Is This the Offseason Rhys Hoskins Finally Signs With Minnesota Twins?

[Cory Engelhardt]

I have 2 questions on him specifically that I didn't see in the article; 

1) Is he a solid defensive option at 1b? I would prefer that compared to a dh only.

2) Is he a pull type hitter that would benefit from playing at Target field?

I do like that he is right handed. I also believe he is more pull heavy which doesn't hurt at Target Field. I guess I'd prefer someone who can be average or better at 1B, but I would not make him the priority for 1b/dh.

[TopGunn#22]

Signing Hoskins would be a major letdown because he doesn't move the needle at all.  Yes, he would be a better option than Clemens, Julien, Miranda, Ty France and a 40 year old Carlos Santana, but being a better option than this listed dross is NOT a compliment.

While more expensive, the best option for the Twins is Josh Naylor.  The trouble with Naylor is that he's an awfully GOOD hitter.  Other teams are sure to be interested.  A trade for Yandy Diaz would be infinitely better than Hoskins.  Diaz turns 35 next August but is a far better hitter than Hoskins.  And the Rays just might be willing to trade him because 27 year old Jonathan Arranda is now their 1B and Diaz makes $12 million per year.  I would pay Diaz $12 million.  NOT Hoskins.    

Even getting 25 year old Tristan Casas as a throw in as part of a trade with the Red Sox is a far better option than a 33 year old, declining slugger like Hoskins.  Casas is expected to be ready for opening day next season, but the Red Sox may not want to wait for him.  Pete Alonso is on the FA market, his wife is from Boston, and can you imagine Alonso hitting in Fenway?  

Casas at least gives the Twins a guy with a FUTURE.  As good as Diaz is, I can't see him playing more than a couple years with him turning 35 next August.  Diaz and Hoskins are just part of the never ending band-aids this FO has rolled through 1B.  

Hoskins is certainly an option.  But he's one of the worst options out there.  

[DJL44]

12 hours ago, SF Twins Fan said:

It all depends on the full picture of the offseason.  If this is the main move the front office makes then they might as well do nothing and just tank.  But if this signing is part of multiple similar moves then that would be fine.  They need two bullpen pitchers, a 1st basemen, and a backup catcher.

And a shortstop.

[DJL44]

1 hour ago, TwinsDr2021 said:

If you look who has been playing AA and AAA the last three years its Aaron Sabato and collection of (Chris Williams, Dennis Ortega, Alex Isola, Seth Gray, Jake Rucker, Andrew Cossetti, Nate Baez, Mike Ford, Severino, Kyle Garlick, Curtis Terry, and Roy Morales) (guys that have played more than 20 games at 1B in a year.)

Hard to believe they are trying, For as long as they have been here the best 1B prospect has been Sabato, and he has never really looked like a major league player and was drafted in the first round. IMO if they were trying to develop they would have been trying Larnach or Wallner three years ago when everybody else realized having both of them starting in the outfield together might not be the best idea. It looks like they think they can sign any Ty, Carlos, Donovan, or Joey off the street to fill the role, and any of failed infield prospect (defensively failed). 

And it wouldn't be a bad way to deal with the position if they actually could develop guys that can actually hit in other positions. 

Kirilloff was their internal development option. He had a career ending injury.

[Otaknam]

Unless he has no other options, I doubt that Hoskins is interested in one of the potentially worst teams in 2026. And I doubt the penurious Twins would pay him $8-10 million for two years.

[Mahoning]

Wouldn't they get better value by signing, say, Ty France for one million? Similar production (which is to say, not much) for a fraction of the cost.

[old nurse]

7 minutes ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

I have 2 questions on him specifically that I didn't see in the article; 

1) Is he a solid defensive option at 1b? I would prefer that compared to a dh only.

2) Is he a pull type hitter that would benefit from playing at Target field?

I do like that he is right handed. I also believe he is more pull heavy which doesn't hurt at Target Field. I guess I'd prefer someone who can be average or better at 1B, but I would not make him the priority for 1b/dh.

Metrics would say below average defense. He has been below average hitter now for a starting1B/DH. He was getting $16 million/yr. Milwaukee has not declined his mutual option. I don’t think Hoskins would decline the option. He hasn’t been as good as he was since his ACL injury 

[DJL44]

Quote

No option is more appealing than impending free agent Rhys Hoskins.

