Carlos Santana vs. Justin Turner: Which Veteran Should the Twins Choose?

[Cody Christie]

The Twins saw what Carlos Santana could bring to the team during the 2024 campaign. Does a reunion with the first baseman make sense, or is another veteran a better option?

Image courtesy of © Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

As the Minnesota Twins continue to shape their roster for 2025, they find themselves at a crossroads in deciding which veteran presence could best serve their team. Two names stand out: Carlos Santana and Justin Turner. Each offers unique skills and challenges, forcing the Twins to weigh their options carefully, considering their owner-imposed payroll limitations.

The Case for Carlos Santana
Santana joined the Twins in 2024 and made his mark with Gold Glove-caliber defense at first base. Reports have the Twins interested in a reunion with Santana, if the price is right. While his offensive output was underwhelming (.238/.328/.420 with a 109 OPS+), his ability to anchor the infield defense helped stabilize the team, especially with Alex Kirilloff battling injuries (which eventually led to his retirement). Santana’s leadership and familiarity with the clubhouse make him a known commodity for Rocco Baldelli and his coaching staff.

However, Santana won’t come as cheaply this time around. His defensive value and intangibles might command a deal for more than the $5.25 million he signed for last season. The Twins are already navigating a tight budget. Re-signing Santana would limit their ability to address other roster needs, such as finding a right-handed outfielder or bolstering the bullpen.

The Case for Justin Turner
Turner brings an entirely different profile to the table. At 40 years old, Turner continues to defy Father Time with his bat, slashing .259/.354/.383, with a 114 OPS+ in 139 games. His season ended on a high note, as his OPS+ rose from 107 in Toronto to 128 in Seattle after a midseason trade. Over the last four seasons, he has averaged a 117 OPS+, which is 20 points higher than Santana's during that same period. His offensive production could help the Twins lineup, but there is also a good chance his age will slow him down.

Turner’s defensive skills, however, are limited. While he has experience at third and first base, he’s far from a defensive stalwart with -1 OAA last season. The Twins would likely use him primarily as a designated hitter, but that would prevent Baldelli from rotating other hitters through the DH spot, which the manager prefers to be able to do. Turner signed a one-year, $13 million deal last season, and he will likely make significantly less than that this year because his age and defensive limitations make him a riskier bet.

The Payroll Crunch
The Twins’ financial situation looms large in this decision. Minnesota’s projected payroll already sits north of $140 million when all arbitration salaries are decided, which is $8-10 million over their owner-imposed limit. The team needs to maximize every dollar spent this offseason, especially in the suddenly competitive AL Central. Santana’s familiarity and defense might justify a higher price, but Turner’s offensive production could provide value, especially if the team is confident in its internal options to cover first base defensively.

Who Fits Best?
This decision ultimately comes down to roster construction. If the Twins prioritize run prevention and wish to maintain stability at first base, Santana is the logical choice. He provides superior defense and is a known leader within the organization. On the other hand, if the Twins believe their offense needs an upgrade, Turner’s bat could provide a boost. His ability to extend at-bats, hit for power, and get on base would deepen a lineup that often went cold in critical situations during the 2024 season. For what it's worth, he's also widely renowned as one of the game's good guys, both in clubhouses and in the community, so off the field, relatively little would be lost by pivoting from Santana to Turner. The front office must decide if the elder of two superannuated veterans is a good fit, when both players will likely see a slight overall decline in 2025. 

Santana and Turner bring unique strengths, but their weaknesses reflect the Twins’ broader challenges this offseason. Payroll constraints mean that every decision will have ripple effects across the roster. If the Twins can find affordable defensive depth elsewhere, Turner might provide the offensive spark they need. However, Santana remains the safer choice if they want to maintain defensive consistency and leadership.

Ultimately, this decision will reveal the Twins’ priorities for 2025: will they double down on defense and familiarity or gamble on an aging but productive bat? Either way, Minnesota’s front office must thread the needle carefully.

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Who is a better fit for the 2025 Twins? Santana? Turner? Leave a comment and start the discussion. 

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[Cory Engelhardt]

Gotta say, I don’t really love either of these options.

It’s probably naive, but I would love to trade for a big bat. Yandy Diaz would be so good here, but if he isn’t available, I would go to the giants and flip something to them for Lamonte Wade jr. He also is signed just through 2025 for only about 4 million, and he gets on base a lot (when he is healthy)

[Doctor Gast]

Neither. Miranda is our best option.  Quit trying to force something that doesn't make sense.

[Mike Sixel]

I think we need more articles that rehash what has already been written about an commented on.

Did you hear that Joe Mauer wasreally good at baseball?

