The Twins have a decision to make at one of those quiet but important roster spots: utility man. Ryan Kreidler held that job in 2026, and he did enough with the glove to keep himself in the conversation for 2027. But if Minnesota wants more than just cheap defense, there are a few names on the market worth a harder look.
Kreidler’s case starts with the basics. The Twins claimed him off waivers last offseason, drawn more to his defensive versatility than anything he might do at the plate.
He ended up finishing the year with an 85 OPS+ and eight home runs, which isn’t flashy, but it was a solid return for a player brought in to help with the glove. He can cover shortstop and center field, and he gives the club some extra flexibility around the diamond.
With another year of pre-arbitration eligibility, he could be back for the league minimum in 2027, which makes him the easy budget option.
The problem is that the full season line doesn’t tell the whole story. Kreidler faded badly after July 15, when he put up a .558 OPS and only nine extra-base hits in 125 plate appearances.
That kind of drop matters for a Twins team that could already be losing offense elsewhere. Josh Bell is likely out of the picture, and Ryan Jeffers’ future is uncertain after his qualifying offer.
Minnesota can’t afford too many lineup spots where pitchers can just breathe easy. Kreidler’s defense helps, but there’s only so much offense a team can give away.
There also isn’t a clean answer waiting in the organization. Ben Ross has some upside, but asking the 25-year-old to step into a regular big-league role right away would be a leap.
Marek Houston isn’t ready yet, either. Kody Clemens brings his own kind of defensive flexibility, but the bigger need is a player who can reliably handle shortstop when Kaelen Culpepper needs a day off or isn’t available.
If the Twins want to move on from Kreidler in that role, the free-agent market has a few possible fits.
Mauricio Dubon stands out as the most natural defensive match. Diamond Centric ranked him No. 22 among free agents, and the eight-year veteran just turned in the best offensive season of his career, hitting for a 98 OPS+ with 12 home runs.
He’s also the kind of player who can move around without the club having to cross its fingers. Dubon played 62 games at shortstop last season and logged six Outs Above Average there, so this isn’t just emergency depth.
At 32, he’d bring experience and a ready-made utility profile. MLB Trade Rumors projects him at two years and $18 million.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa is another name that fits the mold. He technically already had a brief Twins stint in 2022 after being acquired from Texas in the Mitch Garver trade, before being flipped to the Yankees in the Josh Donaldson deal without ever appearing in a game for Minnesota.
Five years later, the fit still makes sense. Kiner-Falefa can handle shortstop, second base, and third base, and he gives a team steady defense and contact-oriented at-bats.
He isn’t likely to outslug Kreidler by much, but his experience and reliability make him a dependable fallback.
Then there’s J.P. Crawford, who might be the most intriguing of the bunch if Minnesota wants more offense from the spot.
Crawford had a down year in 2026, but he still owns a career 105 OPS+ and was coming off a 110 OPS+ season with the Mariners in 2025. That year, he hit 12 home runs and posted a .352 on-base percentage.
His calling card is plate discipline, and he has a track record of getting on base. He can play shortstop, though his glove doesn’t stack up with the others on this list.
MLB Trade Rumors projects him at two years and $16 million. The left-handed bat would also give the Twins a different look next to right-handed Kaelen Culpepper.
If the choice were mine, Crawford would be the most appealing target. He doesn’t bring the same defensive range as Dubon, Kiner-Falefa, or even Kreidler, but Minnesota already has some flexibility with Clemens.
What the Twins need more than another glove-first utility man is someone who can handle shortstop and actually threaten pitchers when he’s in the lineup. Crawford does that better than anyone here.
That said, Kreidler still has a real path back. He knows the team, he played a useful role, and his contract would be hard to beat. But with possible offensive losses looming, the Twins should be thinking about how to add production, not just preserve the status quo with another light-hitting utility option.
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