ADMINISTRATORS NOTE: This article is written with opinion, and a lot of want to see happening. Pitchers and Catchers will report to Spring Training around Tuesday, February 10, 2026.
The latest name to surface in the Minnesota Twins managerial search is Scott Servais. Oh heaven forbid! C’Mon Falvey & remainder of front office … NO, NO, NO!!
Thus far the Twins have reportedly interviewed Yankees’ hitting coach James Rowson (age 49), Red Sox’s bench coach Ramon Vasquez (age 49), and former Pirates manager Derek Shelton (age 55). The one thing is those managerial interviews were reportedly done virtually on Zoom.
Really, Zoom?
The Twins are amidst many view as crisis mode. Since leading the Twins’ front office Derek Falvey has gotten plenty more things wrong than right. In my opinion Pohlad ownership is hardly aware of everyday happening around this team. If you are serious about a candidate bring them to Target Field and conduct your interviews. Is this just another way of the Pohlad ownership trying to save a dollar?
If a previous ‘Slap Shots’ from October 14 titled “A Letter To Derek Falvey,” I had mentioned the likes of Carlos Beltran, Ryan Flaherty, David Bell, and former member of the Twins’ Piranhas’ Nick Punto for the managerial opening. As it stands, I’m hoping the Twins’ 32nd manager is none other Punto. I feel this is the right move. Would Punto accept the position if offered to him? He could certainly be the bridge between the disgruntled players, fan base, and the front office.
Punto, 47, played for the Twins from 2004 through 2010. He served this season as a coach with the San Diego Padres. He has no prior managerial experience at the major league level, but I’m perfectly ok with that.
Then would come the hiring of a coaching staff, and if they were to retain any of the present staff that worked under Rocco Baldelli. My crystal ball says the Twins should strongly consider retaining Luis Ramirez (age 52), who served as an assistant pitching coach/interpreter, Ramon Borrego (age 47) as first base coach/infield coach, Trevor Amicone (age 37) as assistant hitting coach, Nate Dammann (age 43) as Quality Control Coach, Frank Nigro (age 28) as bullpen catcher.
What’s that mean for the likes of Jayce Tingler (bench coach), Hank Conger (Assistant Bench Coach), Matt Borgschulte (Hitting Coach), Tommy Watkins (3B coach), Rayden Sierra (Assistant Hitting Coach), Pete Maki (Pitching Coach), Colby Suggs (Bullpen Coach), and Anderson DeLa Rosa (Bullpen Catcher)?
Rayden Sierra, Colby Suggs, and Anderson De La Rosa could be offered other positions within the Twins minor league system or seek a position elsewhere.
The Twins simply part ways with Tingler, Conger, Borgschulte, Watkins, and Maki.
Bio’s
Ramirez, has extensive coaching experience in both the U.S. and Venezuela. He began his role with the Twins in 2022. Has significant coaching experience, including a long tenure as the bullpen and pitching coach for the Tigres de Aragua in the Venezuelan League. More recently, Ramirez also served as the pitching coach for the Venezuelan national team in the 2024 Premier 12 tournament.
Hear me out on Ramirez. He joined the Minnesota Twins organization as a pitching coach in their Venezuelan Academy in 2006 has been a pitching coach or coordinator in the Twins system at different levels for nearly two decades. You can’t replace that wealth of knowledge and respect!.
One reason why I have Borrego remain is his familiarity with many of the young players on the Twins’ roster. Borrego had been a manager in the Twins organization for 15 seasons. He managed the Wichita Wind Surge (Class AA) since their inaugural season in 2021, compiling 269 wins over four seasons. He led the Surge to a pair of division titles and back to back League Championship Series appearances in 2021 and 2022. He earned Manager of the Year honors in 2021.
Dammann was hired by the Twins initially as their bullpen catcher in 2007 and he stayed in that role through 2018. Dammann served as the Twins Video Coordinator in 2019. He has served in his present position as Quality Control Coach since the 2021 season.
My choice for third base coach is a definite choice to replace “Wave ‘Em Home Tommy Watkins.”
That is Toby Gardenhire (age 43). Gardenhire has recorded 500 minor league managerial wins in the Twins organization. The current AAA manager at St. Paul would be the second Gardenhire to occupy the third base coaches box, following in the footsteps of his legendary father Ron Gardenhire. The senior Gardenhire served the Twins for 11 seasons, from 1991 to 2001 as third base coach. He held this position before becoming the team’s manager in 2002.
I believe its time to move on from Pete Maki as Twins’ pitching coach. The first and only choice is to offer that position right now to Jeremy Hefner (age 39). Hefner was not retained this off-season by the Mets after six seasons in that position. Prior to working with the Mets, Hefner joined the Twins as an advance scout from 2017 through 2018, before being promoted to assistant pitching coach for the 2019 season.
