Why Twins Should Sign Free-Agent First Baseman Ryan O’Hearn

[Cody Schoenmann]

Image courtesy of © Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

 

This weekend, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported the Minnesota Twins do not anticipate moving Byron Buxton, Pablo López, or Joe Ryan this offseason, intending to contend for a postseason berth in 2026. In the article, Rosenthal noted that club officials believe they have “’mild flexibility’ to make additions,” signaling the front office could have more spending room than previously thought.

 

Soon after Rosenthal’s piece was published, Twins general manager Jeremy Zoll told reporters at the Winter Meetings on Monday that the club plans on targeting “another bat or two with some thump, some impact, to bolster a group that we’re excited about.” High-cost impact bats like Pete Alonso or Kazuma Okamoto would be ideal candidates for Minnesota’s power-deficient lineup. Even though the front office has seemingly been given some spending room, though, needle movers like Alonso or Okamoto will be too expensive for the Twins.

 

Given what we can assume are still reasonably snug constraints for a team looking to spend modestly, no other player would fit Minnesota’s needs better than Ryan O’Hearn. Splitting last season between the Baltimore Orioles and San Diego Padres, the 32-year-old hit .281/.366/.437, with 17 home runs and a 127 wRC+ over 544 plate appearances. Earning the first All-Star nod of his career, the left-handed batter performed better in the first half (135 wRC+ over 361 plate appearances) than he did post-trade deadline with San Diego (112 wRC+ over 183 plate appearances). Still, given his three-season span of strong performances (121 wRC+ over 1,406 combined plate appearances), the veteran bat projects to earn his first eight-figure contract this winter. Our top 50 free agents list ranked O'Hearn in the top half, and predicted that he'll sign for two years and $23 million.

 

If Zoll is to be taken seriously, O’Hearn is the most intriguing bat Minnesota could realistically sign to bolster its lineup entering 2026. Posting a 135 wRC+ over 109 plate appearances against same-handed pitching (compared to a 125 wRC+ over 377 plate appearances facing right-handed pitching), O’Hearn excelled as a platoon-proof bat, cementing himself as a cog in the middle of Baltimore and San Diego’s lineups. He hits the ball hard and often, with hard-hit rates over 40% in each year of his career, according to Statcast—and better-than-average strikeout rates in each of the last two seasons.

 

O’Hearn is also a tremendous defensive first baseman, sporting 6 Outs Above Average (OAA) at the position in 2025. Minnesota has unexpectedly been the gold standard of first base defense in recent history, fielding the last two AL Gold Glove winners at the position in Carlos Santana and Ty France. O’Hearn would possess the defensive skillset necessary to match Santana and France’s performances, if not surpass them. The veteran lefty could also mix in at both corner outfield spots; he played 149 innings in right field and 16 innings in left field in 2025. Given his plus bat, defensive flexibility, and reputation as a beloved clubhouse figure, the Twins would be wise to target O’Hearn, adding a middle-of-the-lineup presence while addressing their most pressing position of need.

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Twins Daily's John Bonnes contributed to the reporting in this piece.

 

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[bunsen82]

I think he would be a fine addition.  However - we know we need some relief pitchers, and possibly a utility player. This would likely be using up the majority of the funds we have available for a position we could get ok to pretty good returns from in Clemens.  

I had skipped over Zolls comments.  My guess is we go for a cheaper option with thump buy I will be pleasantly surprised if we go this route.  Then Clemens can go back to more of a utility roll.  

[Ricky Vaughn]

He would be a nice addition but probably will be to expensive. I'm afraid  the Twins will look for a right handed option that can platoon with Cody C.

[Blyleven2011]

Even though he would be a good addition  , I have my doubts the twins will spend over 10 million for a player ...

They will wait it out like they have done in the past and let the prices drop and choose from what's left of players nobody else wants in the 1 to 6 million range  ...

[Nashvilletwin]

Assuming we even would spend what it would take to sign him, why in the world would he consider signing with us if he has any options remotely close to what we might offer?

[Chembry]

If O'Hearn is affordable, then Okamoto is as well.  MLBTR predicts Okamoto will get a 4/$64M and O'Hearn is predicted at 2/$26M.  They are within $3M of each other in terms of AAV.  I know that is big to the Twins, but I would consider that relatively small difference in terms of MLB contracts.  