I disagree with this. Here are all the options and their estimated contracts from Spotrac and news sources.

Alonso 6 years $176M

Murakami 8 years - $200M (could be longer and more money but $25M AAV looks right)

Arraez 5 years $70M (no thanks)

Okamoto 4 years - $55M

Naylor 3 years $45M (this is low, add a 4th season)

Diaz 2 years $34M (actual contract is 2 years - $22-24M so $10M excess value)

O'Hearn 2 years $22M

Hoskins 2 years $14M

Mountcastle ($10M arbitration estimate)

Bell 1 year $11M (more than double what I expected)

Goldschmidt 1 year $7M

Santana 1 year $6M

Andujar 1 year $6M

Moncada 1 year $2M

Flores 1 year $2M

France 1 year $1.6M

 

The Twins should be interested in any of the guys in bold. At those prices, I'd rank them Andujar, Goldschmidt, Hoskins, Moncada.

[old nurse]

13 minutes ago, Otaknam said:

Unless he has no other options, I doubt that Hoskins is interested in one of the potentially worst teams in 2026. And I doubt the penurious Twins would pay him $8-10 million for two years.

Why would anyone pay 8-10 million for a player who has been near replacement level since an injury?  The Hoskins that played in Philadelphia appears to be gone 

[Cory Engelhardt]

10 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

I disagree with this. Here are all the options and their estimated contracts from Spotrac and news sources.

Alonso 6 years $176M

Murakami 8 years - $200M (could be longer and more money but $25M AAV looks right)

Arraez 5 years $70M (no thanks)

Okamoto 4 years - $55M

Naylor 3 years $45M (this is low, add a 4th season)

Diaz 2 years $34M (actual contract is 2 years - $22-24M so $10M excess value)

O'Hearn 2 years $22M

Hoskins 2 years $14M

Mountcastle ($10M arbitration estimate)

Bell 1 year $11M (more than double what I expected)

Goldschmidt 1 year $7M

Santana 1 year $6M

Andujar 1 year $6M

Moncada 1 year $2M

Flores 1 year $2M

France 1 year $1.6M

 

The Twins should be interested in any of the guys in bold. At those prices, I'd rank them Andujar, Goldschmidt, Hoskins, Moncada.

I would bold Naylor, Diaz and O'Hearn also.

[old nurse]

15 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

I disagree with this. Here are all the options and their estimated contracts from Spotrac and news sources.

Alonso 6 years $176M

Murakami 8 years - $200M (could be longer and more money but $25M AAV looks right)

Arraez 5 years $70M (no thanks)

Okamoto 4 years - $55M

Naylor 3 years $45M (this is low, add a 4th season)

Diaz 2 years $34M (actual contract is 2 years - $22-24M so $10M excess value)

O'Hearn 2 years $22M

Hoskins 2 years $14M

Mountcastle ($10M arbitration estimate)

Bell 1 year $11M (more than double what I expected)

Goldschmidt 1 year $7M

Santana 1 year $6M

Andujar 1 year $6M

Moncada 1 year $2M

Flores 1 year $2M

France 1 year $1.6M

 

The Twins should be interested in any of the guys in bold. At those prices, I'd rank them Andujar, Goldschmidt, Hoskins, Moncada.

History of accuracy of their estimates? Bell hasn’t been anything but a fill in replacement player since he was traded from Washington   The decline on many of these players ALMOST makes the option of Clemens palatable.   

[jmlease1]

35 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

I disagree with this. Here are all the options and their estimated contracts from Spotrac and news sources.

Alonso 6 years $176M

Murakami 8 years - $200M (could be longer and more money but $25M AAV looks right)

Arraez 5 years $70M (no thanks)

Okamoto 4 years - $55M

Naylor 3 years $45M (this is low, add a 4th season)

Diaz 2 years $34M (actual contract is 2 years - $22-24M so $10M excess value)

O'Hearn 2 years $22M

Hoskins 2 years $14M

Mountcastle ($10M arbitration estimate)

Bell 1 year $11M (more than double what I expected)

Goldschmidt 1 year $7M

Santana 1 year $6M

Andujar 1 year $6M

Moncada 1 year $2M

Flores 1 year $2M

France 1 year $1.6M

 

The Twins should be interested in any of the guys in bold. At those prices, I'd rank them Andujar, Goldschmidt, Hoskins, Moncada.

