The Twins debuted a new roster vs. the Guardians on Aug 1, 2025, after trading Carlos Correa. See how prospects like Edouard Julien fared in a new era.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
If you tuned into the Twins game on Friday night and didn't recognize half the names on the field, you weren't alone. The Minnesota Twins as we knew them are gone. In their place is a younger, unproven, and completely retooled squad, thrown into the fire against the division-rival Guardians after one of the most dramatic trade deadlines in franchise history.
It's a search for 'a new way to do it.'
The scale of the roster teardown is staggering. Gone are shortstop and clubhouse leader Carlos Correa, first baseman Ty France, and utility players Harrison Bader and Willi Castro. The bullpen was gutted, with key arms Griffin Jax, Louis Varland, Brock Stewart, and Danny Coulombe all shipped out. In their place, a wave of reinforcements arrived from St. Paul, including infielders Edouard Julien and Ryan Fitzgerald, outfielders Alan Roden and Austin Martin, and pitchers Travis Adams and Pierson Ohl. To patch the remaining holes, the team also brought in veteran arms Erasmo Ramirez and Jose Urena, leaving the 26-man roster with just 25 players for the series opener.
The youth movement is officially on. Fans will be eager to see more of Edouard Julien and former top prospect Austin Martin, but all eyes were on Alan Roden. Acquired in the deal that sent Louie Varland out of town, Roden went from being a prospect in another organization to starting for the Twins in a matter of days. He joins a core of young players who now have a clear runway to prove they belong in the big leagues for the long haul. The front office's message is clear: the future is now.
There's no soft landing for this new group. Their first test came immediately against the second-place Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. With ace Joe Ryan (10-5, 2.82 ERA) on the mound, the Twins hoped to find some stability amidst the chaos. While the final score was not available at the time of writing, the game's outcome feels secondary. The real story was watching how this collection of new teammates gelled and who among the remaining veterans, like Byron Buxton (.282 AVG, 23 HR), would step up to lead this unfamiliar clubhouse.
The rest of the 2025 season is no longer about a playoff push; it's a two-month-long audition. Who will seize this unexpected opportunity? Which prospects will emerge as cornerstones? The front office has pushed all its chips toward the future. For fans, the coming weeks will be a painful but fascinating glimpse into what the next era of Minnesota Twins baseball might look like.
