These Two Reunions Could Represent the Twins' Best Realistic Options at First Base

[David Maro]

The team as it stands is a 4th place team in the central. They open ST with question marks at 1st,2nd,3rd and corner OF positions. But looking at who the manager is this what he wants. He wants to platoon players and of course give Buxton and Correa games off. Also ownership has no interest in adding payroll while trying to sell. Look for a long season of bad baseball.

[jmlease1]

I think Pete Alonso is going to regret turning down the long-term deal he had on the table with the Mets. Not seeing much of a market for him, but he would actually be a good fit for the Twins to add that right-handed thump and he's always hit LHP well. But ego might get in the way of him taking a pay cut even to rehab his rep on a 1-year "prove it" deal with a team like MN. But if he were willing to take a Goldy-style deal, I'd love to see him here in 2025. I doubt we'll come up with the money, though.

Congrats to Carlos Santana on a getting a big pay bump coming off a gold glove season. not sure he's going to replicate last season at age 39, but he's a good dude so go get paid, sir. Please feel free to change your Evil Ways when you play us, however.

Wade's LH bat and unimpressive defense makes him a bad fit for what the Twins need, even if he is a capable hitter.

Polanco is one of my favorite Twins. But I dunno about him at 1B, and while his switch-hitting is nice, he's better as a LH batter and was more of just decent hitting LHP as a RH batter.

Think I'd rather roll with Miranda and Julien as the platoon at 1B, allowing Miranda to back up Lee at 3B and Julien to back up Lewis at 2B than jam in Wade or hope that Polanco can bounce back from injury again at a new position.

[AKTwinsFan]

Polo, France, Bell, Gallo. That's all we can realistically afford. We should have prioritized resigning Santana.

[sweetmusicviola16]

12 minutes ago, David Maro said:

The team as it stands is a 4th place team in the central. They open ST with question marks at 1st,2nd,3rd and corner OF positions. But looking at who the manager is this what he wants. He wants to platoon players and of course give Buxton and Correa games off. Also ownership has no interest in adding payroll while trying to sell. Look for a long season of bad baseball.

That's just it David, every position has question marks. Big ones and that includes SS and CF with all of the injuries they have. I mean take 3B and 2B for example. Lee and Lewis. One has superstar written all over him but can't stay healthy. The other we have no idea if he can hit at the ML level. 2024 he didn't.

[DJL44]

1 hour ago, Mark G said:

Yeah, but full of what?  One is losing zip on his fast ball, one wants to become a starter, one can't stay healthy, and the rest can't stay consistent.  The bullpen is full alright, full of question marks.  But, as always, I can be educated.  😌

I count 14 of their 40 man roster spots committed to relievers. They aren't going to spend big money to bring in Tanner Scott. I don't see how spending money to bring in a free agent question mark helps.

[jmlease1]

41 minutes ago, David Maro said:

The team as it stands is a 4th place team in the central. They open ST with question marks at 1st,2nd,3rd and corner OF positions. But looking at who the manager is this what he wants. He wants to platoon players and of course give Buxton and Correa games off. Also ownership has no interest in adding payroll while trying to sell. Look for a long season of bad baseball.

Do they really have question marks at all of those positions? Wallner is locked at RF and while Twins fans who hate the aesthetics of Ks don't like him, he's a fine corner OF. Larnach certainly played well enough last season to deserve a shot at LF, but I guess if you want to make him a question mark you can. Brooks Lee and Royce lewis are excellent prospects who have some injury issues that need to overcome, but between the two of them they should be able to handle 2B and 3B, and we still have both Miranda and Julien if either of them falter, so while we may have questions at 2B and 3B, we also have plenty of answers.

But maybe stop pretending you can read the mind of the manager and declare that this is what he "wants". This is what he has. they are platooning LH hitters they don't think can handle LHP, not because they like it. They're giving Buxton days off to try to keep him healthy the entire season, because they're much better when he plays, not because they like it. And they don't actually give Correa very many days off when he's healthy, but after playing with injury in 2023 and not hitting well, they took a different route in 2024. 

(this sort of nonsense about what Rocco "wants" reminds me of when people claimed he "wanted" the DH spot open so he could cycle players through it and didn't "want' a permanent DH. But Rocco clearly had no problems penciling in Nelson Cruz at DH every day, and even said publicly how nice it was to always have that spot filled. What do managers really want? As many players that can play at elite levels as they can possibly find. All the rest is usually the fans imprinting what they want.)

