Reviewing Potential Positional Changes for the 2025 Twins

[tony&rodney]

1 hour ago, arby58 said:

Lewis had a positive WAR last year (0.7) and likely would have been higher but for the time missed to injury. Julien was -0.2, Lewis' OPS+ was 107, and Julien was 74. True, they both performed far better the year before, but Julien's 2024 was a complete bust.

Good lord, picking over stats to state who sucked worse but inserting an excuse for one but not the other. I give up.

[dxpavelka]

Seems like maybe it would have been beneficial to mention Brooks Lee in this article.  Otherwise you just talked about stuff we basically already knew.

[Heiny]

Actually, I don't have a problem with the team the way it stands.  With Miranda at first, Correa at SS and Lewis at third,  let Lee, Julien and Keashall fight it out for 2b.  Castros' best position is utility.  Our OF is set.  SP looks strong and BP looks good save for some LH pitching.  But the depth seems fairly good also.  Leave the catching alone for one more year.  I see a strong run at the division title and they have as good a shot at the Super Bowl as they do the World Series.  What's not to like?

[arby58]

2 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

Good lord, picking over stats to state who sucked worse but inserting an excuse for one but not the other. I give up.

If you can't discern the difference between a 107 and a 74 OPS+ and a positive versus a negative WAR, you should give up.

[minman1982]

On 2/1/2025 at 9:33 AM, mluebker said:

As far as I can see, Lewis and Miranda are interchangeable at third. So why not move Lewis to first now? He’s less likely to get hurt and he’s going to end up over there sooner or later anyhow.

That is my feeling as well. Lewis has a bat that we want in the lineup more often than not. The Twins need to keep him healthy and there is a smaller risk of injury playing first or third over playing second.

[PatPfund]

There is zero reason to play Lewis at 2B right now. (Last year that started because Santana pushed Miranda off 1B, Miranda was hitting too well to not play, and moving Lewis to 2B freed up the jam without locking that trio to a DH rotation). Nobody at 1B in the current organization has the ability to push Miranda off 1B, meaning there is no need other than rest/DH days for Lewis to come off 3B (and for the first time since before the pandemic, it would be nice to let the young man learn to play through a full season). (If I were thinking another position for Lewis, it would be LF, but only if his knees are stable, and really only after a healthy 2025 is over. Dude needs some stability first.)

I get it is offseason, and most everyone looks mainly at last year's, but development isn't always linear; Eddie Julien in particular has been a fairly elite hitter at every level (including his rookie MLB season), and I'd pick him for a big bounce-back. (Even if you want him "traded", you should want that, because if he smells like last year, the difference in a trade versus releasing him will be marginal.) I can see him backing up Lee at 2B, Miranda at 1B, and DHing, but only if he earns his way back onto the MLB roster.

Castro can help all over, but I still think he is the most likely to be traded if the Twins make a sizable move. An additional move I'd make with the current roster is to work Larnach out at 1B as a lefty backup to Miranda; that both gives insurance if Julien blows chunk again, and it gives Larnach's dangerous bat a lineup spot beyond DH if/when Rodriguez forces his way to the majors.

[Trilla]

On 2/1/2025 at 6:19 AM, TL said:

It would be amazing if Lewis’s throwing problems were an aberration and he could be above average at third, but I don’t see him at second base post-knee issues and future injury risk. Barring improvement in his defense at third I think best case for Twins would be for him to set his mind to becoming an elite first baseman. In 2025 we need to decide what the infield is going to look like and let the guys settle in.

This lineup could allow infielders to focus on a primary position and get a day off or DH day with a competent backup. And gives Julien one more chance to prove he’s an a good all-around second baseman - which could be huge whether he’s here long-term or used as a trade chip.  

Correa - SS

Lee - 3B (backup SS, 2B)

Lewis - 1B (backup 3B, 2B)

Julien* - 2B (backup 1B)

Miranda - DH (rotate 1B & 3B)

Castro* (Infield/Outfield utility)

Keaschall - waiting in the wings to replace Julien or Castro

 

I think you may be right. I wonder if Rocco or any of the other 2,000 front office geniuses have even thought about about Lewis at 1b? For now we are better served with Lee at second, Lewis at third and maybe someone like Alonso, or Rizzo at 1b. It was another Falvey fart to never address this in December. Another sp and rh hitting outfielder would be nice. But that would require Falvey doing something, that's not happening.

[Trilla]

I can't wait to hear how Falvey has this all figured out...I never saw anybody in my 60 years continue to believe they are the smartest dumba$$ in every room they are in.