The Pros and Cons of 4 Different Twins Lineup Permutations

As I've started putting together my position-by-position previews of the Twins roster this spring (check out the catcher and first base installments from this week), I've been challenged to figure out how playing time will actually shake out for a team with an unsettled bench and some seemingly incongruent parts. 

It's a fairly illuminating exercise, so let's walk through it. 

Personally, I still feel like this roster is in line for more change before the start of the season. But, based on the current makeup of players, here's a look at how four potential versions of the 2026 Twins lineup — two against righties two against lefties — could take shape, along with the pros and cons of each. Ignore the order of batters, because I'm sure there's room to quibble there. The point here is to focus on who plays where and how the pieces fit together.

LINEUP A vs. RHP

1. Buxton, CF
2. Keaschall, 2B
3. Bell, DH
4. Wallner, RF
5. Lewis, 3B
6. Larnach, LF
7. Jeffers/Caratini, C
8. Clemens, 1B
9. Lee, SS

NOTES: I consider Byron Buxton (CF), Luke Keaschall (2B), Matt Wallner (RF), Royce Lewis (3B) and Brooks Lee (SS) all locked into their primary positions on a more or less everyday basis. The room for fluidity and flexibility is around them. This lineup supposes that Josh Bell was mostly signed to play DH, and that the Twins are interested in seeing more of Kody Clemens at first base, where he started 33 of 55 games last year after Ty France was traded.

PROS: Bell is most valuable at DH, where the positive impact of his bat isn't diminished by his defensive shortcomings. Clemens is a solid fielder at first, and brings an extra bit of speed to a lineup that is short at positions like shortstop and the outfield corners. This is probably the primary lineup I'd favor myself, as things stand.

CONS: Unless he takes another big step forward, Clemens has a very low-caliber bat for a regular first baseman. His .307 wOBA last year was a career high at age 29, but still would have ranked 24th out of 26 qualified players at the position. Also, the defensive improvement gained by using Bell at DH is offset by having to run out Trevor Larnach and Matt Wallner in the outfield corners.

LINEUP B vs. RHP

1. Buxton, CF
2. Keaschall, 2B
3. Bell, 1B
4. Wallner, RF
5. Lewis, 3B
6. Larnach, DH
7. Jeffers/Caratini, C
8. Outman/Roden, LF
9. Lee, SS

NOTES: Using Larnach instead of Bell at DH allows the Twins to put a speedier player in left field. Depending on which one makes the roster as a fourth outfielder, it could be either James Outman or Alan Roden. 

PROS: Either Outman or Roden would represent a big fielding upgrade over Larnach, whom the Twins preferred to use at DH last year (team-leading 78 starts) for defense and durability reasons. 

CONS: In reverse fashion from above, the defensive improvements in left field are now offset by a substantial downgrade at first base, where Bell rates as one of the league's worst defenders. I also sort of wonder what purpose Clemens serves on the roster in this scenario. His utility off the bench would be pretty limited.

LINEUP A vs LHP

1. Buxton, CF
2. Keaschall, 2B
3. Lewis, 3B
4. Jeffers, C
5. Wallner, RF
6. Bell, 1B/DH
7. Caratini, 1B/DH
8. Martin/Wagaman, LF
9. Lee, SS

NOTES: This is a setup that would see Ryan Jeffers and Victor Caratini in the lineup at the same time. It creates some risk of losing the DH in case of an injury to the starting catcher, but that's something Rocco Baldelli often proved willing to do with Jeffers and Christian Vázquez. This same grouping would work with Caratini catching and Jeffers at DH.

PROS: Eight right-handed bats in the starting lineup against a left-handed pitcher. That's good. Depending which one makes the roster — and, like with Outman and Roden, I believe it's an either/or — Eric Wagaman or Austin Martin replace Larnach in left.

CONS: The slow-footed Wagaman, who spent a vast majority of his time at first base last year, would be a pretty brutal defensive left fielder. Martin's a much better glove, but hasn't proven to be an impact bat against lefties. Meanwhile, Caratini loses much of his value when starting anywhere other than catcher. 

LINEUP B vs. LHP

1. Buxton, CF
2. Keaschall, 2B
3. Lewis, 3B
4. Bell, DH
5. Jeffers/Caratini, C
6. Wallner, RF
7. Wagaman, 1B
8. Martin/Roden, LF
9. Lee, SS

NOTES: This would be good. Can they make it work?

PROS: Best-case defensive alignment and probably the best all-around lineup Minnesota can run out against a lefty if both Martin and Wagaman are on the roster.

CONS: I don't think there's a practical way to have both Martin and Wagaman on the roster. Is there? It would leave the Twins sparse in center field depth behind Buxton, unless the Twins suddenly trust Martin out there now, and would mean no Roden our Outman. So then you're losing the platoon advantage in left by having to go with Roden, or Outman or Larnach. Having two lefty-swinging corner outfielders in the lineup against a left-handed starter is extremely sub-optimal.

In reviewing these different scenarios, you can probably see why I arrive at the conclusion that further shaking up of this position player corps feels inevitable. Right now, the Twins are making important sacrifices no matter which roster and lineup decisions they make. At the risk of beating a dead horse, removing Larnach from the equation would simplify things considerably, but I'm not someone who favors losing him for nothing, and neither does the front office it seems.

So, unless and until things change, I guess the plan is: accept the trade-offs, keep as much talent as you can (regardless of how it fits together), and let injuries dictate how some of these things play out.

What say you? Do you have any preferences among the lineups presented above, or are there scenarios or possibilities I'm missing? Sound off in the comments.