They're way off on Naylor, who is not only going to get a 4th year, but also an AAV closer to $20M than $15M. They're also too high on Arraez, who is going to be lucky to find a 3 year deal, and highly doubtful at $14M AAV after his last 2 seasons.

Hoskins is interesting at this price point, but it's a risky bet. He's unlikely to hit like he did in the Philly days again, but an OPS+ in the 110-120 range isn't out of the realm of possibility. But there's also a real concern that he's constantly getting dinged up, missing real time, and barely a league average hitter, while not adding much defensively. (He's not a butcher at 1B, but he's unimpressive) It's asking a fair bit for someone to get back to where they were at 33 after 3 seasons marked by 1) a severe injury that cost him the entire season, 2) a fairly healthy but unimpressive return season that can't be blamed on just rust (Hoskins started out fast, missed some time, struggled, and then finished ok), and 3) a season where injuries wiped out most of the second half.

Hoskins is the kind of bet the Twins don't have the payroll to buy themselves out of if they're wrong, which is the real problem. 2 years $14M would be a reasonable contract for a guy that fits a lot of their needs...if healthy and performing. And the Twins do have the ability to stash him at DH some to try and keep him healthy, which he barely did in MKE with Yelich the primary DH.

To me, a lot of it depends on where the payroll lands. If it's in the $125M range, then it might be worth the gamble and you're not sacrificing filling other holes to roll the dice on a big bet at 1B. If it's in the $90-100M range, then the answer is no chance. But it's still a big bet on a guy who hasn't been good since 2022.

Which veteran bet would you rather make? Hoskins bounces back, Andujar moves to 1B and comfortably rakes, Goldschmidt is willing to leave the Yankees AND has a Santana-esque resurrection, or something else? That feels like the realm we're stuck in with our market and ownership.

[DJL44]

31 minutes ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

I would bold Naylor, Diaz and O'Hearn also.

Naylor is going to get paid this offseason, possibly 5 years. In fact, I'd swap his estimate (3 years $45M) with Arraez (5 years $70M). I don't think he's the guy to lock up for 5 seasons. He's having a great year with Seattle but was basically average (1.5-2 WAR) for the previous 3 seasons playing for Cleveland and Arizona. The Twins can't afford to win that bidding war.

I like Diaz but I don't like the idea of giving up talent to acquire him. The other free agents just cost money.

O'Hearn is another lefty bat on a team with a bunch of lefty DH options.

if he is non-tendered, I think Mountcastle might sign for the same 2 years $14M they predict for Hoskins. I'd rather have Mountcastle than Hoskins just due to age.

Moncada is a really interesting bounce-back candidate. He has the glove to play 1B and has had two consecutive seasons of 116 OPS+. That seems to be easily worth $2M.

35 minutes ago, old nurse said:

History of accuracy of their estimates?

They're as accurate as everyone else's inaccurate estimates.

[DJL44]

5 minutes ago, jmlease1 said:

Which veteran bet would you rather make? Hoskins bounces back, Andujar moves to 1B and comfortably rakes, Goldschmidt is willing to leave the Yankees AND has a Santana-esque resurrection, or something else? That feels like the realm we're stuck in with our market and ownership.

I would bet on Andujar, especially with Clemens around as a caddy. I would be comfortable giving Andujar a 2-year $10-12M contract. He's only 30. He's also only made $10M in career earnings so a second guaranteed season might be all it takes. He doesn't walk enough or have huge power, but he hits .280 and can play the position.

I don't think Goldschmidt is going to get a choice to stay with the Yankees, but he might have a better fallback option than the Twins. He doesn't even need much of a resurrection - he was a 1.2 WAR player in 2025 because he can still field.

[jmlease1]

2 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

I would bet on Andujar, especially with Clemens around as a caddy. I would be comfortable giving Andujar a 2-year $10-12M contract. He's only 30. He's also only made $10M in career earnings so a second guaranteed season might be all it takes. He doesn't walk enough or have huge power, but he hits .280 and can play the position.

I don't think Goldschmidt is going to get a choice to stay with the Yankees, but he might have a better fallback option than the Twins. He doesn't even need much of a resurrection - he was a 1.2 WAR player in 2025 because he can still field.

Andujar is one of the more interesting bets to me as well. Getting him to 1B might be a good fit and even if he hit more like the guy with the A's this season than the Reds, he'd do fine in our lineup, and even when he's been struggling at the plate overall he can mash LHP, which we need. But he's also got a long history of injury and ineffectiveness to overcome.

