Is There Any World Where Miguel Sano Is an Option at First Base for the 2026 Twins?

[Cody Christie]

Image courtesy of © Nick Wosika-Imagn Images

Miguel Sano is doing the thing again. The ball is jumping off his bat in the Dominican Winter League, and he is currently leading the circuit in OPS. This is the version of Sano that Twins fans remember well. Towering home runs. Light tower power. A swing that seems to require its own ZIP code. It is all there, and it always seems to show up when he heads home for the winter. And in a year where the Twins need a first baseman, have a tight payroll, and are open to creative roster fits, it is at least fair to ask the question. Could the organization really consider bringing him back?

The idea is light-hearted on the surface because it has become almost mythical with Sano. He is still only 32. He still looks like he was built to hit baseballs out of sight. And he still has the same blend of talent and pure strength that once made him the crown jewel of the Twins prospect system. At his best, he changed games with one swing. At his worst, he frustrated fans, coaches, and front offices. That is part of the package, and it always has been.

His recent big-league struggles are no secret. His production dipped sharply in his final seasons with Minnesota, including a .342 OPS in 2022. His conditioning and maturity were questioned more than once. He bounced around without gaining traction, including playing 28 games with the Angels in 2024 (73 OPS+). Since then, he has played only in the Dominican Winter League, and it seemed the door had closed for good. In 60 plate appearances this year, he's gone 18-for-51 (.353 BA) with seven homers, three doubles, and an 11-to-7 strikeout-to-walk-ratio. Even with those totals, it is hard to imagine a contending club handing him a guaranteed job.

But then you see the Winter League numbers. You see the highlights. And when a team like the Twins is trying to field a competitive roster without expanding payroll, it opens the door to some creative thinking. The front office has already shown its willingness to take a flier, offering Ty France a non-guaranteed $1 million contract. Suppose that is the market for depth bats with upside, who would object to doing the same with Sano? The risk is minimal, and the upside is not imaginary. He hit a pile of home runs during Derek Shelton’s years as hitting coach in Minnesota, including a career-high 34 bombs in 2019. Maybe there is a relationship there that could help both sides. Maybe there's still trust in place. Or maybe it is just a fun storyline.

This is not an argument that the Twins should sign him. First base is a critical position for a club that is on the fringes of contention. There are safer options. There are more reliable bats. And there is a lengthy track record showing that Sano has struggled to consistently translate Winter League success to a full major league season. The team needs stability, not wishful thinking.

Still, there is something undeniably entertaining about the idea. Old friends rarely return in baseball, but sometimes they do. Sometimes a player finds himself late in his career. Sometimes the fit makes sense even when logic says it should not. The Twins should not bank on Sano being part of their 2026 solution, yet it is perfectly reasonable to keep an open mind for the right price.

The story may end exactly where most expect it to. Sano will take his Winter League dominance somewhere else while Minnesota finds a safer everyday first baseman. But in an offseason that will require creativity and thrift, he remains one of the more fascinating names to keep an eye on. Sometimes, the most improbable options make the winter a little more fun.

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Should the Twins consider a reunion with Sano? Leave a comment and start the discussion.
 

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[the_brute_squad]

It would be a good story so why not? As long as he can get down to a playable weight. The video on the story makes it look like he's not pushing away from any buffet tables.

[Whitey333]

Wow.  Twins Dayly must be getting desperate for stories.  My goodness.  Sano has run his course.  It would be absurd.  But then again absurd is the Minnesota Twins.

[theBOMisthebomb]

"...there is something undeniably entertaining about the idea."

Sano is the least entertaining signing I could possibly imagine. If the Twins bring this guy back it would shake my belief in this organization and I've spent the last 4 months defending the Twins after the trade deadline fire sale to family, friends, and coworkers. If the Twins bring back Sano, I might join my many friends who have been decades long Twins fans and have finally said no more. 

[LewFordLives]

No.

[CRF]

C'mon now...there HAS to be more idiotic nonsense to write about than this.

[rv78]

You make Randball Stu proud.

[Cory Engelhardt]

Go ahead in mlb the show if you like. You could even change all his ratings to 99 if that sounds good

[TNtwins85]

A platoon with Clemens makes it almost seem like it could be a fit. If you squint really hard.

[DJL44]

He still can’t field. This roster has too many DH. They don’t need to add another.

[sun]

If he can become an Uber driver then he should get a shot at it.

[arby58]

Wanted: a defensively challenged Joey Gallo. Found him.

