Three Free Agent Fits for Minnesota Twins at First Base

[Cody Schoenmann]

Entering the offseason, the Minnesota Twins don't have a viable full-time first base option on their 40-man roster or in the high minors. Yes, Kody Clemens spent significant time at the position after Ty France was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays at the trade deadline last season. Yet, given his inability to hit at the major league level the past four seasons, there is reason to believe the 29-year-old could be designated for assignment early next season.

Fellow 40-man roster occupants José Miranda, Edouard Julien, and Mickey Gasper have patrolled the position for Minnesota in recent seasons. Yet, given their longstanding offensive and defensive ineptitude, there is reason to believe the aforementioned trio could soon be non-tendered, leaving the organization later this month. Kyler Fedko spent significant time at first base in Triple-A last season and could be rewarded a 40-man roster spot later this month to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft. Still, he is not a viable first base option.

Times are dire at first base for your beloved Twins. Given the front office likely operating under significant spending restrictions this winter, there is reason to believe team decision-makers won't be able to afford any of the more expensive free agent first basemen like Josh Naylor, Ryan O'Hearn, or even secondary market options like Paul Goldschmidt or Rhys Hoskins. That being the case, Minnesota's front office will yet again be sifting through the bargain bin, attempting to find a cheap, productive veteran first baseman in a similar vein as Carlos Santana and Ty France of seasons past. Who should they pursue? Let's take a look.

Ty France
Hey! I just mentioned this guy. Also, did you know Twins' first baseman have won the previous two AL Gold Glove Awards at the position? Crazy, right!? Regardless, Minnesota could consider reuniting with the almost World Series-winning veteran, even though the club traded him to the Toronto Blue Jays just over three months ago.

Signed to a non-guaranteed one-year, $1 million contract last February, France outperformed his deal while with the Twins, hitting .251/.320/.357 with six home runs and a 92 wRC+ over 387 plate appearances. Now, the 31-year-old did perform below league-average at the plate. Yet, given his relative competency and previously mentioned superb defense, he still provided value to Minnesota. France is a better first baseman than Clemens at the plate and in the field. Given his familiarity with the organization and the fact that he signed at a similar rate (if not a minor league contract), the Twins could enter a second consecutive season with France penciled in as the primary first baseman.

Miguel Andujar
Despite netting only 13 innings played at first base last season, Andujar made two starts at the position late last season for the playoff-contending Cincinnati Reds, signaling the 30-year-old veteran could be transitioning toward spending more time at first base next season.

Coming off an impressive 2025 campaign wherein he hit .318/.352/.470 with 10 home runs and a 125 wRC+ over 341 plate appearances between the West Sacramento Athletics and Reds last season, acquiring Andujar would be a more expensive transaction than France. Yet, given his offensive prowess from the right side of the plate, team decision-makers would be wise to shell out the $3-4 million necessary to sign the once highly-touted New York Yankees prospect.

The bat-first veteran could also mix in at third base, both corner outfield spots, and designated hitter, making him a more useful player than most potential free agent first base options. Yet, given the club's lack of depth at first base, specifically, there is reason to believe Andujar could set a career-high in innings played at first base with Minnesota.

Obviously, those who follow the team should expect a significant defensive drop-off at the position, given how well Santana and France performed at first base the previous two seasons. Yet, there is reason to believe Andujar could produce at a defensive rate on par with Clemens, while being a more effective hitter. That being the case, Minnesota should consider signing the nine-year veteran, with intentions of making him the strong-side platoon partner at first base alongside Clemens.

Nathaniel Lowe
Lowe technically isn't a free agent. Yet, given that the Boston Red Sox will likely cut ties with Lowe, the veteran first baseman is projected to be a free agent later this month. Now, the reason Boston is set to decline the 30-year-old's $13.5 million option is due to his lackluster performance last season, wherein he hit .228/.307/.381 with 18 home runs and a 91 wRC+ over 609 plate appearances between the Washington Nationals and Boston. Yet, given the state Minnesota's front office finds itself in, Lowe will likely be one of the more attractive, affordable options to patrol the position for the Twins next season.

Lowe would likely ask for a one-year deal in the $3-4 million range, similar to Andujar. Yet, given his strong performance with the Texas Rangers in 2024, acquiring the former World Series-winning first baseman at that rate could prove to be a bargain for Minnesota. Being a left-handed bat, there is risk of partnering Lowe with Clemens becoming a redundant decision. Yet, given that Lowe is a better hitter and defender than Clemens, the Twins could turn him into a platoon-proof option at the position, transitioning Clemens back into the utility role he served before becoming the primary first baseman after last season's trade deadline.

