For years, the Pohlad family’s debt has been a quiet anchor on the Minnesota Twins. Now, a $1.75 billion valuation is forcing a change, but it might not be the one fans were hoping for.

“The Minnesota Twins are nearing the close of a partial sale,” wrote Dan Hayes of The Athletic. “The Pohlad family is expected to announce this week they’ve finalized a transaction that helps a club $500 million in debt return to a sound financial footing.”

The Minnesota Twins are selling just over 20% of the franchise this week. The Pohlad family remains the majority owner, with three minority partners joining the advisory board. Tom Pohlad will take on an expanded role alongside Joe Pohlad in leadership.

The partial sale is designed to reduce the franchise’s roughly $500 million outstanding debt. Broadcast revenue losses of about $60 million increased the team’s financial strain in recent seasons. FanDuel Sports Network stopped carrying the team, forcing Minnesota to partner with MLB and broadcast on Twins TV, earning significantly less money than in their 2024 season.

Attendance remained below pre-pandemic levels (1.76 million tickets this past season), limiting gate revenue despite playoff appearances and division titles.

The Twins expected at least 2.3 million fans at Target Field in 2020, but then COVID-19 happened! Despite that, the franchise kept all its employees and paid the minor leaguers, increasing the debt.

Now, sources indicate the transaction will create liquidity and allow a more stable budget for operations.

The Twins have reached the postseason only once in the last five seasons. Payroll has been in the lower-middle tercile of MLB relative to team revenue and market size. The team traded ten players in 2025, reflecting efforts to manage costs while maintaining competitive balance.

Now, debt reduction and minority investment provide fresh oversight without shifting control from the Pohlad family.

This move brings new perspectives while keeping final decisions under majority ownership control. Minority partners are expected to offer strategic input without interfering with player or payroll decisions. The franchise now has a clearer financial path for offseason planning and future investments.

However, the issues here run deeper than who signs the checks, stretching across roster construction, player development, and a strange fear of committing to a direction.

The Twins have more problems than just their ownership

The Minnesota Twins’ middle infield instability traces back to Carlos Correa’s exit and unproven internal replacements. Brooks Lee logged 189 games at shortstop, producing minus 0.8 bWAR with below-average defense. Luke Keaschall struggled defensively at second base, while Kaelen Culpepper finished 2024 in Double-A.

Those realities leave the Twins without a shortstop option for a club chasing contention.

The front office is weighing stopgap solutions as Culpepper develops and Lee adjusts positions. A veteran shortstop addition could stabilize innings, protect younger players, and preserve roster flexibility.

Top Stories

Blue Jays Told to Thwart Dodgers’ Plan After Scott Boras Pushes 24-Year-Old Star to Reject Reds’ Historic Deal

Angels Finally “Cave in” After Denying Financial Aid to 22-YO Prospect, Whose Baseball Career Tragically Ended

Red Sox Warned Against Risky Marcelo Mayer Gamble Amid Willson Contreras Position Dilemma

Prayers Pour in as Beloved MLB Community Icon Drops Unfortunate News Amid Cancer Battle

3 MLB Teams Get Sued: “Systematically Cheated Fans Out of Millions of Dollars”

Without that bridge, rushed promotions or miscast defenders risk repeating recent losses in value. For fans, the outcome shapes whether 2026 feels like progress or another stalled transition.

This is the hinge moment between patience and drift, where decisions finally matter most. Brooks Lee, Luke Keaschall, and Kaelen Culpepper represent choices, not excuses, for Minnesota now. Ignore the middle infield again, and ownership debates will remain the franchise’s favorite distraction.