Goldy didn't field particularly well for NY last season, and frankly hasn't been up to his reputation defensively for several years now. But he's still much more likely to go somewhere that has a clear path to the playoffs than head to MN. (He looks like a guy nearing the end and hanging on to me and not a great fit for the Twins, especially because those guys often get overpaid based on rep rather than performance)

[LA Vikes Fan]

Why would we sign Hoskins? He is over 30, below average with the bad, albeit with some power, and below average in the field. I get he’s better than Kody Clements, but there’s nothing about his profile that suggests he’s gonna do anything more and get us another win or two. Moving a team from 72-75 wins to 75-77 wins is effectively irrelevant. I just see zero reason to do this.

I think we either have to move someone like Wallner to first base, sign a real first base as a free agent, or promote someone from the minors. Signing a mediocre at best veteran does absolutely nothing good for this team unless it’s a gold glove no hit mediocre veteran and I don’t want Carlos Santana back. Looking are real options, I’d love to see them try to sign Naylor, but I don’t think they’ll pay the freight and even if they offered it, why on earth would he come to the Twins? He’ll get paid wherever he goes, he’ll want to go to a contender. That ain’t likely to be the Twins in 2026. We could promote that hot shot first baseman in the minors we have… Oh, that’s right, we don’t have that guy unless it’s Fedko. So a free agent signing of a real quality player seemed very unlikely, and we got nobody coming up from the minors.

So what’s the answer? This may be one of those situations where the answer is the least bad alternative. One alternative - We do have at least one good middle in fielder in the minors in Culpepper, so play him and move either Keaschall or Lee to first base. A second alternative would be to move Wallner out of right field, since we certainly have potentially hugh upside candidates in the minors to replace him there and see if he can play first base. Certainly not ideal, but probably as good an alternative as we have.

After all that, I guess I’m in the move Matt Wallner at first base camp. It isn’t going to be pretty, and it may not work at all, but what is the other realistic alternative? Signing a quality 1B FA it’s just very unlikely for the simple reason that they won’t come here, and there is no minor league alternative. 2026 is a Development year anyway so let’s see if Wallner can play that position and, by the way, do it while hitting over .220.

[Cory Engelhardt]

40 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Naylor is going to get paid this offseason, possibly 5 years. In fact, I'd swap his estimate (3 years $45M) with Arraez (5 years $70M). I don't think he's the guy to lock up for 5 seasons. He's having a great year with Seattle but was basically average (1.5-2 WAR) for the previous 3 seasons playing for Cleveland and Arizona. The Twins can't afford to win that bidding war.

I like Diaz but I don't like the idea of giving up talent to acquire him. The other free agents just cost money.

O'Hearn is another lefty bat on a team with a bunch of lefty DH options.

if he is non-tendered, I think Mountcastle might sign for the same 2 years $14M they predict for Hoskins. I'd rather have Mountcastle than Hoskins just due to age.

Moncada is a really interesting bounce-back candidate. He has the glove to play 1B and has had two consecutive seasons of 116 OPS+. That seems to be easily worth $2M.

They're as accurate as everyone else's inaccurate estimates.

Agreed with everything you said here. I'll only add that I do like O'Hearn's defense at 1B more than some, and I'd at least listen to what Tampa would want for Diaz, but everything makes sense here.

[Mike Sixel]

6 minutes ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

Agreed with everything you said here. I'll only add that I do like O'Hearn's defense at 1B more than some, and I'd at least listen to what Tampa would want for Diaz, but everything makes sense here.

Why world you trade for Diaz? He's a free agent when? 

[Cory Engelhardt]

4 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Why world you trade for Diaz? He's a free agent when? 

After 2026, but he does have a club option for 2027. That said, my opinion is the 2027 season won't happen or at least will be shortened, so it's hard to care a LOT right now about anything post 2026 because I don't know when baseball will have a full season after next year.

 

[jmlease1]

2 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Why world you trade for Diaz? He's a free agent when? 

2027, if TB picks up his option. I guess you trade for him if you want him for 1 year at $12M or if you think TB will pick up his option?

I have no read on whether or not TB will pick up his option or what he really gets on the open market as a 34 year old primary DH who can play (poorly) at 1B?

I think he's worth the $12M, but TB has a history of dumping contracts like this, so maybe he\'s available, maybe he isn't.