Edited December 23, 2024 by jmlease1
left out a name, lol

[chpettit19]

I'm not sure why 1B seems to be the place we're so focused on recently. Maybe it's just the articles I'm seeing, but it's felt like 1B is seen as "the hole" in the lineup. Miranda is maybe a quarter step below Wade if you're not going to platoon Wade, but the Twins would platoon Wade so then it's a push at best since you'd require another roster spot for this and you'd be out of left-handed roster spots with Larnach, Wallner, and Wade taking them up. Miranda is a better option than Polanco. But why are we only focused on 1B options? Why aren't we just looking at whatever crappy, low-cost bats we can bring in? 

The Twins, by my count, have 2 lineup holes. 1B would be a possibility, but it could also be DH, LF, 2B, or 3B depending on how you want to move people around. And who you believe in as far as guys like Lee and Julien, I suppose. I'd put Emma in LF with Larnach at DH so that'd leave me with 1 lineup spot, but I understand I'm in the minority there so am saying there's 2 lineup holes. Others believe Julien will bounce back so they would put him at 2B or DH and only see 1 lineup hole. Many possible combinations, but 2 possible lineup holes as Buxton, Wallner, Lewis, Correa, Miranda, Larnach and the catchers have 7 spots locked up I'd think. Castro is the wildcard and I've left him out because I'm not sure if he's one of the payroll trades or not. But if he's here he fills one of the lineup spots as well. 

I don't see any realistic 1B options that I'd take over Miranda. They aren't signing Alonso, they'd platoon Wade, and the rest are no better than Miranda. I don't get why we're focused on these lesser options at 1B when that's not where the hole has to be. That's not to say there's good, realistic options at any of the other spots (Kim for SS/2B is the option I'd like to go after if I could clear to payroll space) but I'm not sure why we're trying to talk ourselves into these specific crappy options when there are options to move the hole to just about anywhere we want and fill it with a different crappy option.

[Mike Sixel]

Terrible, awful, ideas. No chance I do either. 

[HerbieFan]

Seems like this FO has always developed players and then move someone to 1B if their initial position doesn't work out....Kiriloff for example, and then that guy isn't all that good defensively at the position.  Maybe it's time they actually develop guys to play (and actually be good at) 1B.

[thelanges5]

1 hour ago, AKTwinsFan said:

Polo, France, Bell, Gallo. That's all we can realistically afford. We should have prioritized resigning Santana.

We would’ve been outbid by the big market Guardos. 

[sweetmusicviola16]

In my honest opinion the budget thing has been blown out of proportion, if the set 130mil even exists. Why was Castro even tendered if it is? Paddock could have been easily moved for someone's low A flier if it was. Even Vazquez with some money going to the other team would have been moved. New acquisitions? Yeah I think the FO's hands are tied without players being moved out. I'm still believing that almost all of our moves are in house ones. Next off season could be very different.

[sweetmusicviola16]

Twins Daily can subtract Eloy Jimenez from it's most coveted list.

[joefish]

No.

And no.

[ashbury]

2 hours ago, AKTwinsFan said:

Polo, France, Bell, Gallo. That's all we can realistically afford. We should have prioritized resigning Santana.

Would you have outbid Cleveland, as events have in fact unfolded?  To the tune of $13M or so?

(For all we know, Falvey did make a competitive bid for Santana, and the Guardians went to twelve and he threw in the towel only at that point. One can presume that Cleveland wasn't bidding against itself.)

[killertwinfan]

Help me out. I thought we had no money. 

[Riverbrian]

12 hours ago, JD-TWINS said:

It appears that Wade played 55-60% of the time with just over 400 PA’s. Not sure if he was platooned or hurt some? Could Keaschall fit as his mirror guy as needed? Miranda is a reverse splits guy & better v. RH pitching, so not a good option with Wade.

A little of both but mostly it was strict platoon usage. Wade had a couple of fairly short IL trips in 2024. When he was healthy... it broke down to 358 PA's vs RH and 43 PA vs LH.  For comparison, Wallner had 217 PA's vs RH and 44 PA's vs LH in 2024. So it's safe to assume that Wallner received more opportunity to face left handed pitching than Wade did. 

The Giants are one of the teams that operated much like the Twins do with a heavy roster commitment to the Right/Left split.

What they will be this year is TBD.

The Giants will be interesting to watch. Farhan Zaidi is gone as the Giants have publicly suggested a change in approach coming under Posey. 

