If the Twins Want to Add Thump, Here are 15 Names to Consider

[Greggory Masterson]

Image courtesy of © David Frerker-Imagn Images

At baseball’s winter meetings this week, there has been much ballyhoo about the Twins’ search to add a little power to their lineup. General manager Jeremy Zoll was quoted as saying that the club hopes to add “another bat or two with a little thump, with some impact,” and Dan Hayes reported in the Athletic that the group has shown specific interest in free agents Ryan O’Hearn, Josh Bell, and Rhys Hoskins.

Let’s take a look at the case for each of those three hitters, and a few more free agents who qualify as “thump” (skipping over lighter-hitting names like Luis Arraez), using the perceived market for O’Hearn, Bell, and Hoskins as a cap for the type of free agent the Twins could be interested in.

Ryan O’Hearn
O’Hearn is probably the top remaining free agent at first base after Pete Alonso and Josh Naylor signed. At 32, he was a late bloomer, floundering for years in Kansas City before blossoming into a quality hitter with a .788 OPS (20% above league average) over the last three seasons. He’s left-handed and can play a bit of corner outfield—neither of which is a need for the Twins—and he doesn’t boast huge power numbers (46 home runs over the past three years), but he’s a very dependable bat and plays good first base defense. He’s likely to be paid more than anyone else on this list, so it’s questionable that the Twins will have the spending room to play in his market, but it’s definitely worth exploring.

Ryan O'Hearn mashes his 13th homer of the year 💥 pic.twitter.com/Wmpk9sE7Y6

— MLB (@MLB) July 30, 2025

Josh Bell
Bell has been a mercenary-like first baseman-for-hire for the past several seasons. He was traded from Washington to San Diego in 2022, signed with Cleveland in 2023, then traded to Miami, and finally traded from Miami to Arizona in 2024, before staying in Washington for a full season in 2025. He’s been streaky, but since 2022, his .749 OPS has been 10% above league average. He’s a 20-homer switch-hitter (slightly better against righties) who can be gotten for a seven-figure, one-year deal, and the Twins can plug him into the middle of the lineup every day with few qualms. He’s a poor defender at first base, but the team will also have DH opportunities for him.

Rhys Hoskins
Hoskins was one of the more reliable first basemen in baseball until a 2023 torn ACL sidelined him for an entire season. Since recovering from the knee injury, he has not been the same hitter, and subsequent thumb and hamstring injuries have hampered his production. However, even in his diminished form, he still has 25-homer power and his .748 OPS last season was about 10% above league average—roughly equivalent to Matt Wallner and Ryan Jeffers. At the bare minimum, his righty bat can play very well against lefties, making him a good platoon candidate who can hold his own against righties. There are a ton of questions about what his market is, and it’s easy to see him as a quintessential February Derek Falvey signing.

Marcell Ozuna
Ozuna is a DH-only player at this stage of his career, but the 35-year-old continues to justify a spot in the lineup. He’s a set-it-and-forget-it player just a year removed from an All-Star appearance, but if the Twins are swimming in the O’Hearn market, Ozuna could likely sign for a similar dollar amount on a one-year deal. His .867 OPS since 2023 is 40% above league average, though last season he only got to .756 with 21 home runs. This mark was only bested by Byron Buxton and Luke Keaschall on the 2025 Twins, though, so it could be worth exploring, so long as the Twins can stomach his checkered personal history.

Marcell Ozuna delivers the #walkoff homer in the 11th inning to win it for the @Braves! pic.twitter.com/fzLqMZ6GRX

— MLB (@MLB) April 11, 2025

Adolis Garcia
Garcia was not tendered a contract by the Rangers for the 32-year-old’s third year of arbitration, making him a free agent ahead of 2026. He’s been merely a league-average hitter over the past two seasons, sporting a combined .675 OPS (96 OPS+), but he was an All-Star Gold Glover in 2023 as a 30-year-old and was a driving force in the Rangers’ World Series victory. It’s unclear that he can get back to that level of production as he enters his mid-30s, but he still boasts 20-homer power and is a plus defender in right field. He was due about $12 million in arbitration, and no team traded for his rights, so he might be affordable for the Twins. Even with all the outfielders currently on the roster, the righty Garcia could slot in in right field, moving Matt Wallner to the DH spot.

