4 Options for the Twins at First Base if Alex Kirilloff Can't Go

Falvey and Levine usually have at least one surprise move in the off-season. Wouldn't be shocked if the opening day first baseman is someone that no one saw coming.

Alonso certainly fits what the FO covets. I was surprised at how little baseball trade values puts on his trade value. Goldschmit as well. I'd be thrilled with either. That being said, there are too many young players looking for a place to play in the field. I'd put a trade as a luxury item rather than a needed addition.

Hoskins and Bellinger will likely get QO and be very expensive. Candelario would an interesting addition. 

I'd go internally, some people's idea is that anyone can play 2B & 1B is complicated. Although 1B isn't as simple as some people think, it can easily be learned yet at 2B you need someone with a lot of range along with athleticism which can't be taught. Julien is better off at 1B & should be played there and leave 2B to Polanco, Lewis, Lee, Martin, or Castro. I'd like to give Miranda a shot some time because I think he can bounce back & mash so he can improve his value.

Depending on the cost I could see a trade for Alonzo or Goldschmidt, but find neither likely.  If I had to pick I would trade for Goldschmidt, but I think they will go internal options.  I could see Serverino getting a shot, Julien sliding over and giving Lee 2nd, or trying Miranda over there if he is healthy.  It was not long ago we though high on him, but he clearly was not healthy last year. I think there are too many internal options to really go out and make a big move. 

Use our trade capital or cash on pitching - we still need at least a #2 starter and could probably use an inning eating #5-6 type to hedge Paddack and Varland (why do Gray and Maeda just seem to still fit those roles so well?).  Filling those two slots is our biggest priority.

So we should go internal at 1B.  Lots of options and the solution could very well be dynamic over the course of the season. A lot will depend on AK’s health and how Severino, Lee (who should never be a 1B) and Miranda look coming out of spring training and early in the season. We still have too many position players chasing too few spots - so we have the necessary depth to cover it even without Solano (and Polanco if that’s the case) coming back.

Btw, nice job Nick not mentioning JG as an option. Geez, I hope that ship has left port never to return.

I think Julien is the way to go. Let him face lefties also, maybe pinch hit for him late in the game.

Miranda or Severino can be the short side platoon.

Then go out and sign one of Hader or Snell and Montas on a pillow contract

I like the idea of picking up Polanco's option and having him make a Carew-like shift to 1B since he's getting older and less athletic than he used to be, and because the consensus seems to be that Julien has turned himself into a good (good enough?) second baseman to leave him there. Polanco-Julien-Correa-Lewis would be a helluva infield.

Unless the Cards will take a package of Miranda and a couple 15-25 ranked prospects, I'm staying in house. Options include: resign Solano as part of a platoon, give Larnach a 1B glove now, slide Julien, keep Farmer, or give Chris Williams a shot. Maybe Williams can be our version of Christian Walker.  

Have a feeling the FO isn't putting a lot of time thinking about this situation right now.  Expect they are focused on, 1) Do they extend Polo or Kepler; 2) resigning Gray, or extending a QO if he doesn't; 3) Resigning Maeda; 4) Talking to Taylor about a contract; 5) Same with Pagan who merits bringing back.  .

That's a lot on their table, especially with Levine away in Boston exploring his opportunities.  First base becomes more urgent after AK has his surgery, or not.  At that time the docs will be able to tell them what is involved with his recovery.

Brooks Lee has a good chance to be a great MLB player....someday.  While he breezed through A and AA, he certainly did not dominate AAA.  It wasn't a huge sample size but a .738 OPS at AAA indicates to me that he needs more time in the minors to adjust to the MLB-quality breaking balls he hasn't previously faced much.  Maybe he's ready in June, maybe later. 

Moving Lee to 1B this spring would negate one of his greatest attributes (middle infield defense) and move him all the way down the defensive spectrum where we HOPE he is ready to hit MLB pitching?  No thanks...  plenty of other internal options or cheap free agent signings to hold the spot until Kirilloff is healed.

I always assumed that 1st base was one of easiest spots to play so Twins should have no problem moving another player to play 1st base. 

1 hour ago, Patzky said:

When you put it that way, ride Solano into May when it's time to bring up Lee. (Or return AK?)

I agree.  I think the original comments on Donnie Bats sold him short.  Let's not forget the amazing play he made to end a playoff win against Toronto and his hitting was steady.  I see him as a solid utility guy for next year.  I think Julien may be the best bet ONLY if Kiriloff is not good to go.

1 hour ago, chpettit19 said:

I think it'd be far more likely they move Julien to 1B and give Lee 2B before they'd do it the other way around.

That would make my brain hurt less.

100% stay in house. Kiriloff has too much upside. He had a decent year, and continues to show flashes of being elite.

Solano gives us a good floor for first base while AK is out and Miranda, Julien, and Severino can get opportunities there if they earn them.  

1 hour ago, saviking said:

Or Byron Buxton?

No one's going to move a Gold Glove CF to 1B just in the name of health. 

7 minutes ago, PDX Twin said:

What does this mean? Mike Lindell is paying the salary?

In case you're being serious (though the Lindell joke is funny), a pillow contract is a 1-year deal where the player looks to recoup his value in the hopes of springboarding into a larger contract the following offseason. Gallo's contract this past season counted as a pillow contract, though he definitely didn't regain value this year. 

I think some of it depends on how long into the season the twins think Kirilloff's recovery might go. (and this is presuming already that he won't be ready in spring training, which we're way too early to actually know)

I suspect that if the Twins are sure that Kirilloff is going to miss time well into May or longer, they'll make an attempt at a veteran signing on the cheap (like they did with Solano this year) to provide insurance and not spend their depth at the start of the season. That's not unreasonable, and it worked out fairly well with Solano who got on base and showed good contact skills, even if there was little pop left in his bat and he wasn't particularly good defensively. I do think this FO likes to keep the floor high and I agree with the methodology of giving as few ABs to bad players as possible.

But unless the recovery for Kirilloff is going to be really lengthy (i.e., extending well into the summer), I think the better choice is to look internally. There's some assumption of risk there, but if you have Julien prepare in the off-season to play at 1B (while still working at 2B) and do the same with Miranda (while still having him work at 3B) and Severino...I think there are enough options in-house to cover things. Heck Chris Williams could come back on a minor-league deal (giving him an extra $100K probably keeps him in the organization and doesn't break the bank one bit) and be an option.

And frankly, I think I'd rather go this way even if Kirilloff's recovery is going to go well into the season. Why? because I do think this FO is a bit prone to the sunk-cost fallacy when it comes to veteran players. (most teams are, so I'm not bagging on them that much for it) Look at how Gallo managed to stick on the roster for the full year. What I don't want to see is them taking a flyer on a vet who turns out to be washed up, but sticks around long past the sell date because there's no need for the roster spot yet, and they keep hoping he'll figure it out, blah blah blah regressioncakes. I'd rather give the chances on the younger guys. Miranda has shown flashes of serious talent. Julien deserves to play every day. Severino has been hitting the snot out of the ball in the minors and could be an interesting hitting talent (gotta love switch-hitters on the bench!).

I have nothing against Solano but he should only be a fill-in and no the regular first baseman. Pete Alonso would be too expensive I think and Goldshmidt will be 37 next year and would only be a stop gap. I think a healthy Miranda would be the answer as I am concerned that Kirilloff might not ever be  healthy enough to play every day. Would love for him to prove me wrong but..... In addition, the Twins payroll comes into play with both Alonso and Goldschmidt, particularly the latter.