It Sounds Like Kody Clemens Will Be the Twins' Starting First Baseman

[mnfireman]

2 minutes ago, S Bart said:

Clemens hit more home runs than Wallner last season regardless of Wallner being hurt...

Wallner had 22 HR in 392 PA, Clemens 19 HR in 379 PA (386 PA if you count his time in PHI).....

[S Bart]

The big challenge for me is that Clemens can be used in many positions if a person is missing due to injury... also...people should realize that a strike is probably going to occur after this season....it is my belief that the owners of this team has that in there minds and are perhaps unwilling to invest much in salaries. 

[mnfireman]

1 minute ago, S Bart said:

people should realize that a strike is probably going to occur after this season....it is my belief that the owners of this team has that in there minds and are perhaps unwilling to invest much in salaries. 

I have thought this very thought since about the trade deadline...

[USAFChief]

1 minute ago, S Bart said:

people should realize that a strike is probably going to occur after this season....it is my belief that the owners of this team has that in there minds and are perhaps unwilling to invest much in salaries. 

There's people that are unaware of this (prolly a lockout rather than strike, BTW)? Maybe at a few Tibetan monasteries?

 

[S Bart]

5 minutes ago, mnfireman said:

Wallner had 22 HR in 392 PA, Clemens 19 HR in 379 PA (386 PA if you count his time in PHI).....

I stand corrected....may also want to consider Wallner's 2025 BA.. he cannot stay at that level if he plans on being at the MLB level long term...he has a great arm in the outfield which has helped the Twins..but he has to get a grip on his hitting specific pitches...I don't see Clemens on the team long term.  But Wallner staying in the big leagues really depends on him improving on hitting next year...it is a huge weakness...he doesn't want to be known as a Gallo

[Vanimal46]

It Sounds Like Kody Clemens Will Be the Twins' Starting First Baseman

[S Bart]

10 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

There's people that are unaware of this (prolly a lockout rather than strike, BTW)? Maybe at a few Tibetan monasteries?

 

Whatever you want to call it...matters not to me..no  ⚾️ is the result...which is sad to me and all fans of the sport 😥...and BTW..how did you know that I was a Buddhist and my location.....good guess...we do get Twins broadcasts on the MLB network...here

[Vanimal46]

9 hours ago, DJL44 said:

If the plan is "Let's try again with our 70-win team" then I have no idea why they kept Derek Falvey.

Yes you do. What aspiring executive would willingly join this train wreck right now? Falvey is here to get the pending sale over the finish line after the lockout then he’s gone. 

[stringer bell]

Given recent history, if Clemens is the Twins’ first baseman, he should be the odds-on favorite to win a Gold Glove. 

[Fatbat]

Its plausible that no outside help comes to 1B. Kody better raise his ceiling!! We need the production!! Julien can’t be counted on for much… and Lee needs to be replaced at SS asap with Culpepper. Lee and Clemons will make great bench backups sooner rather than later…. Please just go young and us diehard fans will understand the growing pains. 

[Fatbat]

1 hour ago, S Bart said:

I stand corrected....may also want to consider Wallner's 2025 BA.. he cannot stay at that level if he plans on being at the MLB level long term...he has a great arm in the outfield which has helped the Twins..but he has to get a grip on his hitting specific pitches...I don't see Clemens on the team long term.  But Wallner staying in the big leagues really depends on him improving on hitting next year...it is a huge weakness...he doesn't want to be known as a Gallo

Gallo was more productive at Wallner’s current age.

[DocBauer]

Clemens sounds like a good guy and a good teammate. I saw him play more 2B and 1B last year than I did the OF, but he looked good/solid at all 4 spots when I watched him. Personally, since he's not a bad athlete and has played it before, I'd have play some 3B in ST to see if he can at least be a fill-in, emergency option there.

I like his power. I liked some of the big games he had last season, and some of the hit weeks he had.

But I'm sorry, a low .200 AVG and an OB% in the .280's with a below league average OPS is not someone who should EVER be starting for a team unless an injury happens, or a team is in complete rebuild mode and he's keeping a spot warm for a prospect that isn't ready yet.

