Where does the future of the Twins stand following fire sale?

The Minnesota Twins remain in a state of transition, and fans are puzzled and angry.

The Pohlads, family owners since 1984, announced 10 months ago that they would be selling the franchise. And despite an MLB-high 13-game winning streak in May, the Twins traded away 40% of their roster at last week’s trade deadline, saving $26 million in the process.

Now the only question that matters is who comes in to pick up the pieces?

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred believes a sale is imminent, but the timing remains unknown and details are scarce.

With eight weeks left in the regular season, here’s everything we know about a potential sale.

At the All-Star break, Manfred said, “I can tell you with a lot of confidence that there will be a transaction there, and it will be consistent with the kind of pricing that has taken place” in other franchise sales.

The commissioner admitted the sale was taking longer because there was an early clear front-runner in Justin Ishbia, who later turned his attention to the White Sox.

The Tampa Bay Rays, in need of a new stadium, were purchased in June by a group led by homebuilder Patrick Zalupski for $1.7 billion. Current Rays owner Stu Sternberg bought the team in 2004 for $200 million. The Rays sale should close in September.

The Baltimore Orioles were sold in 2023 for $1.725 billion and the New York Mets were purchased in 2020 for $2.475 billion.

No. The Twins are very tight-lipped. And prospective owners must sign non-disclosure agreements to see a team’s books.

The Twins retained the law firm Allen & Company to vet those showing interest. In May, the Star Tribune reported potential buyers have toured Target Field and met with team executives.

Similar to the group that is buying the Rays, however, it is expected there will be an anchor owner with several minority investors.

More likely is new ownership taking an interest in development around Target Field.

The most obvious answer is that the Pohlads wanted to shed payroll for a lost season.

The Twins don’t deny that.

“The sale process continues to be an ongoing reality for our organization, and something that we will work through at the at the right time,” Twins President Derek Falvey said.

“The Pohlads own the team. I work closely with [executive chair] Joe [Pohlad] and the family on any decisions we are making or any plans we’re executing on. And my job is to discuss what those options are, work closely with them, and then ultimately come up with a collective plan as to how we navigate forward.”

The payroll for next season will be determined following this season by either Joe Pohlad or a new ownership group.

Correa’s six-year, $200 million contract made him, by far, the top-paid Twin. He still has three-plus years and $104 million remaining on the deal. The Twins will pick up $33 million of the remaining money.

The 30-year-old shortstop (now a third baseman for Houston) had a no-trade contract, but said he would be willing to return to the Astros, with whom he won a World Series in 2017. With the Twins sellers at the trade deadline last week, they elected to dump much of Correa’s remaining salary.

The Twins feel they have shortstops in their system and, although Correa was an All-Star in 2024, he did not perform to the high expectations set by his contract.

It’s possible. But new owners in Baltimore, Miami and Kansas City (outside of Bobby Witt Jr.’s big extension) have not done so. Steve Cohen with the big-market Mets is the exception.

Trading relief pitcher Louie Varland to Toronto for outfielder Alan Roden and lefthanded pitcher Kendry Rojas. The North St. Paul native was making minimum salary and won’t be a free agent until 2031.

“Louie threw us for a loop, for sure,” said outfielder Matt Wallner, a native of Forest Lake. “Definitely feel for him in that sense just being from Minnesota, his wife working in Minnesota. That’s going to [hurt] for a little bit.”

Said manager Rocco Baldelli: “It was hardest on Lou. I don’t think that’s even close. He loves the organization, he loves being at home near his family and, on top of it, he’s been doing such a great job for us.”

The Twins are likely hoping new ownership will be in place by the winter and set a direction for the team moving forward. Will they spend more than they make to try to win quickly? Or will they rely on prospects to develop quickly and try to win with lower payroll?