The Minnesota Twins beat the Cleveland Guardians 5-4 on Aug 3, 2025. Trevor Larnach and Erasmo Ramírez starred, but what does this win mean for the team's new rebuild?
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
For the first time in five games, the Minnesota Twins are in the win column. Sunday's tense 5-4 victory over the Guardians was a much-needed dose of good news, a brief moment of celebration in a clubhouse still reeling from a seismic shift. But as the dust settles from the trade deadline, the win feels less like a turning point and more like a single bright spot in the shadow of a full-blown rebuild.
When he told (me) that we were going to go into rebuild mode, I said then I deserve to go somewhere where I have a chance to win and my kids can watch me go out there in the playoffs and perform.
The Twins didn't waste any time, exploding for four runs in the first inning to stake their claim. Trevor Larnach delivered the big blow with a two-run single, while Matt Wallner and Royce Lewis also chipped in with RBIs to build a lead they would narrowly protect. After José Ureña gave them four innings of two-run ball, the bullpen largely held firm. Kody Funderburk (2-1) was brilliant over two scoreless frames, and Kody Clemens added what proved to be the winning run with a gutsy bunt single in the eighth. The ninth got dicey, but Erasmo Ramírez, in his first MLB appearance since last August, slammed the door for a dramatic save, securing the 5-4 win and avoiding a sweep.
Let's be clear: this is not the team we expected to watch in August. After trading away 11 players—including franchise cornerstones like Carlos Correa and Jhoan Duran—the front office has officially waved the white flag on 2025. The goal is no longer the AL Central crown, but a complete reset for the future. The move was jarring for fans and players alike. Correa's parting words to the front office, revealing his desire to play for a contender once the rebuild was confirmed, sting with the truth of the team's new direction. The focus has shifted from winning now to building for tomorrow.
The rebuild strategy was immediately evident in how the team handled its new acquisitions. While outfielder Alan Roden joined the big-league club, the other key pieces with MLB experience—pitchers Mick Abel and Taj Bradley, and outfielder James Outman—were all optioned to AAA St. Paul. President of Baseball Operations Derek Falvey stressed the need for a 'soft landing,' allowing the players to acclimate without the pressure of the majors. For Bradley, the former Tampa Bay Ray, the assignment comes with a specific mission: regain the feel for his splitter. After posting a 4.61 ERA in 21 starts this year, the Twins believe time in St. Paul will help him rediscover his strikeout stuff and become a key part of the future rotation.
So, what's next? Sunday's victory was a fun diversion, but the rest of 2025 is an audition. It's about watching the young guys like Wallner and Roden, tracking the box scores from St. Paul to see how Bradley, Abel, and Outman are progressing, and trying to identify the foundational pieces of the next great Twins team. The path ahead is long, but the rebuild has officially begun.