Is he much better against RHP? Yes. But should you have a 1B platoon partner? ONLY if said platoon partner can fill another role as well. With a 13 man roster it would be nuts and extremely short-sighted otherwise. 

I understand Falvey is playing it close to the vest and showing a little love Clemens' way, but to be at all serious about him being the primary starting 1B is roster malpractice. 

I understand the payroll isn't set yet, even if Falvey has an idea in the back of his head what he hopes for/conjectures it to potentially be. I have my eye on O'Hearn as an option despite only being about a 40XBH bat. At least he's an experienced professional who can hit better and have a better OB% than Clemens. And while I haven't taken a lot of time yet to look at what's "left" for 1B options beyond O'Hearn...other than an OP on TD...I can't believe there isn't a better option that allows Clemens to be what he actually is; a decent, powerful, LH hitting utility player. 

I wanted Josh Bell last offseason. He was signed to a relatively small contract, started slow, but finished well. Miguel Adujar as a maybe? Is Nathaniel Lowe being picked up or allowed to walk? I haven't heard yet.

I WANT the Twins to find a long term answer at 1B. But I'm OK with a short term solution to at least begin 2026 if FA or trade doesn't provide an answer. Considering the Twins have handed a 1B glove to Sano, Arraez, and Solano over recent history and just told them to go play, why haven't they done the same thing with prospects?

Roden and Fedko have played some 1B, but they sure aren't close to proven ML performers yet, with only Roden even tasting ML pitching. Mendez began working at 1B last season, though he has yet to appear in a game there. Amick remains a possibility. Why not give Gonzalez and Rosario a 1B glove and see what they can do? 

Absolutely ridiculous to dismiss 1B as unimportant and toss a glove to ML ballplayers and NOT do the same thing for MILB prospects!

Again, I don't want ANOTHER short term 1B option. But I'd rather do that for 2026 while ALSO starting to work in other prospects at the spot for later in 2026 or 2027 where a viable, long term option may present itself.

O'Hearn is a decent, veteran option, maybe for 2yrs to settle the spot in a relatively short term. I'm even inclined to look at Hoskins as a 1yr $8M bounce back option at this point. Even in a bad 2025 he had a higher OPS than Clemens. There's AT LEAST the opportunity for some kind of bounce back season.

Is there really a thought that Clemens will suddenly turn a corner and be better at 30yo than he's ever been before?

And again, I don't dislike Clemens for what he is. But him as a primary 1B is akin to just giving up your lineup and team and potential for 2026 before it even begins, IMO.

The Twins SHOULD be shooting higher, even for 1yr, as they re-adjust their thinking and start looking for better alternatives for 2027 and beyond.

[Vanimal46]

5 minutes ago, DocBauer said:

But I'm sorry, a low .200 AVG and an OB% in the .280's with a below league average OPS is not someone who should EVER be starting for a team unless an injury happens, or a team is in complete rebuild mode

Where do you think this team is after July 31, 2025? We ARE in complete rebuild mode man. Come on. 

[tony&rodney]

I can actually remember 1961 when I waited a bit before deciding that Lenny Green was my favorite player. Where it gets hard is trying to remember if Henry Aaron was my favorite player in 1960.

Reading that Kody Clemens will be the starting first baseman in 2026 leaves me wondering if the time has arrived to jump ship on my fandom of the Twins. Does 65 years a Twins fan suggest it is time to retire?

[AceWrigley]

I don't know, sounds like the original article was ghost-written by Randball Stu.

[DocBauer]

53 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

Where do you think this team is after July 31, 2025? We ARE in complete rebuild mode man. Come on. 

Nope. We're not at all. Not yet anyway.

We ARE in a re-tool or transitionary mode right now. As of NOW. 

This team NEEDED changes. The same old status quo wasn't going to make things better. The "purge" that happened at the 2025 deadline, whether we all agree with what happened or not, changed the complexion of the team going forward.

Offensively AND defensively, a change has begun. Larnach is probably out, and replaced by Martin in LF, who came on surprisingly strong last season, and brings a very different profile, including better defense. While not the long term answer at SS, Lee actually looked better defensively at SS with regular playing time post Correa. Can he improve with the glove and especially the bat? Lewis improved with his defense and looked healthy and began to hit better and ran better. Is he ready for a big/good 2026? Rodriguez, Jenkins, and Gonzalez are just about ready to appear and make Wallner a full time DH and part time OF. K-Pepper is not far away to help in the INF. Keaschal established himself as a productive player that can't be ignored. 

