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Keep your wits about you—a vital message to latch on to in dark times. We have been through this before and persevered, and we will survive again, as long as we organize, strategize, and lean on those we can unwaveringly trust. I am, of course, talking about enduring yet another offseason of mind-numbing inactivity from the Twins front office. Significant salary restrictions will effectively tie Twins decision-makers' hands behind their backs, making the proposition of a needle-moving offseason acquisition a mere fantasy, unless all or a part of the salaries for veterans like Christian Vázquez ($10 million) or Chris Paddack's ($7.5 million) are shed.
The threat of this offseason becoming a dreadfully dull experience for Twins Territory is scarily plausible. However, that doesn't mean dormancy is a certainty. It would be malpractice to sulk in sorrow, write this offseason off as a wash, and not spend time envisioning who would be a worthwhile addition for the playoff-hopeful Twins. So, let's take an in-depth look at the Twins' greatest area of need this offseason: First base.
The unexpected retirement of former top prospect Alex Kirilloff and the expected departure of surehanded veteran first baseman Carlos Santana has left the position bare. José Miranda (who has played 698 career innings at the position) is projected to become the primary starter, with Edouard Julien (19 1/3 innings) being his backup and potential platoon partner. Vázquez could also play the position in an emergency, but almost all of his value resides in his defensive prowess behind the plate.
In theory, Miranda and Julien could work well in a platoon partnership at the position, but it would be a big risk with a smallish reward to expect that. Taking a flier on a cheap, veteran first base option like Joey Meneses, J.D. Davis, or Jared Walsh could make sense, but the Twins value flexibility and are unlikely to lock themselves into this player archetype unless they are willing to come in on a minor-league deal. They could pursue a player who can play first base alongside other positions like Brandon Drury, Mark Canha, or Justin Turner. However, it would be unwise for the salary-strapped organization to spend what minimal resources they have on a veteran who could realistically produce at a below-replacement-level rate.
That said, the Twins can choose between two paths: They can roll with Miranda and Julien and hope both stay healthy and produce at a slightly above-average rate, or acquire a higher-caliber everyday starter at the position. They would be wise to pick the latter. At first glance, re-signing Santana would be a savvy choice. He displayed Gold Glove defense at the position while posting an admirable 114 wRC+ over 594 plate appearances. However, he might be outside Minnesota's price range:
The 39-year-old veteran should have a robust market, and if a team like the Chicago Cubs or New York Mets (who are set to lose Pete Alonso) decides to offer a multi-year deal, the Twins could quickly become a non-factor in the Santana sweepstakes. Although Twins ownership's frugal mode of operation likely negates any opportunity for a reunion with Santana, that doesn't mean the Twins are entirely out of the first base market.
While speaking with media last week at the General Managers Meetings in San Antonio, Twins President of Baseball Operations Derek Falvey noted that the team will have to "be creative if (they) want to make a lot of tweaks to the group." Like leaves falling from paper birch trees, the buzzword "creative" has become a fall tradition in the land of 10,000 lakes. Interestingly, there is a veteran impact first baseman the organization could use creative means to acquire: Yandy Díaz.
Díaz, 33, spent his first two seasons in MLB with Cleveland before being sent to the Tampa Bay Rays before the 2019 season. Since joining the Rays, Díaz has hit .289/.374/.440 with 707 hits, 74 home runs, and a 130 OPS+. The high-average right-handed hitting veteran shifted between third base and first base his first four seasons with the Rays before settling down at first, netting a combined 1,942 2/3 innings played at the position the last two seasons. His best season came in 2023 when he posted a 157 OPS+ while earning an All-Star bid and finishing sixth in AL MVP voting.
Díaz came down to earth last season. However, his performance was still commendable, slashing .281/.341/.414 with 158 hits, 14 home runs, and a 116 OPS+. The well-respected veteran is still among the most formidable bats in "the show", and would be a prized acquisition for the Twins. Díaz is slated to make $10 million next season, with a $12-million club option in 2024. At face value, this price tag is far too hefty for the parsimonious Twins. However, this is where the front office's knack for creativity comes into play.
The two impact trades the front office made last season (Jorge Polanco to the Seattle Mariners for Anthony DeSclafani, Justin Topa, Gabriel Gonzalez, and Darren Bowen; and Noah Miller to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Manuel Margot and Rayne Doncon) involved the partner team eating money. The Mariners (and San Francisco Giants) took on $8 million of DeSclafani's $12 million deal, and the Dodgers ate $6-$8 million of Margot's contract. Evidently, if the Twins acquire a veteran player under their current mode of salary-restricted operation, the partnering front office will have to take on most of the returning player's salary.
Hypothetically, the Twins could acquire Díaz and his $10 million from Tampa, with the Rays taking on roughly $6 million of his deal. In exchange, Minnesota would need to part ways with a more highly-regarded prospect for the similarly frugal Rays to take on dead money. Although parting ways with a highly regarded prospect isn't an easy pill to swallow, the reward could be netting a season of one of the best-hitting first basemen in baseball. Also, if a new ownership group purchased the franchise before next season, the team could potentially exercise his $12-million club option for 2026.
The long-time Rays corner infielder is a contact-skilled plus bat who would be a welcome insertion into the Twins' high-variance lineup. Díaz thrives against left-handed pitching (.923 OPS over 139 plate appearances last season) while holding his own against same-handed hurlers (.706 OPS over 482 PA). He could become the team's everyday first baseman, allowing Miranda to take on the role he did this past season of shifting between third base, first base, and designated hitter. Díaz joining the Twins also means the organization wouldn't have to rely on the inconsistent Julien, meaning the team could use him in a role that promotes flexibility or stash him at Triple-A as MLB-caliber depth. Despite being salary-restricted, the Twins front office should be able to create enough monetary flexibility to acquire at least one impact bat, and Díaz should be at the top of their wish list.
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