Twins not planning to trade 3 key players (report)

The Twins, who traded 10 players off their big league roster prior to the 2025 Trade Deadline, entered this offseason with three other big-name trade candidates: outfielder Byron Buxton and starting pitchers Joe Ryan and Pablo López.

Team president of baseball and business operations Derek Falvey has said repeatedly that his intention is not to further subtract from the roster but instead add to it. To that end, it does appear that those three key players will be staying in Minnesota.

According to a report on Friday by The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, the Twins are planning to hold on to Buxton, Ryan and López and build around them for 2026.

That report falls in line with what MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand was told by sources last month regarding the Twins: They believe they can compete in the AL Central next season if they add some players this winter, and trading Buxton, Ryan and/or López is unlikely unless they are completely overwhelmed by an offer.

A source indicated to MLB.com this week that Buxton prefers to remain in Minnesota, but that if the Twins were to trade more current players for prospects, he would entertain the idea of a move that made sense for all parties. The 31-year-old outfielder has three years and $45 million remaining on his contract, and he has a full no-trade clause through 2026.

Buxton enjoyed one of the best seasons of his 11-year career in 2025, slugging a personal-best 35 home runs in 126 games, earning his second All-Star selection and receiving some down-ballot MVP votes.

Ryan and López, both 29 years old, each have two more years of club control remaining. Ryan is arbitration-eligible through 2027 while López has $43.5 million remaining on the four-year, $73.5 million extension he signed in '23.

Ryan was a first-time All-Star this past season and struck out 194 batters with only 39 walks in 171 innings. Multiple injuries limited López to just 75 2/3 frames, but he still posted a 2.74 ERA. From 2022-24, he averaged 202 K’s and 186 1/3 innings per year.

As far as what the Twins could be looking to add during and after next week’s Winter Meetings, multiple relief arms, a first baseman and improved defense in the middle infield could all be on their shopping list.