Now, the Twins haven't signed anyone to a deal longer than 1 year since Lopez signed his extension in April of 2023.  Correa was the last FA signing that was longer than a 1 year deal.   On top of that, Bader is the highest paid FA that the Twins signed since Correa at $6.25M.  It would be a nice change if the Twins truly sign a power bat.

The Pirates made an offer to Schwarber in the 4/$120M range...Seems like they are trying to compete with that pitching staff.  Of course, they only have ~$30M in contracts on the books for 2026.

[GNess]

This somewhat surprising development including payroll flexibility and holding on to Lopez, Ryan and Buxton  creates some scenarios that many of us didn't consider realistic. Understanding of course the Twins tend towards frugality and bargains in free agency. Why not O'Hearn?

If this was the plan from jump street why the heck did they trade their four top BP arms. They should of held on to one or two of them.

[Chembry]

11 minutes ago, GNess said:

This somewhat surprising development including payroll flexibility and holding on to Lopez, Ryan and Buxton  creates some scenarios that many of us didn't consider realistic. Understanding of course the Twins tend towards frugality and bargains in free agency. Why not O'Hearn?

If this was the plan from jump street why the heck did they trade their four top BP arms. They should of held on to one or two of them.

It was well reported that Jax requested the trade.  At that point the Twins really didn't have much of a choice but to oblige.  I don't think they had any intention of trading Jax.  I also don't think they had any intention of trading Varland.  Cory Provus stated in an interview right after the deadline that the Blue Jays had been trying to acquire Varland for a few years.  I think they finally came up with an offer that Falvey couldn't refuse.   

[Riverbrian]

I'm going to ask the question... and that question will be no surprise coming from me. 

Will O' Hearn need to be platooned? 

If Yes... I'm out. 

We don't have the right handed cover and therefore right handed cover would also have to be acquired. 

If the Twins are going to let O' Hearn face it all. I'm more interested.

He can hit. 

[MGX]

15 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

I'm going to ask the question... and that question will be no surprise coming from me. 

Will O' Hearn need to be platooned? 

If Yes... I'm out. 

We don't have the right handed cover and therefore right handed cover would also have to be acquired. 

If the Twins are going to let O' Hearn face it all. I'm more interested.

He can hit. 

In my payroll blueprint O'Hearn is the 1B I wanted for the following reasons...

- Good defensive 1B

- Most importantly, no need to platoon as he handles LHP.

- Frees up Clemens to be a utility player where IMO he provides the most value to the team.

I'd really like to O'Hearn as our 1B.

One interesting note is O'Hearn did very little until his age 29 season primarily because of lack of opportunity, but has been very good since. Clemens did very little until his age 29 season primarily because of lack of opportunity & then had a solid season. There are other similarities as well, to this point the primary difference is O'Hearn has shown he can handle LHP while Clemens hasn't.

 

[Riverbrian]

7 minutes ago, MGX said:

In my payroll blueprint O'Hearn is the 1B I wanted for the following reasons...

- Good defensive 1B

- Most importantly, no need to platoon as he handles LHP.

- Frees up Clemens to be a utility player where IMO he provides the most value to the team.

I'd really like to O'Hearn as our 1B.

One interesting note is O'Hearn did very little until his age 29 season primarily because of lack of opportunity, but has been very good since. Clemens did very little until his age 29 season primarily because of lack of opportunity & then had a solid season. There are other similarities as well, to this point the primary difference is O'Hearn has shown he can handle LHP while Clemens hasn't.

 

I like your optimism but... and I hate being this guy because of the Twins related issues I have developed in regards to platoon. 

Has he shown the ability to left handers? The Royals and Orioles platooned him heavily and that's the bulk of his major league experience. . 

It was the Padres who let him face lefties for a couple of months last season and he hit them quite well in a small sample. 

I like O' Hearn as a hitter. But, if he is two roster spots... I like him less. A lot less. 

[CRF]

I'd be ok with that, but they won't do it. He'll end up costing too much. They'd probably sit him against lefties anyway.  

[TJSweens]

25 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

I'm going to ask the question... and that question will be no surprise coming from me. 

Will O' Hearn need to be platooned? 

If Yes... I'm out. 

We don't have the right handed cover and therefore right handed cover would also have to be acquired. 

If the Twins are going to let O' Hearn face it all. I'm more interested.

He can hit. 

I would add to that...no occasional moves to the OF. I'm tired of the mix and match, play everyone in 2 or 3 positions approach. You wind up with players who are a jack of all trades and a master of none. All kinds of defensive inconsistencies spring up from that.

