KANSAS CITY – Ever since he took over as Twins chairman last winter, Tom Pohlad has been quite clear: it is his intention to provide financial backing for the Minnesota front office to fortify the team’s roster. In the days leading up to the 2026 Trade Deadline, he finally had the opportunity to make good on that pledge, and he did so.
Or as manager Derek Shelton said, “he put his money where his mouth is.”
And as the dust settled Tuesday, Pohlad said before the Twins' 8-2 loss to the Royals that ownership and the front office do not intend to stop there. He directly said that it is his expectation that the Twins’ payroll will increase in 2027.
In acquiring A.J. Minter, Dean Kremer and Jeff Hoffman, Minnesota took on more than $8 million in prorated salary for the remainder of the 2026 season, as well as 2027 commitments to Hoffman ($11 million) and Kremer (likely due a raise in arbitration from $5.75 million this year). The Blue Jays will pay $3.75 million toward Hoffman’s salary in 2027, but even so, that’s a significant level of investment for a club that has taken extensive heat over its payroll in recent years.
“I, and we as an ownership group, were committed to giving [general manager Jeremy Zoll] the financial flexibility to make this team better,” Pohlad said. “I think the results of what happened at the Trade Deadline were in no small part a function of having that financial flexibility and that clarity at the outset. Now, somebody has to go out and execute that, and that is a very hard thing to do, and he did that masterfully.”
As for those 2027 commitments, Pohlad said that’s not all the club intends to do. Asked if Monday’s moves indicate that he’s hoping that payroll will increase for ’27, Pohlad responded quickly.
“I’m not hoping -- it will be higher,” he said. “I’ve been consistent, right? For us to accomplish the things that we want to accomplish, and be a consistently competitive team in the playoffs, and going deep, we have to make an investment into this team. We did that in a small way at the Trade Deadline. You’ll see more of it next year.”
For the time being, he and Zoll can point to the moves they did make, adding two of the top relievers who changed hands this month as well as a starter whom they believe will be a reliable contributor. It was a series of moves that was very welcome in the clubhouse.
“We took on money,” Shelton said. “And I think Tom was very clear from the time that he took over that that was something that he wanted to do and was willing to do and allowed JZ to do it. … So it’s a credit to him for saying it and doing it, and it’s a credit to our group for putting ourselves in a situation to be able to do that.”
Now the hope is that the bolstered roster goes out and wins games, and re-energizes the home fans.
“I certainly hope that it’s another small step to earning back the trust of the fan base,” Pohlad said. “What I like to believe happens is that as a result of these moves, more people come out to the ballpark and support a team that I think has earned the right to be supported. Ownership aside, come out for this group of players that play 27 outs and as a result, will likely play very exciting baseball for the last two months of the season.
“Let’s be honest, the more people that come out, the better chances this team is going to have to make a playoff push and earn a spot.”