By not retaining Jayce Tingler as bench coach there is a couple of names I’m looking upon to fill Tingler’s and Conger’s positions. The role of bench coach/catching coach will be Mike Redmond (age 54). Michael Ryan (age 48), is named assistant bench coach/outfield coach.
Redmond played 13 seasons (864 career games) in Major League Baseball with the Florida Marlins, Minnesota Twins, and the Cleveland Indians. Redmond, most recently was the bench coach for the Colorado Rockies.
In 2011, Redmond managed the Lansing Lugnuts of the Midwest League, the Class A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. The Lugnuts had their best record in team history under Redmond, and reached the league finals. For those accomplishments, he was named Midwest League Manager of the Year. In 2012, Redmond managed the Dunedin Blue Jays of the Florida State League, the Blue Jays’ Class A-Advanced affiliate.
Redmond managed the Miami Marlins 2013 through 2015. As a player, Redmond is tied for fourth in career fielding percentage as a catcher, finishing with 99.6%.
Ryan was drafted by the Minnesota Twins organization in the 1996 Major League Draft 5th round. He played for the Twins organization from 1996 to 2005. He also played at the Major League level with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 2010. His last appearance in a major league game was June 14, 2010.
Ryan signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates to be a player/coach in November 2011. In January 2013, he was named the manager for the West Virginia Power. In January 2015, Ryan was named as the manager for the Pirates’ High-A affiliate the Bradenton Marauders. In December 2016, Ryan was named as the manager for the Pirates’ AA affiliate the Altoona Curve.
Presently, he serves as bench coach for AAA Albuquerque.
Pat O’Sullivan (age 48) served as a San Diego Padres assistant hitting coach in 2025. O’Sullivan was drafted by the New York Mets in the 34th round of the 1999 MLB June Amateur Draft. As a minor league player, and six years in the Mexican League he finished with a career average of .326 batting average and .907 OPS.
As part of the 2025 staff with the Padres, the team finished with a .252 team batting average, .321 on-base percentage, .390 slugging percentage, .711 OPS.
Trevor Amicone (age 37) He spent time with the New York Yankees player development staff. He also served as a hitting coach in the New York Yankees organization at Scranton-Wilkes-Barre from 2022-2024. Previous to that, Amicone was an assistant coach at Dixie State University from 2018 until the end of 2019. He retains his Twins assistant hitting coach role for 2026.
P.J. Piliterre (age 44). He began his coaching career back in 2012 with the New York Yankees organization. The Yankees named Pilittere their assistant hitting coach at the major league level beginning with the 2018 season through the 2021 season. The Colorado Rockies then hired Pilittere as their assistant hitting coach, a position he had from 2022 through 2024.
Desi Druschel (age 50) the New York Yankees hired Druschel in 2019. They promoted him to their major league staff as a pitching coach after the 2021 season.
On November 11, 2024, Druschel was hired by the New York Mets to serve as the team’s assistant pitching coach, working under Jeremy Hefner.
Minor League Changes
Present AA manager (Wichita Wind Surge) Brian Dinkelman (age 42) gets promoted to AAA St. Paul for the 2026 season replacing Toby Gardenhire. Brian Meyer (age 43) gets promoted from High-A Cedar Rapids to the managerial role at AA Wichita, previously occupied by Dinkelman. Seth Feldman (age 33) remains with the Ft. Meyers Mighty Mussels in Low-A. You fill in the Cedar Rapids vacant position at the organization discretion. Maybe a position for say Tommy Watkins if interested.
Based on the information provided below the Twins would have a 2026 payroll around $122.067.857 , below the $129.425,732 from 2025.
Hypothetical 40-Man Roster Organization Depth: Trade, Free-Agents, Etc.
