What's Left at First Base in Free Agency?

[Doctor Gast]

I'll state again a 1B target to platoon (not replace) with Miranda, Romy Gonzales (BOS), He just mashes LHPs, great at PHing, a very solid glove that can platoon anywhere on the INF or OF (when not needed at 1B), he's very cheap to obtain (BTV 1.3 surplus trade value) & cheap 4yrs availability.

[sweetmusicviola16]

2 hours ago, JD-TWINS said:

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.

I would agree. We also have to remember, even if we don't like it, this FO has never been a player in the first half of the off-season. The exception being signing Jason Castro quickly out of the gate. This one no different, don't expect moves until around February 01 if they do happen.

[thelanges5]

19 hours ago, 1985Fan said:

Santana just signed with Cleveland for one year @ $12M. 

If they can’t swing a trade for Diaz or some other quality 1B hitter, then let Miranda play there. If they want to platoon, and we know they will whether makes sense or not, then platoon Larnach there. 

FalZoll - lets go get Diaz!

[RpR]

21 hours ago, Brandon27 said:

I let Miranda,lee and julien fight it out to play first cause other probably going play 3rd a day other going be the DH 

Cleveland, Chicago , Kansas City and Detroit are probalby hoping the Twins do that.

Looks like another glass of Gallo wine next summer.

[JD-TWINS]

3 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

I'll state again a 1B target to platoon (not replace) with Miranda, Romy Gonzales (BOS), He just mashes LHPs, great at PHing, a very solid glove that can platoon anywhere on the INF or OF (when not needed at 1B), he's very cheap to obtain (BTV 1.3 surplus trade value) & cheap 4yrs availability.

Sounds like a reasonable last resort type of move in a month.

[JD-TWINS]

9 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. 

I know this probably doesn’t need to be said but Falvey’s job is to build the best club he thinks he can within the budget constraints placed upon him - he has at least a broad plan…….it’s flexible based on what happens, weekly/daily - it’s not his job to make quick moves so the fans feel better.

Going into Spring Training there will be 25 teams that aren’t completely comfortable with how they are constructed - everyone isn’t done making moves nor satisfied with their roster by Christmas………Falvey has to be creative and look for leverage not only to be able to shed payroll to gain flexibility but to get back the right guys that he thinks will help!! Get ready to be patient.

[JD-TWINS]

6 hours ago, PatPfund said:

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.

Keaschall had elbow surgery late summer…..he will not play 3B anytime soon. I think his bat plays at 1B…….he could make sense for the platoon against LH pitching at 1B (since Miranda has good reverse splits v. RH pitching). He’ll need major reps this Spring!!

No trade nor FA infield: (starter/depth)

Lewis/Lee/Miranda - CC/Lee - Castro/Lee/Keaschall - Miranda/Keaschall

6 guys for infield - Same 2 Catchers - Larnach - Martin - Kiersey - Buxton - Wallner = 13 guys

Trade Paddack - Duran - Matthews - Julien for some help somewhere ……..lump in Vazquez and get some more $$ available for one splash signing.

[tony&rodney]

2 hours ago, JD-TWINS said:

I know this probably doesn’t need to be said but Falvey’s job is to build the best club he thinks he can within the budget constraints placed upon him - he has at least a broad plan…….it’s flexible based on what happens, weekly/daily - it’s not his job to make quick moves so the fans feel better.

Going into Spring Training there will be 25 teams that aren’t completely comfortable with how they are constructed - everyone isn’t done making moves nor satisfied with their roster by Christmas………Falvey has to be creative and look for leverage not only to be able to shed payroll to gain flexibility but to get back the right guys that he thinks will help!! Get ready to be patient.

Agreed. There are also a dozen clubs that would love to have the financial resources of the Twins, including Milwaukee and the entire AL Central division. Everyone is doing the same thing except for a few teams.

[JD-TWINS]

2 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

Agreed. There are also a dozen clubs that would love to have the financial resources of the Twins, including Milwaukee and the entire AL Central division. Everyone is doing the same thing except for a few teams.

Yep - I was pretty surprised that Cleveland spent $12M at 1B - not surprised by the player but surprised relative to budget.

[tony&rodney]

2 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

Yep - I was pretty surprised that Cleveland spent $12M at 1B - not surprised by the player but surprised relative to budget.

Cleveland is still around $45M below Minnesota in payroll, so they figured Santana works as a DH/PH/1B. Kyle Manzardo will get a ton of the time at first base. The Guards still are looking to add an outfielder and could have another $12M to spend. That team is resourceful and always looks both short term and long term.

