Twins Could Replace Royce Lewis With Another Risky Infield Bet

With Royce Lewis potentially on the way out, the Twins are eyeing Alec Bohm-though his track record raises more questions than answers.

Royce Lewis could be on the way out in Minnesota, and if the Twins do decide to move on, one possible replacement is a familiar name with a mixed resume: Alec Bohm.

Lewis is shaping up as a non-tender candidate after another uneven year. Minnesota already sent him to the minors in May when his season got off to a rough start, but the stint there didn’t spark the kind of turnaround the club was hoping for. He finished with a 0.5 fWAR and an 85 wRC+ across 125 MLB games.

That kind of production would be one thing if 2026 were the only blip. It isn’t.

Since his breakout 2023 run, Lewis hasn’t come close to matching that level. In 2023, he put up 2.3 fWAR and a 152 wRC+ in 58 games, adding 15 home runs and 52 RBI before blasting four homers in six postseason games.

But over the past three seasons, the 27-year-old has managed just 2.6 fWAR in 313 games, and he posted an 85 wRC+ in both 2025 and 2026.

There’s also the money to consider. MLB Trade Rumors projects Lewis at $5.1 million in arbitration next season, and he remains under team control through 2028. Minnesota could still tender him a deal and explore trading the 2017 first-overall pick instead of cutting ties outright.

If the Twins do look elsewhere, Bohm has been mentioned as a possible fit. MLB.com's Mark Feinsand connected the Phillies infielder to Minnesota, along with the Mets, Angels, Cardinals and Reds. Bohm will officially become a free agent after the World Series.

The appeal is obvious on paper. Bohm is a former All-Star who can handle both first and third base, and he spent seven seasons in Philadelphia after the Phillies took him No. 3 overall in the 2018 MLB Draft out of Wichita State University. He made his MLB debut in 2020 and has hit .273/.325/.410 with 85 home runs and 483 RBI in his Phillies career.

But this is where the fit gets messy. Bohm’s 2026 season was rough at the plate, as he hit .249/.315/.383 with 15 home runs and 88 RBI over 155 games. Even though he showed up in the Phillies’ National League Wild Card Series loss to the Atlanta Braves, going 4-for-12 with a clutch home run, a walk and three RBI, the bigger picture is less flattering.

Defensively, Bohm was dragged down by a -11 Outs Above Average, with -8 at third base and -3 at first base. Only Spencer Torkelson of the Detroit Tigers finished worse among corner infielders at -12. His arm strength also sits in the bottom 20% of the league.

So if Minnesota is looking for a cleaner answer at Royce Lewis’ spot, Bohm might not be it. On paper, he’s available and experienced. In practice, the baggage comes with him.

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