3 Most Likely Minnesota Twins to be Gone in 2025

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Christian Vazquez, Minnesota Twins
Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Twins roster is likely to see some serious turnover in the year ahead. Although ownership has suggested there won’t be a further cut, that doesn’t mean things are in an ideal situation.

Multiple players will see contract boosts in 2025, and arbitration figures play a factor as well. That means there are 40-man roster players that won’t be around a year from now.

If the Twins want to make any moves of substance through free agency, it will cost them some names that they currently employ. The trade market was a significant avenue for Minnesota to improve last season, and that remains the case this year as well. Arguably the most impactful reality of the last 12 months was the Jorge Polanco deal. So who is on the outs this time?

Christian Vazquez has to go

When the Twins signed Christian Vazquez to a three-year deal for $30 million it couldn’t have made more sense. They needed to replace Mitch Garver and Ryan Jeffers wasn’t a consistent commodity. Vazquez has won a pair of World Series rings, and he is among the better defenders in the league.

The problem is that he has been a complete zero when it comes to offensive production in Minnesota. He posted a 99 OPS+ in 2022, just shy of league average, and carried and 85 OPS+ to that point in his career.

With Minnesota though, he has just a 62 OPS+. He has been a negative asset at the plate, and not short stint of production changes that. It’s too bad the brief changes didn’t stick.

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Minnesota is probably on the hook for part of his final $10 million. If they can find a contender looking for a defender though, the opportunity to offload him is too great. Ryan Jeffers and Jair Camargo aren’t an ideal combination, but the Pohlad’s aren’t opening their pocketbooks.

Former Twins 1st round pick Alex Kirilloff — See ya!

The Minnesota Twins have given Alex Kirilloff ample opportunities to produce. This season he bottomed out with a career-worst 81 OPS+. That came on the heels of the decision to deceive his team about an injury, and he was sent to the offseason early.

He’s not a good defensive first baseman, and he’s not an ideal corner outfielder either. His wrist has been a problem for years, and there’s no reason to believe the front office has much trust in him.

Kirilloff is due for arbitration again this season, but there’s no reason not to let someone else pay that freight. He’s not going to command much of anything, but a swap for another failed prospect or someone needing a change of scenery makes sense.

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Almost any trade discussion the Twins have this offseason should include trying to dump Kirilloff, and talking him up with positive upside will be the goal.

Minnesota Twins don’t need Chris Paddack clogging a rotation spot

It was understandable to deal Taylor Rogers and Brent Rooker for a package that focused around Chris Paddack. Emilio Pagan could immediately impact the bullpen, and the starter had the makings of a cheap option for the rotation.

Paddack has never regained his form though, and paying him $7.5 million is something the Twins should be hoping someone else does in 2025.

It’s too bad that Rooker has become incredible, but it took two different teams for him to get there. Paddack has appeared in just 24 games for Minnesota over three seasons, and he has been ineffective when healthy. Sure, the underlying numbers are noteworthy, but they mean nothing when the actual results leave plenty to be desired.

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Minnesota has developed a pitching pipeline that includes arms like David Festa, Simeon Woods Richardson, and Zebby Matthews. None of them should lose starts to Paddack next season.

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