It’s Time for the Minnesota Twins to Get Creative at First Base

[JD-TWINS]

3 minutes ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

Josh Naylor (depending on whoever the mystery investors are) is most likely out of their price range. I do think Falvey knowing him from his time in Cleveland doesn't hurt, but I don't see that happening. He is more of a pipe dream for me. But yeah, his defense and attitude and experience hitting in the middle of the order is exactly what this team hasn't had for years now.

Ryan O'Hearn is someone that I'd love to get. His range at 1B is pretty solid, and he has experience in the central and with our (current) hitting coach. He's looked pretty good with the Padres too. I don't know if he'll NEED more than a 1 year deal or 1 year and an option.

Beyond that, honestly, I'd probably more be looking at the trade market. Naming off names there feels like a shot in the dark, but it's certainly possible that some team really likes giving a chance on Bailey Ober or Matt Wallner for someone who could be a bounce back here too. 

Thanks.

Just saw another post with a number of guys listed. I am surprised I had already forgotten about the guy I think can be a Solid RBI guy batting 5th everyday and playing 1B most of the time………a little less $$ than the Top Tier guys. Luis Arraez ($15M?). He lead the NL in hits the past two seasons and the other post said he can’t be played v. LH pitching…….not sure about that? Seems with a guy in that spot that is going to average 175-190 hits the next 3 years…….”producing with RISP”……it makes sense. If they develop someone ant 1B  over next year or two, he’s a worthwhile DH.

Arraez…….173 - 203 - 200 - 181 hits per year over the past 4 seasons. 42 XBH in ‘25. Another here at TD says “he’s declining” ….. he is currently 28 years old. He’s played in 144 - 147 - 150 - 154 games over the past 4 seasons.

He’s traditionally hit toward the top of the line-up and he’s not very quick ……. to me, he would thrive in a spot where he’s coming up with guys on base AND behind someone where he can provide protection. (penciled in at 5th, daily) It’s hard to imagine pitching around someone to get to Arraez and his bat to ball skills!

[Cory Engelhardt]

5 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

Thanks.

Just saw another post with a number of guys listed. I am surprised I had already forgotten about the guy I think can be a Solid RBI guy batting 5th everyday and playing 1B most of the time………a little less $$ than the Top Tier guys. Luis Arraez ($15M?). He lead the NL in hits the past two seasons and the other post said he can’t be played v. LH pitching…….not sure about that? Seems with a guy in that spot that is going to average 175-190 hits the next 3 years…….”producing with RISP”……it makes sense. If they develop someone ant 1B  over next year or two, he’s a worthwhile DH.

Arraez…….173 - 203 - 200 - 181 hits per year over the past 4 seasons. 42 XBH in ‘25. Another here at TD says “he’s declining” ….. he is currently 28 years old. He’s played in 144 - 147 - 150 - 154 games over the past 4 seasons.

He’s traditionally hit toward the top of the line-up and he’s not very quick ……. to me, he would thrive in a spot where he’s coming up with guys on base AND behind someone where he can provide protection. (penciled in at 5th, daily) It’s hard to imagine pitching around someone to get to Arraez and his bat to ball skills!

I'd love Arraez. His defense leaves a LOT to be desired, but he plays every day and gives great at bats. Those are both things this team needs too. I just would prefer if they did get him that he dh's a lot, and that they ALSO get someone who can be a good defender at 1b.

But yeah, maybe the plan is for one of their current infielders to move to 1B? 

[DJL44]

15 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

2023 - Solano

2024 - Santana

2025 - France

No more one year deals. Stop this train. 

The kind of creativity that I'm looking for is the type of creativity that avoids this yearly search for a cheap one year deal.  

The cheap one-year deal has paid off pretty well. Solano was decent, Santana was good and France was passable.

46 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

To me, with just OK skills behind the plate, Jeffers is the guy to move to 1B. He can be the 3rd Catcher on the Roster which provides flexibility and depth. Have him catch 18-20 games through the season to stay sharp. He can DH some after catching to stay fresh - seems like an option. Focus on Catching in free agency or via trade

Unlike the robust supply of first basemen, the supply of catching in MLB is scarce. Turning a scarce asset like a catcher who hits like Jeffers into a mediocre first baseman would be destroying value for no reason. This is especially true for a player who only has 1 season left before free agency and might be the best expiring contract they have to trade in July.

[DJL44]

15 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

a little less $$ than the Top Tier guys. Luis Arraez ($15M?).

They're not going to give Arraez a contract as big as Buxton's. $5M a season would be my max offer.

