What's Left at First Base in Free Agency?

[mikelink45]

!B options now too expensive, too limited, not worth the speculation.  Look at the 40 man and then extend further to the minors.  Nothing should limit the competition within the organization.

 

[tony&rodney]

Cleveland, Detroit, Kansas City, and Chicago have all made attempts to improve their rosters for 2025. We can debate whether their teams are improved but we cannot refute that each of those teams have made some moves. The Twins added a few non roster players who hope to shine bright in the Florida sunshine as well as a roll of the dice Rule 5 player. In other news Joe Pohlad put down 100K on red at a local casino (JK). Who has better odds to smell like a rose?

[gmwannabe]

Mountcastle is very obtainable and better than any of the stiffs listed. 6 million per year is doable by trading Paddock to the O's plus a couple of mid level prospects.

[DocBauer]

2 hours ago, stringer bell said:

Both last year and in his career, Miranda has hit better against right handed pitching, so platooning makes no real sense. Either he’s good enough to play every day, or he shouldn’t be on the roster IMHO. He has an injury history of nagging back pain that seems to really diminish his effectiveness, which makes it hard to count on him. 

Are we sure about his back being an issue? He hurt his shoulder and that cost him 2023. His back cost him health/production the 2nd half of 2024. But I don't recall him having back issues previously.

As far as weird splits and being more affective against RHP, I could live with that. And while he HAS been better in his short career, I would have to believe there might be some regression to the norm against LHP at some point. A .683 against LHP isn't horrible considering he only faces them about 25% of the time.

I do think SOMEONE will probably be added at some point, even if it's a low rent option, as I don't know that anyone but Helman or Julien has any sort of experience playing 1B.

[DocBauer]

3 hours ago, sweetmusicviola16 said:

Of the mentioned Joe and France have the most to offer. Bell and Solano could play a role. But without a trade none can happen. By the time this occurs none will likely remain. Other teams also have needs and I see Solano as the only one this team might be able to muster the $$$$ for.

Rowdy here come the Twins!!

Not a fan of either France or Joe. I guess, at the least, either at the very least offers the ability to play some OF as well as 1B. I'd agree France offers the most upside between the 2.

Woof! 

Right now, i guess you move Vazquez and Paddack and try to save $17M. IMO, you sign Bell for $7M, hopefully, and get some DH/1B/PH ability and leave any RHOF time to Castro and the winner of a Helman-Martin ST fight. 

Then trade a couple top 20 prospects for a young catcher to work with Jeffers. MAYBE there's enough room to add a cheap veteran FA catcher who's still looking for a job?

NOT ideal. But if the ONLY options to add was a 1B/DH/PH bat, I think I'd go there before an OF add.

Read a solid arguement the other day of Paddack and a decent prospect to the Cubs for one of their young RHOF. That offers up another OF alternative and still saves $. Then you can afford to add Bell with the Vazquez signing? 

Again, NOT ideal, but maybe a way to add 2 by trading away 2 and a handful of top 30 prospects?

[HerbieFan]

Connor Joe feels like the most Twins move of the bunch given his positional flexibility

[Parfigliano]

4 hours ago, gmwannabe said:

Mountcastle is very obtainable and better than any of the stiffs listed. 6 million per year is doable by trading Paddock to the O's plus a couple of mid level prospects.

I don't think the O's trade/sign always injured pitchers.  That's a TC thing.

[dxpavelka]

I thought we had a plethora of internal options? 

 

[dxpavelka]

Worth noting: Alonzo's agent is Scott Boras.  He has been known to sweet talk the Twins into spending money they didn't know they could afford.  Just sayin

 

[Doctor Wu]

12 hours ago, Blyleven2011 said:

Sitting on their a$$es neither one is getting done , if the team wants to drop contracts , I personally think it should be done ASAP in the off season  , so there is the rest of the offseason time to fill the holes ...

I agree, Once again, Twins fans wait and wait, while the GM plays his own waiting game, hoping for bargains or "creative" trade ideas falling into his lap, and meanwhile any possible good fits are being signed by other clubs. Same old. 

[Doctor Gast]

Because the league has the book on "all-or-nothing" hitters, almost everybody was hurting at 1B. so 1Bmen are going to be expensive even in trade. I was very surprised at Santana's $12M. We have no choice (if we really had before) but to stick with Miranda.

[William K Johnson]

Again, tell Larnac and/or Wallner to bring a first baseman's mitt to spring training.