(As of 10.23.25) Presently 38 Players on 40-Man Roster
Pitchers:
20 Mick Abel R 6-5 190 8.08.21
45 Travis Adams R 6-1 197 1.19.00
26 Taj Bradley R 6-2 220 3.20.21
25 Calvin Faucher R 6-1 190 9.22.95 (Marlins)
58 David Festa R 6-6 185 3.08.00
55 Kody Funderburk L 6-4 230 11.27.96
54 Joey Gerber R 6-4 212 05.03.97 (Rays)
51 Brusdar Graterol R 6-1 265 8.26.98 (Dodgers)
56 Thomas Hatch R 6-1 195 9.29.94
66 Cody Laweryson R 6-4 205 5.10.98
49 Pablo Lopez R 6-4 225 3.07.96
52 Zebby Matthews R 6-5 225 5.22.00
47 John Means L 6-4 230 4.24.93 (Indians)
64 Hueston Morrill R 6-0 168 11.27.99 (NY Yankees Rule 5 Pick)
85 Marco Raya R 6-1 170 8.07.02
41 Joe Ryan R 6-2 205 6.05.96
44 Cole Sands R 6-3 215 7.17.97
48 Justin Topa R 6-4 200 3.07.91
24 Simeon Woods Richardson R 6-3 210 9.27.00
Catchers:
27 Ryan Jeffers R-R 6-3 235 6.03.97
65 Jhonny Pereda R-R 6-1 202 4.18.96
33 Pedro Pages R-R 5-11 245 9.17.98 (Cardinals)
Infielders:
18 Kody Clemens L-R 6-0 200 5.15.96 (1B-2B-OF)
53 Ryan Fitzgerald L-R 5-10 186 6.17.94 (SS-2B-3B)
15 Luke Keaschall R-R 6-0 190 8.15.02 (2B)
* 22 Brooks Lee S-R 6-1 205 2.14.01 (SS)
23 Royce Lewis R-R 6-0 200 6.05.99 (3B)
2 Luis Arraez L-R 5-10 175 4.09.97 (1B) (Padres)
1 Amed Rosario R-R 6-2 190 11.20.95 (2B-SS-OF) (Yankees)
Outfielders:
25 Byron Buxton R-R 6-2 190 12.18.93
0 Alex Call R 5-11 189 9.27.94 (Dodgers)
32 Gabriel Gonzalez R-R 5-11 165 1.04.04
9 Austin Hays R-R 5-11 200 7.05.95 (Reds)
16 Austin Martin R-R 5-11 185 3.23.99
43 James Outman L-R 6-2 215 5.14.97
19 Alan Rodon L-R 5-11 215 12.22.99
* 13 Emmanuel Rodriguez L-L 5-11 210 2.28.03
38 Matt Wallner L-R 6-4 220 12.12.97
2026 Minnestota Twins Coaching Staff
Manager
Bench Coach/Catching Coach
Assistant Bench/OF Coach
3B Coach
1B/INF Coach
Hitting Coach
Asst. Hitting Coach
Asst. Hitting Coach
Pitching Coach
Asst. Pitching Coach/Interpreter
Bullpen Coach
Quality Control Coach
Bullpen Catcher
Nick Punto
Mike Redmond
Michael Ryan
Toby Gardenhire
Ramon Borrego
Pat O’Sullivan
PJ Pilittere
Trevor Amicone
Jeremy Hefner
Luis Ramirez
Desi Druschel
Nate Dammann
Frank Nigro
8
4
12
35
46
85
74
96
99
91
76
75
98
Player Uniform Number Changes for 2026
From #2 to College # at Cal-Poly #22 — Brooks Lee
From #32 to #13 — Emmanuel Rodriguez
Non-Roster Players
Minor League deals or Minor League organization players with invite to Spring Training (as of 10.22.25)
Pitchers
92 Genesis Cabrera L 6-2 180 10.10.96 (Formally on Twins 40-Man)
61 Miguel Diaz R 6-0 221 11.28.94 (Sacramento AAA/Giants)
60 Austin Gomber L 6-5 220 11.23.93 (Rockies)
81 Victor Gonzalez L 6-0 180 11.16.95 (Salt Lake AAA/Angels)
17 John Klein R 6-5 225 4.22.02 (St. Paul AAA/Twins)
37 Andrew Morris R 6-0 195 9.01.01 (St. Paul AAA/Twins)
62 Pierson Ohl R 6-1 180 9.10.99 (Formally on Twins 40-Man)
50 Mike Parades R 5-11 185 7.27.00 (St. Paul AAA/Twins)
30 Aaron Rozek L 6-2 225 8.20.95 (St. Paul AAA/Twins)
Catchers
11 Ricardo Olivar R-R 5-10 176 8.10.01 (Wichita AA/Twins)
12 Nate Baez R-R 5-11 191 5.17.01 (Wichita AA/Twins)
19 Noah Cardenas R-R 5-11 195 9.10.99 (St. Paul AAA/Twins)
Infielders
40 Aaron Sabato R-R 6-1 230 6.04.99 (St. Paul AAA/Twins)
39 Tyler Wade L-R 6-0 188 11.23.94 (FREE AGENT 2B/SS/OF)
Outfielders
5 Walker Jenkins L-R 6-3 210 2.19.05 (St. Paul AAA/Twins)
Total Players in 2026 Spring Training Camp = 52
Twins’ Trade Pieces or Release
- Salaries Reflected by Spotrac