[SteveLV]

Quick thoughts:

Naylor would not take calls from the Twins.  He is going to get plenty of interest from contending teams.

Alonso?  Likelihood of Pohlad ownership paying him a FA deal is zero.

Wallner to 1B.  Give it a try in Spring Training and give him all winter to work on it.  Might save his career.

It would be so Twins to sign the Ghost of Paul Goldschmidt late in FA.  He is done. 

My somewhat realistic dream is to trade Lopez to the Giants for Eldridge in some package and literally and figuratively swing for the fences.

[jmlease1]

18 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

Thanks.

Just saw another post with a number of guys listed. I am surprised I had already forgotten about the guy I think can be a Solid RBI guy batting 5th everyday and playing 1B most of the time………a little less $$ than the Top Tier guys. Luis Arraez ($15M?). He lead the NL in hits the past two seasons and the other post said he can’t be played v. LH pitching…….not sure about that? Seems with a guy in that spot that is going to average 175-190 hits the next 3 years…….”producing with RISP”……it makes sense. If they develop someone ant 1B  over next year or two, he’s a worthwhile DH.

Arraez…….173 - 203 - 200 - 181 hits per year over the past 4 seasons. 42 XBH in ‘25. Another here at TD says “he’s declining” ….. he is currently 28 years old. He’s played in 144 - 147 - 150 - 154 games over the past 4 seasons.

He’s traditionally hit toward the top of the line-up and he’s not very quick ……. to me, he would thrive in a spot where he’s coming up with guys on base AND behind someone where he can provide protection. (penciled in at 5th, daily) It’s hard to imagine pitching around someone to get to Arraez and his bat to ball skills!

Giving Arraez $15M per season is a fireable offense. I know he's a super likable dude and was a very popular ex-Twin, and he's extra appealing to the "strikeouts are the greatest evil in the baseball universe" crowd, but he's not a great choice for 1B for almost any team and especially bad as a fit for the Twins. And $15M? Why would anyone give him a raise at this point? Which is more likely: Arraez returns to his 2023 form at 29 with bad knees, or continues as he's been the last 2 seasons?

Arraez has really reduced the number of walks he takes and basically swings at everything now. It's great that he led the NL in hits, but not great that his OBP was in the Wallner/Larnach/France range. He's got little to no pop in his bat (in part because he's swinging at everything with a lot of weak contact), has zero speed, and is poor defensively at 1B (he's a tiny elf, no exactly getting a big target to throw at). He really shouldn't play 2B at all any longer, either, but thankfully we don't really have a need there.

But for the Twins, he's an especially poor fit, because he simply doesn't hit LHP (and has never hit LHP) which means you can't even do a split with someone like Clemens that makes any sense.

There's a reason SD was trying to dump his salary last season, and I doubt they're going to make much effort to bring him back. If anyone gives him $15M per season, I'll eat my hat.

[David Maro]

Love all the wishful thinking here for a team that is a total mess right now. The FO blow the BP up at the deadline and dumped 3 players with expiring contracts along with the overpriced SS. The only thing this FO has tried to get is SP,as far as position players they have failed. They have had about 2 dozen LF,and how about 2nd and 3rd baseman. They wanted Lewis to move from 3rd to 2nd,but he said no thanks. Wallner is a liability with a mite on his hand anywhere you put him. Its time to move on from him using him as trade bait. With his approach at the plate he has too many holes in his swing. This is also a team with no manager and no one knows who that will be and if they will have any say on coaches or players. The best thing to happen is gut the FO and sell the team to someone that understands how to run a sports team.

[Riverbrian]

25 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

The cheap one-year deal has paid off pretty well. Solano was decent, Santana was good and France was passable.

In fairness... it was supposed to be Kirilloff.

But, they strip mined him for parts requiring Solano and Alex couldn't stay healthy in 2023.

Santana moved him off of first in 2024. This put him in the OF and DH primarily and he couldn't stay healthy in 2024 either.  

 

[JD-TWINS]

2 minutes ago, jmlease1 said:

Giving Arraez $15M per season is a fireable offense. I know he's a super likable dude and was a very popular ex-Twin, and he's extra appealing to the "strikeouts are the greatest evil in the baseball universe" crowd, but he's not a great choice for 1B for almost any team and especially bad as a fit for the Twins. And $15M? Why would anyone give him a raise at this point? Which is more likely: Arraez returns to his 2023 form at 29 with bad knees, or continues as he's been the last 2 seasons?