Paul Goldschmidt
It’s unclear that Goldschmidt still qualifies as a slugger, as he only popped 10 home runs last year and sported a league-average .731 OPS. He’s 38, and the potential Hall of Famer is showing clear signs of decline, but he may have the juice for one more solid campaign. The bar at DH and first base is low for the Twins, and Goldschmidt should be within their budget. He signed for $12 million last season and will likely sign for less this year. He’s also slipped defensively, and he might be more of a righty platoon option at this point in his career, but he brings a lot of experience. He can serve as something of a mentor for younger players as he plays out the strings on his career, if that’s something that matters to you.

Nathaniel Lowe
Lowe, like Garcia, was not tendered a contract ahead of his third year of arbitration. Like O’Hearn, he’s a lefty who would be joining a team full of lefty corner bats, but between 2019 and 2024, he was a 20% above average hitter (.789 OPS) with 15-20 homer power. He struggled in his age-29 season last year, prompting the Red Sox to release him before he was due approximately $13.5 million by MLB Trade Rumors’ arbitration estimates. Like with Garcia, that could signal a market conducive to the Twins’ needs.

Miguel Andújar
I debated including Andújar on this list because he’s probably got the lowest power cap of any hitter listed. He’s been a part-time player who hasn’t flashed much power since hist 27 home run season in 2018. He technically plays the corner outfield and infield spots, but it’s not pretty. However, he’s got a .282 career batting average, hits lefties well, and could pop 15 homers. He’s also likely to be paid less than most of, if not all of, the players on this side of the list, and his marginal flexibility gives him the leg up on a lot of these names, especially if the “or two” part of Zoll’s comment is to be believed.

Kazuma Okamoto
Including him as a technicality. Okamoto is a great power hitter from Japan who is in the O’Hearn or Ozuna neighborhood, but he’s likely to sign a deal for four years or more, and there are additional posting fees. Probably not going to happen, unless his market is soured by the standard uncertainty of international players making the transition to MLB.

Kazuma Okamoto has the highest AIR% in NPB since 2021 at 67.3% (min. 1600 PA).

He also pulls it consistently and has a very similar batted ball profile to Seiya Suzuki.

Okamoto's estimated launch angle this season was 17.5°. Suzuki's was 17.9°.pic.twitter.com/lqk5szaFg4

— Yakyu Cosmopolitan (@yakyucosmo) October 22, 2025

Okay, let’s do some rapid-fire, lower-cost options.

Carlos Santana
Santana’s 2024 with the Twins was just what they needed, but he’ll be 40 next season. Still, he’s a good defender, and although his offense continues to slip, he’s better against lefties than Kody Clemens (damning with faint praise). He’s viewed as a leader and could have just a little more gas in the tank.

Rowdy Tellez
If you want homers and only homers, Rowdy is your guy. He’s built like a first baseman of yesteryear, and he’s like Walmart-brand Josh Bell, a first baseman for hire. He’s a league-average bat who doesn’t play good defense and needs a platoon partner against lefties, but he has 25- to 30-homer power. It’s thump.

Dominic Smith
He’s Tellez with less power but more OBP, but he had a better 2025 with the Giants, and he can pop 15 homers over a full season. In both players’ cases, they would need to be platooned, but if you have seven dollars to find a little hitting, sure. Go for it.

Michael Toglia
The Rockies thought they had a breakout season in 2024 from Toglia, if you call a breakout being a league-average hitter in Coors with 25 homers, but he was bad in 2025 (and 2023 and 2022). He’s got neutral splits, but he could platoon with Clemens, potentially.

Mitch Garver
He can’t really catch much anymore, and isn’t more than an emergency option at first base, and also he’s had some questionable comments about the Twins’ decision to choose Ryan Jeffers over him, but with Alex Jackson’s limitations, it wouldn’t be the worst thing to carry a third catcher, and Garver can still hit lefties fine with 15-20 homer power over a full season despite his poor overall numbers last year.

