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Following the July fire sale wherein they parted ways with 11 players from their 26-man roster, your 2025 Twins have endured the fifth-worst record in baseball, winning just 14 of their last 39 games. Times are dire in the land of 10,000 lakes, and those still following the club closely are either paid to do so or pure masochists—and if you are, that's fine. Twins Daily does not kink shame. [Ed. note: We also acknowledge the existence of overlap between those two groups of watchers.]
That being the case, much of Twins Territory is understandably uninterested in discussing its hometown club, let alone its ability to contend for the postseason in the future. Yet, there is reason to believe Minnesota could again blossom into postseason contenders, potentially as soon as next season. Yes, I understand that making this statement could seem fabulistic. My reputation will likely be irreparably tarnished, and I understand if I'm accused of being nothing more than a Pohlad shill. That said, Minnesota does have a clear pathway toward contention, and that track will run through the position player group performing at a higher standard.
Now, you may be asking yourself, "What exactly do you mean by 'better'?" In reply, I offer the following: Minnesota's 2026 position player group must clear "The Kody Clemens Bar." No, I'm not pitching an idea for a Forest Lake rooftop bar owned and operated by Roger Clemens. Instead, I propose that it be the minimum level of performance deemed acceptable by Twins decision-makers.
Since Aug. 1, Clemens has generated an 84 wRC+ (16% below league average) over 137 plate appearances. If one were to exclude the 29-year-old's three-home-run performance against the Arizona Diamondbacks this past Sunday, they would notice that he had a well below league-average 49 wRC+ over 128 plate appearances. Now, it would be malpractice to ignore his best game because it's narratively inconvenient. Yet, it should be noted that he had performed like one of the worst hitters in baseball for over two months, making his newfound role as a productive veteran presence and overall cog in the lineup a product of circumstance—and arguably, a farce.
Given his career averages and largely lackluster performance with Minnesota this season, Clemens should be viewed as a fringe major leaguer who would have been a candidate to be released from the 40-man roster this upcoming offseason if he were part of a winning organization. Yet, given that he resides on this iteration of the Minnesota Twins, there's probably room for him on next season's 26-man roster. If they are to return to contention, it would mean Clemens would need to revert to being an end-of-the-bench utility player, instead of being a platoon-proof lineup regular.
There are currently five qualified Twins position players who have performed better than Clemens since the trade deadline:
- Austin Martin - 132 wRC+ over 128 plate appearances
- Luke Keaschall - 130 wRC+ over 152 plate appearances
- Matt Wallner - 119 wRC+ over 134 plate appearances
- Trevor Larnach - 118 wRC+ over 133 plate appearances
- Royce Lewis - 89 wRC+ over 155 plate appearances
Byron Buxton (130 wRC+ over 121 plate appearances) and Ryan Jeffers (116 wRC+ over 121 plate appearances) have not generated enough plate appearances since Aug. 1 to reach qualified status. Yet, they have performed well since the deadline, hovering near their career norms. These seven players (including Lewis, who has also performed poorly) have solidified themselves as lineup cogs for next season. They should continue performing at similar rates, meaning Minnesota's position group could rebound from this season's lackluster performance with the acquisition or ascension of three above-average contributors who clear "The Kody Clemens Bar."
Rostering Buxton (center field), Keaschall (second base/designated hitter), Martin (outfield), Larnach (corner outfield/designated hitter), Wallner (right field/designated hitter), Jeffers (catcher), and Lewis (third base) means Minnesota's most glaring positions of weakness this offseason will be first base and shortstop.
Clemens could enter next season as the club's starting first baseman. Still, as mentioned earlier, team decision-makers need to aim higher if they want to return to contender status. Former top prospect Brooks Lee has ingrained himself as the club's starting shortstop. Yet, given his lackluster performance at the plate (71 wRC+ over 151 plate appearances) and questionable defense at the position, the club would be wise to enter next season with Lee in a diminished bench role, alongside Clemens—or in Triple-A.
Possessing no viable primary first base options in the high minors, Minnesota would be wise to invest the majority of its offseason spending in a starting-caliber player at the position, like Josh Naylor, Rhys Hoskins, or Wilmer Flores. The club could also scour the trade market, pursuing a young, cost-controlled long-term option, which could be wise given that the team appears to be prioritizing its long-term ability to compete.
If Minnesota were to move on from Lee as the full-time shortstop, top prospect Kaelen Culpepper is the most likely candidate to succeed him. Yet, given the 22-year-old prospect hasn't played a game above Double-A, team decision-makers would be wise to continue developing him in the high minors for a significant portion of next season. This summer's first-round selection, Marek Houston, could also blossom into a long-term solution at the position. However, he is currently in High-A and is not expected to reach the majors until 2027, provided he continues to perform well in Minnesota's minor-league system.
A one-year placeholder free agency acquisition like Miguel Rojas or (gulp!) Isiah Kiner-Falefa could make sense for Minnesota. If they can do no better than them, though, they ought to continue starting Lee at the position instead. If the club were to move Lee off the position and back into a utility infield role, they would need to make a priority acquisition of a short- to medium-term solution, such as Nick Allen, one of the premier defensive shortstops in baseball, or ragged-edged but toolsy prospect Jordan Lawlar of the Diamondbacks.
Regardless, Minnesota presently rosters seven position players who clear "The Kody Clemens Bar." Top outfield prospects Walker Jenkins, Emmanuel Rodriguez, and Gabriel Gonzalez could also make their major-league debuts early next season. If that occurs, the Twins would possess nine to 10 players who clear the threshold, making them an offensive unit that could complement what could be a plus pitching staff on the road back to contending in the AL.
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