Nick Nelson

The Twins have 2 players who've made 200+ PAs with above average OPS in each of the past 3 years: Ryan Jeffers and Matt Wallner. I think that's a fair barometer of "reliably productive," no?

Image courtesy of Mike Watters-Imagn Images This might sound counterintuitive for one of the least demanding defensive positions with an abundance of capable players, but great right fielders are hard to find. The low bar for fielding equates to a high bar for hitting. To wit: FanGraphs has only nine right fielders projected to be worth 2.0 WAR or more this season. Matt Wallner is one of them. His rampant swing-and-miss tendencies lead to a bad rap with many fans, but Wallner is one of Minnesota's most reliably productive players, still boasting untapped upside, and that's why right field ranks as one of the team's sneaky strengths. TWINS RIGHT FIELDERS AT A GLANCE Starter: Matt Wallner Backup: James Outman Depth: Trevor Larnach, Alan Roden, Kody Clemens Prospects: Walker Jenkins, Emmanuel Rodriguez, Gabriel Gonzalez Twins fWAR Ranking Last Year: 18th out of 30 Twins fWAR Projection This Year: 9th out of 30 THE GOOD Huge power, huge arm: Wallner is the classic imagining of a right field specimen. He's not only been one of the Twins' best hitters since reaching the majors, but one of the better hitters in baseball — among 299 players with 800+ PA since 2023, Wallner ranks 20th in wOBA, nestled between Rafael Devers and Christian Yelich. If we narrow that list down to primarily right fielders, Wallner is sixth, trailing only a quintet of superstars: Aaron Judge, Ronald Acuña Jr., Juan Soto, Kyle Tucker, Mookie Betts. Wallner's 49 home runs and 129 OPS+ over the past three seasons should not be discounted, regardless of the strikeouts and a relative down year in 2025. His overall numbers were dampened by a poor finish, and at no point was he really mashing the way he did in 2023-24. It was also noticeable that most of his damage came with bases empty. Despite those factors, he was a solidly above average hitter (110 OPS+) and one of the team's most valuable players. I truly believe we saw Wallner at his worst. Time to see him at his best? He's entering his age-28 season with nearly 1,000 MLB plate appearances under his belt. Wallner had a winter to ruminate on the adjustments opposing pitchers made against him, and now has a clear path to everyday playing time in right. While I suspect left field will be more of a revolving door, this position belongs to Wallner — especially because he held his own against left-handed pitching last year (.790 OPS in 97 PA) and the Twins won't have the luxury of platooning both outfield corners. He's going to be treated like a core lineup fixture, and he should be. I do think there is a point where you start thinking about future succession plans in right if certain negative trends from last year persist (see below), but we're not close to it. THE BAD Wallner undeniably took a big step backward in 2025. When dissecting his play, there are a few glaring issues that stick out. One is that he was simply terrible in the clutch. I'm inclined to dismiss this as statistical noise, given the sample size and how successful he was with RISP in 2023-24. Another is the defensive regression and missed plays. He's not a great fielder, but good enough to live with, if he's hitting. Therein lies the real catch. Wallner was more of a solid hitter than standout last year, and at that rate he's a pretty mediocre player. What really plagued him in 2025 was that opposing pitchers seemed to have him figured out. It doesn't take a seasoned MLB scout to see that Wallner was getting attacked up in the zone with velocity and struggling to adapt or answer. Again: he still hit 22 home runs and posted an above-average OPS, because the plan's not foolproof and he's capable of punishing any slight lapse in execution. But to cement his place in right field, Wallner needs to get back to being more than a mistake hunter. And he needs to show he can stay healthy after uncharacteristically going down with a couple of soft-tissue injuries last year. If he does get hurt, I presume Trevor Larnach would shift to right, clearing up the left field logjam at least for some time. In terms of prospect pipeline, Gabriel Gonzalez is the name to watch here. Coming off a breakthrough season in the minors and freshly added to the 40-man roster, Gonzalez seems destined for right field (if not DH) due to his lack of speed and range. Should Gonzalez pick up where he left off last year, when he batted .329 across three levels and finished in Triple-A, he could start putting applying pressure quickly if Wallner's issues aren't resolved. But he too will face a high bar for offensive production in the majors, because he's likely to be an even worse fielder. THE BOTTOM LINE Right field projects as one of the team's biggest strengths, and one of the few positions where Minnesota is forecast to be a top-10 MLB team. A return to previous form for Wallner combined with good health could lift them into the top five at the position, while solidifying his entrenchment in right. (Or lifting his trade value as the Twins look to make room for rising prospects.) Either way, right field looks to be in good hands. Catch up on the rest of our roster preview series: Twins 2026 Position Analysis: Catcher Twins 2026 Position Analysis: First Base Twins 2026 Position Analysis: Second Base Twins 2026 Position Analysis: Third Base Twins 2026 Position Analysis: Shortstop Twins 2026 Position Analysis: Left Field Twins 2026 Position Analysis: Center Field View full article