[MinnesotaTwins26]

Santana. Already loved by the Twin Cities and Minnesota knows he can help the team.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

Santana was a joy to watch play 1B this year. I hope he returns to Minnesota for 2025.  Santana hit OK. In fact he led the Twins in HR'S ( twice as many as Turner) and RBI'S's and was second on the Twins in number of at bats. He came to play every day. I feel his bat was not a liability at all last year, especially after a slow, cold April. His WAR was 2.4.  Turner's WAR was 1.5. Santana = Rawlings Gold Glove vs. Turner =Sub average fielder. Santana was deservedly the Twins Defensive player of the year in 2024. This is a team with 2 past Platinum Glove winners  Santana's cost was half what Turner's was last year. Santana is younger. I don't recall Santana missing time from injuries last year. I am strongly in favor of signing Santana instead of Turner.  Santana's  superb defense will make our pitchers and infielders better.

[Fire Dan Gladden]

You probably need to add Paul Goldschmidt to this analysis as well.

I was screaming for Turner last offseason.  Santana over-performed last season.  Both are great clubhouse guys.  I would be happy with either at the right price, however I believe they will both be too expensive.

[tony&rodney]

People who are tired of these articles shouldn't read them or make comments either. One has the choice to click elsewhere. I'm a little perplexed occasionally by the number of similar and often repetitive articles but the site is for baseball fans and every sports site ever is a revolving parade of similar articles pushed out for our entertainment. The news is immeasurable worse. If I want to read something decent I pick up a book or The Atlantic. I still enjoy these articles and thank the writers who do the work to put them on Twins Daily. Thank you writers. 

To the question .... neither. Both Turner and Santana offer almost no upside ... 1 WAR at most.

Then again, if the goal for 2025 is to make a push for 81 wins then it might be prudent to sign one of Santana or Turner. In fact, the signing of either may be a clear sign of The Plan for 2025. Until such time as that, I will, as Nick Nelson has eluded, hope for a couple of significant trades that upgrades the talent of the current roster.

[CRF]

Goldschmidt.

[DocBauer]

If I HAD to pick one I'd probably go with Santana for his defense and expect regression at 39yo and make him a part time player and defensive replacement to work with Santana. 

I mean, if my choice is a 39yo and a 40yo and both are about ready to fall off a cliff offensively due to the inescapable touch of Father Time, I'd go with the better glove.

But I don't like either option.

I stated in my "you be the GM" post that Yandy Diaz from the Rays might be available as he's $10M this season with a team option for $12M in 2026. That's very affordable. And Diaz is financially at the point where the Rays look to flip a player for prospects. So let's say the Twins do that, send a couple top 20 prospects for Diaz. We'll that can only happen if Vazquez is moved. We'll then who's your backup catcher? You have to sign someone from what's left on the FA market, or trade even more prospects for a young catcher.

Do we really want to trade away 4-5 top 30 prospects to make these moves? Maybe, but that's going to hurt, even though you get a short term positive addition and a hopefully long term one as well.

And all of this assuming ownership would still approve a payroll above $130M, even a little above. 

I'm sure many won't like this idea, but what I proposed is moving Vazquez and Paddack to open up some $, and then sign Josh Bell as a DH/1B addition. From speculation I've read, he should come in for around $7M. He's durable, only 33yo, is a switch hitter with nearly neutral splits, can DH, share 1B with Miranda, and probably be a really good PH when not in the lineup. He doesn't provide anything defensively, but probably isn't worse than Turner, only has to share 1B with Miranda, isn't around 40yo, and is solid...not great...offensively and could be a solid #6-7 hitter, and probably costs about the same as either Santana or Turner.

That still leaves open the ability to trade 2-3 top 30 prospects to get a young catcher to replace Vazquez. And I like that approach better. 

[Brandon]

Should either player decline offensively next season Santana can still add value on defense.  He has the higher floor for next year.  How much of a raise does he get?  I do expect either Miranda or Julien to get some time at 1B next year.  So Santana should get some time at DH and some time on the bench and maybe get 450 AB next season so more players get more playing time and Santana remains fresher for play.

[Riverbrian]

[TwinsDr2021]

I go with choice C, neither.

 

[TopGunn#22]

Neither of those 2.  I like the suggestions of Yandy Diaz or Lamonte Wade Jr..  But I'm done with 39 year old/40 year old worn out one year patches.  If the Twins are not willing to give Miranda a shot or consider moving Royce Lewis to 1B to try to maximize his health and high end offensive production I want a fix that gives the twins 2-3 years or more with a guy.

Santana and Turner are about ready to drive off a cliff in terms of offensive production.  They are not Paul Molitor.  They aren't hitting .341 at 40 years old.  

