MN Twins on the Hunt for First Base Help
Although the Minnesota Twins have yet to make any moves of substance yet this offseason, they are poking around for roster help. They added a backup catcher in acquiring Alex Jackson , and they swung a Rule 5 Draft day trade for future help .
Outside of the bullpen being an obvious need , finding a capable starting first baseman is a must. Right now the job looks like it will be given to Kody Clemens . Derek Shelton’s team can’t be taken seriously if that’s all they do. Good thing there are low-wattage options on the open market.
Slugging help at first base on the horizon
Last season Minnesota traded for Kody Clemens as their injury situation continued to pile up. Given his first significant opportunity in the big leagues, Clemens carried himself well. That said, it would be a lot to expect better performance or simply allow first base to be overlooked. The Athletic’s Dan Hayes is reporting that Minnesota has done some digging on the open market.
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Team and league sources confirmed Wednesday that the Twins inquired about or have shown interest in veterans Rhys Hoskins, Josh Bell and 2025 All-Star Ryan O’Hearn, among others.
That trio is not exactly inspiring, but the bar to clear in hopes of generating more offensive firepower isn’t high. In 112 games last season Clemens batted .216/.284/.442 . That was good for a just-under league-average 96 OPS+. Easily the best mark of his career, Clemens saw his numbers dip as he faded in the second-half.
The Minnesota Twins are extremely left-handed at power positions, so either Rhys Hoskins or Josh Bell could provide balance. The former looked like a quality target before he signed with the Milwaukee Brewers , and he’s coming off a 108 OPS+ last season . Bell is a switch hitter that produced a 110 OPS+ in 2025 , and his 193 career home runs have been a carrying reflection of power.
A former Kansas City Royals infielder, O’Hearn found himself unlocked by former Twins hitting coach Matt Borgschulte in Baltimore . His 125 OPS+ last season was a career-high and earned him a trip to his first All-Star Game. O’Hearn would have been an ideal trade candidate for Minnesota had they not been a 92-loss team last year, and ultimately was flipped to the San Diego Padres at the trade deadline.
Path for MN Twins additions looks murky
Minnesota has put out the message that they will not trade their stars and intend to add . Currently the payroll checks in under $100 million, and short of the new minority partners spending a bunch of money, there’s not much cash to go around.
It would be good to see the Twins field a competent roster in 2026 and shouldn’t cost them much to get there. Adding even the smallest needle-moving slugger at first base would be a good step in the right direction.
“On the offensive side, another bat or two with some thump, with some impact, to bolster a group that we’re excited about and that young core that we’re excited to keep growing with.”
Beyond first base, the Twins still need to address the bullpen. General manager Jeremy Zoll told The Athletic this week that Minnesota wants to bring in help to supplement the current core. It shouldn’t cost much to supplement the relief core, and if there is even a half-hearted attempt to spend, then the roster could be infused in a meaningful way.
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