Twins GM's comments hinder Dodgers' possible blockbuster trade attempts

Minnesota Twins GM Jeremy Zoll didn’t mention the Los Angeles Dodgers by name at the Winter Meetings. He didn’t have to. With a few matter-of-fact comments about “revamping the bullpen” and adding a power bat, he may have quietly yanked one of the more intriguing blockbuster paths right out from under Los Angeles. 

Minnesota opened the offseason as a presumed seller, with Byron Buxton, Joe Ryan, and Pablo López all living in rumor columns. Instead, Zoll has now signaled that the Twins plan to keep that core in place and shop in the mid-tier aisle of free agency. Dan Hayes of The Athletic mentioned that they’ve reportedly checked in on Ryan O’Hearn, Rhys Hoskins, and Josh Bell, with roughly $20 million to spend while they patch the ‘pen and plug first base. 

Twins’ offseason pivot could stall Dodgers’ blockbuster trade ambitions

The fact that Minnesota took this opportunity is very annoying for the Dodgers, as LA made it clear all winter that they would like to add a player to their corner outfield position. Michael Conforto is now a free agent following a 2025 season where he didn’t look great; Teoscar Hernandez has reportedly been available in trade talks, however his defensive skills are trending in the wrong direction. As a result of James Outman and Andy Pages showing some flashes in small amounts, there is reason to consider their upside. And Tommy Edman is returning from an ankle injury which limits you to project him for 145 games at best anywhere.

The fit with a healthy Buxton, an elite defender, dangerous bat, and with his contract already in place, is nearly self-explanatory.

And it’s not like the Dodgers lack ways to pay for that kind of upside. Reports have suggested they’re willing to deal from positions of strength, including entertaining ideas around Tyler Glasnow, if it means landing a true difference-maker. In a world where the Twins are taking calls on Buxton or López, you can at least dream on some sort of “win-now talent for win-now talent” swap built around a Glasnow headliner.

But Zoll’s new tone changes the math. Minnesota isn’t acting like a teardown club anymore; they’re acting like a team trying to win a winnable division on a budget. That usually means hanging onto stars, not shipping them to the West Coast so the Dodgers can tighten a few more screws on an already loaded roster.

LA will still find ways to shop in the luxury aisle — they always do. It just looks like one of the cleaner blockbuster routes, the Twins-as-reluctant-seller scenario, closed before the Dodgers ever really got to kick the tires.