MLB · 10 months ago

5 Critical Offseason Moves So the Twins Can Contend in 2025

SportsGrid Contributor Just Baseball

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5. Make Matt Wallner a Full-Time Starter
After showing flashes of brilliance in limited playing time, Matt Wallner deserves a full-time role in 2025. The young outfielder has demonstrated impressive offensive potential, hitting 27 home runs with a .254 average and an .886 OPS over the past two seasons. With corner outfielders Max Kepler and Manuel Margot departing in free agency, Wallner is primed to step into an everyday role. If he can maintain his power-hitting prowess, Wallner could become a key weapon in the Twins’ lineup.
1. Keep Pablo López
Thanks to Just Baseball for the stats, analysis and insights for this slideshow article.

One of the Twins’ most reliable starters, Pablo López, remains crucial to their 2025 success. Despite a high price tag—$21.75 million annually over the next three years—López has been consistently effective, maintaining a 3.87 ERA during his time in Minnesota. Given the Twins’ struggles with a 4.36 starter ERA last season, trading away an ace like López would weaken their pitching rotation. Retaining him ensures stability at the top of their rotation and keeps the Twins competitive in a tough AL Central.

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2. Trade Chris Paddack and Christian Vázquez
To free up payroll for other roster needs, the Twins should explore trading Chris Paddack and Christian Vázquez. Both players carry significant contracts—$7.5 million and $10 million, respectively—and have underperformed in recent seasons. Moving these contracts would open up resources to strengthen other areas, such as the bullpen or lineup depth. While it won’t be easy to find takers, Paddack’s age and Vázquez’s defensive skills could appeal to teams looking for value acquisitions.

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3. Replace Carlos Santana
With Carlos Santana departing in free agency, the Twins face a significant hole at first base. Santana delivered strong offensive production in 2024 with 23 home runs and 71 RBIs, but the Twins may have to rely on internal options like Jose Miranda or Yunior Severino to fill the void. Miranda showed promise last season, but his lack of power could limit the offense’s potential. Without a big free agent signing, finding consistent production at first base will be critical for the Twins to maintain their offensive output.

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4. Shore Up the Middle Relief
The Twins’ bullpen had mixed results in 2024, with standout performances from Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax, Cole Sands, and Jorge Alcala offset by underwhelming contributions from others. Injury-plagued acquisitions like Justin Topa and poor performances from Steven Okert and Jay Jackson highlighted the team’s need for better depth. Reinvesting in middle relief and adding reliable arms through trades or free agency could provide much-needed stability to their bullpen.

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5. Make Matt Wallner a Full-Time Starter
After showing flashes of brilliance in limited playing time, Matt Wallner deserves a full-time role in 2025. The young outfielder has demonstrated impressive offensive potential, hitting 27 home runs with a .254 average and an .886 OPS over the past two seasons. With corner outfielders Max Kepler and Manuel Margot departing in free agency, Wallner is primed to step into an everyday role. If he can maintain his power-hitting prowess, Wallner could become a key weapon in the Twins’ lineup.
1. Keep Pablo López
Thanks to Just Baseball for the stats, analysis and insights for this slideshow article.

One of the Twins’ most reliable starters, Pablo López, remains crucial to their 2025 success. Despite a high price tag—$21.75 million annually over the next three years—López has been consistently effective, maintaining a 3.87 ERA during his time in Minnesota. Given the Twins’ struggles with a 4.36 starter ERA last season, trading away an ace like López would weaken their pitching rotation. Retaining him ensures stability at the top of their rotation and keeps the Twins competitive in a tough AL Central.

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5 Critical Offseason Moves So the Twins Can Contend in 2025

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