Before you start judging how bad the Minnesota Timberwolves sale was, you have got to take a look at the Pohlad family’s track record with the Minnesota Twins. Ever since they took over, things have definitely changed—on and off the field. For starters, they have tightened the player budget, which hasn’t won them any fans. And now, they are looking to sell the team, seeking for a hefty ten-figure price tag. But that’s not even the whole story!
The $425 million debt they have cannot be ignored. There have been speculations about whether the Pohlad family would sell the Twins, especially since the asking price is in the range of $1.8 billion. Since the Pohlads weren’t ready to bend, they rejected multiple offers that were put on the table. They are currently evaluating the market conditions, which do not guarantee a specific timeline or price for the Twins’ sale. But that was until they weren’t officially in the game.
But now, The Athletic‘s Dan Hayes and Ken Rosenthal reported, the Pohlad family is believed to be asking $1.7 billion or above. It is more than the club’s actual value as predicted by Forbes, which is approximately $1.46 billion at present. Whether they will fetch that amount remains a mystery, but it seems possible. If you remember, on January 20, 2024, the Baltimore Orioles were sold for a hefty $1.725 billion, so something similar may happen with the Twins, right?
Maybe, or maybe not! Ever since Joe Pohlad, the Twins’ executive vice president, took control of the club, things haven’t seemed to be heading in the right direction. There have been differences in opinions and preferences within the Pohlad family itself regarding the sale of the team. On top of that, their $425 million debt is one of the highest figures in MLB. And that seems to be the reason behind their ten-figure asking price, which has generated little interest from potential buyers. But that’s not all!
If that wasn’t enough. Attendance at the stadium averaged just 24,094 fans per game in 2024. In addition to the disappointing figures, the collapse of the previous TV deal and the higher-than-average debt have further complicated matters for the Pohlad family. This raises a big question about whether they will be able to fetch a price closer to their asking amount. It’s possible that the Pohlads may eventually decide to reverse their course and take the team off the market without selling. Given these challenges, it’s interesting to note that billionaire Justin Ishbia had initially expressed some interest in acquiring. However, that interest now seems to have faded— but why?
Justin Ishbia finally walks out of the Twins’ ownership plan
Right after the Pohlad family started the sales process, Ishbia was keen to own the Twins. As one of the owners of the Phoenix Suns, he was even looking like a favorite to purchase the team. Both he and his brother, Mat Pohlad, showed interest after Pohland announced the selling plans. However, that didn’t happen. The reason? Well, according to The Athletic, Ishbia had his eyes set on the White Sox, as he already holds a small stake. And now he seems to be gaining full control and becoming the main owner while pushing Jerry Reinsdorf aside. But, is that really the reason?
Turns out, yes! Ishbia wanted to shift his priorities, which is why he wanted to increase his minority share of the White Sox. The White Sox currently rank 15th in terms of value in MLB, with an estimated value of $2.05 billion. On the other hand, the estimated value of the Twins was $1.46 billion, which the Pohlad family increased to $1.7 billion. So, this definitely indicates that Ishbia opted for the better team. One that would provide him with greater value and profit in the future.
Meanwhile, despite the roadblock caused by Ishbia dropping the bid for the sales process, the Pohlads are in no rush. Instead, they are taking their sweet time, determined to avoid the pitfalls Glen Taylor faced after selling the Timberwolves. Rather than compromising on their expectations, the Pohlads are willing to wait for the right offer, confident that patience will pay off.
Do you think the Pohlad family will be able to sell the Twins ultimately? Let us know in the comments below.
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