Twins Should Look to Baltimore for First Base Help

As the dust settles from MLB's Winter Meetings, the Orioles made one of the loudest moves by signing Pete Alonso to take over first base and provide the middle-of-the-order thump they have been seeking. It is a win for Baltimore, but it also creates a very real roster squeeze. The Orioles now have three players who primarily fit at first base or designated hitter, yet they only have two spots to place them. That imbalance should immediately draw the attention of a Twins team that desperately needs help at first base.

Minnesota has multiple avenues to improve its lineup, but first base remains one of the clearest openings on the roster. There are multiple free-agent options, but the Twins are operating on a shoestring budget with needs in the bullpen, too. Baltimore’s situation changes that, because the combination of Alonso’s arrival and the Orioles' depth makes them one of the few clubs that can trade from a surplus. If the Twins want to find a solution without paying premium free-agent prices, this is the kind of opportunity they cannot afford to overlook.

Here’s a look at Baltimore’s two first base options, besides Alonso. Each comes with different levels of intrigue.

Ryan Mountcastle
Mountcastle represents the most straightforward option for Minnesota, because his situation in Baltimore feels increasingly cramped. He is entering the final year of team control, which limits long-term risk for any acquiring team. MLB Trade Rumors projects him to earn $7.8 million in his final arbitration season. That also means the Orioles have motivation to listen, especially after his worst season to date. In 2025, he hit seven home runs with a .653 OPS in 89 games, a steep drop from what he showed earlier in his career. His track record still matters, though, because through his first five seasons, he produced a .265 average with a .766 OPS and a 113 OPS+. He has been an above-average bat for most of his career.

Mountcastle’s cost should be manageable, because the Orioles no longer have room to give regular at-bats to Alonso, Mountcastle, and either Samuel Basallo or Adley Rutschmann. (On any given day, one of the latter two can catch, but the team will want the other's bat in the lineup most of the time.) That positional overlap lowers the asking price and allows the Twins to explore a short-term addition, without spending significant prospect capital.

His pros are easy to see. Mountcastle has proven big-league power, a history of above-average production, and the appeal of a one-year commitment if things do not work out. The cons include the uncertainty around his recent decline, questions about his ability to rebound, and limited defensive value beyond first base. Still, the affordability and upside make him a natural fit for Minnesota’s needs.

Coby Mayo
If the Twins want to chase ceiling rather than floor, Coby Mayo is the more ambitious target. Mayo was once a consensus top-50 prospect with big raw power and a profile built around offensive damage. His big-league performance has not met expectations so far, as in 102 career games, he has hit .201 with a .634 OPS and an OPS+ of 79. Even with those struggles, though, his long-term value remains significant. He is not arbitration eligible until 2028, and is under team control through 2031.

The pros with Mayo revolve around projection, as his power potential remains enormous and his underlying contact quality hints at untapped upside. Last season, his 74.7 mph bat speed would have ranked in the upper quartile of the league if he qualified. In September, he posted a .941 OPS with five homers. He could give the Twins a long-term answer at first base if he develops into the hitter scouts once envisioned.

The cons stem from risk, as his early performance raises reasonable questions about how quickly he can adjust and whether he will ever reach his ceiling. Acquiring him would require a substantial trade package, and Minnesota would need confidence in its ability to smooth out the rough edges in his game. Minnesota also doesn’t have the greatest track record with young hitters in recent seasons. He is the higher-ceiling play, but also the higher-volatility one.  

Baltimore created a roster bottleneck by signing Alonso, and the Twins happen to have a clear path to playing time at first base. Whether Minnesota targets Mountcastle for short-term stability or Mayo for long-term upside, the Orioles are one of the few organizations positioned to deal from depth. The alignment is there, and it is a path the Twins should seriously consider pursuing.

Should the Twins trade for Mountcastle or Mayo? Leave a comment and start the discussion.