Do the Twins Need a Full-Time Designated Hitter in 2027?

[Jacksson]

Not unless the "Full Time" player is already on the 40 man roster.  (Buxton, Keaschall, Larnach).  The money that would be paid to sign a Free Agent Full Time DH is better spent elsewhere.

[Jacksson]

Coming off of hip surgery, won't Buxton be the primary DH up to the All Star Break?  If he doesn't like that, he can go onto the 60 day IL until the second half of the year. Meanwhile the team rotates the other dozen players through their turn as DH. 

[djvang]

46 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Did he really? I’ve never seen that mentioned anywhere before now.

5th in the AL. 

[LyleCole]

I would say no.  Instead, with a rebuilding team I would leave the DH spot open so that I can at least begin the season rotating some of the hitters into the lineup, with Keaschall getting the most appearances at DH.   Perhaps, as the season unfolds, the positional situation solidifies and a DH only type develops out of that.   But until you get a good long look at Rodriguez, Jenkens, Mendez, Roden, and Gonzales do not slot a guy like Josh Bell to the DH.

[1985Fan]

Keaschall can primarily play DH while occasionally filling in the outfield. Minimize his poor defense to improve the overall team defense. As someone else mentioned, he can get reps in during practices with OF coach and shag fly balls during BP (not sure if they do this anymore). Shelton stated that their goal is to get better defensively. 
Buxton will probably miss time at the beginning of the season and then DH for a week or so to ease back into it. I say no to FT DH. Are the Twins taking our votes? 😁

[HarmonK03]

6 hours ago, Twins GFP said:

I think Josh Bell was signed to play 1B and when they found out how bad he was defensively, they had to move him to DH.

Whoever made the recommendation to sign Bell to play 1B should be fired, they shouldn't have had to find out how bad he was there, the evidence was already there from prior years.

[HarmonK03]

1 hour ago, Jacksson said:

Coming off of hip surgery, won't Buxton be the primary DH up to the All Star Break?  If he doesn't like that, he can go onto the 60 day IL until the second half of the year. Meanwhile the team rotates the other dozen players through their turn as DH. 

I don't think that's the current plan, Buxton's value is in playing both defense and at the plate.  Yes he needs to be rotated thru the spot of rest days, but I don't think he will be the primary DH.