[Heiny]

Cody - I enjoy your writing, but when I saw the articles' headline, I thought, "Man, are we ever getting desparate for stories."  But I read the article anyway,  and thought again:  well written and entertaining.  But what really caught my attention was the thought of how we signed France last year.  Only gets paid if he makes the team out of spring training.  Minimal cost longshot.  But then what happened?  He made the team.  We got trade value for him at the deadline.  He ended up winning a gold glove.  This would be another minimal cost longshot and even a little humorous.  Not going to try to figure the odds of it happening, but remember, this is the desperate Mn. Twins with Falvey at the helm.  Take a look at all the minimum wage and minor league signings we've done during the previous several seasons.  Mostly relief pitchers with probably worse odds of contributing to the team than Sano.  He at  least had high prospect status for a reason.  Keep writing Cody.  Even crazy ideas can be fun.  And sometimes longshots pay off.  And when they do, they pay off big.  LOL.

[jmlease1]

It'd be one thing if he was 28, but he's not. Where's the evidence that he plays even a competent 1B and that his knee would hold up to a MLB schedule? Can he actually catch up to MLB fastballs or is he just punishing lower velocity and mistakes?

At best he'd be worth giving a minor-league contract to. Which he probably doesn't take, especially from the Twins (it's hard for someone who was an all-star with a club to accept a make-good deal in the minors; pride gets in the way).

Maybe he's healthy and has his head right. But he's played less than 50 games in the US since 2022, so doesn't really look like an MLB player any longer.

[Blyleven2011]

We don't need anymore strikeout kings in this lineup  , we already broke the single season record for strikeouts , do we still hold that misfortune  ...

Hes playing winter ball not mlb ball , he proved he's not a major leaguer anymore with the twins and angels and couldn't make adjustments  , stay in shape or play decent defense ...

Please Cody  , stop using the words contender in your articles , the Twins first have to be competitive before being contenders .

 

[Jeff K]

No.  Stated another way; NO!

[old nurse]

The question asked was if there was any world where Sano could be playing first base for the Twins.  Classic scenario from old time TV show. Yes there is a world in which Sano successfully plays 1B for the Twins. In black and white, it is found in the Twilight Zone.  

[Parfigliano]

25 minutes ago, Blyleven2011 said:

We don't need anymore strikeout kings in this lineup  , we already broke the single season record for strikeouts , do we still hold that misfortune  ...

Hes playing winter ball not mlb ball , he proved he's not a major leaguer anymore with the twins and angels and couldn't make adjustments  , stay in shape or play decent defense ...

Please Cody  , stop using the words contender in your articles , the Twins first have to be competitive before being contenders .

 

"Non-contender" is the proper use of the word "contender" in reference to TC at this point.

I hope this changes before July 2026.

[Blyleven2011]

2 minutes ago, Parfigliano said:

"Non-contender" is the proper use of the word "contender" in reference to TC at this point.

I hope this changes before July 2026.

Everyone hopes it changes before the season starts but realistically we will just be non-contenders again and again , year after year until new ownership and FO personal are gone  ...

[theBOMisthebomb]

1 hour ago, rv78 said:

You make Randball Stu proud.

I went back and double checked to see if the original post was satire. It isn't, right?!?!? I'm happy I don't have to retract my previous comment. Although you did get me thinking for a moment that I was duped. 

[theBOMisthebomb]

1 hour ago, arby58 said:

Wanted: a defensively challenged Joey Gallo. Found him.

The Twins could use Gallo out of the bullpen:

https://www.mlb.com/news/joey-gallo-posts-video-of-pitching-off-mound

[strumdatjag]

A female reporter, who I believe still covers the team, made a disturbing accusation against  Sano near the end of his tenure.  I doubt Twins management wants to have that issue return as well.

[dberthia]

I heard Matt Capps and Nik Turley are also available.

[D.C Twins]

[tarheeltwinsfan]

Noooooooooooooooo !

[S Bart]

When was the last time the Twins had a decent first baseman who actually lasted more than one year? 🤔 ...since you mention a far-fetched Sano possibility...how about seeing if Hrbek might be interested..

[Parfigliano]

34 minutes ago, dberthia said:

I heard Matt Capps and Nik Turley are also available.

I'm holding out for LaTortuga.  

[karcherd]

2 hours ago, Heiny said:

Only gets paid if he makes the team out of spring training.  Minimal cost longshot.  But then what happened?  He made the team. 

Him making the team was a foregone conclusion the moment he signed.  Falvey basically said he was the starting first baseman at the time of the signing the same as he has now done with Clemens.  All these articles whether fantasy or real about what they will do at 1B is not going to change what has already been determined.  I will believe something different when there is someone not named Clemens at 1B on opening day.

[Senior Softball Guy]

49 minutes ago, dberthia said:

I heard Matt Capps and Nik Turley are also available.

You want entertainment? The return of La Tortuga!

[Richie the Rally Goat]