Twins’ three highest-paid players face uncertainty as MLB lockout looms

The Twins’ three highest-paid players — Pablo López , Byron Buxton and Jeff Hoffman — are all recovering from surgeries, and they are all expected to be ready for the start of next season. A looming lockout, however, means the Twins might not have complete knowledge of how their top players are progressing. When the lockout starts — which MLB owners are expected to initiate once the sport’s collective bargaining agreement expires Dec. 1 — teams are not permitted to have contact with players. The current expectation is players such as López, Buxton and Hoffman won’t be allowed to directly speak with head trainer Nick Paparesta and the staff they work with year-round. There are many areas of the sport that will be affected once the expected lockout begins — and the lack of communication with injured players could be one that has major ramifications for the Twins whenever the owners and players union agree to play a 2027 season. Advertisement All Twins players are preparing for the possibility that they won’t be able to report any injury setbacks with the team’s medical staff. López, who underwent elbow surgery last February , works with Richard Jackson, a physical therapist, at his training facility in Miami during the offseason. “Richard has been in contact with the Twins training staff already,” López said in September. “Richard has also worked with [surgeon Dr. Keith] Meister’s throwing progression already, so worst-case scenario, the lockout does prevent me from having some communication with the Twins training staff, not only will everything be laid out from Meister, it will also be laid out from the Twins training staff side of things.” The Twins anticipate López, Buxton and Hoffman will be ready for the start of next season, though they might need to be eased into spring training. The one-year mark for López’s Tommy John surgery is at the end of February. Buxton, who reached 25 home runs on June 22 but then played only 25 homerless games after that , isn’t scheduled to begin baseball activities until sometime in December. Hoffman is expected to begin his offseason throwing program around New Year’s Day.