Arraez has really reduced the number of walks he takes and basically swings at everything now. It's great that he led the NL in hits, but not great that his OBP was in the Wallner/Larnach/France range. He's got little to no pop in his bat (in part because he's swinging at everything with a lot of weak contact), has zero speed, and is poor defensively at 1B (he's a tiny elf, no exactly getting a big target to throw at). He really shouldn't play 2B at all any longer, either, but thankfully we don't really have a need there.

But for the Twins, he's an especially poor fit, because he simply doesn't hit LHP (and has never hit LHP) which means you can't even do a split with someone like Clemens that makes any sense.

There's a reason SD was trying to dump his salary last season, and I doubt they're going to make much effort to bring him back. If anyone gives him $15M per season, I'll eat my hat.

First, platooning anyone with Kody Clemens is a bad idea.

France/Wallner/Larnach can’t run either. Moving Larnach or Wallner to 1B, if a reality, would have been done by now ……Wallner didn’t grow 5” and lose all his speed in the past 18 months………Larnach, ditto.

2025 XBH ….. Larnach - 42, Wallner - 41, Arraez - 42 ………….. Arraez had more AB’s for sure but he also had 55 & 113 more hits than those two, respectively. I don’t really care how many meaningless walks Matt Wallner draws to inflate his OBP to respectability.

A comparable OBP being generated by base hits, with guys on base, has a lot more value than a walk. A ball put in play with guys on base is a lot more valuable than a strikeout!

The amount of money is based upon 2026 economics for MLB players salaries. If Twins can’t compete on salary to fill roster holes we should all punt. Maybe the starting offer is $11M?

Think the Yankees would rather have had Paul Goldschmidt or Luis Arraez this post-season?

[jorgenswest]

It is very difficult to play a passable major league first basemen. It takes good hands and feet. It takes quick reactions. It is the same set of tools found in catchers and infielders which creates a bigger pool of players that can play first base than most positions and maybe leads to the erroneous impression that any major leaguer can play there with work.

My guess is that Larnach and Wallner worked out at first base in both college and the minors. When Larnach hit AA the Twins used 9 different first basemen. In AAA it was 12 different first basemen. Wallner was on the same AAA team in 2022. They didn’t try him either. I don’t see how there can be any other conclusion other than they worked out there and didn’t have the necessary tools.

There was news recently that the Twins were working Hendry Mendez at first base. That’s a good thing. Maybe he will get a chance at 1B in the fall league. If he is never used there can we assume that he doesn’t have the necessary tools? He has spent time in the Brewers and Phillies organization without any time at 1B. Some guys can’t do it. If he doesn’t get time there I am going to assume the Brewers, Phillies and Twins concluded he doesn’t have the tools to play there. I hope you will join me.

[JD-TWINS]

43 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

They're not going to give Arraez a contract as big as Buxton's. $5M a season would be my max offer.

They were going to pay Carlos Correa $35M or close to it, for years, as of 6 months ago.

Buxton’s contract was signed in November of 2021.

Arraez made $14M in ‘25.

Lead N.L. in total hits in both ‘24 & ‘25 ……..he had 203 hits in 2023………then 200 & 181 the last 2 seasons. 42 XBH in ‘25.

Played 144 - 147 - 150 - 154 games last 4 seasons…….he’s 28 as of today. I don’t see a “decline”.

If they can’t pay something north of $10-$11M for an offensive infusion then the Team & fanbase should punt. Can’t budget $100M for 2026 and be competitive!

[Sjoski]

3 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

Royce Lewis could be a better option & have Wallner as DH.

I agree, but everything I've read and heard regarding Lewis....I doubt he's in favor of playing 1st.  

The last time the Twins got "creative " they moved Sano from 3rd to RF.

We all know how well that worked.

[JD-TWINS]

12 minutes ago, jorgenswest said:

It is very difficult to play a passable major league first basemen. It takes good hands and feet. It takes quick reactions. It is the same set of tools found in catchers and infielders which creates a bigger pool of players that can play first base than most positions and maybe leads to the erroneous impression that any major leaguer can play there with work.

My guess is that Larnach and Wallner worked out at first base in both college and the minors. When Larnach hit AA the Twins used 9 different first basemen. In AAA it was 12 different first basemen. Wallner was on the same AAA team in 2022. They didn’t try him either. I don’t see how there can be any other conclusion other than they worked out there and didn’t have the necessary tools.

There was news recently that the Twins were working Hendry Mendez at first base. That’s a good thing. Maybe he will get a chance at 1B in the fall league. If he is never used there can we assume that he doesn’t have the necessary tools? He has spent time in the Brewers and Phillies organization without any time at 1B. Some guys can’t do it. If he doesn’t get time there I am going to assume the Brewers, Phillies and Twins concluded he doesn’t have the tools to play there. I hope you will join me.

