Three Free Agent Fits for Minnesota Twins at First Base

[terrydactyls]

32 minutes ago, Doctor Gast said:

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.

I think outhouse is a very good description of the situation.

[Cody Schoenmann]

22 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

"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.

By "strong-side" I meant that Andujar would net more time at 1B than Clemens, including against right-handed pitching. That said, I get what you mean. 

[sweetmusicviola16]

42 minutes ago, Doctor Gast said:

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.

I would add Keaschell to the mix as well, he's actually played a few games at 1B in the past. Then we do still have Clemens. If Keaschell was given more time at 1B and less at 2B we have a 2B on roster already to fill in that gap. Martin. I agree, stop looking for the stopgap and develop what you already have. The result of not seeing what you already have is you never stop looking.

[Doctor Gast]

7 minutes ago, sweetmusicviola16 said:

I would add Keaschell to the mix as well, he's actually played a few games at 1B in the past. Then we do still have Clemens. If Keaschell was given more time at 1B and less at 2B we have a 2B on roster already to fill in that gap. Martin. I agree, stop looking for the stopgap and develop what you already have. The result of not seeing what you already have is you never stop looking.

Yes, thank you! I meant to include Keaschall. Great take.

[USAFChief]

31 minutes ago, Cody Schoenmann said:

By "strong-side" I meant that Andujar would net more time at 1B than Clemens, including against right-handed pitching. That said, I get what you mean. 

That's not really a "platoon" then.

And for the record, Andujar isnt very good against RH pitching. 

I'd pass on all three of these options. Just doesnt add much, certainly not enough to help turn this roster into even a .500 team, much less a contender. 

 

[tarheeltwinsfan]

How about trading Pablo Lopez to the Padres for Luis Arraez?

[JD-TWINS]

2 hours 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."

I like Arraez a lot for 1B! ……many here pick at his “inability to hit LH pitching”, he hit .265 against them in 2025. He hit .311 against RH pitching in 2025.

I think the Twins need is to eliminate holes in the line-up…….spots where guys are not coming through with RISP. A guy that struck out 21 times this past season and collects 180-200 hits per year (lacking foot speed), should hit 5th everyday!! He protects whoever is in the 4 slot …… he hits everyone and putting him in a slot that he can create RBI from makes more sense than batting him first.

He’s “Bo Bichette light”. Bichette had 94 RBI with 18 HRs…….batting 4th. I believe that Arraez is a lock for 80 RBI batting 5th in Twin’s line-up…….(38 doubles & 8 HR’s) and doing nothing outside of what he’s done for the past 5 years.

To me, the Google evaluation of his defense is somewhat meaningless - he’s just OK, not good.

3 year signing and if there’s a 1B developed internally in that span, he is more than reasonable at DH.

[JD-TWINS]

3 minutes ago, tarheeltwinsfan said:

How about trading Pablo Lopez to the Padres for Luis Arraez?

Good one - you got me! Was going to point out that Arraez is a FA & team can just sign him ……. but you knew that.😉

[Sjoski]

3 hours ago, Lou Hennessy said:

Should the Twins sign Miguel Sanó??

They could celebrate the signing with a special Sano-KKK-Cone Bobblehead Day.

Nice addition to my collection. 

[Parfigliano]

4 minutes ago, Sjoski said:

They could celebrate the signing with a special Sano-KKK-Cone Bobblehead Day.

Nice addition to my collection. 

That's a lot of bobblers.

[Cody Schoenmann]

1 hour ago, USAFChief said:

That's not really a "platoon" then.

And for the record, Andujar isnt very good against RH pitching. 

I'd pass on all three of these options. Just doesnt add much, certainly not enough to help turn this roster into even a .500 team, much less a contender. 

 

Payroll constraints aside, I'd love to see the Twins bring in Andujar, even if he doesn't play much 1B. But yes, France, Lowe, and most realistic free agent 1B options are uninspiring, I agree. 

[jmlease1]

1 hour ago, USAFChief said:

That's not really a "platoon" then.

