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With the All-Star break approaching and the summer heat cranking up, the Minnesota Twins find themselves once again staring down a pivotal trade deadline. Like every contending team, they’ll be forced to decide where to patch holes, where to ride internal options, and whether the upgrade is worth the prospect capital. The American League Central remains winnable, and the Twins are in the thick of it. Still, if the front office is serious about making a run in October, there are a couple of clear roster spots that demand immediate attention.
The Hot Corner Is Ice-Cold
There’s no sugar-coating it: third base has been a black hole for the Twins in 2025. Minnesota ranks dead last in MLB with a -1.0 fWAR from its third basemen, and only the Milwaukee Brewers have posted a lower wRC+ at the position. It’s one thing to struggle; it’s another to have replacement-level production or worse from a premium defensive spot that should also provide some offensive punch.
This isn’t how it was supposed to go. Royce Lewis opened the spring as the clear-cut starter at third, but a hamstring injury put him on the IL to start the year. Since returning, he has been one of the team’s worst hitters, including being moved to the bottom of the batting order and even being pinch-hit for in late-inning situations. He’s now carrying a negative WAR total, and a demotion to Triple-A isn’t out of the question.
Brooks Lee was supposed to be the next man up, offering a polished bat and enough glove to hold down the fort. Instead, he’s found himself overmatched at the plate more often than not (76 OPS+), and like Lewis, sits below replacement level for the season (-0.1 fWAR). Rocco Baldelli continues to speak highly of Lee, and there is hope that some of his struggles are due to inexperience at the big-league level.
The team has mixed in Jonah Bride and Willi Castro, but neither looks like more than a short-term Band-Aid. Castro’s value lies in his versatility; asking him to be an everyday third baseman is asking too much. And Bride, while competent defensively, hasn’t produced with the bat in limited action (66 OPS+).
Jose Miranda, once viewed as a long-term solution at third base, hasn’t made a case for a call-up either. He’s posted a .636 OPS at Triple-A and continues to look lost against anything with spin or velocity. That ship, at least for the time being, appears to have sailed.
If the Twins are serious about winning the division and advancing beyond a token playoff appearance, they’ll need to upgrade at third. It’s not just about getting league-average production. It’s about stopping the bleeding.
Options at Third Base
So, who’s out there? Luis Urías is an intriguing option at third base and is a pending free agent for the A’s, who are expected to be sellers. He has posted a 115 OPS+ this season and has some defensive flexibility. Miguel Andujar is another A’s third baseman who could be a trade target. He has a 106 OPS+ and can play corner infield and outfield. Arizona’s Eugenio Suárez might be the biggest-name third baseman traded at the deadline. The Diamondbacks are under .500, and he is a pending free agent. Suárez has 16 home runs and a 124 OPS+. These aren’t sexy names, but the bar is so low for the Twins at third base that even modest production could represent a massive upgrade.
Ty France and the First Base Dilemma
First base isn’t quite the mess that third is, but it’s trending in the wrong direction. The Twins brought in Ty France, hoping he could be a stabilizing veteran bat at the back end of the batting order. So far, he’s been underwhelming.
France has posted a 97 OPS+, meaning he’s below-average offensively at a position where above-average offense is a requirement, not a luxury. Minnesota’s overall first base production sits at a 103 wRC+, good for 16th in MLB. That’s dead average, and average doesn’t cut it when you’re getting replacement-level work at third.
Complicating the France situation is the fact that, on paper, he appears to be producing. He ranks near the top of the team in RBIs, but that’s more a function of hitting with runners in scoring position than actual offensive dominance. His underlying production, including exit velocity (36th percentile), barrel rate (47th percentile), and walk rate (10th percentile), all indicate a player who is no longer a middle-of-the-order threat.
Options at First Base
So, what do the Twins do? Josh Naylor is a familiar name to Twins fans, after playing the last three seasons in Cleveland. He is a pending free agent for Arizona and has posted a 103 OPS+. However, his $10.9-million contract might be tough for the Twins to absorb, even though they would only be on the hook for a portion of that total. Other potential first-base options look bleak. Besides, with third base being such a clear area of need, first base might be more of a “nice to upgrade” rather than a “must-fix” situation, unless the right opportunity presents itself.
What’s the Priority?
There’s no question: third base is Priority No. 1. The production there is actively hurting the team, not just failing to contribute. With no internal solution stepping forward, Derek Falvey and Jeremy Zoll will need to act. The key will be identifying a buy-low veteran or controllable bat who can provide stability and league-average offense. That alone would represent a sizable upgrade over the current crop of sub-replacement contributors.
With the division race tight and the margin for error shrinking, the Twins can’t afford to let the trade deadline pass without action. They’ve built a strong enough foundation to compete, but it’s time to shore up the weak spots. And it all starts at third base.
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