Image courtesy of Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images For many years, the Minnesota Twins' front office felt compelled to prioritize a backup center fielder who'd be capable of stepping into the starting role, for long stretches, at a moment's notice. After being bitten by having to play guys like Gilberto Celestino and Nick Gordon in center way too much during the 2021-22 seasons, the Twins made it a point to target Michael A. Taylor, Manuel Margot and Harrison Bader in successive winters. This year, they noticeably snapped the trend. That's not because they have any great in-house options to back up center field. Buxton's health has become an afterthought rather than a constant concern, while top prospects are on the verge of big-league readiness, and that's why center field projects as the biggest strength on the Twins roster. TWINS CENTER FIELDERS AT A GLANCE Starter: Byron Buxton Backup: James Outman Depth: Ryan Kreidler, Alan Roden, Austin Martin Prospects: Walker Jenkins, Emmanuel Rodriguez, Brandon Winokur Twins fWAR Ranking Last Year: 5th out of 30 Twins fWAR Projection This Year: 4th out of 30 THE GOOD Just a few short years ago, it would have been hard to believe: Buxton in the starting lineup for Minnesota's first official spring game on February 21st, gearing up to participate in the World Baseball Classic. As his injury woes crescendoed in his late 20s, the Twins had no choice but to handle Buxton carefully, often easing him into spring action gradually. Taking part in the WBC would've been completely out of the question. But coming off two of his best and healthiest seasons, the two-time All Star is no-holds-barred and all-systems-go. Buxton narrowly missed a top-10 finish in the AL MVP voting last year, filling the stat sheet in 126 games: 35 home runs, seven triples, 97 runs scored, 24 stolen bases (on 24 attempts) and an .878 OPS. In his age-31 season, he remained one of the fastest players in baseball, with a 100th-percentile sprint speed exceeding 30 ft/sec. Buxton is an outstanding center fielder and the definition of a two-way star. Under contract for three more years, Buxton will at some point probably have to move off center field, but that day does not feel particularly close. Not if he has his way. The fact that Buxton is being used exclusively in center field for Team USA, despite the presence of Pete Crow-Armstrong, speaks to his well-earned reverence at the position. He's not going to relocate willingly if he's still tracking down balls that others can't, and for now, he is. It's possible that the emergence of top prospects Walker Jenkins and Emmanuel Rodriguez will create a tension if they clearly surpass the former Platinum Glover in defensive value, but we'll cross that bridge when we get there. Jenkins and Rodriguez are excellent assets to have on hand in the event that Buxton does get injured again. You never want to lose your best player, but it would open the door for one of those two to play every day in the majors if they prove ready — and Rodriguez arguably already is. THE BAD Buxton's chronic knee issue seems to have finally been solved, but that hardly makes him immune to getting injured in other ways, as last Friday's HBP scare in the World Baseball Classic opener reminded. In his healthiest season ever last year he still started only 118 of 162 games in center field. Jenkins and Rodriguez are intriguing potential successors, if they prove to meet the high bar for MLB-caliber defense in center. They'll never reach Buxton's level, but few can. At this time, though, the top outfield prospects are fairly inexperienced at Triple-A, and they've had their own injury issues. (Jenkins is out this spring with a hamstring strain.) The lack of a real short-term safety net behind Buxton, as the Twins have had in recent years, could rear its head if a need emerges early in the season. Ryan Kreidler is probably the best defensive backup if he's on the roster; he was the Opening Day starter in center for the Tigers last year. James Outman's chances of making the team hinge on his viability in center, which has looked questionable at best. Roden and Martin have gotten run this spring, but should be viewed more as emergency options than candidates to start regularly. Center field is a hard position. It's tough to find players who truly excel there defensively, and even harder to find ones who can do that and also hit. Buxton has spoiled us. Hopefully he keeps spoiling us. THE BOTTOM LINE Healthy at last, Buxton has claimed his rightful place as one of the game's elite center fielders. It's a distinction corroborated by his All-Star nod, Silver Slugger, and starting spot on Team USA. His presence lends instant credibility to the Twins lineup. At some point age will start to catch to him but for the moment he's mostly outsprinting it. Down the line, some of the very best prospects in the Twins system will be aiming to overtake the reins in center field. Here in 2026, moving Buxton off the position doesn't seem to be on the front office's mind. His goal this season is to keep it that way. Catch up on the rest of our roster preview series: Twins 2026 Position Analysis: Catcher Twins 2026 Position Analysis: First Base Twins 2026 Position Analysis: Second Base Twins 2026 Position Analysis: Third Base Twins 2026 Position Analysis: Shortstop Twins 2026 Position Analysis: Left Field View full article

Sorry about that, I was missing a word. What I meant to say is that I expect Wallner to be in RF almost every day, because I think he's a passable defender and the Twins are wise to use rangier guys in LF where there's more ground to cover.

