We all know how 2024 played out for the Minnesota Twins. They were 75-62 on September 2nd, just three and a half games behind the Guardians in the AL Central. They would go on to finish a paltry 7-18 to finish the season and miss the playoffs.
One of the few bright spots for the Twins was first baseman Carlos Santana at first base. Santana started 139 games for Minnesota putting up a slash line of .238/.328/.420 and winning his first career Gold Glove Award. Those numbers were slightly below Santana's career marks of .242/.354/.431, but they represented consistency and stability for a team that had three players each start over 30 games at first for them in 2023 (Donovan Solano, Alex Kirilloff, Gallo), and two players make more than 90 starts in the field in 2024.
The Twins are going to need to address their first base position in 2025 but how they decide to do that remains to be seen. Here is a dive into some of the Twins' options for 2025 and who gives them the best chance to succeed.
1. Christian Walker
The soon-to-be 34-year-old has played the last eight seasons in Arizona, putting up three straight seasons north of .800 OPS and 120 OPS+. Walker has slugged 95 homers in the last three seasons and would absolutely bring a much-needed boost to the Twins offense. He's just going to cost way too much for a team that's pinching pennies.
2. Carlos Santana
The Twins know what they would get with Santana. A solid bat that can slot into the lower half of the lineup, with gold glove-level defense, his best days are definitely behind him. But he brings durability and consistency to a team that lacks both. The Twins haven't closed the door on bringing him back, but it would be shocking to see Santana sign a contract that tops his one-year, $5.25 million contract from last season.
3. José Miranda
José Miranda is someone I would expect to get the Opening Day nod at first base since he is making $800,000 this year, but that's not to say he hasn't earned the opportunity. Miranda's disastrous 2023 season saw him slash .211/.263/.303 before ultimately getting shut down for the season with a shoulder injury.
He bounced back in 2024, slashing .284/.322/.441 and had an .888 OPS before suffering a back injury in July. Miranda started 69 games at first during his rookie season in 2022, but only 12 in the last two seasons.
4. Jake Burger
Jake Burger broke out for the White Sox in 2023 before getting traded to Miami mid-season. He finished 2023 hitting .250/.309/.518 with 34 home runs but struck out 149 times. He followed that up hitting .250/.301/.460 with 29 homers, and 150 strike outs in 2024 for the Marlins.
The Marlins managed to put together the third worst record in baseball in 2024 in a stacked NL East, and they don't seem to be on the edge of competing this year or anytime soon. With all of that said, the Marlins could be looking to the future and try to trade off current assets like Burger.
The Twins have made multiple trades with Miami in the past including the trade that acquired Pablo Lôpez in 2023 and the Nick Gordon for Steven Okert swap in 2024, so the two front offices have good standing. A trade for Burger is unlikely to cost the Twins more than a couple of low-level prospects.