[DJL44]

8 hours ago, HerbieFan said:

Connor Joe feels like the most Twins move of the bunch given his positional flexibility

I probably like Connor Joe more than I should. He's not really an upgrade but he's a useful baseball player.

[DJL44]

3 minutes ago, William K Johnson said:

Again, tell Larnac and/or Wallner to bring a first baseman's mitt to spring training.

Larnach is the starting LF and Wallner is the starting RF. Moving either of them to 1B just moves the hole around like one of those puzzles with a missing piece.

[Otaknam]

16 hours ago, High heat said:

As sad as it sounds with current payroll Joey Gallo looks like the best fit (would take a million dollar maybe 2)  The best defensively and lefty bat to platoon with Miranda.  Letting Julien prove it and learn 1B in the minors.  
 

Polar bear, Santana, Turner, Rizzo are all signing for more then 5 or 6 million.  Unless the market all drys up and someone’s left out in the cold come late February.
 

 

Gallo was a complete disaster in 2022, and was benched for the last half of the season. His only value is defensive, with occasional power but rally killing 45% strikeout rate. Signing him would be verification that the team is completely uninterested in competing. Better to platoon Miranda and Julien at first, where they have the potential to make contact. 

[PatPfund]

I don't see the glaring need for anyone on this list (other than Alonso who is more likely sign on Mars than here). Until he tweaked his back, Miranda wasn't just passable, he tied an all-time record for consecutive hits, and posted monthly 'sOPS+'s of 123, 110, 160, and 203. He's your 1B. Julien should get a shot at being the LH option, and Larnach should get work there. (If the Twins move Vasquez's or Paddack's contract, Castro plays a lot of LF, if not then Martin can play the position with flex for E-Rod's likely arrival at some point.)

Going with Miranda as the primary 1B also undercuts the stupid idea of moving Royce Lewis to 2B (a position notorious for career-wrecking knee injuries). Brooks Lee, Julien, Castro, and Martin can cover the space, letting Lewis actually get (hopefully) healthy extended time at 3B. Keaschall may also be there by season's end.

[LambchoP]

This is pathetic that a major league team cannot afford 10-12 million dollars to fill a major offensive hole in our lineup like first base. I'd love a trade for Diaz or Bohm, but let's be realistic, it's not happening. They obviously need to dump Paddack and Vasquez, but why haven't they? I'm sure they could have at least traded Paddack at winter meetings. Yet Falvey sits on his hands until everyones rosters are already set then he'll say nothing materialized, but it's ok cuz we like what we have ..

 

[JD-TWINS]

16 hours ago, Parfigliano said:

No problem.  Miranda and Julie at 1B.  Spend money on good relief pitching.

A possible strategy but Miranda is a reverse split guy who hits RH pitching much better  - and Julien can’t just blend into 1B as he hasn’t mastered his normal position over the course of last 6-8 years.

[JD-TWINS]

4 hours ago, Doctor Wu said:

I agree, Once again, Twins fans wait and wait, while the GM plays his own waiting game, hoping for bargains or "creative" trade ideas falling into his lap, and meanwhile any possible good fits are being signed by other clubs. Same old. 

There are no $$$ to spend. Right? How is a GM going to sign guys that are getting whisked away with no ability to spend? I agree, after trades are made - there could be some $$ available but being aggressive to trade guys that everyone knows you need to trade quickly to free up $$ isn’t a very good bargaining position. IMO, they need to be patient and figure out who has needs and how they can help fill Twin’s needs. Tough to do, with any good clarity & bargaining power, in December.

[tony&rodney]

34 minutes ago, PatPfund said:

the stupid idea of moving Royce Lewis to 2B

This is what the Twins want to do, not necessarily anyone else's idea. 

[tony&rodney]

9 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

IMO, they need to be patient and figure out who has needs and how they can help fill Twin’s needs. Tough to do, with any good clarity & bargaining power, in December.

You may be exactly correct on this opinion. I'm seeing teams fill their needs at backup catcher, backend  rotation starters, relievers, and reserve players. Seems like there are fewer teams looking for players that cost $6-10M for their team than there was in November. I am interested to read any ideas or suggestions of how the Twins can fill their needs. 

[JD-TWINS]

Just now, tony&rodney said:

You may be exactly correct on this opinion. I'm seeing teams fill their needs at backup catcher, backend  rotation starters, relievers, and reserve players. Seems like there are fewer teams looking for players that cost $6-10M for their team than there was in November. I am interested to read any ideas or suggestions of how the Twins can fill their needs. 