Image courtesy of Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images I'm not sure if the Twins will be strong in left field this year. I do feel confident they will be interesting. You've got Trevor Larnach trying to make his last stand, with his presence on the roster feeling almost obstructive at this point. You've got Austin Martin trying to build off his solid finish in 2025 and resurrect a career that's been veering off track. Minnesota invested heavily in acquiring and developing these two former first-rounders, and would surely love to see an eventual payoff. But the front office is already prepared to chart a new course if needed. They acquired Alan Roden in the controversial Louie Varland trade last year, and James Outman in the less controversial (but odd) Brock Stewart trade. Neither has any business going to Triple-A, and in fact Outman is out of options. Meanwhile, Emmanuel Rodriguez is dazzling everyone this spring with his exciting skill set, and left field appears to be his most viable entry point to the majors. Much like at first base, I have a hard time predicting exactly how the playing time share is going to shake out in left with all these moving parts. But below I'll do my best to touch on different scenarios while sizing up the good and bad. TWINS LEFT FIELDERS AT A GLANCE Starter: Trevor Larnach Backup: James Outman Depth: Alan Roden, Austin Martin, Luke Keaschall Prospects: Emmanuel Rodriguez, Gabriel Gonzalez, Kala'i Rosario Twins fWAR Ranking Last Year: 6th out of 30 Twins fWAR Projection This Year: 20th out of 30 THE GOOD Larnach is a nice floor-setting bat. That's what the Twins value in him, and why they ponied up $4.5 million to keep him around via arbitration rather than non-tendering as some expected. He's a reliably good hitter against right-handed pitching, and has earned trust in that regard — no Twins player appeared more often in the top four lineup spots last year. He's not alone in this boat, but Larnach surely recognizes the personal stakes coming off a disappointing season that puts his future with the Twins in doubt. He might be making his case for other teams, given the crowding of the outfield as he enters his second-to-last year of team control, but he's making his case nonetheless. He'll be plenty motivated to leave it all on the field this year. Will he be actually playing in the field, though? That's a big unknown that makes it difficult to analyze this position. The Twins heavily preferred to use Larnach at designated hitter last year, both to preserve his health and limit the impact of his below-average defense. Derek Shelton might have the same preference this year, but Josh Bell and Victor Caratini will also demand DH at-bats so the path to getting Larnach a majority of starts there isn't quite as straightforward. If Larnach does end up at DH regularly, or he gets traded before Opening Day (still plausible), then one of Roden or Outman could step into the starting LF role against righties. Otherwise, those two are contending for a part-time, pseudo-bench role on a roster that already would have three lefty corner bats in Larnach, Matt Wallner and Kody Clemens. If elevated to a starting role, there are things to like about both of the 2026 deadline acquisitions. Roden has dominated at Triple-A and is on fire this spring. Outman brings outstanding athleticism and is (ostensibly) a true backup center fielder, which the Twins otherwise lack. Either one would offer a substantial defensive upgrade over Larnach in left. One thing's for sure: none of these three should be getting at-bats against left-handed pitching if the Twins can help it. That's where Martin comes in. He's the team's best bet for a righty-hitting platoon partner, and really the only good option at this point, which is the main reason he feels like a safe bet to make the roster. Martin batted .282 with a .374 OBP and 11 steals after his post-deadline call-up last year, and has the skills to claim more playing time in left field if he's bringing that same energy. Each of the short-term candidates has something to potentially offer, but the biggest cause for enthusiasm here is Rodriguez. The 23-year-old top prospect is on the doorstep of the majors, having spent most of last season in Triple-A, and he's been showcasing his game this spring: big home runs, stolen bases, slick plays in the outfield. Rodriguez would be a viable pick to sneak his way onto the Opening Day roster if not for the crowded state of the LF depth chart. Only a matter of time, though. THE BAD All of the aforementioned upside within the group of Larnach, Roden, Outman and Martin is really more theoretical than proven, and none of these guys are all that young anymore. Larnach, who just turned 29, has a 101 career OPS+ and has been a net-negative when playing the field regularly. Roden has been great this spring but he was great last spring too, and flopped in his major-league debut (.556 OPS in 156 PA). Martin's non-existent power will inherently cap his value at an offense-driven position. I struggle to summon any real optimism around Outman, who's been one of the worst hitters in the majors over the past two years and — to my eye at least — hasn't been impressive in the field. If the Twins keep him around it'll strike me as a move motivated by preserving depth and not exposing him to waivers. But maybe there's still a switch to be flipped for the 28-year-old. He was a really good player when he first came up in LA. There's reason to be bullish on these guys. But when you're talking about players who are 26, 27, 28 years old, it becomes less relevant to talk about what could be. If they are what they are, according to their MLB track records, then none are really starting-caliber left fielders. We'll have to wait for the system to produce one. THE BOTTOM LINE The Twins have given themselves a lot of options in left field, with newcomers brought in to challenge Larnach and Martin. Hopefully it'll be a healthy competition that yields fruitful results. Either way, it seems like the current group is only vying to keep the seat warm for a wave of prospects that includes Rodriguez and Gabriel Gonzalez. Even Walker Jenkins could use LF as an entry point alongside Byron Buxton. I'm not the most confident about left field from a short-term perspective, but I feel very good about its outlook in the big picture. The Twins just need to work their way through this current logjam and figure out what to do with Larnach. Catch up on the rest of our roster preview series: Twins 2026 Position Analysis: Catcher Twins 2026 Position Analysis: First Base Twins 2026 Position Analysis: Second Base Twins 2026 Position Analysis: Third Base Twins 2026 Position Analysis: Shortstop View full article

