Late offseason moves by the Twins give them more options at two key positions and possibly change their plans for their younger core. With the Twins signing former Gold Glove winner Harrison Bader and former All-Star Ty France, they have depth at first base and in the outfield. While it is beneficial for a team with many injuries in 2024 to have this depth, it will impact playing time for some players on the Twins’ 40-man roster.
Competitive Atmosphere at Spring Training due to Twins’ Offseason Moves
Harrison Bader’s Impact
Like when the Twins had Michael A. Taylor on their roster, Bader is expected to platoon from the center field position when Byron Buxton has a day off. Playing only 54 games in either corner outfield position during his professional career (as opposed to 688 in center field), the Twins look to give Bader playing time in left field when Buxton is in the lineup. Twins beat writer for the Star Tribune, Phil Miller, reported that Bader has not played exclusively on left field since his college days in Florida. Bader is okay with this, though, as he explained to Miller that playing in the corner as a younger player helped him as a center fielder, and he is excited for the opportunity.
Twins, OF Harrison Bader agree to 1-year deal with mutual option for 2026, per @MLBNetwork insider @JonHeyman. pic.twitter.com/WzrYVRbhXt
— MLB (@MLB) February 5, 2025
Adding a former Gold Glove-winning outfielder to platoon the outfield will certainly benefit the Twins, but it may hinder the playing time of some of their younger players. Trevor Larnach and Matt Wallner have been looked at as possible everyday outfielders for the Twins. Before Bader’s signing, this seemed to be the reality for the team. Larnach and Wallner are slightly stronger at the plate, with both hitting .259 and a combined 28 home runs in 2024. Compared to Bader’s .236 average and 12 home runs, an argument could be made that they have a slight edge over Bader. The difference maker, however, is the fact that Bader is a veteran who is strong defensively as a former Gold Glove winner. Bader’s defensive capabilities, coupled with his experience as a veteran, make him a better choice for the Twins in the outfield.
First Base Competition
Ty France’s slash line in 2024 was .234/.305/.365 while playing for two teams (Seattle and Cincinnati) was the worst offensive year of his career. France, just a few years removed from his All-Star season in 2022, will improve on last year’s numbers. This would certainly benefit the Twins and reflect a second season in which they sign a free agent to play first base and rectify their career after having Carlos Santana in 2024.
The first player whose France’s signing impacted is Edouard Julien. Coach Rocco Baldelli threw Julien’s name into the hat as a possible first baseman for the team, despite him being primarily a second baseman in his career. Julien has spent a few innings at first in his professional career, but this move frees him up for other positions. The player who was impacted the most by this signing was José Miranda. With the Twins not making any impactful moves until recently, many believed it was Miranda’s position to lose. This now creates a competition for first base, and Miranda could be the odd man out. The Twins do like to platoon players at many positions depending on matchups, so Miranda could certainly see some time as a designated hitter.
Overall Impact
France’s arrival brings a proven bat and glove to first base, while Bader brings experience and a Gold Glove to complement Byron Buxton. Adding these two veterans gives the Twins options at multiple positions and allows them to focus on match-ups. Emphasizing roster depth is a good move by the Twins, as it was certainly a need at the end of the 2024 season.
Main Photo Credits: Jonah Hinebaugh/Naples Daily News/USA Today Network-Florida / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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