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

[MGX]

1 hour ago, RpR said:

Gallo defense:

Wallner's defense:

Wallner will never be as good as Gallo.

I did say to this point he's been a more productive "offensive" player. Joey Gallo was a good defensive player I wouldn't say otherwise. 

With that said both are/were corner OF's, offense first positions. The main thing for Wallner is how productive he is as FT player. If he is producing an .800 OPS or better going forward, I'd rather have that with his D than the other way around. If he doesn't produce like that on offense than he won't be as good as Gallo.

[MGX]

1 hour ago, S Bart said:

And a 202 batting average 

Different players produce offense in different ways. Batting average is a limited stat when compared something like OPS, or better yet wRC or wOBA.

[jorgenswest]

2 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

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. 

I prefer Outman to a free agent because the Twins will be willing to let his clock run out when Jenkins or Rodriguez are ready to start their major league clocks. If they sign a free agent to a team friendly one year deal that player will be with theM at least until the deadline.

I think June 1 is about right. The only thing that will keep him beyond that is his performance or an injured Jenkins and Rodriguez. It could be earlier if one of those two takes charge in the spring.

[DocBauer]

14 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

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. 

Not what I said at all. They barely had Lopez, and Ober was still hurt as well. They also blew up the bullpen and even when the team had leads, they ended up usually losing. 

They need additional help, primarily at 1B and the bullpen. But I still like the rotation if healthy. And I still like some of the hitters to rebound. And I like some of the prospects who are about to debut. 

The team needed to make changes and they did. We aren't looking at the same team that began 2025. But again, they still need some help. And ad per the topic of this OP, 1B is a major issue and I don't like Clemens as being the answer.

[Riverbrian]

13 minutes ago, jorgenswest said:

I prefer Outman to a free agent because the Twins will be willing to let his clock run out when Jenkins or Rodriguez are ready to start their major league clocks. If they sign a free agent to a team friendly one year deal that player will be with theM at least until the deadline.

I think June 1 is about right. The only thing that will keep him beyond that is his performance or an injured Jenkins and Rodriguez. It could be earlier if one of those two takes charge in the spring.

I will lose my mind if they are free agent outfielder shopping. We both know that if they are shopping for an outfielder... they will be shopping for a right handed hitting outfielder. They will have potentially 11 Outfielders on the 40 man after tonight. They don't need another outfielder.

The only reason to shop for an outfielder would be to find a short side guy to pair with the many left handed outfielders on the roster. Larnach, Wallner, Outman, Rodon, Erod and Jenkins are all left handed hitters and let's throw in Keirsay since he is currently on the 40 man all though I doubt he remains. 

2026 needs to be a complete... full commitment to the identification and development of younger players not strip mining them for parts. 

Now... if it's a clear upgrade... that's different but it would still be hard to explain spending limited resources on a position that is already overstocked on the 40 man. 

 

 

[Riverbrian]

3 Hours and 17 minutes until the deadline. 

Pretty Quiet out there. 

[Major League Ready]

5 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

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.

If they are that bad without Ryan and Lopez, they should definitely commit to a full rebuild.  

[mnfireman]

Scrap heap alert - Boston just DFA'd Nathaniel Lowe (though he might actually be worth a flyer)...

[Chembry]

23 minutes ago, mnfireman said:

Scrap heap alert - Boston just DFA'd Nathaniel Lowe (though he might actually be worth a flyer)...

Probably worth a flier, but I don’t think that happens at the $13.5M projected salary for next year.  More than likely let him hit FA then try to negotiate.

[Chembry]

Ramon Urias was also dfa’d by the Astros…he may be worth a look as well.  

[mnfireman]

7 minutes ago, Chembry said:

Probably worth a flier, but I don’t think that happens at the $13.5M projected salary for next year.  More than likely let him hit FA then try to negotiate.

Guess I didn't realize that he was projected for that much in arb, probably a big reason why BOS DFA'd him...

[Chembry]

Just now, mnfireman said:

Guess I didn't realize that he was projected for that much in arb, probably a big reason why BOS DFA'd him...

He is solid, but yeah that’s the reason Boston DFA’d him.  Along with pursuing Alonso.  I think Lowe is scheduled for a 4th arb year as well, but not sure on that.  Another reason to let him hit free agency first.

[Major League Ready]

5 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

I will lose my mind if they are free agent outfielder shopping. We both know that if they are shopping for an outfielder... they will be shopping for a right handed hitting outfielder. They will have potentially 11 Outfielders on the 40 man after tonight. They don't need another outfielder.

The only reason to shop for an outfielder would be to find a short side guy to pair with the many left handed outfielders on the roster. Larnach, Wallner, Outman, Rodon, Erod and Jenkins are all left handed hitters and let's throw in Keirsay since he is currently on the 40 man all though I doubt he remains. 