Trade
SP – Bailey Ober $6.8M
OF – Trevor Larnach $3.25M
OF – Carson McCuskar $820K
OF – Dashawn Keirsey $820K or Release
OF – Eduoard Julien $820K or Release
INF – Mickey Gasper $820K
INF – Jose Miranda $820K or Release
Decline / Release
RP – Genesis Cabrera $1.5M
RP – Michael Tonkin $1.25M
RP – Anthony Misiewicz $1.1M
INF – Ryan Kreidler $820K
Total Off Payroll Adj. $19.640M
2026 Committed Twins Payroll
- Salaries Reflected by Spotrac
SP – Pablo Lopez Veteran $21.75M
SP – Joe Ryan Arb. 2 $6M
SP – John Means FREE AGENT $6M
SP – Zebby Matthews Pre-Arb. $820K
SP – Simeon Woods Richardson Pre-Arb. $820K
SP – Marco Raya Pre-Arb. $820K
P – Mick Abel P-Arb. $820K
P – Taj Bradley P-Arb. $820K
P – David Festa P-Arb. $820K
RP – Brusdar Graterol Arb. 4 Super 2 $2.8M TRADE
RP – Calvin Faucher Arb. 1 Super 2 $2.1M TRADE
RP – Justin Topa Arb. 3 $2M
RP – Cole Sands Arb. 1 $1.25M
RP – Travis Adams Pre-Arb. $820K
RP – Kody Funderburk Pre-Arb. $820K
RP – Joey Gerber Pre-Arb. $820K
RP – Thomas Hatch Pre-Arb. $820K
RP – Cody Laweryson Pre-Arb. $820K
— Pitchers $47.970M
C – Ryan Jeffers Arb. 3 $6.5M
C – Jhonny Pereda Pre-Arb. $820K
C – Pedro Pages Pre-Arb. $820K TRADE
— Catchers $7.940M
Luis Arraez FREE AGENT $11.35M, 2nd year $12.6M, (3rd year Mutual Option $14.2M)
(Arraez Full No Trade Clause 2026, 2027 )
Royce Lewis Arb. 2 Super 2 $3.25M
Amed Rosario FREE AGENT $3.225M (2nd year Mutual Option) $4.125M
Kody Clemens Arb. 1 Super 2 $1.1M
Ryan Fitzgerald Pre-Arb. $820K
Luke Keaschall Pre-Arb. $820K
Brooks Lee Pre-Arb $820K
— Infielders $21.385M
Byron Buxton Veteran $15,142.857
Austin Hays FREE AGENT $12M (1 Year Deal)
Alex Call Arb. 1 Super 2 $2.750M
Matt Wallner Pre-Arb. $820K
Austin Martin Pre-Arb. $820K
James Outman Pre-Arb. $820K
Alan Rodon $820K
Emmanuel Rodriguez Pre-Arb. $820K
Gabriel Gonzalez $780K
— Outfielders $34.772,857M
Carlos Correa $10M
— 2026 Retained Salary $10M
2026 Offseason Dates & Calendar
— March 26, 2026: Opening Day (Twins @ Orioles)
— Oct 24 – Nov 1: World Series (Immediately After The World Series: Players Become Free Agents, Trade Market Opens)
— 5 Days After Conclusion Of World Series: Contractual Options Due, Qualifying Offers Due, League-Wide Free Agency Opens
— Early November: General Manager Meetings
— Nov (TBA): Rule 5 Protection Deadline, Qualifying Offer Decisions due
— Nov (TBA): Tender Deadline
— Dec (TBA_: Announcement of Competitive Balance Picks
— Dec 7-10: Winter Meetings (Orlando, FL)
— Dec 10: MLB Draft Lottery
— Dec 10: Rule 5 Draft
— Mid-January: Arbitration agreement deadline
— Jan 15: International Signing Period Opens
— Late January: Twins Fest
— Late January-Early February: Arbitration Hearings
— Mid-February: Report to Spring Training
— February TBA: First Spring Training Game
— March TBA: MLB Spring Breakout
— March 25: MLB Opening Night (Yankees @ Giants)
2026 Twins Uniform Combinations, No Silly Circus Outfit (City Connect), No More !!
Lets save the organization a penny of the Pohlad’s money and stay with standardized Twins jersey’s. The City Connect Gimmick has gone on long enough. If MLB wants the team to wear that trash let them pay for it!
Hey Pohlad’s keep that money in your pockets! Do away with that ‘M’ logo. Stay with history and tradition TC!!
Just two caps and two helmet options. C’Mon Man!
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