I agree that Miranda makes no sense because he hit right handers very well last year. It makes no sense to platoon him at all unless he shows that right handers are difficult for him.

Keaschall... I have no idea about what he is capable of. However, even without knowing what he can do... I am flat out 100% against utilizing Young Keaschall in this fashion. 

This team develops or it dies. Taking one of your best young prospects and turning him into a short side platoon is about the last thing that you want to do in regards to his development. 

Will all that said... I'm not completely opposed to the addition of Wade for one reason and one reason only. He could potentially increase the total number of left handers on the roster to more left handers then they could shield from left handed pitching... therefore forcing the Twins to provide exposure to one of our younger left handed hitters like Wallner, Larnach or Julien. If Wade just takes one of the left handers spots which would most likely be the case. I'm out on Wade. 

 

 

[JD-TWINS]

3 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

A little of both but mostly it was strict platoon usage. Wade had a couple of fairly short IL trips in 2024. When he was healthy... it broke down to 358 PA's vs RH and 43 PA For comparison, Wallner had 217 PA's vs RH and 44 PA's vs LH in 2024. So it's safe to assume that Wallner received more opportunity to face left handed pitching than Wade did. 

The Giants are one of the teams that operated much like the Twins do with a heavy roster commitment to the Right/Left split.

I say "were" because what they will be this year is TBD.

The Giants will be interesting to watch. Farhan Zaidi is gone as the Giants have publicly suggested a change in approach coming under Posey. 

I agree that Miranda makes no sense because he hit right handers very well last year. It makes no sense to platoon him at all unless he shows that right handers are difficult for him.

Keaschall... I have no idea about what he is capable of. However, even without knowing what he can do... I am flat out 100% against utilizing Young Keaschall in this fashion. 

This team develops or it dies. Taking one of your best young prospects and turning him into a short side platoon is about the last thing that you want to do in regards to his development. 

Will all that said... I'm not completely opposed to the addition of Wade for one reason and one reason only. He could potentially increase the total number of left handers on the roster to more left handers then they could shield from left handed pitching... therefore forcing the Twins to provide exposure to one of our younger left handed hitters like Wallner, Larnach or Julien. If Wade just takes one of the left handers spots which would most likely be the case. I'm out on Wade. 

 

 

IMO, Eddie is in borrowed time. Wade could take his spot in my opinion, without any angst.

Keaschall is supposed to be able to play 2B as a more natural position, as well as some LF. I don’t think he gets pigeonholed in a 1B platoon. My concern is that he might not be able to handle many normal reps throwing for a few months after elbow surgery.

[Jacksson]

SF "OWES" the Twins for a couple trade fleecings that victimized the team and should cut us a deal. 

[Riverbrian]

36 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

IMO, Eddie is in borrowed time. Wade could take his spot in my opinion, without any angst.

Keaschall is supposed to be able to play 2B as a more natural position, as well as some LF. I don’t think he gets pigeonholed in a 1B platoon. My concern is that he might not be able to handle many normal reps throwing for a few months after elbow surgery.

Who knows with Eddie. But, I'd say it's way too soon to attach the borrowed time label to him directly. 

What he showed in 2023 was that he can hit. I'd love to see him get more protective with two strikes because the rate at which he looks at called third strikes, sometimes right down the middle is a bit odd to me. Haven't really seen anybody like him in that regard. However, I'm not ready to throw him away just yet. He has options remaining and a coaching staff to work out those kinks.  

I understand that there are better defenders but in my opinion... I saw improvement from when he first came to town and to where he is now. He is still capable of more improvement as long as we have coaches to keep working with him on those improvements. Even if he doesn't improve defensively... the kid can still hit in my opinion. 

Keaschall... My recommendation without knowing anything about him. If there is elbow surgery concerns that he may not be able to handle normal reps coming out of camp... well... that's fine because there is no rush because Luke isn't on the 40 man roster yet. Doesn't need to be placed on the 40 man until December 2026. So rushing him into a short side platoon wouldn't make sense from a development standpoint, injury recovery and service time standpoint. 

All of this just keeps the Wade roster issue an issue. He would require an additional signing of a Connor Joe or someone like that. Or Miranda would have to do the short side dirty work... which compromises him severely.  

[JD-TWINS]

19 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

Who knows with Eddie. But, I'd say it's way too soon to attach the borrowed time label to him directly. 

What he showed in 2023 was that he can hit. I'd love to see him get more protective with two strikes because the rate at which he looks at called third strikes, sometimes right down the middle is a bit odd to me. Haven't really seen anybody like him in that regard. However, I'm not ready to throw him away just yet. He has options remaining and a coaching staff to work out those kinks.  

