Acquiring a right handed power bat could complete the Twins lineup.
When looking at potential 2024 Twins lineups it’s not hard to envision them being atop the American League. With the likes of Royce Lewis, Edouard Julien and Matt Wallner looking to take the next step in 2024, mixed with the veteran presence of Carlos Correa, Max Kepler and Jorge Polanco. Add in the potential for a healthy Byron Buxton it’s not hard to potent this potential Twins lineup could be. The only thing it’s really missing is an impact power bat particularly from the right handed side of the batter’s box to round it out.
First base could be a particular spot of interest to add an impact bat as it is the position in the Twins infield with the biggest question marks. Shortstop of course is filled by Carlos Correa, third by Royce Lewis and there are a plethora of options at second base currently with Edouard Julien, Jorge Polanco, Kyle Farmer and Brooks Lee potentially making an impact there in 2024. First base leaves more to be desired. In theory Alex Kirilloff could be the everyday option there, but injuries continue to be a question mark for the 26-year-old former first round pick.
In 88 games Kirilloff posted a 120 wRC+ slashing .270/.348/.445 but struggled down the stretch likely due to a nagging shoulder injury that he is recovering from surgery on this offseason. Kirilloff also struggled against left handed pitching in 2023 with just a 37 wRC+ against southpaws in 56 plate appearances. Making a first base platoon a logical solution to the problem in 2024.
The Twins could fill the role internally by turning to Jose Miranda as a first base platoon option. A popup prospect in 2021 and then bursting on to the scene for the Twins in a 3B/1B role for the Twins in 2022 Miranda slashed .268/.325/.460 with 15 home runs in 125 games. Miranda looked to be a fixture in the Twins long term plans before falling off a cliff in 2023. In 25 games Miranda posted a 57 wRC+ worth -0.8 fWAR before being demoted to Triple-A St.Paul where he continued to struggle Before being shutdown with a season ending shoulder injury in July.
Miranda like Kirilloff underwent surgery on his shoulder and is looking for a big bounce back campaign in 2024. A right-left platoon of Miranda and Kirilloff could be a way to maximize both player value in 2024. Miranda mashed against Lefties in 2022 to the tune of an .821 OPS, Slugging .511 and hitting 9 home runs. Like the rest of his numbers he struggled against left handed pitching in 2023, but a healthy Miranda could make a massive impact as the right side of a first base platoon giving him an avenue for a spot on the big league roster that currently is not available to him.
Another avenue the Twins could take to find a right handed power bat is the free agent market. While not a first baseman J.D Martinez is a name that could fit the Twins free agent mold. The 36-year-old Martinez is coming off a solid 2023 with the Los Angeles Dodgers putting up 2.2 fWAR and a 135 wRC+ in 113 games. Martinez will have to primarily occupy the DH spot however as he logged just 12.0 innings in the field last season which would force Byron Buxton into a full time centerfield role. While also taking away the Twins ability to cycle other players through the DH spot like they’ve done the past two seasons. Martinez could be a valuable add and likely would only require a one year contract on the Twins part but age and lack of positional flexibility may make it a no go for the Twins front office.
Going now to the first base free agent market another relatively cheap one year right handed bat could be former Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins. The 30-year-old Hoskins spent all of 2023 recovering from a season ending knee injury that he suffered prior to opening day, leading to the Phillies declining to offer him the $20.33 million qualifying offer making him an unrestricted free agent. Hoskins has a career 126 wRC+ has smashed more than 25 homers in all two seasons in his 6-year career and been a consistent 2.0 fWAR player. He’s likely only going to get a one-year prove it deal in free agency and seek a larger deal next offseason.
Hoskins on a one-year deal could be an ideal fit for the Twins to fill the right-handed hitting first baseman role without having to give out a multi-year deal or move prospect capital. Hoskins also would play the field on a regular basis and could be a part of the DH cycle as well.
A reunion with Donovan Solano could be another route for the Twins to fill the right handed hitting first base role as well. Solano while not providing power that the Twins could use in this role provides consistent contact that proved valuable for the Twins in 2023. Solano slashed .282/.369/.391 for the Twins last season and was worth 1.2 fWAR. A Solano re-signing would also be cheaper than a Martinez or Hoskins signing but has far less upside as well and may not move the needle much in terms of adding to the potentially deep lineup the Twins already have constructed.
First base at thi point is really the only question mark in the Twins infield. Kirilloff could rise to the occasion and stay healthy and live up to the first round pick potential that Twins fans have only seen glimpses of since his 2021 rookie season. Jose Miranda could bounce back and regain some of his 2022 rookie form as well and at that point you have a more than solid first base platoon. But adding a Hoskins type off the free agent market gives the Twins an added power threat form the right side of the batter’s box that is the one thing the Twins lineup is lacking.