Image courtesy of © Jonah Hinebaugh/Naples Daily News/USA Today Network-Florida / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images You've heard it plenty of times: spring training performance doesn't matter. That's mostly true, but it doesn't mean we can't draw meaningful conclusions from the games, and the decisions that go into them. I find myself paying attention more to the names on the lineup card than the stats next to them in the box score. Who's getting in-game reps at which positions? Which pitchers are entering earlier in games, and getting a chance to face more legitimate big-league competition? Who's being stretched out and who's tracking toward shorter relief stints? These usage trends can offer real insight into the team's plans for when the games start mattering, especially as the regular season draws closer and the preparation ramps up. We're more than halfway through the spring schedule, with 17 games down (including the unofficial exhibitions against the Gophers and Team Puerto Rico) and 16 to go (including the "Spring Breakout" prospect showcase). Here's how the starts have been allotted so far at each position, along with a few thoughts on what to make of each. Catcher Ryan Jeffers: 7x Victor Caratini: 5x Alex Jackson: 4x Noah Cardenas: 1x No surprises here. Jeffers is expected to get the bulk of a timeshare, with Caratini starting every third game or so. The big question, of course, is whether the Twins will be able to stash Jackson in Triple-A by passing him through waivers at the end of camp. The depth drop-off to Cardenas is pretty steep. First Base Josh Bell: 8x Eric Wagaman: 4x Kody Clemens: 2x Victor Caratini: 2x Aaron Sabato: 1x I've been operating under the loose assumption that Clemens would get a majority of time at first base, where he played regularly in the second half last year, but this makes me question that. Bell has been the, ah, bell cow at this position after making just 32 of his 129 starts at first base last year with Washington. Maybe it's just a matter of the Twins feeling like they know what they have in Clemens at first? Second Base Kody Clemens: 7x
 Luke Keaschall: 6x Tristan Gray: 2x Orlando Arcia: 1x Kaelen Culpepper: 1x This certainly catches my eye. Clemens has started more games at second than even Keaschall, who figures to be the everyday starter. He's being evaluated as the top backup, but I can't imagine he'll be starting or even subbing in here often if Keaschall's healthy. Which raises the question: how is Clemens going to find his way into the lineup? Not at third base apparently... Third Base Royce Lewis: 5x Gio Urshela: 5x Eric Wagaman: 2x Tristan Gray: 2x Orlando Arcia: 1x Ryan Kreidler: 1x Jake Rucker: 1x Lewis missed a bit of time with a minor health hiccup, opening up more opportunities to assess the depth behind him. Six other players have started a game at third base this spring, and very notably, none of them are Clemens. He's listed right behind Lewis on the depth charts at FanGraphs and even the team's official site, but there's no actual evidence that the Twins have any interest in playing him at the hot corner. If he's not an option at third and not starting at least semi-regularly at first, you really have to wonder what utility Clemens is bringing to this roster. Shortstop Brooks Lee: 9x Orlando Arcia: 4x Tristan Gray: 2x Ryan Kreidler: 2x This tracks. Lee is going to be the everyday starter, if healthy, and the other three are competing for an infield bench spot behind him. (Which apparently will also involve being the top backup at third?) Arcia, who's also gotten starts at second and third, could have the insight track. Or maybe the Twins are just feeling more urgency to take a long look, since Kreidler and Gray have minor-league options. Left Field Austin Martin: 6x Trevor Larnach: 5x Alan Roden: 2x Emmanuel Rodriguez: 2x Gabriel Gonzalez: 1x Luke Keaschall: 1x Striking to see Martin getting so many starts here, even against right-handed pitchers. He's almost certainly going to make the roster and he might be more of a regular in left than people are expecting. Martin definitely does bring something different to the lineup when he's in it. I'm a little stunned that James Outman has not made one single start in left field this spring. Center Field James Outman: 5x Byron Buxton: 4x Alan Roden: 3x Austin Martin: 2x Ryan Kreidler: 1x Walker Jenkins: 1x Emmanuel Rodriguez: 1x To make room for them on the roster, the Twins need Outman or Roden to be viable options in center, so it makes sense they've been the top recipients of playing time with Buxton away for the WBC. They'd love it if they could count on Martin there in a pinch, though he seems more stretched than others. Fun to get a glimpse of the future with Jenkins and Rodriguez. Right Field Matt Wallner: 7x Alan Roden: 4x James Outman: 2x Trevor Larnach: 2x Ryan Kreidler: 1x Gabriel Gonzalez: 1x With Martin getting the largest share of starts in left field, Outman and Roden have mixed more often in center and right. A sign of things to come in the regular season? This will be interesting to keep an eye on since my assumption has been that Wallner would be out in right almost every day. I have a hard time believing the Twins prefer Larnach in left to Wallner in right. Designated Hitter Larnach: 2x Bell: 2x Wallner: 2x Buxton: 2x Urshela: 2x Caratini: 1x Jeffers: 1x Lewis: 1x Keaschall: 1x Rodriguez: 1x Gonzalez: 1x Mendez: 1x Tough to draw any real conclusions here since the DH position has mostly been used to give guys a partial day off. The position does figure to see a fair amount of day-to-day change during the season, with Bell and Larnach both factoring prominently. The way that actually shakes out will have a big influence on left field and first base. What do you make of Derek Shelton's spring lineup decisions so far? Let us know. We'll check back in next week with an update, as well as some notes on pitcher usage as the decisions start to carry more weight. View full article