Gary Sánchez
Same thought process as with Garver, Sánchez doesn’t catch well and is only an emergency first baseman, but he could be a low-cost platoon option, even with his with his neutral career platoon splits. 

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[Nashvilletwin]

Hmmm, which one of these will surely make us legitimate contenders?   It’s so hard to tell since any of them could be the difference for us in ‘26.

I know, why not just sign all of them?  

Sheesh…what a list.

Can’t wait for opening day to watch any of those retreads. The anticipation is unbearable….

[Linus]

And this list, my friends, is why Kody Clemens will be your starting first baseman. Seriously, if you are going to try this year then make a trade for a potential solution at first base. 

[old nurse]

League average hitter is a useless stat when one is looking for a starting 1b. 

 

It is a nice list showing the dearth of power hitters. Names of players with one or two good years or progressing downhill is not of much use  it is the same type of player that they will after plast the Twins for signing or trading for  

 

[Jacksson]

The listing of "talent" just emphasizes the need for a long term developmental player for 1B for this organization.

[rv78]

Adding a "player or two" from this list is the reason why the Twins will not contend in 2026. 

[FlyingFinn]

Do most people on TD actually want the Twins to add "thump?" Initial answer is yes. But he can't strike out 30% of the time. Oh, and he has to play good defense. It seems like we want someone who hits .300 with 30 HR's and 100 rbi's and plays good defense.

IMO, we need a mixture of thumpers and speed on the team (great to have both like Buxton). That's why I don't like giving up on Wallner. He's a thumper. I think he can fix that hole at the top of the zone. He's a lot cheaper than any on this list as well. I know, we still need someone at 1B.

[MGX]

From the list I like O'Hearn, he's a legitimate middle of the order bat (9th among 1B in wRC+ in 2025) & plays good D at 1B. Other than that Lowe is a cheaper option that could have a bounce back year. If not one of those two we may as well just get a utility player who consistenly hits LHP & have him platoon with Clemens.

[tony&rodney]

Why did I scroll down the list? After O'Hearn and maybe Lowe it was just depressing. The money has to be enticing for these guys. They would enjoy joining the amateur senior mens leagues more than the grind of professional baseball, but it's tough to pass up the Twins calling and offering $1-5M for one more year in the major leagues.

Professional baseball is a tough, competitive occupation that requires  hours toiling at the lower levels, risking everything, and constantly dealing with failure. The love of the game makes it difficult to retire. I respect these guys immensely for their dedication and perseverance. I wish them well too. When a player like Gallo, Farmer, Margot, and others joins the Twins we know we will get whatever they have left. It isn't their fault if time has worn down the sinews and reflexes needed for baseball. They are giving it a last shot because $10M or $4M or $1M is their final time perhaps and the joy of a good game or run of success is still viable at times.

The decision to sign the fading veteran makes perfect sense to fill out the edges of a competitive roster too because these players can provide bursts of solid play. When a team is counting on these guys to be regulars who lead the team, there is bound to be disappointment. Gary Sanchez works as a backup catcher for a team with a strong guy playing 110-120 games. As a 80 games guy? Not so much.

The Twins have used these veteran reserve players in the twilight of their careers too often as regulars counted on to be productive and win games. Why do i want change when my team, the Minnesota Twins, is consistently devoted to mediocrity?

[CRF]

Wow...just wow. There's maybe a couple guys on the top of this list worth taking a shot at. Maybe. If we somehow sign Santana, Garver, or Sanchez again...I'll slit my wrists. 

[Fatbat]

I heard Kent Hrbek had a stellar church league ops with 97 Hr’s in ‘25. He is weighing a comeback to fast pitch ball. The FO should sign him fast before he ends up with the brew crew….

[singlesoverwalks]

Is there any hope that one of our glut of replacement-level outfielders learns first base? 

