Should the Twins Make a Last-Minute Push for One of These Veteran First Basemen?

[William K Johnson]

Larnach or Wallner at first?

[Doctor Gast]

7 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

In what context? Miranda will never be a power hitter with 20+ HRs in a season. 

OPS, When he gets 100% & completes a full season he could get to a 20+ season.

[Doctor Gast]

7 hours ago, DocBauer said:

I liked your post and generally agree. I don't think Miranda's bat is the same as Casas. I don't think he'll match him on power. But I can see Miranda as as good of a hitter by AVG, maybe better, with a similar OB%, and maybe more doubles but more mid to upper teens HR power. And I'm OK with that. Miranda doesn't have to be the same hitter to be good.

Another option at 1B to deepen the lineup, thus also deepening the bench, would be nice though.

Casas was allowed put together one good season, can he maintain that? Casas is more of a HR hitter, but Miranda is more of pure hitter yet he can put together a pretty high OPS. It might take a little before he's 100% & regain his stamina. In Miranda's last full season in the MiLB he hit 30 HRs. 

[Doctor Wu]

9 hours ago, DocBauer said:

When I propose a trade, I try to look at it from the other team's perspective, and if it hurts a little it might just be fair and get the job done.

Good point, Too many of the trades ideas that I read don't seem to factor that perspective into the equation. 

[dxpavelka]

10 hours ago, DocBauer said:

I don't have a problem with a deep lineup and a rotation at DH, in general, unless you have a SPECIAL BAT like Cruz was for us. Heck, even Molitor in his time with the Twins was pretty special in his own way.

IF top prospects turn out remotely as expected, by 2026, if not at some point in 2025, Rodriguez and Keaschall will be ready, and Jenkins not far behind. While trades may happen, there will be enough talent depth on the roster to allow for a semi-permanent DH of someone like Larnach, or Miranda, or a combination, where they can also play in the field as well.

Problem is we aren't there YET. And I still want the 2025 Twins lineup/offense/depth to be the best it can be, even with $ limitations. 

I DON'T want a mediocre FA veteran to be an important part of the lineup/depth. Which is why IF the FO can make ONE "serious" move to finalize the roster, I'd love a trade that doesn't hurt too much to add someone to the 1B/DH mix. It's the one spot left to make at least some difference. 

I don't particularly want a mediocre guy already on the roster either.  We've actually done pretty damn well with our "mediocre" FA veteran guys the last two years.  Santana was better than expected and I daresay we don't sniff the post-season in 2023 without Solano down the stretch.

[TwinsDr2021]

9 hours ago, Connor Gould said:

I'd be down for a Justin Turner signing for sure. Afterall, if we look at our current starting lineup vs righties, we'd get

C-Jeffers

1B-Miranda

2B-Julien/Lee

3B-Lewis

SS-Correa

LF-Larnach

CF-Buxton

RF-Wallner

DH-?????

Unless you like Julen/Lee or Castro as the primary DH, we're a bat short. In the long term, Emmanuel Rodriguez will claim that spot, but in the short term we need a guy. Turner would fit great as the DH that also plays 1B on Miranda's off days. I understand the argument that you can just put one of the starters at DH as a half off day and play Castro there, but I feel like you can only really get away with that roster strategy if you're regular lineup is absolutely stacked, and I'm a bit iffy about that. Plus, we have enough guys with injury histories that any additional depth in terms of offensive strength would be nice.

Not disagreeing with you, but the 5 guys IMO available for hat DH spot would be Castro, Bader, Vazquez, Martin, and other one of Lee/Julien.

Who goes for a DH/1B type? It can't be the first three, It could be Martin or Julien.  They could go with Castro in the OF and Wallner/Larnach DH, but man does that leave one weak ass bench.

I don't like how this FO has built the roster this year.

[LambchoP]

I think eventually Royce Lewis will be our long term first baseman with Keaschal taking over 2nd and Lee at 3rd. Might be a year or two until this happens though. If we can't get Casas, MountCastle or Diaz, let Miranda take a shot and see how it goes. Just might need a better backup option than Julien, Gasper and Ford....

[Riverbrian]

Here is what I believe. I may be wrong... I may be right... I may be somewhere in between... I have no way of knowing but here is what I believe. 

I think the rumors of Royce Lewis getting work in at 2B this spring training came from the possibility of signing a 1st baseman this off-season. 1B and a right handed hitting OF'er were the words coming out of Falvey's mouth when asked what they were looking for at the GM meetings. 

If the Twins signed Santana for example. Miranda would get pushed to primarily 3B and Lewis would get pushed to 2B. I think that is where the Lewis to 2B rumors came from.

Once Santana turned out to be worth 12 million and the other 1B options fell off the board. I think the Twins pivoted to Miranda is now the guy and those Lewis to 2B rumors have been quiet. 

I believe that if the Twins find a suitable 1B somehow someway before this off-season is said and done. Those Lewis to 2B rumors will be back and this time louder than before. 

I don't think Lewis to 2B was to accommodate Lee... I think Lewis to 2B was to accommodate the potential acquisition of a 1B.  

Like I said... Could be wrong... Could be right... maybe somewhere in between. But, it makes sense. 

[saviking]

On 2/10/2025 at 12:25 PM, Mike Sixel said:

If they sign Turner, he's not splitting time. Seriously. If you don't trust your system, you should quit because it's your players and coaches

I've got an idea. Why don't we keep signing marginal veterans that the Twins will play all year and not cut even if they stink up the joint and clog Saint Paul with our young talent ..