maybe this will result in them getting some direction.

      1
      Reply
      • Jacksson13

        3 years ago

        The trade of Urshela has a number of reasons behind it.
        He will be a free agent after 2023.
        His salary for 2023 projected to be $9.5 Million
        Arraez needed a position, seems like it is 1B
        Miranda needed a position (3B) and Arraez is now penciled in at 1B

        2
        Reply
        • phantomofdb

          3 years ago

          9.5 million is nothing for a guy with over 3 war. And they immediately replaced him with a guy projected to make 6 million who just had 1 war. The dollar to production of that exchange doesn’t add up.

          Not to mention you’re putting a lot of faith in Miranda not having a sophomore slump

          1
          Reply
        • ohyeadam

          3 years ago

          Farmer plays SS, Urshela doesn’t. Twins have all the 2B/3B you can shake a stick at but not a single SS until Farmer

          1
          Reply
  6. someoldguy

    3 years ago

    YEP…. nothing changes… claim to be ” competitive” and sell tickets… never gamble on winning a world series… the Minnesota Mediocres..

    Reply
    • larsoeri

      3 years ago

      Yep, this ^^^, why would they blow anything up and change? They are comfortable and sell tickets and have a nice ballpark and its something to do on summer nights in MSP. 0-18 in their last 18 playoff games, and two lousy seasons in a row, why try changing anything?

      Reply
  7. Edp007

    3 years ago

    Wonder who’s known as the cheaper Pohlad in the family ?

    Reply
  8. abqcomics

    3 years ago

    There has only been two families that have owned this club since 1912. There needs to be some new ownership at some point.

    Reply
    • Lucky Strike

      3 years ago

      Why give up ownership? There’s guaranteed income regardless of success or butts in the seats.

      Stonehill Joe probably threatened to go Prince Harry on the clan so they moved him to the corner office with a window and gave him a new TV and PS5.

      Reply
      • Samuel

        3 years ago

        Don’t meddle?

        “Twins chairman Jim Pohlad stepped aside as the franchise’s executive chair yesterday, turning day-to-day ownership responsibilities over to his nephew Joe Pohlad (relayed by Aaron Gleeman of the Athletic).”

        Reply
    • srsbryzness

      3 years ago

      The Pohlads aren’t perfect, but they don’t meddle in baseball operations and that’s a positive in my book.

      1
      Reply
      • utah cornelius

        3 years ago

        Hasn’t Joe just been appointed a position to meddle in baseball operations?

        Reply
  9. GabrielJames

    3 years ago

    Twins are a good match for a trade with the Braves for Manny Pina.

    2
    Reply
  10. yosyankees1

    3 years ago

    Irrelevant news regarding an irrelevant organization. You get what you pay for Minn, you spend cheap….well…you end up with this.

    1
    Reply
    • Lucky Strike

      3 years ago

      Legacy of Twins since the beginning. Many former Twins left for more money and/or reached their potential and flamed.

      It’s hard to have interest in a team that has a skipper who rolls the dice on half the outs in any given game.

      Reply
  11. slydevil

    3 years ago

    I wonder if the “multiple offers to Correa” are still on the table. Maybe Jim made approved some money the family wasn’t happy with?

    Timing seems odd with winter meetings right around the corner. Changing who is giving final approval to spending.

    With family ownership, there are likely voices the couldn’t care less about the team and would rather not spend family money on it.

    Reply
  12. MonkeySpanker

    3 years ago

    Why don’t they just re-sign Gary Sanchez? He’s a known entity and a free agent.

    Reply
    • CaptainHooks

      3 years ago

      Sonny Gray, who worked with Gary Sanchez in both New York and Minnesota, and who is currently the Ace of the Twins, doesn’t like pitching to Gary Sanchez.

      Reply
  13. CaptainHooks

    3 years ago

    The Twins could go a LONG WAY toward filling their gap at catcher with a Rule 5 Draft pick of National’s 24-year-old AA catcher switch-hitting catcher Drew Millas, a strong defensive catcher who hit .305 in the Arizona Fall League.
    This would leave the Twins plenty of money toward resigning Carlos Correa, pursuing starting pitcher Carlos Rendon, and perhaps signing another catcher, such as Christian Vasquez..

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

    Top Stories

    Nationals Fire PBO Mike Rizzo, Manager Dave Martinez

    Brewers Activate Brandon Woodruff

    Clarke Schmidt Expected To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Bobby Jenks Passes Away

    Braves Release Alex Verdugo

    Top 40 Trade Candidates For The 2025 Deadline

    Rays Reinstate Ha-Seong Kim

    Yankees Have Shown Interest In Ryan McMahon

    Royals Interested In Bryan Reynolds

    Rangers Option Josh Jung

    Kevin Pillar Announces Retirement

    Braves Place Spencer Schwellenbach On IL With Elbow Fracture

    Giants Exercise 2026 Option On Manager Bob Melvin

    Yordan Alvarez Shut Down Due To Setback With Hand Injury

    Astros Place Jeremy Peña On Injured List With Fractured Rib

    Tucker Barnhart To Retire

    Tyler Mahle To Be Sidelined Beyond Trade Deadline

    Reds Release Jeimer Candelario

    Dave Parker Passes Away

    Griffin Canning Diagnosed With Ruptured Achilles

    Recent

    Nationals Sign Luis Garcia

    Cubs, Tigers Among Teams Interested In Ke’Bryan Hayes

    AL Central Notes: Thomas, Ragans, Lynch, Cobb

    Padres To Activate Yu Darvish On Monday

    Rhys Hoskins Suffers Grade 2 Thumb Sprain, Headed To IL

    Nationals Fire PBO Mike Rizzo, Manager Dave Martinez

    Rays Sign Peter Strzelecki To Minor League Contract

    MLB Announces 2025 All-Star Rosters

    Pirates Re-Sign Yohan Ramírez, Release Peter Strzelecki

    Diamondbacks Place Pavin Smith On IL, Select Tristin English

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Sandy Alcantara Rumors
    • Luis Robert Rumors
    • Alex Bregman Rumors

     

    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android App Store Google Play

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Remove Ads, Support Our Writers
    • Front Office Originals
    • Front Office Fantasy Baseball
    • MLBTR Podcast
    • Trade Deadline Outlook Series
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • RSS/Twitter Feeds By Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

    hide arrows scroll to top

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version