Trade Vazquez or Jeffers to a team they fit and that can afford them….. a contender looking for a complimentary Catcher. Consider trading Duran - Castro - Paddack- Matthews - Henriquez - Julien.

Goals: Trade for a young Catcher that’s nearly ready not a hopeful prospect. Trade for an offensive first baseman.

i.e. Duran - Paddack - Matthews to Red Sox for Tristan Casas. We get an offensive guy at 1B that’s inexpensive short term. Boston gets a REAL closer to replace Jansen. They signed Chapman, but he’s no longer an anchor for their, or any PEN. They get an upside arm that’s tasted MLB and they get an affordable flex arm. Twins shed around $12M. Boston isn’t doing this unless they sign a FA offensive aid. They have high hopes for their top end prospects and they want pitching. ALL 3 of these arms could help them through parts of ‘25!

Focus on Vazquez to a contender in need of a veteran and pay $4M of his salary - add a prospect arm like Culpepper - Henriquez - Castro (valuable guy for a contender!) ……..get a youth Catcher that’s inexpensive short term & will be ready in ‘26. Sign Curt Cassalli for this year at $2.25M. Team gets Catcher compliment to Jeffers going forward. Team sheds another $10.25M after paying for Vazquez and Cassalli.

To me, any team still needing pitching (competitive team) will be open to Paddack as an option to help get them 100-115 innings through the year. Essentially, a Nick Martinez type of guy that can float between spot starter and long reliever. Paddack is cheap for his value on any team not extremely financially constrained.

2-3 of these guys would need to be combined to bring back any single player of interest. There’s no good Vazquez trade nor Paddack trade as individuals.

With the Team for sale, spending isn’t real. With Team for sale, trading big contracts isn't real. Having a few $$ to spend on an upgrade via trade at the deadline is a strategy…..risky, but a strategy.

[JD-TWINS]

5 hours ago, Doctor Wu said:

I agree, Once again, Twins fans wait and wait, while the GM plays his own waiting game, hoping for bargains or "creative" trade ideas falling into his lap, and meanwhile any possible good fits are being signed by other clubs. Same old. 

There are no $$$ to spend. Right? How is a GM going to sign guys that are getting whisked away with no ability to spend? I agree, after trades are made - there could be some $$ available but being aggressive to trade guys that everyone knows you need to trade quickly to free up $$ isn’t a very good bargaining position. IMO, they need to be patient and figure out who has needs and how they can help fill Twin’s needs. Tough to do, with any good clarity & bargaining power, in December.

Trading guys later in the offseason to free $$ that can be spent as part of facilitating a trade (being able to pay a guy coming over) at the deadline is a strategy. It’s not popular but maybe effective?

[William K Johnson]

2 hours ago, DJL44 said:

Larnach is the starting LF and Wallner is the starting RF. Moving either of them to 1B just moves the hole around like one of those puzzles with a missing piece.

Acquire a right-handed hitting outfielder solves this issue.

[1985Fan]

5 hours ago, Doctor Wu said:

I agree, Once again, Twins fans wait and wait, while the GM plays his own waiting game, hoping for bargains or "creative" trade ideas falling into his lap, and meanwhile any possible good fits are being signed by other clubs. Same old. 

Jesus Luzardo was just traded to Philadelphia. Two prospects in return to Marlins. One SS prospect rated as high as #58 and the other CF prospect rated Phillies #21 on their top 30 list. SS is only 19 yrs old. Doesn’t seem like a steep price for Luzardo. Doesn’t have anything to do with 1B for Twins, but aligns with Twins FO wait, wait, wait approach. Looks like this FO will sit on their hands this offseason while fans speculate. They’ve decided to go with the roster they have for 2025. 

[Brandon27]

Twins got Miranda and Lee have them fight it out for firstbase and whoever loses goes play third and then figure out who the everyday/part time DH

[MMMordabito]

Is Santana the first former Indian to sign with the Guardians as a free agent?

[AKTwinsFan]

Yuli Gurriel, Joey Gallo, Benentendi, Bell. Not sure if any other would be affordable. Or available. 

[tony&rodney]

30 minutes ago, William K Johnson said:

Acquire a right-handed hitting outfielder solves this issue.

They have Michael Helman.

[tony&rodney]

Turns out that somebody does  not like Helman. Hmmm.