I understand that there are better defenders but in my opinion... I saw improvement from when he first came to town and to where he is now. He is still capable of more improvement as long as we have coaches to keep working with him on those improvements. Even if he doesn't improve defensively... the kid can still hit in my opinion. 

Keaschall... My recommendation without knowing anything about him. If there is elbow surgery concerns that he may not be able to handle normal reps coming out of camp... well... that's fine because there is no rush because Luke isn't on the 40 man roster yet. Doesn't need to be placed on the 40 man until December 2026. So rushing him into a short side platoon wouldn't make sense from a development standpoint, injury recovery and service time standpoint. 

All of this just keeps the Wade roster issue an issue. He would require an additional signing of a Connor Joe or someone like that. Or Miranda would have to do the short side dirty work... which compromises him severely.  

Eddie lead the Major Leagues in strikeouts looking - the next closest guy had 200 more AB’s …….,that’s more than something minor. IMO, pure conjecture, he needs to spend time with a sports psychologist not just a new hitting coach.

He had 7 HR on April 27 (nice month!) - 1 HR the remainder of the year…..I realize he was in St Paul for a good chunk of time (due to poor pert) but 1 HR in approximately 2.5 more months is like falling off a cliff.

He hit .199 in 2024. His OBP dropped 90 points from ‘23 - his slug% dropped 220 points - he was an absolute mess at the plate……..I hope he can bounce back but I think it’s not very likely.

BTW, Eddie played 17 innings at 1B in ‘23 & 2 innings at 1B in ‘24. Just throwing that out there for many here that view him as a solid alternative at 1B going into ‘24……I just don’t understand that thinking.

Keaschall’s 3rd position is 1B - not sure how else to say that. He’s not going to be stunted playing 30% of the time at 1B. He’s a bat first guy - only reason to want him in the mix. He could DH or play one of two other positions.

I was only responding to the post - I have no affinity for LaMont Wade - he might work? There are certainly parallel options internally.

[jmlease1]

2 hours ago, HerbieFan said:

Seems like this FO has always developed players and then move someone to 1B if their initial position doesn't work out....Kiriloff for example, and then that guy isn't all that good defensively at the position.  Maybe it's time they actually develop guys to play (and actually be good at) 1B.

How many teams move a player down the defensive spectrum before they have to? And if players are moving down early, then they're frequently flawed as defenders at any position. If you draft someone out of HS or college at 1B, they'd better be able to hit a ton.

The reality defense at 1B just isn't as important as hitting at 1B. Carlos Santana's Gold Glove this year was great, but it would have been pretty hollow if he'd put up a 90 OPS+. Just like Max Kepler's 2021-2022 stretch where he was an average starter, but below average offensively and drove people insane with all those 4 bouncers to 2B...

I'm pretty sure Royce Lewis could play a fine 1B with his good glove, but his bat is more valuable if he's able to hit at 2B or 3B and defend reasonably.

I think the Twins were always pretty positive on Kirilloff's ability to play 1B, but when was he ever healthy enough to actually play it? His lack of health and (understandable) inability to hit through some awful injury problems kept him from ever settling in. Twins brought in Santana because they couldn't count on Kirilloff staying healthy, not because they didn't think he could evolve into a functional 1B.

[Riverbrian]

1 hour ago, JD-TWINS said:

Eddie lead the Major Leagues in strikeouts looking - the next closest guy had 200 more AB’s …….,that’s more than something minor. IMO, pure conjecture, he needs to spend time with a sports psychologist not just a new hitting coach.

He had 7 HR on April 27 (nice month!) - 1 HR the remainder of the year…..I realize he was in St Paul for a good chunk of time (due to poor pert) but 1 HR in approximately 2.5 more months is like falling off a cliff.

He hit .199 in 2024. His OBP dropped 90 points from ‘23 - his slug% dropped 220 points - he was an absolute mess at the plate……..I hope he can bounce back but I think it’s not very likely.

BTW, Eddie played 17 innings at 1B in ‘23 & 2 innings at 1B in ‘24. Just throwing that out there for many here that view him as a solid alternative at 1B going into ‘24……I just don’t understand that thinking.

Keaschall’s 3rd position is 1B - not sure how else to say that. He’s not going to be stunted playing 30% of the time at 1B. He’s a bat first guy - only reason to want him in the mix. He could DH or play one of two other positions.