IF we give any credence to Falvey's hopes and expectations, a healthy Lopez, Ryan, a healthy Ober, and SWR...who finished really strong and showed a new and dangerous splitter...the rotation looks really good with a nice collection of candidates for the #5 spot.

Yes, there are a couple of holes like #2 catcher. And 1B is still an absolute mess! And there is some concern about Fitzgerald as possibly the best backup SS/utility spot. 

And then there is the bullpen. It has to be rebuilt. There's a couple OK options on hand, but it needs major help to be sure. There's at least 2-3 conversion options to help, maybe more. And they ABSOLUTELY need to add a couple 2-3 just solid, veteran options to balance things out, provide depth and experience. And I'm not expecting a great pen rebuilt overnight. And I'm tired enough and mentally fatigued enough to not go in to details about who and how right now.

But there is a really, really good foundation for a good starting staff. There IS offensive talent on the roster, and top prospects about to debut. And who knows maybe the new voice of a different manager and a few new coaches also help make a difference. 

But we are NOT in a rebuild unless the ownership cuts the FO again, and we can't sign ANY help, or are FORCED to trade off Lopez and/or Ryan. THEN, we are probably in an actual rebuild.

 

[Vanimal46]

7 minutes ago, DocBauer said:

Nope. We're not at all. Not yet anyway.

We ARE in a re-tool or transitionary mode right now. As of NOW. 

This team NEEDED changes. The same old status quo wasn't going to make things better. The "purge" that happened at the 2025 deadline, whether we all agree with what happened or not, changed the complexion of the team going forward.

Offensively AND defensively, a change has begun. Larnach is probably out, and replaced by Martin in LF, who came on surprisingly strong last season, and brings a very different profile, including better defense. While not the long term answer at SS, Lee actually looked better defensively at SS with regular playing time post Correa. Can he improve with the glove and especially the bat? Lewis improved with his defense and looked healthy and began to hit better and ran better. Is he ready for a big/good 2026? Rodriguez, Jenkins, and Gonzalez are just about ready to appear and make Wallner a full time DH and part time OF. K-Pepper is not far away to help in the INF. Keaschal established himself as a productive player that can't be ignored. 

IF we give any credence to Falvey's hopes and expectations, a healthy Lopez, Ryan, a healthy Ober, and SWR...who finished really strong and showed a new and dangerous splitter...the rotation looks really good with a nice collection of candidates for the #5 spot.

Yes, there are a couple of holes like #2 catcher. And 1B is still an absolute mess! And there is some concern about Fitzgerald as possibly the best backup SS/utility spot. 

And then there is the bullpen. It has to be rebuilt. There's a couple OK options on hand, but it needs major help to be sure. There's at least 2-3 conversion options to help, maybe more. And they ABSOLUTELY need to add a couple 2-3 just solid, veteran options to balance things out, provide depth and experience. And I'm not expecting a great pen rebuilt overnight. And I'm tired enough and mentally fatigued enough to not go in to details about who and how right now.

But there is a really, really good foundation for a good starting staff. There IS offensive talent on the roster, and top prospects about to debut. And who knows maybe the new voice of a different manager and a few new coaches also help make a difference. 

But we are NOT in a rebuild unless the ownership cuts the FO again, and we can't sign ANY help, or are FORCED to trade off Lopez and/or Ryan. THEN, we are probably in an actual rebuild.

 

What you’re suggesting is running it back with the team in tact during September, which went 8-18 that month. Plus wishing on prospects. I’m not buying it. 

[Jacksson]

You all are forgetting Cody's Clemens DNA.  He can be the mop-up man on the mound in those blowout losses.  He fills the void left by Jonah Bride's departure.

Just imagine, instead of moaning and groaning to folks about another lopsided loss; you can instead say that you saw CLEMENS pitch !!

[Chembry]

9 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

Where do you think this team is after July 31, 2025? We ARE in complete rebuild mode man. Come on. 

Is is possible to believe that Falvey thought of the deadline as a retool? 