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[dxpavelka]

Why not Pete Alonzo?

[Riverbrian]

If we are going to discuss this years one year deal free agent first baseman. 

Can we just save some time and discuss the 2027 one year deal free agent first baseman and the 2028 one year deal free agent first baseman that will come after. They are attached to the deal so let's not just talk about bringing Ty France back... because we will still have a gaping first base hole in 2027 after we scrape a .670 OPS out of Ty playing every day. 

Let the Pirates Pham, Frazier, Tellez, Taylor and IFK there way through a development stage and lets see how long it takes to find an offensive supporting cast for Skenes, Keller, Jones, Chandler etc. 

Limit your youth options to Hayes, Suwinski, Cruz and whoever is watching Pham, Frazier, Tellez, Taylor and IFK from the bench and watch what happened when the limited amount of young players they thought could hit don't hit. Take notice of how long the rebuild or whatever term is used takes.  

Spoiler Alert: It will take long enough to get the manager fired.  

 

[HrbieFan]

Wallner has to play somewhere, give him a 1B glove. 

[Whitey333]

I doubt the Twins will sign anyone of any significance this off season.  I also kind of like the idea of trying Wallner at 1B.  

[Cory Engelhardt]

I have to think the trade market will be looked at, and there have to be lots of options more inspiring than the ones listed here. I have a few off the top of my head, but trying to pair a 1b platoon WITH Kody Clemens is begging to lose more games. They have to find a more inspiring 1B than either the ones listed here or just going with Clemens. 

[Lou Hennessy]

Should the Twins sign Miguel Sanó??

[TJSweens]

Ty France cannot outhit Cody Clemens. Clemens' OPS was 50 points higher than France's. He also out homered him 19 to 7 at a position that demands power. France hasn't been within 50 points of major league average OPS in 3 years. Even if France is better against lefties, that's 25% of major league pitchers.

 

Don't get me wrong. Clemens is not the answer at first base, but please don't try to sell us France as a reasonable option.

 

[In My La Z boy]

Larnach if we keep him might be the plan? This looks to be the off-season we don't repeat the same mistakes, and make a different mistake by signing no one. We've gone BIG, we've picked from the bin, I think this is the year we go with the kids. Maybe we pick up a Taylor Rogers and/or a Caleb Theilbar if anything?

[tony&rodney]

If the players noted in the article are representative of a Twins shopping list it is going to be a very sad winter dooming the 2026 season. We should expect more than slightly below average for a low price.

[Cory Engelhardt]

9 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

If the players noted in the article are representative of a Twins shopping list it is going to be a very sad winter dooming the 2026 season. We should expect more than slightly below average for a low price.

1,000%

[rdehring]

Remain hopeful that the Twins will pick up a young first base prospect who will be ready come spring.  Doubt they will get that for Larnach, who I hope is traded for a reliever.  But a catcher or first baseman who is both very good and almost ready must be included in a Ryan trade.  

[JD-TWINS]

44 minutes ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

I have to think the trade market will be looked at, and there have to be lots of options more inspiring than the ones listed here. I have a few off the top of my head, but trying to pair a 1b platoon WITH Kody Clemens is begging to lose more games. They have to find a more inspiring 1B than either the ones listed here or just going with Clemens. 

Exactly, enough discussion of how the Team might pair someone with Kody at 1B. He has an outside chance of making the Club as a Utility guy, playing some corner OF, 2B, & 1B………he shouldn’t have more than a 25% chance to make the Team, IMO.

Andujar - hits left handed pitching (25% of MLB arms), big time. Played 13 innings at 1B. So, if looking for a guy that can help the Team the “least potential amount” as a FA signing, he’s the guy!

Agree that the options listed have been underwhelming. I have to think that some internal option, via position change to 1B, or taking a flier on an existing guy like Fedko, are better options than the dregs of Free Agency.

We’ve heard Larnach & Wallner here ad nauseam…….extremely unlikely or would have been done by now. Gonzalez or Jeffers shifted there are other internal options with reasonable offensive upside…Fingers crossed!

[Blyleven2011]

The front office will continue to do it their way , we've had positions for years that should have been addressed and haven't , the positions haven't been addressed in our development system to fill the positions ...

The twins haven't found any cost controlled replacements yet in trades for the positions  ...

I'm expecting the trend to continue with this organization , the press conference of shelton proves it and was a joke that anything is going to change  ...

[DJL44]

9 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

Exactly, enough discussion of how the Team might pair someone with Kody at 1B. He has an outside chance of making the Club as a Utility guy, playing some corner OF, 2B, & 1B………he shouldn’t have more than a 25% chance to make the Team, IMO.

