The Twins Have Significant Value at Some of Baseball’s Lowest-Ranked Positions

[Cody Christie]

The Twins might have a secret strategy for winning in 2025. They may be successful at gaining value in positions where other teams struggle. What are those positions? I’m glad you asked.

Image courtesy of © Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

MLB Network recently finished counting down the top 10 players at every position at the onset of the 2025 campaign. There are always flaws with this type of voting, but the Twins did well at some positions, while other players were undervalued. MLB Network released their overall rankings of the positions to cap off their rankings. The top three ranked positions were shortstop, relief pitcher, and right fielder, where the Twins project to do well. Carlos Correa can play at an MVP level (if his feet cooperate); Matt Wallner may be poised for a breakout season; and the Twins project to have baseball’s best bullpen. 

There are multiple positions at the bottom of the rankings where the Twins can pick up significant value, compared to other teams in the AL Central. If the Twins expect to contend, these three positions might be the most important on the roster. 

Position: Center Field
MLB Position Rank: 11/11
Minnesota’s Projected Starter: Byron Buxton
Some of baseball’s best players in center field from 2024 are expected to see more time in corner spots this season, including Aaron Judge, Mike Trout, and Jarren Duran. Julio Rodríguez, Jackson Merrill, and Michael Harris II are some of the top players in the position, along with Buxton. In 2024, Buxton put himself back on the map by playing in over 100 games for only the second time in his career. His offensive totals were also among his career-best. 

His 138 OPS+ was the second-highest career mark, with only his 2021 season ranking higher. His xSLG, wOBA, and xwOBACON ranked in the top 7% among MLB hitters. He also dropped his strikeout rate from 31.4% in 2023 to 26.0%. Among AL center fielders, only Judge ranked higher than Buxton in wRC+, SLG, and xwOBA. He was a borderline All-Star and provided the Twins with more value than the team likely expected entering the season. This offseason has been the first time in over half a decade that he has been healthy, and that could help him claim the title of baseball’s best center fielder.

Position: Starting Pitcher
MLB Position Rank: 9/11
Minnesota’s Projected Starters: Pablo López, Bailey Ober, Joe Ryan, Simeon Woods Richardson, Chris Paddack
Starting pitching has evolved in recent years, so teams must build organizational depth at one of baseball’s most critical positions. Gone are the days when individual pitchers regularly threw 200+ innings with a sub-3.00 ERA. However, the Twins' top three starters are projected to be among the best in the American League, with some rankings having them as the lone AL squad with three pitchers ranked in baseball’s top 50. Injuries are always a question mark with starting pitching, so it will be critical for the Twins to have depth. That’s also one of the reasons the Twins have been tied to trade rumors for another front-line starting pitcher (like San Diego’s Dylan Cease), because there is no such thing as too much starting pitching. 

The Twins also have depth behind the projected five-man rotation listed above. David Festa and Zebby Matthews were two of the team’s top pitching prospects last season, and they are still among the organization’s best players who are 25 or younger. Other top pitching prospects, such as Marco Raya, Matt Canterino, Brent Headrick, and Travis Adams, are scheduled to join this duo in St. Paul. Last season, the Twins had 10 different pitchers make a start at the big-league level, so it takes far more than a five-man rotation to make it through 162 games. Other teams don’t have depth like Minnesota's, and that could play to the Twins’ advantage. 

Dark Horse Position: Second Base
MLB Position Rank: 8/11
Minnesota’s Projected Starters: Brooks Lee, Edouard Julien
The Twins have a clear advantage in center field and starting pitching, but second base might be a dark horse position for the team to gain value. Lee and Julien are scheduled to see the bulk of the playing time, but they each have much to prove after disappointing 2024 seasons. Julien was looking to build off a rookie campaign in which he posted a 130 OPS+, but he scuffled to a 74 OPS+ in 2024. Lee was one of baseball’s best prospects entering last season, with his bat-to-ball skills being touted in the minors. He combined for a 64 OPS+ in the majors, instead, while battling multiple injuries. The Twins still believe in the long-term value of both players, so the 2025 campaign will be critical for their development. 

There is also a discussion of Royce Lewis starting to see some time at second base. Minnesota seems committed to him as the team’s third baseman, but the team prioritizes players with defensive flexibility. Lewis, like Lee and Julien, struggled in the season’s second half, with his OPS dropping by .400 compared to the first half. Second base might become a question of which bats are hitting the best at a given portion of the season. Still, the trio of second-base options has the potential for high offensive output if they return to the expectations each had entering last season. 

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Can the Twins be successful by gaining value at positions where other teams struggle? Leave a comment and start the discussion.

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[bean5302]

Can we shut the door on the Byron Buxton might be healthy or might be the best CF in MLB stuff? He's a good center fielder. One of the better ones, overall. He'll play a maximum of 60-80 games in center field, and his WAR is going to be based on whether or not he finishes the year on a hot streak or cold streak. Last year, he finished on a big hot streak. He was a below average MLB hitter for most of his season.

2B is obviously a dark horse. Depending on trades and personnel swapping, I think Willi Castro could even find himself as a static 2B this year. 

SP is deep for Minnesota, but lacks ceiling. The Twins might are at the edge of a top 10 rotation in the projections at 13.6 fWAR, ranking 8th in MLB. There's a pretty tight grouping of MLB rotations around that 13.6 value. Plus or minus 1 WAR would rank the Twins anywhere from 5th to 13th.

[DJL44]

Quote

 Still, the trio of second-base options has the potential for high offensive output if they return to the expectations each had entering last season. 

They'd better hit because their defense looks really bad at the keystone.

[Cody Christie]

Adding Harrison Bader also helps the team's value in center field. Especially on the defensive side.

[Doctor Gast]

We were bad last season. But w/o Margot, we'll be much better in the OF, even w/o Kepler, with or without Bader. We can be much better in the INF w/o Julien and without needing Correa & Santana to cover for him. Now, w/o Santana, it makes it more important. and have someone who can mash at 1B. Julien will be the key at the keystone, the less he plays there, the better we'll be.

[LambchoP]

I hope Lee can find his bat this year, but until he does, Castro might be our best option at 2nd base. I also think adding Cease to our rotation would give us one of the better pitching staffs in baseball. Give SD SWR or Mathews, Paddack and Julien/Castro/Keirsey/Martin

[ddubbl1]

Castro can be our everyday 2B, (Lee for relief) Bader/ Martin for outfield fill ins, Trade Julienn and Paddock to Miami for any right handed batter for First Base (Ford could also play 1st). Julienn cant be allowed onto Target field as a Twin EVER AGAIN!!