Falvey and other GMs directly stated at the GM meetings that the Twins were specifically asking for MLB talent or MLB ready guys.  That is the reason we got Abel, Bradley, Roden, and Outman (I cringe saying that name)...That's the reason the Twins were asking for Jarren Duran or Wilyer Abreu from Boston... The Twins knew how much payroll they cut and knew they would be at approximately $90M going into 2026.  Falvey probably assumed with the pending sale at the time, the payroll would be at the same level (about $135M) going into 2026.  The Twins didn't get pulled off the market until August 13th.  If that were reasonable, that would give the Twins about $40-50M to spend this off season.  To be honest, that was probably a reasonable assumption by Falvey at the time.  This was stated on a Gleeman and the Geek podcast.  We could put a fairly competitive team on the field adding $40M in payroll to this roster (FA 1B, backup C, a few RP, a FA SS). 

If payroll is cut back, This would be the 2nd time in 3 years the rug was pulled out from under Falvey.  There is no way that Falvey would have signed Correa to the contract he did knowing the payroll was going to be slashed, significantly inhibiting his ability put a competitive team on the field.  I am not defending Falvey in any way...He has made many mistakes, but putting everything into context, it makes sense.   

Given what we know now, this offseason will tell us everything.  Shelton said he talked with the Pohlads/Falvey about payroll and "heard what he wanted to make him want the job".  Take that as you wish.  I can't see Shelton taking the job without some sort of agreement on investment into the roster.    

Personally, I don't want them to run it back.  I want to see changes.  I would like to see them add to payroll, but also trade for a 1B or C prospect...Try to improve not only for 2026, but also 2027 and beyond.  That doesn't necessarily have to be a full on rebuild, but it does involve tough choices on Lopez/Ryan/Ober, Lewis, Lee etc...  In my opinion, the worst thing they can do is stand pat on position players and only add a few relievers.  

[Major League Ready]

11 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

Yes you do. What aspiring executive would willingly join this train wreck right now? Falvey is here to get the pending sale over the finish line after the lockout then he’s gone. 

There is nowhere to go but up.  You can't be blamed for the mess and it's an industry where turnarounds are expected to take much longer than any industry I can think of.  It's actually a great opportunity and I doubt the current state would dissuade a capable executive especially given the strength of the farm system.  

[NYCTK]

13 hours ago, S Bart said:

...he doesn't want to be known as a Gallo

Wallner would LOVE to replicate Joey Gallo's career. Twins fans need to have object permanence. Just because a player was bad for the Twins doesn't mean that player was bad forever. 

10 Seasons, 200 HR and 15 WAR, that's a very good baseball player and I don't anticipate Wallner to come close to those numbers. 

[NYCTK]

11 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

I can actually remember 1961 when I waited a bit before deciding that Lenny Green was my favorite player. Where it gets hard is trying to remember if Henry Aaron was my favorite player in 1960.

Reading that Kody Clemens will be the starting first baseman in 2026 leaves me wondering if the time has arrived to jump ship on my fandom of the Twins. Does 65 years a Twins fan suggest it is time to retire?

I just wanna remind people, you can follow a second team. The only people that would care are weirdos. Find an NL team you like or respect. You can just buy a baseball cap for, like, the Philadelphia Phillies for example, and no one will ask for your fan identification card or anything.

Boom, now the failings of the Minnesota Twins are more comical than they are heart breaking, a sideshow of pure incompetence that offers a view of the sport you love, but a view that reminds you that even the professionals in charge of mlb franchises can be incredibly stupid people. Not that we need a reminder that leaders in this day and age may not be very smart or competent. 

Being a fan of two different teams is actually very freeing. I don't have to lie and convince myself that maybe the Twins might surprise people, and more willing to accept the team is terrible and need to complete a legitimate rebuild. 

[MGX]

9 minutes ago, NYCTK said:

Wallner would LOVE to replicate Joey Gallo's career. Twins fans need to have object permanence. Just because a player was bad for the Twins doesn't mean that player was bad forever. 

10 Seasons, 200 HR and 15 WAR, that's a very good baseball player and I don't anticipate Wallner to come close to those numbers. 

Agree with you that Gallo had some good seasons & overall a productive career. Comparing their career numbers...

