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

[SF Twins Fan]

4 hours ago, DJL44 said:

And a shortstop.

I think you can get by with Lee for one more year.  I think the hope is that Culpepper is pushing for playing time on the MLB roster by the 2nd half of next season.

[Mike Sixel]

28 minutes ago, SF Twins Fan said:

I think you can get by with Lee for one more year.  I think the hope is that Culpepper is pushing for playing time on the MLB roster by the 2nd half of next season.

I have no idea why they would invest in an outside SS at this point. They have Lee (placeholder, but some small hope), Culpepper, and Houston. They may be picking a SS in 8 months or so very early also. I mean, it would be malpractice to give up on all three of those guys at this point and block them with a veteran signed for more than 1 year. And if you are signing a guy for 1 year, I guess, why? To what end? They have no bull pen and no 1b and no second catcher. Like, you need to fill those spots 100%. 

[USAFChief]

3 hours ago, TopGunn#22 said:

2.   Diaz currently carries a 4.7 value in BBTV.  That's like  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.  

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). 

Do you think Clemens and Diaz are worth the same in trade value? Or maybe BBTV is not reality?

I also doubt Boston considers Casas a "throw in." 

[DJL44]

1 hour ago, SF Twins Fan said:

I think you can get by with Lee for one more year.  I think the hope is that Culpepper is pushing for playing time on the MLB roster by the 2nd half of next season.

Who is the backup SS? Every team needs a utility player who can handle SS. That isn't Royce or Keaschall.

[DJL44]

2 hours ago, DocBauer said:

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.

Good post. I don't think they're going to spend $4M each on relievers and I think there is a starting pitcher trade that will happen to shake up this roster. They aren't going to leave Matthews and Abel in AAA next year. What they need after that trade will determine how much they spend on free agents.

[Paul Walerius]

I would rather bring up one of the young "kids", like fedko, from minors or use Wallner/Clemens. I would be hesitant about Walner as I don't know if he has played there before.  

[JD-TWINS]

6 hours 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 looked at Bo Bichette’s stats & in 2025 he has  628 PA’s over 139 games, with 63 XBH (18 HR’s) and hit .311 with a .357 OBP (.337 OBP career) along with 94 RBI………..in ‘24 he had 336 PA’s over 81 games, with 21 XBH (4 HR’s) and hit .225 with a OBP of .277. He plays a premium defensive spot at SS for the Jays - he’s assumed to be signed for $25M/yr for 7 years and he’s an oft injured 27 year old.

Goldschmidt has retired from MLB.

Luis Arraez in 2025 has 675 PA’s over 154 games, with 42 XBH (8 HR) and hit .292 with a .327 OBP (.363 OBP career) along with 61 RBI…………in ‘24 he had 672 PA’s over 150 games, with 39 XBH (4 HR’s) and hit .314 with a OBP of .346. He has averaged 149 games per year over last 4 seasons. If he hits 5th every day for MN he collects 180-195 hits and 80 plus RBI with 7 HR’s. First base is handled for 3 years at $11M/yr. His defense is adequate, not great and he’s 28………btw, he hit .265 v. LH pitching in ‘25 & .311 v. RH pitching …….. no big platoon need!

For 48% of Bo Bichette’s salary, offensively he’s 90% of the output offensively. That’s if Bichette has a good year and stays healthy. Bichette wants 7 years and is 27 ……… Arraez would sign for 3-4 years and is 28.

I don’t understand the hate for Luis here at TD? He’s not perfect - sure. He’s a hell of a lot of a better risk/signing than Rhys Hoskins!!!

[DJL44]

2 hours ago, JD-TWINS said:

I looked at Bo Bichette’s stats & in 2025 he has  628 PA’s over 139 games, with 63 XBH (18 HR’s) and hit .311 with a .357 OBP (.337 OBP career) along with 94 RBI………..in ‘24 he had 336 PA’s over 81 games, with 21 XBH (4 HR’s) and hit .225 with a OBP of .277. He plays a premium defensive spot at SS for the Jays - he’s assumed to be signed for $25M/yr for 7 years and he’s an oft injured 27 year old.

Goldschmidt has retired from MLB.

Luis Arraez in 2025 has 675 PA’s over 154 games, with 42 XBH (8 HR) and hit .292 with a .327 OBP (.363 OBP career) along with 61 RBI…………in ‘24 he had 672 PA’s over 150 games, with 39 XBH (4 HR’s) and hit .314 with a OBP of .346. He has averaged 149 games per year over last 4 seasons. If he hits 5th every day for MN he collects 180-195 hits and 80 plus RBI with 7 HR’s. First base is handled for 3 years at $11M/yr. His defense is adequate, not great and he’s 28………btw, he hit .265 v. LH pitching in ‘25 & .311 v. RH pitching …….. no big platoon need!

For 48% of Bo Bichette’s salary, offensively he’s 90% of the output offensively. That’s if Bichette has a good year and stays healthy. Bichette wants 7 years and is 27 ……… Arraez would sign for 3-4 years and is 28.

I don’t understand the hate for Luis here at TD? He’s not perfect - sure. He’s a hell of a lot of a better risk/signing than Rhys Hoskins!!!

You conveniently left off their SLG. Bichette - .483, Arraez .392. A bad defensive SS is worth a lot more than a bad defensive 1B. If Bichette moves to 3B he'll be fine. 