Logic - refreshing!!

I can’t believe you don’t think that “……they can just practice some grounders this winter & next spring, and then be good to go…..”

Yes, there are “baseball people” evaluating guys for years and they are not idiots, regardless of what those here at TD seem to think. ……..Moving Wallner or Larnach to 1B to “maybe” be on a similar level as Eduard Julien, is not the answer.

[DocBauer]

My dream is Naylor for 2 or 3 years at $15M. But I'm going to guess someone outbids the Twins, or offers the same and a better chance to win. I like O'Hearn as a secondary option.

Creative? I've be3n in favor of Lewis shifting to 1B EVENTUALLY, not because he can't play a solid 3B, but because it's seemingly the best way to construct an INF of Lewis, Keaschall, Culpepper, and Lee. But K-Pepper isn’t quite ready yet...speculating...so that's an EVENTUAL INF assuming Lee keeps improving with the bat. But maybe Lee moves to 1B instead? Maybe Keaschall's arm just never gets quite right so he moves to 1B. Regardless, Culpepper isn't up and ready yet.

Amick and Mendez might be interesting options, but both would appear to be a good year or so away.

More creativity? Roden has experience at 1B. Fedko has some experience at 1B as well. They could create a quasi-platoon with each available to play some OF and DH as well. Clemens, as a utility player, fits in at least occasionally at 1B as well.

It's not what I want, but it offers up some creativity, some roster flexibility, and some future production, even if there is a growth/adjustment period with some struggling. 

[DJL44]

41 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

Think the Yankees would rather have had Paul Goldschmidt or Luis Arraez this post-season?

The Yankees would choose neither. Arraez had 2 singles in 12 PA in the 2025 playoffs with 0 runs scored and 0 RBI. His career playoff OPS is .530.

44 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

2025 XBH ….. Larnach - 42, Wallner - 41, Arraez - 42 ………….. Arraez had more AB’s for sure

Arraez had nearly 300 more plate appearances than Wallner and one additional XBH. Arraez averages 59 RBI per 162 games. Wallner averages 76 RBI per 162 games.

[JBK]

C:  Jeffers

Infield:  1B Wallner, 2B Keaschall, 3B Lewis, SS Lee

Outfield:  Buxton, Rodriguez & Jenkins

DH:  Larnach

Let's go 1982 all over again.  Mix in the rookies with the young core and a couple veterans and LET THEM PLAY!

[DJL44]

18 minutes ago, DocBauer said:

I've been in favor of Lewis shifting to 1B EVENTUALLY, not because he can't play a solid 3B, but because it's seemingly the best way to construct an INF of Lewis, Keaschall, Culpepper, and Lee. But K-Pepper isn’t quite ready yet...speculating...so that's an EVENTUAL INF assuming Lee keeps improving with the bat. But maybe Lee moves to 1B instead? Maybe Keaschall's arm just never gets quite right so he moves to 1B. Regardless, Culpepper isn't up and ready yet.

I think Lee to the bench is the best move.

[Teflon]

Frankly, I'm surprised that either Wallner or Larnach wasn't shifted to 1B already given the glut of outfielders and the lack of first base persons.

[JD-TWINS]

1 minute ago, DJL44 said:

The Yankees would choose neither. Arraez had 2 singles in 12 PA in the 2025 playoffs with 0 runs scored and 0 RBI. His career playoff OPS is .530.

Arraez had nearly 300 more plate appearances than Wallner and one additional XBH. Arraez averages 59 RBI per 162 games. Wallner averages 76 RBI per 162 games.

Seriously, your argument is based on a half dozen Post Season games? How did Wallner do in ‘23 post season? Oh, he was 0-8 with 5 strikeouts - shocking!

The fact that Wallner sucks AND can’t stay healthy speaks volumes.

My point is, let Arraez hit in the middle of the line-up v. the Top 2 spots when fewer guys are on base. He would have 80 RBI w/o issue if batting 5th…….also, these would be “real & not projected IF he played”.

Matt Wallner was out at least twice this past season, maybe 3 times. Arraez played in 154 games - that’s a knock on Arraez?

In ‘24 Wallner was in the minors for 8-10 weeks because he was so bad after his first 19 games they had to send him down. Arraez had 200 hits ……..obviously, Matt’s a better guy to have in the line-up.

[joefish]

6 hours ago, CRF said:

I don't think the word "creative" is in this FO's vocabulary. 

Not creative

 

Let's get good

 That's better than creative

 Imo

[DJL44]

3 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

Seriously, your argument is based on a half dozen Post Season games? How did Wallner do in ‘23 post season? Oh, he was 0-8 with 5 strikeouts - shocking!