Image courtesy of Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images In 2024, the Twins finished sixth among MLB teams in fWAR at the shortstop position, even with Carlos Correa missing much of the second half with a foot injury. Heading into 2025, Minnesota was again projected as a top-10 team at short, behind the strength of Correa coming off an All-Star season. Correa proved disappointing. At the end of July, the Twins ranked 16th among MLB teams in shortstop WAR. Mediocre, but hardly disastrous. Just minutes before the trade deadline, Minnesota's front office pounced on an opportunity to unload (some of) Correa's contract, sending him to the Astros for essentially nothing. Brooks Lee took over full-time shortstop duties the rest of the way, and things now did take a turn for disaster. He slashed .208/.274/.348 with uninspiring glovework in the final two months. Despite the underwhelming display, he's once again lined up for the everyday job in 2026, without much in the way of confidence-inspiring backup plans. Can Lee and the Twins defy expectations at a position where they are projected by FanGraphs to be the worst team in all of baseball? TWINS SHORTSTOPS AT A GLANCE Starter: Brooks Lee Backup: Ryan Kreidler Depth: Orlando Arcia, Tristan Gray Prospects: Kaelen Culpepper, Marek Houston Twins fWAR Ranking Last Year: 22nd out of 30 Twins fWAR Projection This Year: 30th out of 30 THE GOOD It's important to acknowledge that Lee is still only 25 years old, and the attributes that made him a top-10 draft pick and high-end prospect are still there. He's a switch-hitter with excellent contact skills and a very high baseball IQ, capable of playing up the middle while offering signs of latent power potential. That's a valuable asset, in theory. But so far in his major-league career, the pieces just have not clicked together for Lee, who's been a replacement-level player through 189 MLB games per FanGraphs (negative-1.0 WAR per Baseball Reference). And while there's no sugarcoating his performance up to this point, it's telling that the Twins traded Correa last year, handed Lee the reins, and are handing them right back over this spring. They believe in Brooks Lee. That was clear from very early on. Their faith may ultimately prove misguided but it's far too early to say so; he'd hardly be the first highly-touted prospect to struggle through a couple of rough seasons before finally turning a corner in his mid-20s. Tom Kelly used to say it takes 1,000 plate appearances in the majors before you really know about a guy, and Lee's still a few hundred short of that. That said, the clock is ticking. The Twins are giving him a wide open runway to take off. The time is now. Lee knows it, and has come to camp with a resolve to lock down the shortstop gig for the foreseeable future. As Bobby Nightengale wrote for the Star Tribune, Lee is living out the proverbial "best shape of his life" mantra — “Probably 15 people have said to me, ‘Man, Brooks looks great,’” said Derek Shelton — and attacking his weaknesses head on. He's focused on improving his defensive range in the field, and making better swing decisions at the plate. Average shortstop defense is about the best you can realistically hope for from Lee, so his bat needs to carry him if he's going to be a positive contributor. And while there are many things that go into that, the simplest version is that he just needs to hit the ball harder. He's shown flashes of impressive power but they are too few and far between, washed out by endless waves of weak contact. We'll see if the offseason work and partnering with new hitting coach Keith Beauregard pays off. Lifting his batting average by even 20 or 30 points would go a long way toward putting Lee's production in an acceptable range — seemingly doable for a guy with one of the lowest BABIPs (.254) in the league since debuting in 2024. Even if he rights the ship somewhat, it's not clear that Lee is part of the long-term vision at shortstop. He's better suited at second or third. Rising through the system are two clear candidates to be heir apparent: Minnesota's #1 selections from each of the last two drafts. Kaelen Culpepper, drafted 21st overall in 2024, experienced a huge breakout last year in the minors, slashing .289/.375/.469 in 113 games between Single-A and Double-A. He participated in the Futures Game and this spring finds himself as a consensus top-100 prospect. Culpepper is in big-league camp and seeing a fair amount of action, which is among the many signals that he might be inching toward entering the team's plans. Marek Houston, drafted 16th overall in 2025, lacks the offensive profile of Culpepper, but is probably already the best defensive shortstop in the organization at age 21. I don't want to overstate things but there's a reason the Twins took him in the middle of the first round, signed him for nearly $5 million and promoted him to High-A almost immediately — and it's not because of his bat. If he proves to be the level of difference-maker in the field that the Twins are envisioning, he can turn into a valuable big-league regular even if the punchless bat doesn't progress. Shortstop is one of the few positions where you can say that. THE BAD Correa, even during his down years in 2023 and 2025, was a roughly average MLB starting shortstop. I know people get lost in the salary and the "overpaid" narratives, but Correa had tremendous value to the Twins as a floor-setting veteran with All-Star potential. They traded that for nothing at last year's deadline and now we pin our hopes with an organization that has shown no real ability to develop its own MLB shortstop talent. Here's a list of first-round shortstops the Twins have drafted in the past 20 years, prior to Culpepper and Houston: Levi Michael (2011), Nick Gordon (2014), Royce Lewis (2017), Keoni Cavaco (2019), Noah Miller (2021) and Lee. That list does not include high-profile international signings like Wander Javier, Miguel Sano and Danny De Andrade. To date, none of these players have panned out as major-league shortstops. (Jorge Polanco did, briefly.) The jury is still out on Lee, but it's not looking good. And while it's easy to dream on Culpepper or Houston, the reality is that odds are stacked against them because it's just really hard to emerge as one of the 30 best shortstops in the world. Culpepper is a good prospect, but not an elite prospect, in part because many evaluators believe he's destined for third base. Houston's going to need to meet an extremely high bar defensively unless his hitting ability improves by leaps and bounds. For now, what the Twins have is Lee, a replacement-level player backed up by replacement-level options in Ryan Kreidler, Orlando Arcia and Tristan Gray. Unless Lee can stay healthy and rebound, the shortstop position is going to be rough for Minnesota in 2026. THE BOTTOM LINE The long-term picture is unclear and the short-term outlook is rather bleak. FanGraphs projecting the Twins to rank 30th out of 30 MLB teams in WAR at the shortstop position says it all — Lee hasn't shown much of anything, and there's little behind him in the way of proven depth. Catch up on the rest of our roster preview series: Twins 2026 Position Analysis: Catcher Twins 2026 Position Analysis: First Base Twins 2026 Position Analysis: Second Base Twins 2026 Position Analysis: Third Base View full article

Image courtesy of Jerome Miron-Imagn Images It feels hard to believe now, but it's true: the Opening Day starter at third base for the Minnesota Twins last year was José Miranda. His last hurrah didn't last long; Miranda was demoted to the minors in mid-April with a .417 OPS and did not return. He moved on during the offseason, landing with the Padres, and now the layer of third-base depth that Miranda provided — however tenuous — is gone, along with the rest of their in-house backups from last year, leaving a lot of pressure on Royce Lewis to stay healthy and produce. What could go wrong? TWINS THIRD BASEMEN AT A GLANCE Starter: Royce Lewis Backup: Kody Clemens Depth: Eric Wagaman, Gio Urshela, Tristan Gray Prospects: Quentin Young, Brandon Winokur, Billy Amick Twins fWAR Ranking Last Year: 20th out of 30 Twins fWAR Projection This Year: 14th out of 30 THE GOOD We all know what Lewis is capable of. He's done it in the regular season, the playoffs. He's doing it again this spring — it took him exactly one at-bat to remind us of his awesome power. Now that's the guy we remember. The first overall draft pick, top prospect and rookie phenom. The unstoppable force who took the league by storm and lifted the franchise out of its postseason malaise. Even with his struggles over the past couple years, he has a very respectable .255/.310/.453 career slash line and 109 OPS+ at age 26. Of course, those good-not-great numbers are split down the middle, blending Lewis' otherworldly production in 2022-23 (148 OPS+ in 70 games) with his sub-par performance over a much larger sample in 2024-25 (93 OPS+ in 188 games). He doesn't need to get quite back to the level of his early peak — that may not even be possible, given the cumulative toll of his injuries — but the Twins need something far closer than what we saw in 2025. And it's more than possible! Believing in a Lewis resurgence is more than just wishcasting. He's still relatively young, his natural talent is obvious, and he ended last year looking as healthy and spry as we've seen him in a long time. Lewis graded out better defensively than ever before, and made some legitimately dazzling plays down the stretch. He stole nine bases on 10 attempts in September, and has been running early this spring, as if to make a statement about how good his legs feel. The missing piece is his bat, with Lewis acknowledging that his swing has long felt broken and out of whack. He spent the offseason working with a personal hitting coach, and early signs have been positive. THE BAD Aside from Lewis, these are the players who made starts at third base for the Twins last year: Brooks Lee (32), Jonah Bride (16), Willi Castro (9), Miranda (9), Ryan Fitzgerald (4). Lee is now the starting shortstop and everyone else is no longer in the organization. While Lewis' run of good health in the second half last year was encouraging, the injury stormcloud isn't going to stop looming over him for a while, especially given that he already had an early scare this spring. Fortunately, the side discomfort that scratched him from the lineup last Thursday came up clean on an MRI, and Lewis was back in the lineup batting leadoff on Tuesday, but it was a stark reminder that contingency plans behind him matter. I found myself asking: if a more serious injury struck and Lewis were sidelined for a prolonged period, who would step in as the regular third baseman? I guess as of now it's Gio Urshela, who joined the Twins on a minor-league deal in early February. He offers a lot of MLB experience at third and an okay glove, but little else. Urshela hasn't hit at all for multiple years and he's legitimately one of the slowest players in the major leagues. But I also think a long-term injury to Lewis is the only thing that gets Urshela on the roster. In the event of a more short-term absence or rest day for Lewis, the top backups as of now are seemingly Kody Clemens and Eric Wagaman. Maybe those two could even form a platoon if Lewis went down. But man, what an incredibly dire situation that would be on defense. Tristan Gray, Ryan Kreidler or Orlando Arcia are more palatable gloves at the hot corner, depending who's on the roster, but like Urshela they haven't hit. The Twins don't really have much going on in terms of quality infield depth, and that's felt at third as much as anywhere. THE BOTTOM LINE This feels like a make-or-break season for Lewis. He still has three remaining years of control but if he doesn't significantly improve or can't stay on the field, you've got to think the Twins will be inclined to chart a new path at third base. Presently, it's totally unclear how that path might look take shape. Maybe Kaelen Culpepper shifts over to third at some point, though that would open up its own can of worms for planning elsewhere, as we'll address in the next installment of this series. For now, all eyes are on Lewis, whose own success (or lack thereof) will play a huge role in determining whether the Twins are able to field a competitive team this season. Catch up on the rest of our roster preview series: Twins 2026 Position Analysis: Catcher Twins 2026 Position Analysis: First Base Twins 2026 Position Analysis: Second Base View full article