And for the record, Andujar isnt very good against RH pitching. 

I'd pass on all three of these options. Just doesnt add much, certainly not enough to help turn this roster into even a .500 team, much less a contender. 

 

Andujar is worse against RHP than LHP, but he's not bad. You probably want to give him days off against the best RHP but you don't need to hide him the way you do with most LH hitters against LHP. His OPS against RHP is still above league-average hitting. He's the most interesting option to me, although he certainly comes with risk considering his inconsistent track record. If he hits like he did last season, he'd be a real asset, and could keep Clemens from getting overexposed.

They'd still need improvement from Wallner/Lewis, health from Keaschall/Buxton, and someone from the Roden/Rodriguez/Gonzalez/Fedko/Jenkins contingent to step up to field a serious lineup that could score enough runs, but it could fill a significant hole in a reasonable way.

[soyouresayingtheresachance]

If im making the decision, I bring back Luis Arraez to play 1st. The team needs guys who can get on base and he is one of the best in the league at it. He can fit nicely in that leadoff spot and allow Buck to move down in the order where his power can be better utilized. My everyday lineup has 

1. Areaez

2. Keaschall 

3. Buxton

A couple on base guys. A high energy guy and a power guy. 

But back to reality. I'd imagine it'll be another 1 year $1-2 million signing or converting someone will Wallner or Larnach to 1st. 

[Greglw3]

2 hours ago, arby58 said:

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).

ANd he’s a hell of a lot better hitter than 90% of the mediocre to horrible hitters the Twins have had the last couple years. You’re citing one year. I can play at that too and say he finished 2025 very strong. He’s played how many years with a .367 OBP, a .317 lifetime average, 3 batting titles, far better than any hitter on the Twins now by light years and he makes contact, which is important to scoring runs, unlike Wallner whiffing his way to ~40 RBIs on 22 HR. We need to improve our offense. Arraez would very likely be a huge upgrade and his .317 lifetime or even last year’s .292 is vastly better than Brooks Lee, Royce Lewis, Wallner, Larnach, Outman, Gasper, Clemens, France, Correa.

Combining Arraez with Emmanuel Rodriguez, Gabriel Gonzalez, Walker Jenkins, Kaelen Culpepper, Hendry Morales would be an exciting way to jump start the revival. I’d add O’Hearn too. People are ignoring that during Shelton’s press conference he emphasized that they were going to lean on the top young talent and develop it at the major league level.

[thelanges5]

5 hours ago, Lou Hennessy said:

Should the Twins sign Miguel Sanó??

He is raking in LIDOM

Sarah Langs:

Miguel Sano now has SEVEN home runs this season in LIDOM

In 13 games

That’s the most by any player in his LIDOM team’s first 13 games of a season since at least 2006

[Jeff K]

3 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

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.

I think Twins management has gone to the "out house" quite a bit.

[darin617]

7 hours ago, Whitey333 said:

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.  

It makes some sense, but it's a waste of a cannon for an arm to be moved to 1st.  First decide between Wallner & Larnach for which player you want to keep or trade the one with a higher trade value and then move the remaining one to first.

[DJL44]

3 hours ago, soyouresayingtheresachance said:

If im making the decision, I bring back Luis Arraez to play 1st. The team needs guys who can get on base and he is one of the best in the league at it. He can fit nicely in that leadoff spot and allow Buck to move down in the order where his power can be better utilized. My everyday lineup has 

1. Areaez

2. Keaschall 

3. Buxton

A couple on base guys. A high energy guy and a power guy. 

But back to reality. I'd imagine it'll be another 1 year $1-2 million signing or converting someone will Wallner or Larnach to 1st. 

Wrong order. If you put Arraez in front of Keaschall and Buxton he'll clog up the bases ahead of them and limit them to station-to-station baserunning. OTOH - Buxton is one of the few people in the league fast enough to score off of one of Arraez' weak singles. Then you put HR power behind Arraez because he's not scoring from first on a single or a double.