[MGX]

51 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

I like your optimism but... and I hate being this guy because of the Twins related issues I have developed in regards to platoon. 

Has he shown the ability to left handers? The Royals and Orioles platooned him heavily and that's the bulk of his major league experience. . 

It was the Padres who let him face lefties for a couple of months last season and he hit them quite well in a small sample. 

I like O' Hearn as a hitter. But, if he is two roster spots... I like him less. A lot less. 

It's a valid concern & if you're right & they were to view him as a platoon bat then I'd prefer spending the money elsewhere. 

[sweetmusicviola16]

The Twins won't be signing any 12 or 13 million dollar players. O'Hearn is probably the kind of player they should sign but they won't. 

[IndianaTwin]

1 hour ago, Riverbrian said:

I like your optimism but... and I hate being this guy because of the Twins related issues I have developed in regards to platoon. 

Has he shown the ability to left handers? The Royals and Orioles platooned him heavily and that's the bulk of his major league experience. . 

It was the Padres who let him face lefties for a couple of months last season and he hit them quite well in a small sample. 

I like O' Hearn as a hitter. But, if he is two roster spots... I like him less. A lot less. 

1. Depends on whether you put more emphasis on last year's experience vs. LHP (.832 OPS in 109 PAs) or his career (.642 in 346 PAs). One would like to think that a person progresses in their career, so the more recent data carries more weight, so how does a .750ish work going forward? 

2. The sample size is getting smaller, but his career OPS against LHP starters is .791 (in 273 PAs), but his OPS in the 73 PAs against relievers is bad enough that it brings his overall OPS down to .642. That distinction makes some sense in that his PAs against LHP starters were probably disproportionately in the time with the Padres, when he was hitting LHP better in general. It may also speak to teams bringing in a specific type of LHP to face him in relief in the past and maybe he's addressed that weakness. 

 

At any rate, it seems like there was enough progress against LHP last year to at least dig deeper. Also, given the relative youth of the rest of the infield, I prioritize 1B defense even more than I typically would, which it seems he also brings.   

[jmlease1]

eh. I'm less enthusiastic about O'Hearn. Players who have a peak season at 31 make me a little nervous. O'Hearn ain't much of a defensive player and the good splits last season hitting LHP might be more small sample size fluke than reality since he's been typically bad against LHP before. While I like pushing Clemens to the bench, where he belongs, I think I'd still rather take a risk on Andujar than O'Hearn, who will be cheaper and fills the need for RH thump better.

While 2/$24M would be fair based on his past several seasons, it's probably out of the Cheap Pohlad budget, even with them "allowing" Falvey to add rather than subtract.

[miller761]

Dear Santa. Please bring us Ryan O'Hearn and Miguel Andujar. I have been a good boy...I suffered through the entire Twin's season.

[arby58]

4 hours ago, bunsen82 said:

I think he would be a fine addition.  However - we know we need some relief pitchers, and possibly a utility player. This would likely be using up the majority of the funds we have available for a position we could get ok to pretty good returns from in Clemens.  

Clemens had his moments last year, but his numbers aren't 'ok to pretty good returns' for 1B. O'Hern's 125 OPS+, .803 OPS and 2.4 WAR are head and shoulders above Clemens' 94, .715, and 1.0.

We can convert some starters to relief pitchers (it's how Duran, Jax, and Varland got good, not to mention Nathan, Aguilera, and their current bullpen coach). We've got plenty of utility options, but we don't have a 'thumper' at 1B, and the Twins lineup needs one.

[arby58]

22 minutes ago, jmlease1 said:

eh. I'm less enthusiastic about O'Hearn. Players who have a peak season at 31 make me a little nervous.

He's had three good years in a row - OPS+ of 122, 119, and 125.

[bunsen82]

2 minutes ago, arby58 said:

Clemens had his moments last year, but his numbers aren't 'ok to pretty good returns' for 1B. O'Hern's 125 OPS+, .803 OPS and 2.4 WAR are head and shoulders above Clemens' 94, .715, and 1.0.

We can convert some starters to relief pitchers (it's how Duran, Jax, and Varland got good, not to mention Nathan, Aguilera, and their current bullpen coach). We've got plenty of utility options, but we don't have a 'thumper' at 1B, and the Twins lineup needs one.