Kody Clemens is a lock to make the 2026 Twins. There is no way they acquire enough talent to bump him off the roster.

[jorgenswest]

If I am going to look at one batting measure from last season to help project next season I would look at xwOBA. xwOBA is formulated using exit velocity, launch angle and depending on the type of contact sprint speed. All elements the batter controls.

AL Central xwOBA

• .346 Torkelson
• .345 Pasquantino
• .331 Manzardo
• .327 Vargas

The three above

• .337 France
• .307 Andujar
• .311 Lowe

I guess France would fit if he doesn’t decline in his 30s. The other two are in the bottom tier of first basemen.

The Twins traded for Roden. He has crushed AAA. He has experience at first base. I would give him a shot and maybe there is no need to write this article next year. Maybe it wasn’t needed this year anyway. Clemens had an xwOBA of .341 which fits the AL Central competition pretty well.

[DJL44]

I expect the Twins to sign a catcher first. They tend to come off the board early in the offseason and if they trade Jeffers, they need to acquire two of them.

I don't expect them to go back to the free agent market until they complete any offseason trades. Then in late January they'll pick over the players who still haven't signed to fill the holes that still remain.

[Greglw3]

France and Lowe are out for me, just more of the same mediocrity. With the new investors and with the moral obligation they now have to Derek Shelton to get serious about upgrading.

On the low end, I’d go after Andrew Binentendi, who I’ve read Chicago is willing to pick up most of his contract and has a history of some nice offensive years and on the high end, I’d bring back Luis Arraez.

People can cite OPS+ or WAR or any other statistics that should not be used to compare players in different roles because all those stats favor power hitters and introduce the very unstable element of the ""advanced defensive metrics, OAA being the worst.

The fact is, Arraez led the National league in hits last year, had 11 stolen bases and has hit .354 for an entire major league season. He has a career .317 batting average and .367 on base percentage, making him just right for the leadoff slot.

All of the statistics need to be interpreted according to the role a player will play. As a leadoff hitter, he doesn’t need HR power much, so he will not compare with far inferior hitters like Wallner in all the stats slanted to this who play the role of power hitter in the 3-4-5-6 slots.

The man number to look at is .367 and, yes, .354. Who hits .354 or higher? Rod Carew did 3 times but with Carew being one of the greatest hitters of all time (did you know he won his 7 batting titles by an average of 30 points?) and have followed Carew, I know what high average hitters can bring to a team! Let’s bring Luis back! Cut down the whiff epidemic! Let’s go!!!

This came from a Google on his defense.

"Defense: He is considered a strong defender with good reaction time and arm strength. However, some scouting reports suggest his defensive skills have regressed, especially at second base, and he is now better suited for first base or DH."

[Rod Carews Birthday]

This is about as uninspiring as possible.  When the two most realistic possibilities are Clemens and France, that’s not much.  As a side note, no one thought much of France’s defensive skills when he was signed.  How he managed to pull the gold gloved rabbit out of a hat is amazing to me.  It does make me think that perhaps the best first baseman could be made out of Wallner who is not unathletic for a bigger guy.  The team has been resistant, but there is certainly more depth in the corner OF than there is in at 1B.  

[old nurse]

It makes no sense to hire a one year 1b unless the team is tanking  and they want prospect bait or the player is good enough to contribute to a winner.  For the latter scenario it also means the management has figured out a closer and 2 setup relievers.  Maybe Zoll will have better luck than Levine did in picking up relievers that cost more than the minimum  In case you all blocked the horror out of your memory bank Levine brought in Reed, Colome, and Paganto be closers.  

[Mahoning]

Elswhere I have seen specullation that Kaelen Culpepeer makes the team at shortstop, moving Brooks Lee to second and Luke Keaschall to 1B. In his news conference Derek Shelton emphasized developing young players. That means, among other things, not spending any money. Keaschall and Clemens at first is as cheap as you can get.

[DJL44]

1 hour ago, HrbieFan said:

Wallner has to play somewhere, give him a 1B glove. 

I think that would be as successful as moving Miguel Sano to RF.

[Doctor Gast]

The way the market sits, big bats are expensive. So why not focus on drafting & developing them? You may ask, isn't that what they have been trying to do? Yes, they have, but they haven't succeeded. The last 2 years, they have had qualified players in house to work their magic at 1B but they have wasted it on 1-year FAs. This year again, I'd prefer they go in house, Fedco, Lewis, 0r even Wallner or Larnach than going out house.

[arby58]

40 minutes ago, Greglw3 said:

France and Lowe are out for me, just more of the same mediocrity. With the new investors and with the moral obligation they now have to Derek Shelton to get serious about upgrading.