Buxton

Keaschall

Arraez

Lewis

Wallner

They might be able to add Arraez. There are doubts that his demand from the rest of the league will be that high. Fangraphs crowd source has him at 2 years $28M and he might get even less. Over the next two seasons, Arraez projects as Austin Martin without the speed and defense.

The Twins are in a unique position because the cupboard is so bare. Even a mediocre first baseman like Miguel Andujar looks like a huge upgrade on Kody Clemens or Eddy Julien.

[Jim wyllie]

I've said this several times move Lewis to first base it will be a better future defensively and help keep him healthier.  Then keaschall can play third lee at short and Clemens at 2nd

[jorgenswest]

The Twins shouldn’t go free agency unless they can get someone Naylor or better. Anyone below at best delays the problem a year and at worst are given many at bats while performing at a mediocre level.

They should consider a trade of prospects for someone that is above average for a 1B. The Cardinals are looking to deal Contreras but there will be the no trade clause hurdle there. Some good bats will be moved this winter and the Twins have the prospect capital to win those deals.

Failing a significant investment in dollars for a free agent or prospects for an established veteran they should go with Roden and if he fails slide Keaschall over or go back to Clemens. 

[TopGunn#22]

I would make a deal with the Red Sox for Tristan Casas.  I can almost guarantee the Red Sox will go out and sign a high profile 1B in FA.  They have a roster that is poised to win the A.L. East with the right moves made this off season and after a season ending injury suffered in early in the year, the Red Sox probably won't have the patience to wait for Casas.

The Twins could look to get Casas in a larger deal as one of the pieces, or, make a smaller trade where the teams make a player-for-player deal.  Maybe Cody Clemens as a Utility Player would interest the Red Sox.  Maybe a middling minor league pitcher.  The value for Casas has never been lower.  He's 26 years old and has demonstrated he has Major League power.   

[Coach Wheels]

14 hours ago, HrbieFan said:

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

Agree. We lots of average defensive OF who are already cheap. Move Wallner to 1st and go get an OF that, while still cheap, could be more athletic. Stealing bases and preventing runs could be another to make this hot mess into a better team.

[dxpavelka]

13 hours ago, Parfigliano said:

I can think of hundreds of millions of reasons why.

Has anyone actually HEARD any member of the ownership group say that they will NOT spend money?

 

[dxpavelka]

16 hours ago, Whitey333 said:

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.  

how about take his glove away and let him DH

 

[Greglw3]

14 hours ago, tarheeltwinsfan said:

How about trading Pablo Lopez to the Padres for Luis Arraez?

Arraez is a free agent We can have them both.

[Greglw3]

14 hours ago, JD-TWINS said:

I like Arraez a lot for 1B! ……many here pick at his “inability to hit LH pitching”, he hit .265 against them in 2025. He hit .311 against RH pitching in 2025.

I think the Twins need is to eliminate holes in the line-up…….spots where guys are not coming through with RISP. A guy that struck out 21 times this past season and collects 180-200 hits per year (lacking foot speed), should hit 5th everyday!! He protects whoever is in the 4 slot …… he hits everyone and putting him in a slot that he can create RBI from makes more sense than batting him first.

He’s “Bo Bichette light”. Bichette had 94 RBI with 18 HRs…….batting 4th. I believe that Arraez is a lock for 80 RBI batting 5th in Twin’s line-up…….(38 doubles & 8 HR’s) and doing nothing outside of what he’s done for the past 5 years.

To me, the Google evaluation of his defense is somewhat meaningless - he’s just OK, not good.

3 year signing and if there’s a 1B developed internally in that span, he is more than reasonable at DH.

Very astute!

The Twins have so many holes in the lineup and they have to plug most of them.

Arraez would be an easy and airtight fix as a 3 time batting champion.

Nobody else on the Twins has come within a Grand Canyon of a batting title.

Clemens and Wallner should not be guaranteed positions nor even Lee.