[LambchoP]

Maybe we'll get lucky and Fedko's AAA breakout was for real. What if he has such a huge spring training that they are forced to give him a platoon role at first with Clemens, eventually taking over full-time. Imagine if he put up similar numbers in the bigs to what he did in St Paul last year? Finally finding a RH 1b who can hit 30 HR and steal 30 bases......A guy can dream can't he? More likely we sign an aging, defensively limited has been for cheap and he's released at the deadline.....

[terrydactyls]

30 minutes ago, singlesoverwalks said:

Is there any hope that one of our glut of replacement-level outfielders learns first base? 

The price tag on a top of the line first baseman glove is under $500.  For Christmas, Falvey needs to buy one for Wallner, one for Larnach, one for Keaschall, and one for Lewis and tell them they have until training camp opens to figure out how it works.  Best performance during spring training wins an all expenses paid trip to the 26-man roster.

[LastOnePicked]

Do we really want to watch a few marginal add-on bats keep our top prospects in AA and AAA for "additional seasoning"? I don't think that's been a great approach so far, and I was really hoping we were ready to make the transition to talent and youth. If we're going to have a low payroll, and least let the prospects make some major league money in the process.

[Cory Engelhardt]

This tells me the trade route is the smarter path to take

[Nashvilletwin]

2 hours ago, Fatbat said:

I heard Kent Hrbek had a stellar church league ops with 97 Hr’s in ‘25. He is weighing a comeback to fast pitch ball. The FO should sign him fast before he ends up with the brew crew….

Sano absolutely raked in the Dominican league this winter….lol

[Greglw3]

Good catch Greggory on the 'or two' by Zoll, seems a lot of people forgot that but the Gregs latched onto it.

I’ll take Ryan O’Hearn and I’ll take Miguel Andujar with hid .318 average. Adding two bats that would have finished 4th and 1st in batting average, respectively with some pop is the best thing to lift the Twins up from their multi year affliction of featuring myriad .190, .204, .220 type hitters in their lineup.

In the outfield, I’m looking at Austin Martin, Byron Buxton and 2 of G. Gonzalez, W Jenkins, E Rodriguez, H Mendez, Matt Wallner and Larnach with a strong preference to fill the 2 slots with 2 of the young studs. With O’Hearn, Andujar and the ascendent youngsters, we could actually have a chance.

[Brandon]

Where does Sabato rank on this list?

What I like about this list is the Twins could sign 2 of these guys at their price because there are so many of them.  Nathaniel Lowe for 1 year 8 million and Garver can play 1B / DH and third C for 3 million 1 year.  

[IndianaTwin]

2 hours ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

This tells me the trade route is the smarter path to take

I had some of the same thought, though I do like O'Hearn. I don't mind that he bats LH. They face many more right hand pitchers and the Twins already have Buxton, Lewis, Keaschall and Jeffers/Jackson as righties expected to play every day, plus Lee as a switch hitter. Add Martin and they don't really need another RH batter. The only LH batters facing a LHP would be O'Hearn, the RF and the DH. In general, the guys expected to play every day are RH batters. The question marks in terms of playing time are mostly LH batters.

 

@Cory Engelhardt or @Greggory Masterson, I would trust either of you to give us a solid listing of guys who could realistically be acquired in trade.

By "realistically," I don't mean the "Hey, the Orioles just signed Alonso. Maybe they would trade Basallo or Rutschman" articles we get from time to time. I mean, Mountcastle/Mayo, Casas if the Red Sox resign Bregman, Vientos had Alonso resigned with the Mets, etc. 

[IndianaTwin]

Another reason Casas may not be needed by the Red Sox is because according to the MLB.com depth charts, it appears Boston plans to start Romy Gonzalez at first, second AND third base. 🤣

[Cory Engelhardt]

13 minutes ago, IndianaTwin said:

I had some of the same thought, though I do like O'Hearn. I don't mind that he bats LH. They face many more right hand pitchers and the Twins already have Buxton, Lewis, Keaschall and Jeffers/Jackson as righties expected to play every day, plus Lee as a switch hitter. Add Martin and they don't really need another RH batter. The only LH batters facing a LHP would be O'Hearn, the RF and the DH. In general, the guys expected to play every day are RH batters. The question marks in terms of playing time are mostly LH batters.

