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Entering the offseason, the Minnesota Twins don't have a viable full-time first base option on their 40-man roster or in the high minors. Yes, Kody Clemens spent significant time at the position after Ty France was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays at the trade deadline last season. Even in his best season, though, Clemens didn't deliver the caliber of offensive production good teams need from the least demanding defensive position on the diamond.
Fellow 40-man roster occupants Jose Miranda, Edouard Julien, and Mickey Gasper have patrolled the position for Minnesota at various times over the last two years, but none of them are serious candidates to start there in 2026. Indeed, all three could be out of the organization by Opening Day. Kyler Fedko spent significant time at first base in Triple A last season, and could be rewarded for his breakout campaign with a 40-man roster spot later this month to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft. He's a fringy, unproven option, though.
Still, don't expect the team to pursue any of the more expensive free-agent first basemen, like Josh Naylor or Ryan O'Hearn—let alone All-Star slugger Pete Alonso. Minnesota's front office will yet again be sifting through the bargain bin, attempting to find a cheap, productive veteran first baseman in a similar vein as Carlos Santana and Ty France of seasons past. Whom should they pursue? Let's take a look.
Ty France
Hey! I just mentioned this guy. Also, did you know Twins first basemen have won the last two AL Gold Glove Awards at the position? Crazy, right? Regardless, Minnesota could consider reuniting with the almost World Series-winning veteran, even though the club traded him to the Toronto Blue Jays just over three months ago.
Signed to a non-guaranteed one-year, $1-million contract last February, France outperformed his deal while with the Twins, hitting .251/.320/.357 with six home runs and a 92 wRC+ over 387 plate appearances. The 31-year-old was below-average at the plate. Yet, given his relative competence at bat (compared to some of the in-house options) and aforementioned defensive skills, he still provided value. France is a better first baseman than Clemens in the field, and can outhit him, at least against left-handed pitchers. Given his familiarity with the organization and the fact that he should be available at a similarly low cost, the Twins could enter a second consecutive season with France penciled in as the primary first baseman.
Miguel Andujar
Despite notching only 13 innings at first base last season, Andujar made two starts at the position late last season for the playoff-contending Cincinnati Reds, signaling the 30-year-old veteran could be transitioning toward spending more time at first next season.
Coming off an impressive 2025 campaign wherein he hit .318/.352/.470 with 10 home runs and a 125 wRC+ over 341 plate appearances between the West Sacramento Athletics and the Reds, Andujar would be a more expensive signee than France. Yet, given his offensive prowess from the right side of the plate, he could be well worth the extra few million dollars.
The bat-first veteran could also mix in at third base, both corner outfield spots, and designated hitter, making him a more useful player than most potential free-agent first-base options. He's not good anywhere, but he can take up each of those positions when needed—and he'd be most needed at first in Minnesota, anyway.
Obviously, those who follow the team should expect a significant defensive drop-off at the position, given how well Santana and France performed. Andujar could produce at a defensive rate on par with Clemens, while being a more effective hitter. Whereas France would probably come aboard as the short side of a platoon, Andujar could get a more substantial share in a tandem with Clemens.
Nathaniel Lowe
Lowe technically isn't a free agent yet, but he's a non-tender candidate. Cut by the Nationals in August and scooped up by the Red Sox at the end of the year, Lowe was freely available talent less than three months ago, but he'd be in line for an eight-figure salary via arbitration if tendered a contract. There's no chance Boston will pay that coming off last season, wherein Lowe hit .228/.307/.381 with 18 home runs and a 91 wRC+ over 609 plate appearances. Yet, given the state Minnesota's front office finds itself in, Lowe will likely be one of the more attractive, affordable options to patrol the position if he does land on the market.
Lowe would likely ask for a one-year deal in the $3-4 million range, similar to Andujar. Being a left-handed bat, Lowe doesn't mesh with Clemens as neatly as France or Andujar would. Yet, given that Lowe is a better hitter and defender than Clemens, the Twins could turn him into a platoon-proof option at the position, transitioning Clemens back into the utility role he served before becoming the primary first baseman after last season's trade deadline.
The Twins have to make some kind of foray into the market to upgrade their offense. First base is an easy place to hunt for competent hitters. Be it one of these three or another under-the-radar guy, Derek Falvey and Jeremy Zoll will surely be on the lookout for a stopgap slugger as they build out their 2026 team as economically as possible.
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- nclahammer and DJL44
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