Culpepper vs Lee best man wins. Gabriel Gonzalez, Emmanuel Rodriguez and Walker Jenkins vs Wallner, best man wins. Wallner’s season was historically bad with the least amount of RBIs for 22 HR since the advent of the RBI statistic and a .204 average. Clemens low .200s average will not cut it. That’s what they have to replace, as you indicated.

I think Shelton meant it when he said these top prospects are going to be leaned on and developed at the big league level.

[jmlease1]

People around here are obsessed with Luis Arraez. He's a decent player, but he's very one-dimensional. Sure, that one dimension (hitting for average) is one that the Twins haven't been good at lately but if we're spending anywhere near what the current projections are for his next contract, don't you want someone who brings more to the table? Apparently Arraez gets a pass on his defense (he's not good at it). And his speed (no advantage on the bases, hits into a lot of DPs). And lack of power. (hasn't slugged over .400 since 2023) And lack of walks (his BB% in 2025 would have been 20th on last year's Twins, beating out only Ty France [a reason to stay away from a reunion with France] and the immortals Carson McCusker, DaShawn Kiersey, Alan Roden, and Jose Miranda none of whom were even out of small sample size.)

Why exactly is Arraez at 1B/DH such a good idea again? Because he doesn't strike out?

[arby58]

19 hours ago, Greglw3 said:

ANd he’s a hell of a lot better hitter than 90% of the mediocre to horrible hitters the Twins have had the last couple years. You’re citing one year. I can play at that too and say he finished 2025 very strong. He’s played how many years with a .367 OBP, a .317 lifetime average, 3 batting titles, far better than any hitter on the Twins now by light years and he makes contact, which is important to scoring runs, unlike Wallner whiffing his way to ~40 RBIs on 22 HR. We need to improve our offense. Arraez would very likely be a huge upgrade and his .317 lifetime or even last year’s .292 is vastly better than Brooks Lee, Royce Lewis, Wallner, Larnach, Outman, Gasper, Clemens, France, Correa.

Combining Arraez with Emmanuel Rodriguez, Gabriel Gonzalez, Walker Jenkins, Kaelen Culpepper, Hendry Morales would be an exciting way to jump start the revival. I’d add O’Hearn too. People are ignoring that during Shelton’s press conference he emphasized that they were going to lean on the top young talent and develop it at the major league level.

The point of a lead off hitter is to get on base AND score runs. Arraez' gaudy stats are missing the most important component: runs scored. Here is how he has done with that - I already provided the stats for 2025.
2024: 83 runs (39th in MLB) in 637 Plate Appearances
2023: 71 runs (88th) in 574 PAs
2022: 88 runs (29th) in 547 PAs
2021: 58 runs (141st) in 479 PAs.

Given that he doesn't hit the ball hard or over the fence, what exactly does he do other than pile up singles for a high batting average?

[Exiled in Illinois]

I don't get why there is so little consideration of moving Lewis to first.  He's going to get played somewhere everyday when healthy to see if he sinks or swims.  He's athletic enough, and already plays the infield, that his transition to 1st will be better/easier for him than an outfielder.  If he succeeds, he's there longterm, checking that box.  We will have developed some young talent, checking that box.   If he succeeds, he will hit like a 1st baseman should, checking that box.

So who plays third then?  We do have developing talent on left side of infield.  Brooks Lee makes most sense to me, let him sink or swim there next year.   SS then?  Culpepper.  If front office believes letting him develop at major leagues will seriously hurt is development, than an uninspiring stopgap SS via free agency/trade.

We have left side infielders developing in minors, so if we're going to have a placeholder somewhere in infield, should be at SS/3B instead of 1st where there is a lack of organization depth.

An infield of Lee, Lewis, Culpepper and Keachall doesn't seem all that hopeless to me.  

Unless, of course, we move Lewis to catcher.  That opens up a whole new can of worms.  Just kidding!

 

  

[Steve J]

On 11/6/2025 at 7:41 AM, TJSweens said:

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.

 

And Clemens can look like a second baseman, if the need arises.  I see no reason to roster France.