Yandy Diaz, Lamonte Wade Jr or a trade with Boston for Tristin Casas.  Let Santana and Turner join a Senior Softball League.  

[specialiststeve]

OMG.... really? There are a ton of options better than both. Terrible take. 

[LambchoP]

Neither option helps the team much. I think a healthy Miranda outfits both these guys. I'd love a trade for Diaz. If we can't afford a 1-2 year stopgap option like Goldschmidt then we need to figure out who our first baseman of the future is. I don't hate the idea of moving Lewis there. Would help keep him healthy and first base is usually your power position. Miranda could do well there, but they need a better backup plan than Julien. I say trade for Diaz or give Goldschmidt one year. Walker would fit perfectly on our team but of course, ya know, money :(

[Otaknam]

Turner makes sense if they just need a right handed DH. But right now they need to find at bats for Miranda and Julien, assuming they make the active roster. They might even pivot, not sign Santana, Turner or anyone else, and play Miranda and Julien out of position at first, and occasionally at their normal positions at third and second, saving the $5+ million. The team has a record of playing people out of position (Lewis in the outfield….how did that go? Martin in the outfield, Miranda at first, etc.). So staying pat would be the unsurprising choice to save money, and go with the current players, even if it weakens the team. Clearly the ownership isn’t focused on a winning season, just cutting costs to maximize profit. And after the public paid for a great ballpark, the Pohlads again give the fans the middle finger. 

[RpR]

1 hour ago, TopGunn#22 said:

Neither of those 2.  I like the suggestions of Yandy Diaz or Lamonte Wade Jr..  But I'm done with 39 year old/40 year old worn out one year patches.  If the Twins are not willing to give Miranda a shot or consider moving Royce Lewis to 1B to try to maximize his health and high end offensive production I want a fix that gives the twins 2-3 years or more with a guy.

Santana and Turner are about ready to drive off a cliff in terms of offensive production.  They are not Paul Molitor.  They aren't hitting .341 at 40 years old.  

Yandy Diaz, Lamonte Wade Jr or a trade with Boston for Tristin Casas.  Let Santana and Turner join a Senior Softball League.  

Diaz -  as a catcher, much better than Jeffers; First Base - the creator of doubles for the other team.

Wade Jr. - About the same as having two Mirandas on the team, but the manager might be foolish enough to put him in the outfield where he is a run maker for the other team.

Casa - Twins would need a first rate glove at First to replace him, late innings, in every  game; i.e. another Julien type glove.

Waste of time to pick-up gents with Little League glove talent.

 

[Jeff K]

2 hours ago, TwinsDr2021 said:

I go with choice C, neither.

 

You "stole" the answer I was contemplating!  Father time has a winning score of a zillion to nothing.

[Riverbrian]

I expect the Twins to sign a 1B and a Right Handed hitting OF because Derek Falvey has implied that is what he is looking for when asked what is he looking for. 

I'm pretty sure Pete Alonso isn't coming so you go to the next level down... or perhaps the level down below that.  

Santana did a decent job for us last year. His coming back wouldn't be the end of the world unless his performance is end of the world like. I will give him the benefit of the doubt. It will take dynamite to get him out of the lineup if his performance goes in the tank next year. 

Turner has been a better hitter with neutral splits meaning platooning him makes no sense at all even though the Twins may strongly consider short side platooning him because someone has to take AB's from our young left handed hitters. 

Santana is a switch hitter which means he won't be platooned even if his splits are kind of dramatic and suggest that he should be short side platooned... he probably won't.   

In consideration of how the Twins platoon to the 100th degree. In consideration of 75% of pitching being Right Handed. Turner is the better choice because he can hit right handed pitching better than Santana even though the Twins may intend to short side platoon Turner once again using up significant dollars on a specialist. 

 

[D.C Twins]

Can't afford either with current budget of -10+ mil

[old nurse]

14 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

People who are tired of these articles shouldn't read them or make comments either. One has the choice to click elsewhere. I'm a little perplexed occasionally by the number of similar and often repetitive articles but the site is for baseball fans and every sports site ever is a revolving parade of similar articles pushed out for our entertainment. The news is immeasurable worse. If I want to read something decent I pick up a book or The Atlantic. I still enjoy these articles and thank the writers who do the work to put them on Twins Daily. Thank you writers. 

To the question .... neither. Both Turner and Santana offer almost no upside ... 1 WAR at most.

Then again, if the goal for 2025 is to make a push for 81 wins then it might be prudent to sign one of Santana or Turner. In fact, the signing of either may be a clear sign of The Plan for 2025. Until such time as that, I will, as Nick Nelson has eluded, hope for a couple of significant trades that upgrades the talent of the current roster.

