With the Minnesota Twins up for sale, one MLB insider wonders if more than money will decide the final deal. Unlike in past generations, owning a Major League Baseball team today is like running a corporation. In 2025, the best team owners see their franchises as businesses with customers, not vanity projects or tax write-offs.
This shift brings new challenges. The pressure to make money and stay competitive can push some potential buyers away. One MLB insider believes the changing landscape of the sport could make the purchase of the Twins far tougher than it looks.
Why Might the Sale of the Minnesota Twins Be Delayed?
Back in 1984, businessman Carl Pohlad bought the franchise for 43.5 million dollars. Over the next 25 years, he watched the team win two World Series titles and send several players to the Hall of Fame. When he died in 2009, ownership passed to his son, Joe.
Now, the Pohlad family is looking to cash out, hoping to sell the team for 1.7 billion dollars. But unlike other franchise sales that have moved quickly, this deal is taking longer. MLB insider Ken Rosenthal recently explained why on the “Foul Territory” podcast.
“You have a worry if you’re a potential owner about where this sport is going.”
The threat of a lockout after the 2026 season raises additional concern for those in pursuit of buying the Twins, says @Ken_Rosenthal. pic.twitter.com/XklidGa5xT — Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) May 28, 2025
“This is a concern for all teams considering sale possibilities: the threat of a lockout after the 2026 season. There is uncertainty about what your revenues are going to be, even beyond the cord-cutting situation with cable and all of the things going on with local TV streaming rights. You have a worry if you’re a potential owner about where this sport is going,” Rosenthal said.
This looming labor fight is just one reason the Twins’ sale might not move quickly. The temporary peace between the players’ union and the owners ends after 2026, and these two sides have been fighting for decades. The Pohlads want out because they are tired of losing money.
According to The Athletic, over the past five years, the Twins have racked up $425 million in debt. That explains why the family wants to sell for a billion-dollar price tag: to pay down debt and make a profit.
The COVID-19 pandemic and local civil unrest also added to the financial pressure. In today’s MLB, any new owner will need to be a billionaire or close to it to survive. They’ll also need to decide whether they want to spend big to compete or stick to a budget to stay in the black.
That debate depends on what the next collective bargaining agreement looks like. Will it include a salary floor that forces teams to spend more to stay competitive? Or will some owners keep trying to get by with as little payroll spending as possible?
For the Pohlads, baseball is no longer worth the financial headaches. The market isn’t exactly warm for a change of ownership, and that 1.7 billion-dollar asking price could come down before a deal is done.