Image courtesy of Mike Watters-Imagn Images The list of Opening Day starters at second base for the Twins since Brian Dozier's departure in 2018 has featured six different names in seven years: Jonathan Schoop, Luis Arraez, Jorge Polanco (x2), Nick Gordon, Kyle Farmer, Willi Castro. (Not listed: Edouard Julien, who's made a team-leading 159 starts at second since 2023.) The 2026 season will add a seventh name to that list, but the Twins and their fans are hoping that Luke Keaschall can become a Dozier-esque mainstay at what's been volatile position for Minnesota in recent years. TWINS SECOND BASEMEN AT A GLANCE Starter: Luke Keaschall Backup: Kody Clemens Depth: Austin Martin, Tristan Gray, Orlando Arcia Prospects: Kyle DeBarge, Danny De Andrade, Jay Thomason Twins fWAR Ranking Last Year: 22nd out of 30 Twins fWAR Projection This Year: 6th out of 30 THE GOOD Keaschall sure looks like the real deal. He posted 1.6 fWAR in 49 games last year, showcasing an excellent plate approach with a dash of power, plus an electric combo of speed and aggressiveness on the bases. He batted .302, ripped 14 doubles and four homers, stole 14 bases on 17 attempts, and delivered memorable clutch moments on the way to a top-10 finish in Rookie of the Year voting. It was one of the more special big-league debuts we've seen from a Twins player. With that, Keaschall has his clamps on the second base job. As long as he's healthy, he'll be out there everyday and probably hitting near the top of the lineup. The team's outlook hinges greatly on Keaschall, which is a heavy weight to bear for a 23-year-old, but he looked every bit up to handling the pressure last year. It all starts with the plate approach, and the strike zone control. He doesn't chase much, keeping the heat on opposing pitchers. He puts the ball in play and lets his legs make noise. And while he didn't show a ton of power as a rookie, or as a prospect, that's an area where growth is possible — if not probable. It will be the main factor that differentiates between two outcomes: solid regular or star player. If he can consistently make harder contact, the idea of Keaschall as a future MVP candidate may not be such an audacious take. Keaschall's immediate backup is Kody Clemens, but in the bigger picture I think Brooks Lee is next in line. I could envision a scenario where Keaschall ends up in the outfield and Lee shifts to second once the Twins figure out a real solution at shortstop. Second base feels like a spot where Lee and his middling arm could ultimately thrive, provided he figures things out with the bat. Further down the line, speedy Kyle DeBarge, who stole 66 bases in Cedar Rapids last year, is definitely one to watch. Seth recently highlighted DeBarge as Twins Daily's #17 prospect heading into 2026. THE BAD One reason we're talking about lines of succession behind Keaschall at second base is that he's not assured of sticking there. His defense graded out poorly as a rookie, in large part because of his 6th-percentile arm strength. In fairness, he was returning from Tommy John surgery, but throwing has never been a real strength for Keaschall. Pair that reality with his exceptional speed, and it's possible that his best fit could ultimately be in the outfield — something the Twins seem open to exploring. The other reason it's important to talk about layers of depth behind Keaschall is that, unfortunately, durability has not proven to be an asset for him either. After an elbow injury ended his 2024 season, Keaschall missed time with an arm fracture and thumb sprain last year, the latter of which required offseason surgery. To an extent these injuries are fluky and isolated, but as a hard-nosed hustle-type player, Keaschall does play a brand of baseball that puts his body at risk. The drop-off to someone like Clemens or Austin Martin would be pretty immense, since neither of those guys is really suited to be an everyday second baseman. Tristan Gray is a more legitimate infield glove, but hasn't hit a lick in the majors. Orlando Arcia and Ryan Kreidler could be in the mix here too but aren't much more inspiring at the moment as replacement-level bats. Let's just hope Keaschall can stay on the field. THE BOTTOM LINE Keaschall is one of the biggest reasons for excitement around the offense, and around this Twins team in general. If he picks up anywhere close to where he left off, he's the kind of player that can elevate the entire club. A true sparkplug at an up-the-middle position batting near the top of the lineup. On top of keeping injuries at bay, Keaschall will need to fend off the notorious sophomore regression bug, which has bitten many a young Twins hitter in the past. No one is immune to the adjustments and counter-attacks that major-league pitchers can bring. But Keaschall's specializations — rarely chasing, rarely whiffing, utilizing all fields, and applying pressure with his speed — will be tough for opponents to solve, even if the power development remains more gradual or capped. That's how I see it anyway, and for what it's worth, projection systems seem to align. FanGraphs has only seven second basemen pegged for a higher WAR in 2027, and they're all rather accomplished big-leaguers: Ketel Marte, Nico Hoerner, Marcus Semien, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Gleyber Torres, Brice Turang and Bryson Stott. Is Luke Keaschall really already an upper-echelon MLB second baseman? Let's find out. Catch up on the rest of our roster preview series: Twins 2026 Position Analysis: Catcher Twins 2026 Position Analysis: First Base View full article