Its all roster management,  and with minimal financial resources they have to get creative somewhere.  They have been fairly clear they want 2 more veteran relievers (traded or signed) and the remainder will be filled by minor league pitchers with converted starters or relievers in the minors.  

[jmlease1]

23 minutes ago, arby58 said:

He's had three good years in a row - OPS+ of 122, 119, and 125.

Yep. will he keep that success up at 32, and what will we do to attack LHP if he returns to career norms against them? He's a clear upgrade over Clemens offensively, bit of a downgrade defensively, but also looks like a guy that isn't likely to fix our issues against LHP. For us to commit $12M per season, I just don't know if we can use it on a guy who isn't a more significant upgrade and also doesn't address that weakness.

Feels like the kind of signing we'd make if O'Hearn's market dries up on him fast because no one believes in him and he needs a home on a 1 year deal...which might be ok?

[DocBauer]

I like O'Hearn and would be happy to have him. But isn't Nathaniel Lowe an equivalent option who is slightly younger and might come in $2-3M less? He also has solid splits against LHP in his career.

[jmlease1]

10 minutes ago, Bigfork Twins Guy said:

Did you read the op?

"O’Hearn is also a tremendous defensive first baseman, sporting 6 Outs Above Average (OAA) at the position in 2025. Minnesota has unexpectedly been the gold standard of first base defense in recent history, fielding the last two AL Gold Glove winners at the position in Carlos Santana and Ty France. O’Hearn would possess the defensive skillset necessary to match Santana and France’s performances, if not surpass them."

I say sign him if you can.  Maybe we have a third GG in a row at 1B.  Wonder if that has ever been done by one team with three different players?

Sure did. Not big enough samples of him at 1B to be that confident that yes, he's great defensively. He had a fine season at 1B for Baltimore before being traded. His overall time at 1B over the past 3 season defensively is much more mixed. I'm not sold on a guy being a defensive stalwart after 1 good season, and never playing the position for even close to a full season. Small samples for defense are a great way to lie to yourself.

(I'm encouraged by Austin Martin's performance in LF last season, but I'm not sold on him being a plus defender out there and I got to watch him improve as the season went along. Because it was only 250 innings)

[nova_twins]

The case against O'Hearn is that he's maybe around a 0.5 - 1 win upgrade to the current roster and not worth using up what little money is available. Very well might not be realistic financially.

But he does have positives. Last season he was actually a little above average in running speed, so he does have some athleticism. Being able to focus on only 1B would undoubtedly be helpful as well. 

There's also an indirect upgrade by letting Clemens backup 2B and 3B against right handers. 

[Jacksson]

10 hours ago, GNess said:

If this was the plan from jump street why the heck did they trade their four top BP arms. They should of held on to one or two of them.

Because they needed to offset the 10 Million the team is eating this year to dump Correa by subtracting the players who would get raises through arbitration.

[GNess]

1 hour ago, Jacksson said:

Because they needed to offset the 10 Million the team is eating this year to dump Correa by subtracting the players who would get raises through arbitration.

You are right if the moves at the deadline was primarily a salary dump, which allowed for no prioritizing of competing in 2026. However, now the dumping seems to be on hold (by their recent statements) as the FO tries to maneuver into fielding a competitive team after gutting their BP just a few months ago. 

This roster development approach is a shot in the dark in my view if in fact competing in 2026 actually is a value to the FO.

[KBJ1]

The Twins won't spend what it takes to compete. What player in his right .ind would sign with them or any of the dozen or so "minor league" franchises in this league? I'll say it again, MLB , as a league, is doomed without complete revenue sharing and hard caps like the NFL.  This has to get done. The owners need to wake up and quit pretending. Fans will not support this any longer. 

[gmwannabe]

Why not Polanco?

[tony&rodney]

The Twins dumped their relievers and shortstop to save around $30M. If the goal was to trim the roster payroll below $110M, how does the front office then turn and sign a guy for $13-15M? 

Something in past practices predicts a contract offered to someone for $2-5M. The presser will include comments about how excited, etc.

If I'm being really optimistic, I hope the Twins trade for Yandy Diaz or Tre' Morgan from the Rays.

That said, sign me up for a Ryan O'Hearn at 2/$26M or Jorge Polanco at 3/$42M if the consensus says the Twins suddenly are spending money. Might as well add He-Seong Kim at 2/$30M and Robert Suarez at 3/$45M too.