The Minnesota Twins still have work to do on the offensive side, and the timing got a little trickier on Friday when Jake Bauers came off the market.
Bauers, who had been one of the better available bats in a thin free-agent class, agreed to a four-year, $58 million deal with the Boston Red Sox. For a Twins team looking for help at first base, that matters. Bauers was one of the cleaner fits on the board, and now that option is gone.
That leaves Minnesota looking harder at the trade market, where Houston first baseman Christian Walker stands out as the most logical target.
Walker signed a three-year, $60 million deal with the Astros before the 2024 season, but Houston’s infield picture is crowded heading toward 2027. Carlos Correa is likely to return from injury, and that could force someone out of the mix. If the Astros are willing to move a piece, Walker makes sense for the Twins.
He’s coming off a bounce-back 2026 season in which he put up a 103 wRC+, along with 29 home runs and 87 RBIs. Those numbers are solid more than flashy, but Minnesota’s production at first base was worse, finishing with a 92 wRC+. That spot needs a lift, especially with Josh Bell set to hit free agency and Royce Lewis also a possible candidate for the club to move on from in some form this offseason.
Walker’s contract situation could also work in Minnesota’s favor. He’s in a walk year, which may keep the price in prospects from getting too steep. And with the Astros facing a difficult decision about their infield core, the Twins may not have to battle a massive leverage problem on either side.
Minnesota has to be aggressive this offseason. If the goal is to climb out of a rebuild, the front office has to be willing to move prospects for players who can help right away. Walker would only be a one-season addition, but he could still matter in a big way for a team trying to make noise.
The path in the AL Central won’t be simple in 2027. The Guardians and White Sox are still there, the Tigers will be trying to improve, and the Royals have Bobby Witt Jr. If the Twins want to be in the mix, they can’t afford to sit back and hope the market breaks their way.
In Other News...
Kody Clemens Put Twins Fans In A Spotlight They Didn't Expect
The Twins have already found themselves in the Silver Slugger conversation as a team finalist in the American League, but Kody Clemens is pulling a little extra attention into the mix. He has landed among the finalists at second base, putting his name next to Chase Meidroth of the White Sox in a race that reflects more than just one hot stretch at the plate. Clemens also spent time moving around the diamond this season, which only adds to the sense that his value for Minnesota went beyond a single spot on the field.
For Twins fans, the interesting part is how this award race frames the season from an offensive angle, especially with Clemens among the two names left standing at second. The comparison with Meidroth comes down to production, and the broader team nomination gives Minnesota a chance to see its lineup recognized in a national spotlight. Whether Clemens finishes with the hardware or not, his presence in the final round is a reminder that the Twins got contributions from some unexpected places. [Read more 🡒]
Twins May Use Rotation Depth To Fix A Bullpen Question
The Twins are weighing a familiar kind of roster shuffle this winter, one that could help them solve a bullpen issue without chasing the usual high-priced relief market. General manager Jeremy Zoll said the club values its current starting pitchers, but is open to adding another starter in free agency if it creates more flexibility elsewhere on the staff.
Minnesota has long preferred to build its bullpen through trades, internal conversions and minor-league signings rather than handing out big contracts to relievers, and this approach fits that pattern. The idea would be to deepen the rotation, then potentially shift one of those starters into a relief role, giving the Twins more options as they try to piece together the back end of games. [Read more 🡒]
Twins May Have A Cheap First Base Option With One Big Catch
The Twins are still sorting through their first-base picture for next season, and Royce Lewis is currently projected to open there. But one intriguing name has surfaced on the market in Ja-Wook Koo, a 33-year-old KBO star who just hired an agent and is now looking to land with an MLB club after a standout run in Korea.
Koo brings the kind of rsum that can make a front office pause, especially after earning Korean Series MVP honors, but the bigger question is how much of that production would carry over here. Minnesota has seen this movie before with former KBO standout ByungHo Park, and that history is part of what makes Koo such an interesting, and uncertain, fit for the Twins if they decide to explore a low-cost first-base option. [Read more 🡒]