Why You Should Believe Tom Pohlad When He Says Twins Plan to Spend Big

The MLB playoffs began today. For those who stopped paying attention weeks or even months ago, the Minnesota Twins ' 2026 season has been over for a couple of days. The Twins completed their schedule on Sunday, with a home victory over the Texas Rangers , cementing their regular season record at 77-85.

Thus, the Twins will watch the 2026 playoffs from the couch, just like us. Then, we enter one of the most important offseasons in Major League Baseball history.

The current MLB collective bargaining agreement (CBA) expires Dec. 1, and there is very little hope right now that we'll be able to avoid the league's fifth-ever owner-initiated lockout.

More on that shortly, because it's an important part of this story.

For now, let's stay in the moment and turn focus back to Target Field, where today, Minnesota Twins controlling owner Tom Pohlad met with reporters and ( yet again ) took the conversation to places we never saw from the Pohlads before his arrival.

Tom Pohlad making big Minnesota Twins payroll promises again

Obviously, all eyes are on Pohlad's pocketbook this offseason. He's been telling us since he took over as team president that he intends to spend whatever necessary — but only when the timing is right.

Naturally, now that the 2026 season has come to an end, reporters followed up on that notion Tuesday. Is the time to spend now?

Lo and behold, though he refused to give any specific numbers, Tom doubled down on his past promises and told gathered media that "a $100 million payroll or anything close to that is not sufficient to be consistently competitive and in the playoffs."

"I have said over and over that a $100 million payroll or anything close to that is not sufficient to be consistently competitive and in the playoffs, and so we intend to take the offseason and meaningfully invest. I know that everybody in this room wants to understand, wants me to define what "meaningfully" is, and I understand that that's a subjective word. But I am confident that [Jeremy Zoll], if he has conviction about a move that's going to improve this roster and help us accomplish our goals, that this ownership group is prepared to support him with the financial resources he needs." Tom Pohlad on the MN Twins' spending plans this offseason

"I have said over and over that a $100 million payroll or anything close to that is not sufficient to be consistently competitive and in the playoffs, and so we intend to take the offseason and meaningfully invest. I know that everybody in this room wants to understand, wants me to define what "meaningfully" is, and I understand that that's a subjective word. But I am confident that [Jeremy Zoll], if he has conviction about a move that's going to improve this roster and help us accomplish our goals, that this ownership group is prepared to support him with the financial resources he needs."

Tom Pohlad on the MN Twins' spending plans this offseason

Pohlad offered few details into what exactly he has in store for this offseason. What he made clear, however, is that the Minnesota Twins plan to spend this offseason, and they aren't afraid to show it.

How aggressive that is likely depends on what type of opportunities present themselves. At this point, I believe the Twins plan to have a higher payroll next season than ever before.

What Tom Pohlad won't tell you though… is that he probably won't have a choice. And that brings us back to the MLB's CBA negotiations.

Twins will probably spend more money this offseason, but not by choice

Essentially, MLB owners want a salary cap and the players are determined to fight against it, even if it means missing paychecks. Thus, a lockout on December 1 feels inevitable.

The better question, at this point, is how long said lockout will last. Over the weekend, the President of the United States was even asked if he'd be willing to step in and help Major League Baseball, if necessary.

President Trump says he would consider stepping in to prevent a MLB lockout if given the opportunity: "I would do it if it was appropriate. I would certainly do it if I could… If I could help, I'd love to help." pic.twitter.com/U7zdAeGxAG — Punchoutpitch (@Punchoutpitch) September 27, 2026

President Trump says he would consider stepping in to prevent a MLB lockout if given the opportunity: "I would do it if it was appropriate. I would certainly do it if I could… If I could help, I'd love to help." pic.twitter.com/U7zdAeGxAG

Punchoutpitch (@Punchoutpitch) September 27, 2026

It's way too early to tell which side will come out on top, or how long it will take for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement to get finalized. But when it happens, baseball is expected to look different.

While players may object to a salary cap, they welcome some sort of salary floor, or at least some sort of worthwhile competitive balance tax that will make sure teams spend above a certain amount on player payroll every season.

For MN Twins fans desperately waiting to see the Pohlads spend money, that's music to your ears. But it gets better. Early CBA proposals that have gone back and forth between the MLB and MLB Players Association have included salary floors or competitive tax thresholds between $150 million and $171 million.

MLB is proposing a salary floor of $171.2 million and a salary cap of $245.3 million, with players receiving 50% of the revenues. Under this proposal, eight teams would have to reduce their payrolls: Dodgers , Mets , Yankees , Blue Jays, Phillies , Red Sox , Padres and Braves. Would… pic.twitter.com/CryQDN5kAj — The Athletic (@TheAthletic) September 15, 2026

MLB is proposing a salary floor of $171.2 million and a salary cap of $245.3 million, with players receiving 50% of the revenues. Under this proposal, eight teams would have to reduce their payrolls: Dodgers , Mets , Yankees , Blue Jays, Phillies , Red Sox , Padres and Braves. Would… pic.twitter.com/CryQDN5kAj

The Athletic (@TheAthletic) September 15, 2026

How much money could the MN Twins be forced to spend?

For context, the most expensive Minnesota Twins roster ever played in 2023, right before the Pohlads started cutting payroll. That season, the Twins paid $156 million in player salaries. Uncoincidentally, that was the same summer they advanced to the second round of the playoffs for the first time in two decades.

If MLB's future salary floor or competitive balance tax ends up even at the lowest proposed amount so far ($150 million), the Minnesota Twins (whose projected 2027 payroll currently sits at $101 million per Spotrac ) would have to add $50 million in payroll this offseason, just to climb above that number.

In other words, whenever baseball does return — if it comes back with some sort of salary floor — we can expect the Minnesota Twins to be more spend-happy than any time in franchise history. Just not out of the goodness of Tom Pohlad's heart.

#MNTwins owner Tom Pohlad reflecting on the season: "I want to thank the fans that got behind the team this year. I understand the patience in this market has run out, and I assure you we have a sense of urgency." pic.twitter.com/O0sVmyLof4 — Will Hall (@WillHallKARE11) September 29, 2026

#MNTwins owner Tom Pohlad reflecting on the season: "I want to thank the fans that got behind the team this year. I understand the patience in this market has run out, and I assure you we have a sense of urgency." pic.twitter.com/O0sVmyLof4

Will Hall (@WillHallKARE11) September 29, 2026

Does it matter whether Pohlad spends by choice or by force? Not really, as long as the Twins get to keep Joe Ryan and Ryan Jeffers deep into the future, and add more talent to boost a roster that has a core good enough that the right signings could mean an AL Central title as soon as next season.

With that being said, until a new CBA is signed that includes some sort of salary floor penalty, these are all just dreams. It's still possible we end up with little change this MLB offseason, if owners fold early during negotiations, unexpectedly.

If that were to happen, and baseball returns without a salary floor or a tax system that brutally penalizes teams who refuse to spend above it — and then the Pohlads still go out and splurge on a roster that costs $150+ million — well then I will actually be impressed by Tom Pohlad's "willingness" to spend.

However, if I had to guess, Tom probably believes that the new CBA will force him to spend… which would explain why he has been so comfortable making bold financial statements and unheard of promises about future spending. It would also tell us why he's shy about revealing any actual numbers… since those are yet to be negotiated.