Joey Gallo - 3043 PA's - .194/.319/.456 for a .775 OPS & as you said 14.9 WAR

Matt Wallner - 972 PA's - .231/.344/.485 for a .829 OPS & 4.6 WAR

To this point Wallner has been a more productive offensive player. Even in 2025 which was Wallner's least productive season he had a .776 OPS.

[big dog]

5 hours ago, Chembry said:

...  That is the reason we got Abel, Bradley, Roden, and Outman (I cringe saying that name)...

I saw nothing to like during Outman's appearances with the Twins, but I will say that a friend of mine, a 70-year Dodger fan who watches every game carefully, was very sorry to lose Outman and said the Twins got a steal. There's at least a lot of potential there.

And he said that before Brock Stewart hit the Injured List for the 50th time after pitching less than 4 innings.

[Riverbrian]

9 minutes ago, big dog said:

I saw nothing to like during Outman's appearances with the Twins, but I will say that a friend of mine, a 70-year Dodger fan who watches every game carefully, was very sorry to lose Outman and said the Twins got a steal. There's at least a lot of potential there.

And he said that before Brock Stewart hit the Injured List for the 50th time after pitching less than 4 innings.

That's where I am with Outman. 

He's got a lot of tools. He may have worked through his major league kinks already with other organizations. Being a member of the Dodgers organization is tough when they have little room for a player working out kinks. 

With that Said... I'd give him this off-season and until June to start showing something. He is out of options and we have choices coming behind him.

His clock is ticking very loudly. 

[RpR]

1 hour ago, NYCTK said:

I just wanna remind people, you can follow a second team. The only people that would care are weirdos. Find an NL team you like or respect. You can just buy a baseball cap for, like, the Philadelphia Phillies for example, and no one will ask for your fan identification card or anything.

Boom, now the failings of the Minnesota Twins are more comical than they are heart breaking, a sideshow of pure incompetence that offers a view of the sport you love, but a view that reminds you that even the professionals in charge of mlb franchises can be incredibly stupid people. Not that we need a reminder that leaders in this day and age may not be very smart or competent. 

Being a fan of two different teams is actually very freeing. I don't have to lie and convince myself that maybe the Twins might surprise people, and more willing to accept the team is terrible and need to complete a legitimate rebuild. 

Sadly the Twins have become like the Viking, except they cannot bring a seasoned veteran to at least give them one good year.

[RpR]

1 hour ago, MGX said:

Agree with you that Gallo had some good seasons & overall a productive career. Comparing their career numbers...

Joey Gallo - 3043 PA's - .194/.319/.456 for a .775 OPS & as you said 14.9 WAR

Matt Wallner - 972 PA's - .231/.344/.485 for a .829 OPS & 4.6 WAR

To this point Wallner has been a more productive offensive player. Even in 2025 which was Wallner's least productive season he had a .776 OPS.

Gallo defense:

Wallner's defense:

Wallner will never be as good as Gallo.

[S Bart]

2 hours ago, NYCTK said:

Wallner would LOVE to replicate Joey Gallo's career. Twins fans need to have object permanence. Just because a player was bad for the Twins doesn't mean that player was bad forever. 

10 Seasons, 200 HR and 15 WAR, that's a very good baseball player and I don't anticipate Wallner to come close to those numbers. 

Well...maybe bring back Gallo to play first.. is he available?....Pagan is all over the news and is being sought after by 10 teams per the news flash...2.88 GPA...seems like old times 😀

[S Bart]

2 hours ago, MGX said:

Agree with you that Gallo had some good seasons & overall a productive career. Comparing their career numbers...

Joey Gallo - 3043 PA's - .194/.319/.456 for a .775 OPS & as you said 14.9 WAR

Matt Wallner - 972 PA's - .231/.344/.485 for a .829 OPS & 4.6 WAR

To this point Wallner has been a more productive offensive player. Even in 2025 which was Wallner's least productive season he had a .776 OPS.

And a 202 batting average 

[Vanimal46]

5 hours ago, Major League Ready said:

There is nowhere to go but up.

Once they trade one or both of Lopez and Ryan, and fill the gaps with the cheapest options they can find, I have all the faith in the world they can still end up a 100+ loss team.