How will the Twins replace Alex Kirilloff at first base in 2025 and beyond?

The Minnesota Twins already had a handful of pressing questions to answer about the roster’s construction this offseason, so news that Alex Kirilloff is retiring only adds to the pile. Unlike the other things the Twins need to deal with, Kirilloff’s retirement is perhaps the most stunning development of the offseason so far.

After just nine seasons Kirilloff has called it a career. In a lengthy message thanking fans and teammates for the time they spent together, he cited the various injuries and surgeries he’s endured over the years as the reason for him walking away from the game.

Kirilloff’s retirement has sent shockwaves through the organization and fan base, and it leaves a massive void on the roster that instantly becomes one of the biggest needs to address this winter.

Twins replacing Alex Kirilloff instantly becomes a top offseason need

The challenge with replacing Kirilloff is that there’s no obvious answer on how the Twins can do it.

Ever since trading away Luis Arraez two offseasons ago, Minnesota has struggled to secure consistent depth at first base. Donovan Solano was brought in but only lasted a season, while Carlos Santana filled in last season but is a free agent.

Both of those guys were brought in largely due to lingering questions about Kirilloff’s health, so at the very least the Twins have clarity moving forward about how he’ll fit into the picture. We were entering a third straight offseason where Kirilloff’s status was up in the air, but now Minnesota definitively knows that a replacement plan needs to be put in place.

It’s sort of a ripping off the band-aid moment for the team, as they’re now forced to reckon with not having much of a concrete plan in place for what to do. Jose Miranda is an in-house option that makes sense, but he’s also struggled to stay healthy. In back-to-back seasons Miranda struggled with injuries down the stretch of the season which impacted his ability to help the team offensively.

We all saw how important he can be when healthy, but using him as a Kirilloff replacement ports over the same issue to a new player.

The easiest answer is to re-sign Carlos Santana, which might have already been on the table. Minnesota has resisted bringing back veterans like Solano and Michael A. Taylor despite the positive impact they had. Frugalness has dictated moves for years, and the Pohlads are unlikely to invest in the team in ways that would lead to a free agent signing, even if that’s the best move for putting together a competitive roster.

Another in-house option the team could use, either out of desperation or intrigue, is Edouard Julien. He’s been boxed out of an everyday role at second base with Royce Lewis and Brooks Lee vying for time there, but was starting to get used at first base before he got optioned amid offensive struggles last season.

The news about Kirilloff is still fresh, but as the dust settles the Twins will need to figure out what the plan is to replace him. Without a doubt, they need one that makes the team better and not one that simply fills a hole on the roster at the lowest possible cost.

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