I don't understand why you think Arraez will have 80 RBI playing for the Twins. He's never done that. His all-time high for RBI is 69 and he hit .354 that season. He's a 60 RBI guy for a good team and a 40-50 RBI guy for this Twins lineup.

[tony&rodney]

Why do we see low dollars for Josh Naylor? If he will sign for 3/$60M, that is a deal. The guy knows baseball. He has become an average first baseman too.

 

[JADBP]

The Twins will definitely NOT sign Hoskins.  Not because of injuries.  Not because of the price. No. The reason why Hoskins won’t sign here is because he’s not stupid. He looks at the Twins and sees a big sign above door #34 that reads “Home of a Major S#%& Show.”  Who the heck would sign with the Twins other than AAAA losers hoping to catch a break.  

[thelanges5]

I wish they would have given Fedko a look at the end of 2025. 
 

Sign Polo for 2yrs/$14m and he can play 1B and DH. 

[DJL44]

15 hours ago, JD-TWINS said:

Goldschmidt has retired from MLB.

This would be news to Goldschmidt, who told reporters he intends to keep playing.

[DJL44]

9 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

Why do we see low dollars for Josh Naylor? If he will sign for 3/$60M, that is a deal. The guy knows baseball. He has become an average first baseman too.

Most estimates are calculated based on past performance and past paychecks. They don't take into account the most recent information available, which is why they're low on Naylor and high on Arraez and Bell.

[JD-TWINS]

14 hours ago, DJL44 said:

You conveniently left off their SLG. Bichette - .483, Arraez .392. A bad defensive SS is worth a lot more than a bad defensive 1B. If Bichette moves to 3B he'll be fine. 

I don't understand why you think Arraez will have 80 RBI playing for the Twins. He's never done that. His all-time high for RBI is 69 and he hit .354 that season. He's a 60 RBI guy for a good team and a 40-50 RBI guy for this Twins lineup.

Because he’s lead-off or batted 2nd for most of his career - if Bichette didn’t hit in the 4 spot for Toronto this year he wouldn’t have had 94 RBI.

My arguement isn’t that Arraez “is Bo Bichette”, my arguement is that a “contact guy” can thrive when coming to the plate with base runners……. i.e. Bichette in ‘25!

Bichette: .294/.337/.469 for his 7 year career

Arraez: .317/.363/.413 for his 7 year career

If Arraez hits 5th every day for the Twins for 145-150 games, his ability to reach 80 RBI is almost guaranteed…….if he hits 5th in Toronto he might have a 100 RBI………Matt Wallner is proof that HR’s don’t directly lead to RBI totals being high.

My other point is “productivity per $$ spent” …….. Arraez at $11-$12M is a great value for a guy that’s played 144 - 147 - 150 - 154 games over past 4 seasons……….again, Bichette is expecting $25M for 3-4 more years & he’s only a year younger.

[JD-TWINS]

14 hours ago, DJL44 said:

You conveniently left off their SLG. Bichette - .483, Arraez .392. A bad defensive SS is worth a lot more than a bad defensive 1B. If Bichette moves to 3B he'll be fine. 

I don't understand why you think Arraez will have 80 RBI playing for the Twins. He's never done that. His all-time high for RBI is 69 and he hit .354 that season. He's a 60 RBI guy for a good team and a 40-50 RBI guy for this Twins lineup.

Would you like to compare 2024 stats between Bo & Luis?

In 2025 for Twins:

Lewis had 52 RBI and hit .237 with 89 hits & 376 AB’s

Clemens had 52 RBI and hit .216 with 74 hits & 342 AB’s

Arraez had 181 hits ……… v. their 163 hits.

RBI are created by a player batting in runs by getting HITS and putting the ball in play if making an out. Arraez struck out 21 times in ‘25 & lead the N.L. in hits.

 

[DJL44]

1 hour ago, JD-TWINS said:

Matt Wallner is proof that HR’s don’t directly lead to RBI totals being high.

Interesting that you bring up Wallner. Matt Wallner has a significantly higher RBI/AB ratio than Arraez. He’s a LOT better at driving in runs. Arraez gets on base but his singles don’t drive in runners unless they are already on third base.

[dxpavelka]

Nothing screams Trade Deadline Deal quite like signing a guy who "performed at a league-average rate over two seasons in Milwaukee"

[Linus]

There is no point in signing Hoskinsif they are going to try, they need a much bigger upgrade at 1st. If they aren’t going to try you don’t need him. 

[TwinsDr2021]

On 10/24/2025 at 9:02 AM, DJL44 said:

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

AK played 35 games at first in AA in 2019 and 14 in AAA in 2022, and 9 more at AAA in 2023. I am pretty sure that means he wasn't developed to play 1B, and him playing 1B was due to other reasons. I mean he played 116 games in the outfield and 134 at 1B in the majors. 

[Fred]

With the Pohlads "squeezing every nickel until the buffalo s...s", I don't envy Falvey. I used to get frustrated with Terry Ryan signing washed up pitchers. Now I know what that was all about. I'm back to my " let's not give the Pohlads any nickels" stance.

[David HK]

Quit stalling, Twins.  I've loved the guy, but the Hoskins window closed before he signed with the Brewers.  Methinks he'd be close to Ty France productivity at this stage.  Get Royce a 1B mitt now, slide Brooks over to 3rd, and let Fitz man SS until we can hustle Culpepper up here.

Hurry up.