I was only responding to the post - I have no affinity for LaMont Wade - he might work? There are certainly parallel options internally.

I'm only responding to the post as well. That's why you and I are here. 😉

My problem is that I can't see past the self imposed platoon filter that the Twins use consistently. It dominates the roster construction landscape. If the Twins want to continue down this path, they will have to construct the roster in adherence to the filter. Wallner, Larnach require handcuffs. Wade will also require a handcuff. I know the filter is there... everyone should know it's there but there are times when articles, suggestions like Lamonte Wade fail to take it under consideration. Wade will only fit the roster with a handcuff. These articles can suggest someone like Wade Jr... that's fine he's a legit major league player but... you have to shove him into this self imposed filter and when you do that... he gets clogged up in the pores and you get this messy roster clog.   

In our discussion and the direction it has swung. Since we are knee deep in it. 

Julien had a bad 2024, he had a great year in 2023. His OBP dropped, His SLG dropped... This can't be denied that's why it was a bad year. Miranda had a bad 2023, Correa had a bad 2023. They rise they fall. He fell off the cliff no doubt... I'm still willing to send a recovery team down there to bring him back to the surface. He's young with options remaining. 

As for Julien at 1B. I don't know... myself... I worry about his bat. That's where his value lies. Defensively, I don't think he's as bad as some say but I realize he isn't Brandon Phillips at 2B. If he isn't the best at 2B... then OK maybe he won't be the best at 1B. Either way... he's the same guy. It's the bat that keeps a major league jersey on his back. 

Keaschall... OK... you can go that route but... if he is a key part of our future... why start that clock for short side duty in the middle of injury recovery. He doesn't have to be rostered until December 2026... I'd rather watch him bang the door down from St. Paul.    

 

[Mike Sixel]

13 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

I'm only responding to the post as well. That's why you and I are here. 😉

My problem is that I can't see past the self imposed platoon filter that the Twins use consistently. It dominates the roster construction landscape. If the Twins won't to continue down this path, they will have to construct the roster in adherence to the filter. Wallner, Larnach require handcuffs. Wade will also require a handcuff. I know the filter is there... everyone should know it's there but there are times when articles, suggestions like Lamonte Wade fail to take it under consideration. Wade will only fit the roster with a handcuff. These articles can suggest someone like Wade Jr... that's fine he's a legit major league player but... you have to shove him into this self imposed filter and when you do that... he gets clogged up in the pores and you get this messy roster clog.   

In our discussion and the direction it has swung. Since we are knee deep in it. 

Julien had a bad 2024, he had a great year in 2023. His OBP dropped, His SLG dropped... This can't be denied that's why it was a bad year. Miranda had a bad 2023, Correa had a bad 2023. They rise they fall. He fell off the cliff no doubt... I'm still willing to send a recovery team down there to bring him back to the surface. He's young with options remaining. 

As for Julien at 1B. I don't know... myself... I worry about his bat. That's where his value lies. Defensively, I don't think he's as bad as some say but I realize he isn't Brandon Phillips at 2B. If he isn't the best at 2B... then OK maybe he won't be the best at 1B. Either way... he's the same guy. It's the bat that keeps a major league jersey on his back. 

Keaschall... OK... you can go that route but... if he is a key part of our future... why start that clock for short side duty in the middle of injury recovery. He doesn't have to be rostered until December 2026... I'd rather watch him bang the door down from St. Paul.    

 

No one bangs the door down. They only come up due to injury. 

[Mike Sixel]

4 hours ago, AKTwinsFan said:

Polo, France, Bell, Gallo. That's all we can realistically afford. We should have prioritized resigning Santana.

13 million for Santana with this budget? Not realistic at all. 

[DJL44]

2 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

13 million for Santana with this budget? Not realistic at all. 

If the Twins had Santana under contract for $12M they would be looking to dump him.

[Coach Wheels]

9 hours ago, thelanges5 said:

Hip Hip Jorge! Not excited by either one of these guys but this is where the poverty Twins will be shopping in 2025. 

If this is the desparation we're sinking to at 1st base, just platoon Miranda and Julien. Rehashing guys from the past and "hoping" it works creates zero interest for me.🥱

[h2oface]

Just go with what you got at this point. Falvey is so smart, right? See what the not so young young players can do that he knows are great because he picked them. How can one care much, anyway. Maybe the "core" is good and they just choked with fear last year. But to trade the best talent for more hope and dreams or sign dumpster fluff would just drive away more lifelong fans.