 

@Cory Engelhardt or @Greggory Masterson, I would trust either of you to give us a solid listing of guys who could realistically be acquired in trade.

By "realistically," I don't mean the "Hey, the Orioles just signed Alonso. Maybe they would trade Basallo or Rutschman" articles we get from time to time. I mean, Mountcastle/Mayo, Casas if the Red Sox resign Bregman, Vientos had Alonso resigned with the Mets, etc. 

All of the names you listed below I’d be good with. Specifically Mayo and Casas is who I’d love to target. I don’t know that Mountcastle would be my first choice but I would go that route before at least half of the free agents listed here. 

[IndianaTwin]

4 minutes ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

All of the names you listed below I’d be good with. Specifically Mayo and Casas is who I’d love to target. I don’t know that Mountcastle would be my first choice but I would go that route before at least half of the free agents listed here. 

From MLBTradeRumors: 

The Astros kicked off the offseason by downplaying the idea that they would consider dealing away either third baseman Isaac Paredes or first baseman Christian Walker to clear the infield logjam the summer’s Carlos Correa trade created, but more recent reporting has suggested at least some discussions involving Paredes with the Red Sox. 

 

Paredes has played a reasonable amount of 1B, though I don't know how well. MLBTR also projects him at $10M in arbitration. If there's willingness to take on that amount in free agency, they could do so in a trade, perhaps especially if it started with Ober going back. I don't know the Houston roster well, but it appears the Twins have more SP depth, at least if one is a believer in the Bradley/Abel/Festa, etc., crew. 

[karcherd]

3 hours ago, terrydactyls said:

The price tag on a top of the line first baseman glove is under $500.  For Christmas, Falvey needs to buy one for Wallner, one for Larnach, one for Keaschall, and one for Lewis and tell them they have until training camp opens to figure out how it works.  Best performance during spring training wins an all expenses paid trip to the 26-man roster.

Falvey just recently said Larnach and Wallner are not going to be moved to 1B, so hopefully we can put that to rest on TD.  Whether it is a good idea or not it is not going to happen.  Lewis is set at 3B, he is not moving, at least not this year.

[Fatbat]

Serious question. Would any of these guys play for league minimum with an incentive laden contract? 

[HerbieFan]

It escapes me why the organization didn't start Wallner's transition to 1B two years ago.  Maybe it's not just that easy.  But Kody Clemens.....

[tony&rodney]

25 minutes ago, HerbieFan said:

It escapes me why the organization didn't start Wallner's transition to 1B two years ago.  Maybe it's not just that easy.  But Kody Clemens.....

Trevor Larnach played 1 game at 1B in the Cape Cod Summer League in 2017. Matt Wallner has never appeared in a game anywhere that is recorded as a first baseman. It is a sure thing that various coaches and managers worked out both of these guys at first base at some point over the years. If you have watched either play the ball on the base hits to them in the outfield you should have a rough idea why first base might be even less likely than shortstop for either of them. FWIW, shortstop isn't an option. Both Larnach and Wallner could thrive as everyday DH's.

[twinstalker]

There are some names, like Andujar, who might get you some value at the trade deadline.  O'Hearn.  But it's doubtful they'll be around when the Twins are offering up 1 yr low salary contracts.

[soyouresayingtheresachance]

O'hearn would be acceptable. Lowe would be ok hoping for a bounce back season. The rest of the list is an absolute no. There are already too many players on the team that can't play defense.

If a 1B with decent enough defense and some thump isn't in the price range, I'd like to see that high OBP guy with good defense and sign a DH with Power. We have a few guys on the team already that are supposed to have some thump, but not many with high BA or OBP. 

[Woof Bronzer]

6 hours ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

This tells me the trade route is the smarter path to take

Let me guess...trade all of our bad players for some really good players?