2026 needs to be a complete... full commitment to the identification and development of younger players not strip mining them for parts. 

Now... if it's a clear upgrade... that's different but it would still be hard to explain spending limited resources on a position that is already overstocked on the 40 man. 

 

 

I will be losing my mind right along side of you but don't worry.  There is no way in hell they are signing a free agent OFer with Wallner / Martin / Roden and two top prospects being OFers.  This would also be the year to let the LH hitters PAs against LHPs and see if the develop.  Rodriguez has a good track record hitting LHP. Worry about RH hitter next year after you give Martin / Gonzalez and perhaps Fedko a shot.

[tony&rodney]

10 hours ago, NYCTK said:

I just wanna remind people, you can follow a second team.

I'm a baseball fan. I follow all of the other teams. I have really never hated the Yankees. I have a framed photo of Sandy Koufax. Watching Miggy Cabrera hit was a treat. It's fun to watch good baseball.

My only reaction to being a little down thinking about the roster just returning ..... again ..... and with Kody Clemens as the starting first baseman is to build a roster around Kody Clemens as the first baseman. 

I'll call it my Pohlad Savings Plan.

[Riverbrian]

34 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

I will be losing my mind right along side of you but don't worry.  There is no way in hell they are signing a free agent OFer with Wallner / Martin / Roden and two top prospects being OFers.  This would also be the year to let the LH hitters PAs against LHPs and see if the develop.  Rodriguez has a good track record hitting LHP. Worry about RH hitter next year after you give Martin / Gonzalez and perhaps Fedko a shot.

I'd be shocked. For the all reasons you mention. 

Then again... in consideration of recent history. I might be Captain Louis Renault shocked.

 

[S Bart]

10 hours ago, MGX said:

Different players produce offense in different ways. Batting average is a limited stat when compared something like OPS, or better yet wRC or wOBA.

If you want to examine stats...well..Larnach did much better overall in 2025.  Wallner needs to learn how to select pitches more carefully. His weaknesses are well known by opposing pitchers. He consistently struggles making contact with a fastball up in the zone...there are other challenges that are well documented. Someone needs to work on his weak areas which are frankly similar to Gallo .... do a bit of research. .his OPS and rOBA...Rbat and slg ..BA...and other areas were lower than the prior 2 years despite having more at bats... 

 

[MGX]

11 hours ago, S Bart said:

If you want to examine stats...well..Larnach did much better overall in 2025.  Wallner needs to learn how to select pitches more carefully. His weaknesses are well known by opposing pitchers. He consistently struggles making contact with a fastball up in the zone...there are other challenges that are well documented. Someone needs to work on his weak areas which are frankly similar to Gallo .... do a bit of research. .his OPS and rOBA...Rbat and slg ..BA...and other areas were lower than the prior 2 years despite having more at bats... 

 

My post above was simply pointing out that just looking Batting Average gives you a limited view of a players production when compared to other stats like OPS, wOBA & wRC. If you disagree with that I don't know what to tell you.

I don't need to research the fact that his production was lower in 2025, as I already stated that in one of my previous posts. It seems you've made up your mind on Wallner & that's fine it's your opinion.

[S Bart]

7 hours ago, MGX said:

My post above was simply pointing out that just looking Batting Average gives you a limited view of a players production when compared to other stats like OPS, wOBA & wRC. If you disagree with that I don't know what to tell you.

I don't need to research the fact that his production was lower in 2025, as I already stated that in one of my previous posts. It seems you've made up your mind on Wallner & that's fine it's your opinion.

Not really....I am very much hoping that he does well. The team needs a local kid now they traded away Louie. I just wish that tue swing thing was fixed. My fingers are crossed that he does well in 2026. 

[mluebker]

On 11/17/2025 at 8:09 AM, Nick Nelson said:

…give Clemens an offseason to prep for the starting job, ramp him up accordingly in spring training, and see if he can fully unlock his potential with everyday starts against righties, while also providing value in other ways.  

And let’s see what Shelton and his (mostly) new coaching staff can do in terms of helping him tap into that power more consistently. Maybe playing first regularly will give him a better opportunity to focus on his hitting.

It sure looks to me like the Twins are planning to play the cards they have, so unless they’re willing to admit Royce Lewis is their first baseman of the future, Kody Clemens gets the nod.

 

[DJL44]

1 hour ago, mluebker said:

It sure looks to me like the Twins are planning to play the cards they have, so unless they’re willing to admit Royce Lewis is their first baseman of the future, Kody Clemens gets the nod.

I'm sure a pair of aces and one king will win the hand this time....

[RpR]

36 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

I'm sure a pair of aces and one king will win the hand this time....

Lewis glove - seem - to have improved. His not so great throwng arm would not be a big hinderance there, but....