[stringer bell]

1 hour ago, tony&rodney said:

Cleveland is still around $45M below Minnesota in payroll, so they figured Santana works as a DH/PH/1B. Kyle Manzardo will get a ton of the time at first base. The Guards still are looking to add an outfielder and could have another $12M to spend. That team is resourceful and always looks both short term and long term.

They sacrificed defense at second base and added defense at first base. Santana will make almost exactly what Naylor would have cost. Maybe they are brilliant or maybe are making dumb decisions. I guess we shall see. 

[tony&rodney]

1 minute ago, stringer bell said:

They sacrificed defense at second base and added defense at first base. Santana will make almost exactly what Naylor would have cost. Maybe they are brilliant or maybe are making dumb decisions. I guess we shall see. 

I think the Guards would suggest that their loss at 2B is made whole by the improvement at 1B strictly for measuring defense. Cleveland is not afraid to make moves and added some pitching in an attempt to improve the 2025 roster. You are correct in positing that we shall see. I'm curious to see  the Guards next move.

[Althebum82]

The fact that Solano and Gallo have already done a tour of duty with this ballclub is reason enough to remove their names from the list.

Watch Chris Williams catch on fire next year with the Mets as Alonso signs elsewhere and the Twins diddle around with 12 different guys covering 1B in 2025.

Same thing at DH as well.

I really do not see a workable solution on the identified free agent list.

Jeez, am I a Debbie Downer or what?

 

[DJL44]

Lowe from Texas to Washington.

[PatPfund]

12 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

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

That isn't really a comfort since they make the actual decisions. Like the stupid decision to try Sano in the OF. Lewis would be one of the largest 2B in baseball and brings a history of serious knee injuries to a position that demands back-to-runner shiftiness and ruins knees (career-ending ruination) more than any other. 

[RpR]

1 hour ago, Althebum82 said:

The fact that Solano and Gallo have already done a tour of duty with this ballclub is reason enough to remove their names from the list.

 

You prefer shooting craps on a wishful thinking gamble.

[PatPfund]

7 hours ago, JD-TWINS said:

Keaschall had elbow surgery late summer…..he will not play 3B anytime soon.

Keaschall is not a pitcher, and so doesn't need the same recovery time. The surgery was delayed to give him maximum playing time last year, and then done on a schedule so that he would be fully recovered for Spring Training.

[JD-TWINS]

5 minutes ago, PatPfund said:

Keaschall is not a pitcher, and so doesn't need the same recovery time. The surgery was delayed to give him maximum playing time last year, and then done on a schedule so that he would be fully recovered for Spring Training.

Guarantee he will not be part of the depth chart for 3B - his arm can be 115%. Lewis/Lee/Castro/Miranda are ALL currently ahead of him.

Miranda was supposed to be ready in Spring Training this year - wasn’t…….takes time to throw every day with maximum effort coming off an injury with one’s arm. I hope he’s in the mix at 2B!

[dxpavelka]

16 hours ago, William K Johnson said:

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

Just let Larnach concentrate on hitting crooked pitches.  And let Wallner deal with the fact that Max Kepler's not going to be around if he decides to lay an egg at the beginning of the season.

 

[Trov]

Personally the only one I would take a flier on is Rizzo.  The rest I would pass on and do internal fill.  Rizzo is coming off a couple of down years, and could be cooked so I would not invest a lot in him.  However, he was always a good on base guy and we could use that type of veteran leader type guy. 

[Jacksson]

Twin's Front Office is waiting to hear back from MLB and MLBPA on paying players LESS than the league minimum due to the team's precarious financial condition.  This will impact roster decisions.

[Doctor Wu]

On 12/22/2024 at 11:06 PM, JD-TWINS said:

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?

What you write makes sense, at least for this season, with the financial restraints appearing to be real/severe as they seem for the Twins. So yes, that might be more effective. But my main gripe is that the Twins employ this waiting/late strategy every Winter, limited budgets or not, and invariably many of the players who are targeted (okay, perhaps most of those targeted players are ones named on this board, and not necessarily the ones that the front office are pursuing), are snatched up by other teams while the Twins play their usual waiting game. But you are correct in saying that might be the Twins' best strategy this time around. It's not like we are going to outbid any other teams for the better free agents out there. But if we want better players on the roster, at least ones that we didn't develop ourselves, we need to be more pro-active and more creative with deals or free agent signings.