A casual golf conversation between Houston Astros owner Jim Crane and Minnesota Twins legend Joe Mauer during Hall of Fame weekend turned into the spark that ignited one of the most dramatic fire sales in MLB history. What started as a simple pitch to bring Carlos Correa back to Houston ended with the Twins dismantling their entire roster in a 24-hour trading frenzy that shocked the baseball world.
How Did Jim Crane’s Golf Course Conversation Trigger the Twins’ Complete Teardown?
According to a USA Today report from MLB Insider Bob Nightengale, Crane was golfing with Mauer at the Leatherstocking Golf Course in Cooperstown when he casually mentioned his interest in reuniting then-Twins All-Star shortstop Correa with Houston. His leverage was simple but powerful: the Twins were reportedly $440 million in debt and looking to sell, which meant they might not have any choice but to slash payroll.
When the Astros reached out about Correa and a potential outfielder, they made a bold demand. They wanted the Twins to pay $50 million of the remaining $102.5 million left in Correa’s contract. Minnesota initially rejected the proposal.
Even if the Twins had accepted Houston’s offer from the start, one major obstacle remained: Correa held full no-trade protection. Backed by superagent Scott Boras, who had been a longtime thorn in Houston’s side, Correa had the final say on any potential move.
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What Made Carlos Correa Change His Mind About Leaving Minnesota?
Crane didn’t give up after the initial rejection. Instead, he shifted his approach and hit the Twins where it hurt most – their financial pressures. He maneuvered his pitch to target the Pohlad family’s reported $1.7 billion asking price to sell the club.
Crane argued that the Twins would be far more appealing to potential buyers if they shed all long-term financial commitments, including Correa’s six-year, $200 million contract. This move, he suggested, would only increase the club’s value and make the sale process smoother.
The strategy worked. Soon, Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey was on the phone with Houston. Minnesota, which had initially been set on only moving expiring contracts, decided to embrace a complete sell-off. Correa, who had never been part of a selling team at the trade deadline, began reconsidering his position.
Carlos Correa crushes one over The Monster!
His first homer back in an @Astros uniform! pic.twitter.com/V3Gm0rXeuP
— MLB (@MLB) August 3, 2025
Falvey reportedly met with Correa personally to inform him that the team was headed into a full-scale rebuild. Correa, who had previously committed to winning in Minnesota, was now open to waiving his no-trade clause, especially if it meant returning to Houston.
The timing worked perfectly for Houston. The Astros needed infield help, and with Isaac Paredes sidelined, there was a clear path for Correa to shift to third base – a move he welcomed. After extensive negotiations, the Twins agreed to cover $33 million of Correa’s remaining contract. Just like that, Houston brought back the player they had once let walk in free agency, securing him for three-plus years at just $70 million.
Boras, no stranger to high-stakes standoffs with Houston, reportedly told Crane: “Jim, we finally have a deal.”
Why Did One Trade Lead to Minnesota’s Historic Fire Sale?
The Correa trade became the catalyst that transformed what was supposed to be a quiet deadline into chaos. That single deal triggered a domino effect as the Twins unloaded ten major-league players in less than 24 hours and 11 players off their 40-man roster within a week.
One veteran general manager captured the shift perfectly: “The deadline was going to be a complete dud. What changed everything were the Twins selling. They said they were going to just trade players on expiring contracts. Then, they started selling off everyone.”
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The fire sale was ruthless and comprehensive. Even 27-year-old reliever Louie Varland, a hometown favorite under team control for five more years, was traded to Toronto, leaving rival GMs shocked by Minnesota’s willingness to move anyone and everyone.
Here’s the complete list of players the Twins moved before and on deadline day:
- Chris Paddack to Detroit Tigers
- Randy Dobnak to Detroit Tigers
- Jhoan Duran to Philadelphia Phillies
- Louis Varland to Toronto Blue Jays
- Ty France to Toronto Blue Jays
- Griffin Jax to Tampa Bay Rays
- Willi Castro to Chicago Cubs
- Danny Coulombe to Texas Rangers
- Carlos Correa to Houston Astros
- Brock Stewart to Los Angeles Dodgers
- Harrison Bader to Philadelphia Phillies
Three days later & the #Dodgers broadcast team is still trying to make sense of the #MNTwins fire sale:
“Is there a team left? What just happened to Minnesota? You feel bad for Twins fans.”
When rival teams feel bad for your fans, you know your front office blew it. pic.twitter.com/z4tIlfdn1x
— Talkin’ Twins (@TalkinTwins) August 3, 2025
“By and large across the board, [these] were baseball trades, trades we felt we got real talent back,” Falvey told USA Today, “and were not geared toward the financial flexibility component to it.” The only significant piece left standing was starter Joe Ryan, a decision that left many around the league confused.
Crane didn’t orchestrate every deal that followed, but his aggressive pursuit of Correa planted the seed for Minnesota’s complete teardown. The Twins now enter a full rebuild as their 34-year World Series drought stretches into yet another season. What started as a casual conversation on a golf course in Cooperstown ended up reshaping two franchises and creating one of the most dramatic trade deadlines in recent memory.