The fact that Wallner sucks AND can’t stay healthy speaks volumes.

My point is, let Arraez hit in the middle of the line-up v. the Top 2 spots when fewer guys are on base. He would have 80 RBI w/o issue if batting 5th…….also, these would be “real & not projected IF he played”.

Matt Wallner was out at least twice this past season, maybe 3 times. Arraez played in 154 games - that’s a knock on Arraez?

In ‘24 Wallner was in the minors for 8-10 weeks because he was so bad after his first 19 games they had to send him down. Arraez had 200 hits ……..obviously, Matt’s a better guy to have in the line-up.

Arraez has about 3500 career plate appearances of not creating RBI despite the highest batting average of any active player. He only had 69 RBI in his best season when he hit .354 with 203 hits. You really think he'd drive in 80 runs if he's added to the Twins lineup? He'd hit .290 with 50-60 runs scored and 45-55 RBI. He would do that while giving you below average defense at first base and no speed. If that's what you want, then I would recommend you convert Larnach to 1B and save some money.

I am going to guess Arraez gets a contract of 2-3 years at $8M per season. The Twins shouldn't try to win that bidding war. The Twins need to add athletes, they have enough mediocre DH.

[Nshore]

Here's an option that probably won't work, the GM won't do, and everybody's going to hate:  Austin Martin to 1B.  He's played infield, so he sort of knows how to field a ground ball.  He's athletic so he has decent range.  It puts his bat and speed in the line up everyday which IMO is a good thing.  And it loosens up the "logjam" of new Twins outfield "superstars".

[Major League Ready]

1 hour ago, DocBauer said:

Creative? I've be3n in favor of Lewis shifting to 1B EVENTUALLY, not because he can't play a solid 3B, but because it's seemingly the best way to construct an INF of Lewis, Keaschall, Culpepper, and Lee. But K-Pepper isn’t quite ready yet...speculating...so that's an EVENTUAL INF assuming Lee keeps improving with the bat. But maybe Lee moves to 1B instead? Maybe Keaschall's arm just never gets quite right so he moves to 1B. Regardless, Culpepper isn't up and ready yet.

Amick and Mendez might be interesting options, but both would appear to be a good year or so away.

More creativity? Roden has experience at 1B. Fedko has some experience at 1B as well. They could create a quasi-platoon with each available to play some OF and DH as well. Clemens, as a utility player, fits in at least occasionally at 1B as well.

It's not what I want, but it offers up some creativity, some roster flexibility, and some future production, even if there is a growth/adjustment period with some struggling. 

The Roden/Fedko/Clemmens idea is indeed creative.  I am not sure they could take 3 roster spots for 1B/OF but that's another discussion.  At least these 3 guys are athletes, and they all have some experience at 1B.  Heck, add Martin to the list as well.  Maybe we end up with a couple good athletes that can play OF and 1B.

I dislike moving Lewis to 1B given he is now playing above average defense at 3B.  It would diminish his value, and it just crates another hole.  You could eventually slide Lee to 3B when Culpepper comes up but what have you really accomplished.  Now, you have 2 well below average hitters playing corner INF spots.  That's not a recipe for getting to the post season.

The best-case scenario to me would be a trade for a ML ready or near ready 1B.

[Rigby]

Murakami

[Sjoski]

2 hours ago, SteveLV said:

It would be so Twins to sign the Ghost of Paul Goldschmidt late in FA.  He is done. 

This statement was just begging for an illustration. 

[ashbury]

We're getting creative at 1B, and no mention of Aaron Sabato?

Uh, yeah, I guess not.

[Blyleven2011]

2 hours ago, Sjoski said:

I agree, but everything I've read and heard regarding Lewis....I doubt he's in favor of playing 1st.  

The last time the Twins got "creative " they moved Sano from 3rd to RF.

We all know how well that worked.

You sure that was creative  , I'd call it something else ...

And your right we all know how that worked out ...

[Doc Lenz]

5 hours ago, Eris said:

“Even in a down year, Wallner remained one of Minnesota’s more productive hitters”

There was previous discussion on TD about Wallner. The main takeaway was despite having great numbers, he has a  negative WPA. From fangraphs, for 2025 his WPA = -0.87. The values were ~+0.5 in 2023 and 2024. 

He’s really good at striking out.

[Doc Lenz]

Signing Arraez is going backwards.

[DJL44]

1 hour ago, Rigby said:

Murakami

He would be a great addition. I think the Twins will get outbid but they could end up with the current 1B from the team that signs him. If the Red Sox add Murakami they will trade Casas.