Image courtesy of David Malamut There's a lot of risk involved using high draft picks on prep pitchers, which is why it's not something the Minnesota Twins often do. They made an exception in 2023 with Charlee Soto, selecting him as a 17-year-old out of Reborn Christian Academy in Florida with the 34th overall pick and signing him to a $2.48 million bonus. We've seen some of that risk play out since. In his first season (2024), Soto struggled to a 5.23 ERA in 21 appearances for Low-A Ft. Myers while having his workload heavily managed, and in his second season (2025) he was limited to just 13 innings by arm issues. A triceps strain sidelined Soto after just three starts in Cedar Rapids, and in August he had a procedure to remove a partially detached bone spur in his elbow. The good news is that there was no structural damage, and this spring Soto is healthy and back in action. His extraordinary potential earns him a spot on the back end of Twins Daily's top 10 despite the unignorable question marks. Charlee Soto Age: 20 (DOB: 8/31/05) 2025 Stats (A+): 13 IP, 1.38 ERA, 10.4 K/9, 2.8 BB/9, 1.00 WHIP ETA: 2028 2025 Ranking: 4 National Top 100 Rankings BA: NR | MLB: NR | ATH: NR | BP: NR | ESPN: 94 What's To Like While the Twins realized the risks of investing in young pitching talent, they've already also witnessed some of the upside. Soto, well built at 6-foot-3, is a stellar athlete with a premium arm. He was reaching the upper-90s by the end of his first full season in 2024, and was touching triple-digits early last year before going down with the triceps injury. His 1-7 record and 5.23 ERA from 2024 don't cast an accurate portrayal of Soto's first season in the minors. He more than held his own as an 18-year-old at Fort Myers, striking out 87 in 74 innings and allowing just six home runs. Last year Soto appeared well on his way to taking the next step, throwing absolute gas through his first three starts at High-A Cedar Rapids with a 15-to-4 K/BB ratio and just two runs allowed in 13 innings. The velocity on Soto's fastball is eye-catching, and he's got a solid slider as well, but the signature offering is his changeup. Buzzing in at up to 90 MPH with a ton of arm-side drop, it's viewed as one of the best changeups in all of the minors, and should help him suppress left-handed hitters if he can spot it. There's sort of an "out of sight, out of mind" dynamic at play with Soto since we didn't see him pitch after April last year. As such, he's a trendy breakout pick among prospect heads and he'll be one of the most exciting players in the Twins system to follow in 2026. What's Left To Work On Velocity isn't everything for a fastball. Even a 100 MPH heater will be punished by advanced hitters if it lacks shape and movement. That's been one of the knocks on Soto, whose fastball tended to come in pretty straight and has been susceptible to hard contact when not placed with precision. The righty started working in a sinker variant to supplement his four-seamer, and that could give his overall arsenal a significant boost, but it remains a work in progress. Generally speaking, the quality of stuff is not in question here. Soto has struck out 102 hitters through 87 pro innings as a teenager, and still feels like he's revving up and settling in. Health is going to be the big hurdle to overcome. Missing almost an entire season due to arm issues before turning 20 is far from ideal, but hardly damning. It does leave Soto with some work to do in order to build up as a starter and establish a stamina baseline. If all goes well for him this year it wouldn't be a shock to see Soto reach Double-A by September, but it will likely take some time for him to develop physically and emerge as a factor in the big-league plans. What's Next Hopefully, a fully healthy season to showcase what he can do. Soto's mission will be to keep on refining while reliably taking the mound each turn and hopefully surpassing 100 innings. The crew from Destination The Show recently remarked on Soto's wide range of outcomes, which spans from frontline starter to volatile reliever to injury flameout. We should get a much better idea this year of where the 20-year-old will land. Catch Up on the Rest of Twins Daily's Top 20 Prospects (Part 1) 20. James Ellwanger, RHP 19. Khadim Diaw, C/CF 18. C.J. Culpepper, RHP 17. Kyle DeBarge, 2B/SS/CF 16. Hendry Mendez, OF (Part 2) 15. Marco Raya, RHP 14. Quentin Young, SS 13. Brandon Winokur, SS/CF 12. Andrew Morris, RHP 11. Riley Quick, RHP 10. Charlee Soto, RHP View full article

"For what it's worth, [Raya's] looked excellent in early spring action." JINX!! 🥴