His RH bat is a great fit for the Twins, but seems out of their price range and still kind of leave a hole at 1B, since he only played 40 games there this season and has never been very good defensively.

[Mike Sixel]

2 minutes ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

After 2026, but he does have a club option for 2027. That said, my opinion is the 2027 season won't happen or at least will be shortened, so it's hard to care a LOT right now about anything post 2026 because I don't know when baseball will have a full season after next year.

 

Why would a team this far from being good give up an asset for one year of Diaz? That would be a terrible decision. 

[Cory Engelhardt]

10 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Why would a team this far from being good give up an asset for one year of Diaz? That would be a terrible decision. 

Depends on the asset no? 

And don't you want to try?

Diaz from all accounts is a really good teammate and a middle of the order bat. He would truly add something that this lineup is missing, and his salary next year is only 12 million. I don't know what Tampa would want, and it's quite possible someone else would offer a better trade package. The Twins do have a deep farm system, and they have made a lot of trades with Tampa before. I'd at least listen, that's all. 

[Mike Sixel]

Just now, Cory Engelhardt said:

Depends on the asset no? 

And don't you want to try?

Diaz from all accounts is a really good teammate and a middle of the order bat. He would truly add something that this lineup is missing, and his salary next year is only 12 million. I don't know what Tampa would want, and it's quite possible someone else would offer a better trade package. The Twins do have a deep farm system, and they have made a lot of trades with Tampa before. I'd at least listen, that's all. 

No chance I deal a real prospect for one year of anyone given the rest of the roster, no chance. I'd fire any GM who did that. 

[TopGunn#22]

Diaz is worth giving up some kind of talent in a trade for the following reasons:

1.  Our hole at 1B/DH is so darn big.  

2.  The cost in talent in a trade would not be prohibitive.  Diaz currently carries a 4.7 value in BBTV.  That's like trading Andrew Morris (4.1) or Ricardo Olivar (4.9) or even Cody Clemens (4.5).  The Twins can live with that, especially when you're talking about a hitter who posted a .300 average, 29 Doubles, 25 HR, 79 Runs, 83 RBI season with an OPS of .838 and an OPS+ of 136. 

Now, Diaz will be 35 years old in August of next year, and with the ascent of Jonathon Arranda, Diaz only had 36 starts at 1B last year, the rest were at DH.  He's a decent/capable 1B, but nothing special.  But his bat alone, whether for 1B, DH or both would be such an upgrade it would be worth the salary cost to the Twins.  

If I was staring at a 1B/DH problem like the Twins are, my plan would be to make a low level deal with the Rays for Diaz.  I would then look to make a deal with the Red Sox and get 25 year old Tristan Casas as a throw in as part of the package coming back, (whether I'm trading Joe Ryan or Bailey Ober to them). 

Diaz and Casas provide the Twins with a RH and LH hitting option at 1B/DH and an older and younger option as well.  There is no one in the Twins system who can provide an immediate option.  

[DJL44]

25 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

No chance I deal a real prospect for one year of anyone given the rest of the roster, no chance. I'd fire any GM who did that. 

If the Twins had Diaz under contract I would be trying to sell. Another Andrew Morris would be more valuable in the long run.

I do think it is valuable to have someone to fill in at 1B so they can avoid playing Edouard Julien there. It's also useful for a bad team to stash a few veterans for the deadline.

[DJL44]

1B options by age

Munetaka Murakami (26)

Triston Casas (26)

Ryan Mountcastle (29)
Josh Naylor (29)

Luis Arraez (29)

Kazuma Okamoto (30)
Pete Alonso (31) 

Yoan Moncada (31)

Miguel Andujar (31)

Ty France (31)
Ryan O’Hearn (32)

Rhys Hoskins (33) 
Josh Bell (33)

Yandy Diaz (34)
Wilmer Flores (34)
Paul Goldschmidt (38)
Carlos Santana (40)
Justin Turner (41) 

[Cory Engelhardt]

1 hour ago, Mike Sixel said:

No chance I deal a real prospect for one year of anyone given the rest of the roster, no chance. I'd fire any GM who did that. 

Depends on the prospect for me. I mean, we aren't talking any of their top 5, and I'd argue it wouldn't be one of their top 10 even currently. But let's say it's someone like Marco Raya or Kyle DeBarge (just to pull guys in the 11-20 range.) I don't know that Tampa would want either of them for Diaz, but someone like that wouldn't be a holdup for me.

