Minnesota Twins Sale Attracting Interest but Asking Price is a Problem

The highlight of the offseason thus far has to be the announcement by Joe Pohlad that the Minnesota Twins are for sale. Ownership has long been a problem for the franchise, and the fresh faces have only made the public outcry grow louder.

It’s unfortunate, but if you were hoping for a quick sale of the Twins, and a new superhero owner able to swing in to save a Twins organization that no longer seems interested in being competitive, under the Pohlad family, then we have some bad news for you.

Don’t expect a speedy sale for the Minnesota Twins

This process is going to be anything but quick. There is a significant amount of red tape built in, and plenty of approvals that need to happen. Twins beat writer Bobby Nightengale (Star Tribune) noted Thursday that,“all signs point to the [sale] process continuing into next summer.” In case you’re confused, he’s talking Summer, 2026 (1.5 years from now).

Every time a new report releases, about this sale, it appears more and more obvious that the Minnesota Twins are unlikely to switch ownership groups anytime soon. Recently, team president Derek Falvey told reporters that they haven’t even started identifying potential buyers yet…

“There is a phase one of the process, which is gathering a ton of information. Our lawyers and our finance people, and everyone else who needs to get everything into order, they’ve been working like crazy to get it that way. Then there’s the next phase to the process when potential buyers are starting to look into this. We’re not in that phase yet.”

Derek Falvey on a sale of the Twins (Star Tribune)

What is taking so long? Take one wild guess. The Pohlads’ asking price is too high. Are you shocked that the Pohlads would be begging for a few more pennies than what the open market currently dictates?

Pohlads asking price too high…?

During a recent SKOR North scoop session with Mackey & Judd, local insider Darren “Doogie” Wolfson (KSTP) is revealed the Pohlads\’ current asking price as being ~$1.7 billion, which is what the Baltimore Orioles recently sold for. According to Doogie, a more realistic price point would be under $1.5 billion.

“There’s enough interest. Right now I don’t think they’re getting the price that they’re looking for. I’m telling you, I don’t think they’re selling right this second for anything less than the Orioles sold for earlier this year ($1.725 billion). In the end, do I think the Twins are being sold for that? Probably not. I’m just saying, right now, I don’t think they’re willing to sell for $1.3 or $1.4 billion.”

Darren Wolfson on Twins sale negotiations (SKOR North)

It makes plenty of sense for the Pohlad family to start high and be open to negotiations. A difference of $3-400 million is a sizable gap. Given the current landscape of baseball, and where Minnesota is at from a fan interest standpoint, it’s unlikely that ownership will be able to strongarm a buyer.

Related: Minnesota Twins Select Pitcher in 2024 Rule 5 Draft

Realistically it makes sense for the Twins to be sold for less than Baltimore. Attendance is roughly the same, but the organization was on a significant upswing at the time it changed hands. Carl Pohlad originally purchased the Minnesota Twins back in 1984, for just $44 million.