Image courtesy of Image courtesy of William Parmeter (Marco Raya) Part one: #16-20 15. Marco Raya, RHP Age: 23 2025 Stats (AAA): 98.2 IP, 6.02 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, 9.3 K/9, 5.2 BB/9 During his rise through the minors, Raya has been a consistent fixture in our rankings despite several things working against him: workload restrictions, shaky control, and results that never quite matched up to the quality of his stuff. But any observer could see that quality on display — hard, high-spin breaking balls that gave older and more experienced hitters fits. Last year, Raya's momentum came to a halt in Triple-A. For the first time in his pro career, he was the one looking overwhelmed as walks, wild pitches and laborious outings piled up. It's a stumble we can excuse, given that Raya arrived in Triple-A as a 22-year-old who was promoted aggressively through the Twins' system. But now he has to rebound and prove his brutal 2025 was merely a bump in the road. He'll be aiming to do so in the bullpen. Given how little interest the Twins have shown in building up his stamina for a starting workload, this has long appeared to be the plan, but now his conversion to a reliever is all but official. That's a spot in which Raya has a very good chance to thrive, and perhaps blossom in a late-inning role — as long as he can throw strikes. For what it's worth, he's looked excellent in early spring action. 14. Quentin Young, SS Age: 18 2025 Stats (A): 22 PA, .118/.227/.118, 0 HR, 3 RBI The Twins were thinking big — literally and figuratively — when they used their second-round pick, 54th overall, to select Young in last year's draft. Turning 19 in a few days, the former prep star is already a massive specimen at 6-foot-6 and 225 lbs. His throwing and swinging strength are immense, casting the potential for a star slugger at third base or an outfield corner. (There's no way he's sticking at shortstop, even if it's technically his current position.) The question with Young is simple: Will he make enough contact to produce? That was the universal knock on him entering the draft. Baseball America describes his swing as "long, with a pronounced hitch," and such issues are not always easily solved for a guy his size. Young struck out nine times in 22 plate appearances during a brief debut at Low-A Fort Myers last year, but it says something about the team's belief in him that they sent him there directly. He will be a fun one to follow this year. 13. Brandon Winokur, SS/CF Age: 21 2025 Stats (A+): 529 PA, .226/.304/.388, 17 HR, 68 RBI It's fitting that Winokur is right next to Young in these rankings because his story and traits are remarkably similar. He's a huge right-handed hitter (6-foot-6, 210) drafted highly out of high school (third round in 2023) on the basis of his tantalizing raw tools. Like Young, Winokur shows uncommon defensive ability for a player his size, and spent a majority of his time at shortstop or center field in Cedar Rapids last year, though he did start to break in more at third. Winokur hardly dominated in his first exposure to High-A, posting a sub-.700 OPS in 122 games, but staying healthy and holding his own against more advanced competition was a win in its own right. His 17 homers and 26 steals (on 30 attempts) demonstrate what his athleticism makes possible, and his 24.7% strikeout rate — while still on the high side — was a solid improvement over 2024 (28%). 12. Andrew Morris, RHP Age: 24 2025 Stats (AAA): 94.2 IP, 4.09 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 8.5 K/9, 2.7 BB/9 A fourth-round draft pick out of Texas Tech in 2022, Morris enjoyed moderate success in his first full season before experiencing a full-on breakthrough in 2024. He started in High-A and finished with an effective seven-start stint at Triple-A, posting a 2.37 ERA across three levels and positioning himself for a potentially imminent big-league call-up. The 2025 season didn't quite go as planned. He got off to a pretty good start with the Saints, but in late May he started getting hit noticeably harder, and in June he went on the injured list with a forearm strain. That can be an ominous development for pitchers, but Morris came back healthy after six weeks in pitched well down the stretch, with a 3.45 ERA and 29-to-4 K/BB ratio in 31 ⅓ innings. Boasting a six-pitch mix with a mid-90s fastball, Morris doesn't get tons of whiffs and projects as more of a mid-rotation option than future ace. There's an argument for eventually having him follow Raya into a relief role, but for now Morris is an important piece of starting pitching depth for the Twins. 11. Riley Quick, RHP Age: 21 2025 Stats: DNP Quick is the third player among the five highlighted here who's listed at 6-foot-6, but the first who takes that size advantage to the pitching mound. Minnesota selected the big righty out of Alabama with their supplemental first-round pick last year, 36th overall, after he struck out 72 hitters in 60 innings with a 3.95 ERA for the Tide in his return from Tommy John surgery. He didn't make any official appearances upon joining Twins system last year, but figures to be unleashed in Single-A this year and it'll be interesting to see how he fares. No one would be surprised to see the hulking hard-thrower blow away young hitters with a fastball that reaches the upper-90s and some legit secondary offerings. Quick may be one of the best-kept secrets in the minors ... but not for long. View full article

Image courtesy of © Jonah Hinebaugh/Naples Daily News/USA Today Network-Florida / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images 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 Buxton, CF Keaschall, 2B Bell, DH Wallner, RF Lewis, 3B Larnach, LF Jeffers/Caratini, C Clemens, 1B 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 Buxton, CF Keaschall, 2B Bell, 1B Wallner, RF Lewis, 3B Larnach, DH Jeffers/Caratini, C Outman/Roden, LF 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 Buxton, CF Keaschall, 2B Lewis, 3B Jeffers, C Wallner, RF Bell, 1B/DH Caratini, 1B/DH Martin/Wagaman, LF 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 Buxton, CF Keaschall, 2B Lewis, 3B Bell, DH Jeffers/Caratini, C Wallner, RF Wagaman, 1B Martin/Roden, LF 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. View full article

You might be right, it's possible I'm just trying to talk myself out of this reality. But, the Twins are just deeply unserious about improving their defense if they're going to have Bell out there regularly in an infield that already has big question marks up the middle. He's been replacement-level over the past two seasons because of his glove. Like, even the last-place Nationals could see he should not be in the field.

I'll be honest: I just don't know. I spent a lot of time trying to work through this in my head. If Clemens is on the roster they will probably want him starting often against RHP. And if he's in the lineup with Bell, you want Clemens and his glove at 1B. But then, I guess Larnach is in LF, which also doesn't help the defense. And where is Caratini if Jeffers is catching? My best guess with the current personnel is a heavy rotation at 1B, with no single player getting more than like 70 starts. I don't know that Clemens will be there Opening Day, but as of now I think he'll end up with the most, mainly because he's not useful to start at any other position. Looking at all these pieces together, I kinda feel like Clemens has been squeezed out by the free agent additions but no one's talking about that as of yet.