What to expect when you're expecting (a team to be sold)

The biggest news of the Twins’ offseason, regardless of who gets signed or traded, will be that the Pohlads have placed the team up for sale. After initial speculation about local buyers, the biggest name to emerge is that of the Ishbia Brothers, best known as the owners of the Phoenix Suns. Mat Ishbia even played basketball at Michigan State, so wouldn’t that be fun? The basketball guys owning the Twins, while Alex Rodriguez owns the Timberwolves?

One thing many have noted is that when the Ishbias bought the Suns, they almost immediately acquired Kevin Durant, one of the top players in all of basketball. Could you imagine a world where the Twins became players at the top of the market? Fans are abuzz, but I’m skeptical. While the Pohlads have been misanthropic and tight-fisted, there are deeper issues within the Twins organization. They have a bad TV deal that’s unlikely to be resolved, they play in a relatively small market, and they play in an outdoor stadium in the northern U.S.

The Twins haven’t been willing to shell out for players, but even with new ownership, how much would change? How much will the Ishbias—or whoever buys the team—be willing to spend before expecting a serious return on their investment? How long will they pay for top talent with limited media and season ticket revenue? Will they stomach the “cold tax,” the premium needed to attract players who might otherwise avoid Minnesota?

It’s difficult to speculate on something that hasn’t happened—or at least, it’s unwise to do so—but this news could have implications for the upcoming offseason. If the sale might take the team off the Pohlads’ hands within, say, a year, could the current owners be less inclined to scrimp this season? After all, payroll costs would be nearly immediately recouped in the sale, and the Pohlads might take one final tepid shot at competitiveness. On the other hand, if the sale is imminent, a new ownership group might balk at an effort to slash payroll before they take over. After all, it’s not what they paid for.

It’s been pretty hopeless in Twins Territory since the trade deadline, but it seems that gloom may finally be starting to lift. Hope is back.