One thing for sure, before the season starts, we know that the hype is coming for "the best bullpen in MLB"!

14 hours ago, Mark G said:

Yeah, but full of what?  One is losing zip on his fast ball, one wants to become a starter, one can't stay healthy, and the rest can't stay consistent.  The bullpen is full alright, full of question marks.  But, as always, I can be educated.  😌

What? Best bullpen in MLB!

[DocBauer]

I'm out on Wade, even though he's a solid ballplayer. He's a solid #2 hitter, but he's just not an improvement over what Miranda could/should bring. He also costs more $ and a prospect or two to bring in.

But let's talk about Miranda for a moment. His career is by no means a LARGE sample size. But for the bulk of his rookie year we saw the potential. 2023 was just a lost, injured season. And until his back injury in 2024, he was DAMN good. (*to my knowledge, he's never had a back injury before. 2023 was a hurt shoulder). So far in his ML career, he's better against RHP. How is that not a GOOD THING considering that's who throws about 75% of the time?! He's got a .729 OPS and 105 OPS+ so far in his career, and is sitting at a .748 OPS total in regard to RHP.

What about against LHP, who make up 25% of the arms in MLB? So far he's got a very playable .683 OPS. That's not horrible, and it might be easily suggested that a regression to the mean might see that number against LHP rise over time. 

He DOESN'T require anyone to be a time share option, he just needs to be healthy for a full season to keep producing and developing as the young-ish player he is.

Period.

Yes, he needs to work on his defense. But he's done that to the point where he's actually an OK 3B. Why can't he continue to work at 1B and be an OK 1B?

Keaschall has been brought up. His bat and offensive potential looks as though it will play at the ML level. The only way, IMO, his TJ surgery affects him is if doesn't have the arm you want at 3B, perhaps SS as well. If you recall, he's got a ton of college reps at SS, it's just not presumably his best spot. He's got the overall athleticism to play the OF, the glove for 2B, and played a fair amount of 1B in 2024 due to his elbow. While not a direct competition, he might replace Castro in 2026. But as pointed out by @riverbrian, he doesn't have to be added anytime soon. Time is on his side! Personally, I think he'll be ready mid 2025.

Yes, Julien might yet be a part of the 1B/DH spot, while being able to cover 2B solidly, but he's got to "fix" his approach. It doesn't matter if his EYE is even better than the umpire. He's got to make better contact than he showed in 2024, where he looked a mess. Sometimes you just have to swing at what's offered, even for a foul ball, to continue working the count and look for something to hit. He's in a very similar boat as Larnach, who seems to have figured it out. I'm not giving up on him yet...boy did he hit in college, MILB, and his rookie season...but SOMETHING was really wrong in 2024. I have him in St Paul to begin 2025.

POLANCO is an elephant in the room that i belive should be fairly judged. His knees and ankles have been through a ton. He was terrible in 2024 for Seattle. His days as a 2B option should be labeled as "he can late innings here and there" but any thought of SS or 3B are clearly "break glass in an emergency status".

BUT, Nick is right to suggest him as an option. As recently as 2023...which is part of the reason Seattle traded for him...Polanco had a quad slash line of .255/ .335/ .454/ .789 in 343 PA. Folks, those are really good numbers. At 31yo, multiple injuries in his history, but a history of good numbers, should he be completely discounted for a horrendous 2024?

I don't believe Polanco's body is going to hold up many more years. But do i think a veteran player with good hands and experience and a great work ethnic and team first attitude could adapt quickly to 1B? Yes. Arraez was the same and adapted. Solano wasn't any sort of primary 1B and actually did OK.

Look, I'm not saying signing Polanco is some kind of FIX for 1B. But the BAT was still very good as recently as 2023. If he's actually healthy for 2025, he could potentially be a quality DH/PH/1B option to work with Miranda, and let Miranda still play a little 3B as needed. He'd be the 13th man, but he could be a pretty good 13th man.

I'd be inclined for a MILB deal with a split contract that could pay as much as $2M. I'm not sure...with all due respect...that I'd go further than that. There's room on the CURRENT roster for that 13th man. A flier on Polanco might not be a bad idea if the medicals check out.

 

[Brandon]

Need an inexpensive 1B..... This guy..... Yuli Gurriel 

[Doctor Wu]

19 hours ago, DJL44 said:

The bullpen is pretty full as-is.

Yeah, but that was the prevailing thought at this time last year too, and we ended up needing more arms.