If people do not ask for better articles you will never get better articles. 

[jmlease1]

Boy, having a big name sure does keep selling around here. I'm baffled by the people pushing for Goldschmidt, who looks to be in a very very steep decline. yes, he was the MVP in 2022, but dropped off badly in 2023, and wasn't even an average starter last season. two of his 3 worst seasons have been...the last 2 seasons. And yet, the name alone probably adds $2-7M to the price. He's 37; why exactly do we think he's going to bounce back substantially? He's been healthy every year for the past 10, so isn't it most likely that he's just finally losing to Father Time after a great career? defensively, he's regressed and there's nothing in his hitting stats to suggest that he was merely unlucky. isn't it more likely that 2022 was one last hurrah for the old lion rather than any signal that he'll be able to play effectively as he heads towards 40?

I don't think Turner is a good fit: he's not exactly known for bashing around LHP, looks to be in real decline, isn't much of a defensive player, and has already turned 40.

Santana is probably the best choice, but he really should be platooning/late inning defensive replacement at this point, because he just doesn't hit RHP much any longer. I'm unconvinced the Twins would properly allocate his playing time, especially if he gets a raise in free agency. Would I be ok with him platooning with Julien and tutoring Julien on the finer points of playing 1B, pinch hitting against LHP, being a defensive replacement in late & close games...sure. Much less excited about him as an every day starter, because he just can't hit RHP much any longer.

[Stew]

Question , if you resigned Santana, and he was the same as last year. And he turned out to be the worst hitter on the  team with similar stats. Would the team have enough hitting? My point is Santana is steady. And almost over preformed his whole career. Get the other positions figured out, and we are ok.

[Riverbrian]

18 minutes ago, jmlease1 said:

Santana is probably the best choice, but he really should be platooning/late inning defensive replacement at this point, because he just doesn't hit RHP much any longer. I'm unconvinced the Twins would properly allocate his playing time, especially if he gets a raise in free agency. Would I be ok with him platooning with Julien and tutoring Julien on the finer points of playing 1B, pinch hitting against LHP, being a defensive replacement in late & close games...sure. Much less excited about him as an every day starter, because he just can't hit RHP much any longer.

That's the interesting part of the Santana discussion. While I firmly believe that we over platoon and it is causing long term damage to development and rather we didn't do it the degree that we do it.

In regards to how the Twins have consistently platooned and I expect them to continue. Julien/Santana right/left makes sense at 1B. But, let's be clear... It probably knocks Lee off the 26 man roster coming out of spring training. I'm ok with this because he has options and we will need replacements when the injuries start roaming the hillside at 1 Twins way.

It also might be a consideration of why we are hearing rumblings of Lewis to 2B (Which wasn't dismissed by Baldelli when asked about that). Because the platoon of Julien/Santana at 1B would slide Miranda to 3B and therefore slide Lewis to 2B because Miranda doesn't seem to slide to 2B very well.  

I can see all of that... but the thing that I can't see is Santana actually being deployed that way. The ability to stand in the left handed batters box seems to trump the actual splits being produced. Santana could be the everyday guy at 1B against both hands. Lee could be 2B or 3B, Lewis could be 2B or 3B. Miranda could DH primarily leaving Julien as the guy who starts in AAA.

If Julien is the guy who reports to AAA out of spring training. That would leave us with two pure left handed hitters on the roster. Larnach and Wallner. The new addition RH OF and Martin would handcuff to Larnach and Wallner to once again limit their exposure to left handed hitting. 

No matter what... Whoever they bring in for 1B. There will be a ripple that turns to a tide in regards to Lee or Julien on the 26 man roster coming out of Fort Myers.   

[twinfan]

I'd rather have Santana. If they can't sign him, maybe see if we can get Anthony Rizzo for cheap. I doubt it but maybe he would take a 1 or 2 year deal for cheap. But I still like Carlos best. 

[mickster]

17 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

Neither. Miranda is our best option.  Quit trying to force something that doesn't make sense.

That is what we are all hoping - but reality is he may not be.    We need another RH bat

[Doctor Gast]

3 hours ago, mickster said:

That is what we are all hoping - but reality is he may not be.    We need another RH bat

As a RH bat/ safety net I've advocated Romy Gonzales (BOS) who just mashes LHPs. He's also a very solid glove who can cover 1B or anywhere in the INF or OF. He's cheap & has 4 yrs. of availibility.

[High heat]

I like Santana better but I don’t believe we have the financial budget to afford either. 
 

I was actually surprised we didn’t take a 1B in the rule 5.  
 

Maybe we will trade for a league minimum guy who can come in and compete.  

[Rigby]

11 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

Maybe this guy is available.....