I'm only saying I'd listen. That's all.

[Mike Sixel]

3 minutes ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

Depends on the prospect for me. I mean, we aren't talking any of their top 5, and I'd argue it wouldn't be one of their top 10 even currently. But let's say it's someone like Marco Raya or Kyle DeBarge (just to pull guys in the 11-20 range.) I don't know that Tampa would want either of them for Diaz, but someone like that wouldn't be a holdup for me.

I'm only saying I'd listen. That's all.

We'll not agree on in this at all. I'm ok with that. 

[DocBauer]

3 hours ago, JD-TWINS said:

Sign a LH guy at 1B is the sentiment from you & I agree! ……..Clemens is not the answer with regular playing time. Clemens may be the 13th guy, until youth is ready, because he can play 4 positions. Maybe?

Per you, won’t be able to compete for Naylor. O’Hearn at around $8-$10M will be tough for organization to pull the trigger on, but it’s needed. Probably   other clubs in the mix for him as well.

Wallner - Larnach - Clemens - etc. as a 1B solution are all bad ideas if trying to actually be competitive. Don’t see the OF guys magically becoming competent at 1B ……. Wallner has plenty of issues just focusing on struggles at the plate.

2 position signings needed (C & 1B) with 2 reliever signings needed. Can get these done for $35M - right? Takes them to $130M total (less than 2022 spend) with current roster guys.

LH free agent at 1B with Jeffers being the platoon RH guy at 1B (40 games). Hopefully, LH guy at C from free agency and Jeffers catches 30 games & is DH 70 games, with Parades (?) on the Roster for 50 games. 

Your basic numbers are about right. Speculation and projection has the team moving on from Larnach, and a post arbitration payroll of $86-90M. 

First base simply isn't the big producing position it uses to be. Possibly due to the changes regarding the universal DH a few years ago? The bad news is the Twins dont have a 1B. The good news is an upgrade...even for only next season...might see a prospect or 2 ready for 2027...is it's the one sure fire position where the Twins can solidify the INF somewhat and definitely improve the lineup.

I had hopes of Naylor for $12M. I repeat myself that I think it will be around $15M for 3yrs and someone will outbid us. But let's use the $90M post arbitration number, and let's also say we can grab the LH O'Hearn for your projected $8-10M. We'll go high again and call it $10M. 

They need SOMEONE to be that 30-35% games played #2 catcher for #4M. So now payroll sits around $104M.

They then add 3, competent, experienced pen arms for around $4M each. Not TOP arms, but just solid guys who are capable of filling roles along with what'son hand, and some young arms converting, and a couple pen arms on their way thst might be close to helping later in 2026. Maybe it ends up being closer to $15M for those 3 veteran signings. Again, we go with the high number.

That means a 1B, C, and 3 decent, veteran arms. (We need arms, even if they aren't going to go big). That's a payroll that's just under $120M. It's also a payroll about $22-23M LESS than opening day 2025.

I'm absolutely not saying this is a great team by any means. But you've upgraded 1B, added a veteran backstop, and 3 experienced arms for the pen. Combined with players on hand, SOME hopeful development from those players, and a collection of really talented prospects almost ready, it could be a fun team with a lot of young and young-ish players that might surprise a bit.

But let's break down that almost $120M payroll a bit further. The initial $90M post arbitration number includes roughly, for easy math, 5 minimum salary players projected at a combined $3.8M. So subtract that from the $119M I proposed, and you're really sitting about $115M.

That might be enough for a veteran utility INF bat to replace Fitzgerald, and you are STILL at, or under, $120M total payroll WITHOUT breaking up the rotation.

Naylor is the dream at 1B. O'Hearn is the next best option. Hoskins is someone I just don't trust...I think age and injury have caught up...but he might end up as a surprise that we miss out on. But the Twins margins are so slight, that I'd rather have someone like O'Hearn who seems "safer", while still good.

But going back more towards the original intent of the OP, 1B is the easiest spot for the Twins to solidify the lineup in a positive way.

[bean5302]

Spotrac says 2yrs $14MM, but I'm not sure a team will go 2 years on him right now. The bigger question to me is... why? Hoskins has a ceiling of what, like 1.5 WAR at this point?

Why not just give Larnach a glove for 1yr and $5MM?