On the low end, I’d go after Andrew Binentendi, who I’ve read Chicago is willing to pick up most of his contract and has a history of some nice offensive years and on the high end, I’d bring back Luis Arraez.

People can cite OPS+ or WAR or any other statistics that should not be used to compare players in different roles because all those stats favor power hitters and introduce the very unstable element of the ""advanced defensive metrics, OAA being the worst.

The fact is, Arraez led the National league in hits last year, had 11 stolen bases and has hit .354 for an entire major league season. He has a career .317 batting average and .367 on base percentage, making him just right for the leadoff slot.

All of the statistics need to be interpreted according to the role a player will play. As a leadoff hitter, he doesn’t need HR power much, so he will not compare with far inferior hitters like Wallner in all the stats slanted to this who play the role of power hitter in the 3-4-5-6 slots.

The man number to look at is .367 and, yes, .354. Who hits .354 or higher? Rod Carew did 3 times but with Carew being one of the greatest hitters of all time (did you know he won his 7 batting titles by an average of 30 points?) and have followed Carew, I know what high average hitters can bring to a team! Let’s bring Luis back! Cut down the whiff epidemic! Let’s go!!!

This came from a Google on his defense.

"Defense: He is considered a strong defender with good reaction time and arm strength. However, some scouting reports suggest his defensive skills have regressed, especially at second base, and he is now better suited for first base or DH."

Last year's OBP for Arraez was ,327, 82nd in MLB, and the same as Byron Buxton. The problem with Arraez is he mostly hits singles, and he is slow - he clogs up the bases. Buxton, in 488 plate appearances last year, scored 97 runs. Arraez, in 620 plate appearances, scored 66 - which was 102nd in MLB. He is not a prototypical lead-off hitter (get on base AND score runs) and he certainly isn't a prototypical first baseman (low OPS, few home runs).

[LA Vikes Fan]

44 minutes ago, jorgenswest said:

If I am going to look at one batting measure from last season to help project next season I would look at xwOBA. xwOBA is formulated using exit velocity, launch angle and depending on the type of contact sprint speed. All elements the batter controls.

AL Central xwOBA

• .346 Torkelson
• .345 Pasquantino
• .331 Manzardo
• .327 Vargas

The three above

• .337 France
• .307 Andujar
• .311 Lowe

I guess France would fit if he doesn’t decline in his 30s. The other two are in the bottom tier of first basemen.

The Twins traded for Roden. He has crushed AAA. He has experience at first base. I would give him a shot and maybe there is no need to write this article next year. Maybe it wasn’t needed this year anyway. Clemens had an xwOBA of .341 which fits the AL Central competition pretty well.

I like the Roden idea. I didn’t know that he could play there. I know they want to give him a chance to play regularly, so put him at 1B, bring up Gonzalez or Jenkins in RF with Wallner playing in RF a couple days a week and  the primary DH. Not a bad look. 

[USAFChief]

"That being the case, Minnesota should consider signing (Andujar), with intentions of making him the strong-side platoon partner at first base alongside Clemens."

 

Nitpic, but in a Clemens/Andujar platoon, Clemens is the "strong side." 

Andujar is a RH hitter. Clemens bats left-handed and would have the platoon advantage approximately 70% of the time.

[Heiny]

As far as bringing Wallner or Larnach to the infield for 1B,  I would think the Twins would have already made that consideration and concluded that they are not even real good outfield defenders and probably not cabable of handling throws in the dirt or have good first move ability on hot ground balls to infiielders.  That's a totally different talent and instinct ability.  I could be wrong but if they were capable it would have already been tried. Just my humble opinion.  And as someone who has never been all that high on Arraez, I would very much welcome him back and believe he may be our best option by far.  Problem is, I think he will be out of our price range.  We could certainly use his OBP and low strikeout percentage.

[Parfigliano]

2 hours ago, dxpavelka said:

Why not Pete Alonzo?

I can think of hundreds of millions of reasons why.

[Parfigliano]

1 hour ago, DJL44 said:

Kody Clemens is a lock to make the 2026 Twins. There is no way they acquire enough talent to bump him off the roster.

Probably true.  Extremely depressing.

[Parfigliano]

59 minutes ago, Rod Carews Birthday said:

This is about as uninspiring as possible.  When the two most realistic possibilities are Clemens and France, that’s not much.  As a side note, no one thought much of France’s defensive skills when he was signed.  How he managed to pull the gold gloved rabbit out of a hat is amazing to me.  It does make me think that perhaps the best first baseman could be made out of Wallner who is not unathletic for a bigger guy.  The team has been resistant, but there is certainly more depth in the corner OF than there is in at 1B.  

Wallner should be working hard on 1B defense this offseason.