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Twins Pinch Pennies, Hunt for Bargain Free Agents to Boost Lineup
10 Nov
Summary
- Twins' payroll slashed by $70M since 2023, limiting free agent spending
- Front office seeks value signings to fill holes at 1B, DH, catcher, OF
- Potential targets include Josh Bell, Victor Caratini, Marwin González
The Minnesota Twins have been forced to tighten their purse strings in recent years, with payroll slashed by $70 million since the 2023 season. This has left the team's front office scouring the free agent discount aisle in search of value signings to rebuild their roster ahead of the 2026 campaign.
Despite their reduced spending power, the Twins are determined to field a competitive team next season. They'll need to address several key lineup holes, including at first base, designated hitter, catcher, and the outfield corners. To that end, the team is eyeing a number of potential bargain free agent targets.
One such player is first baseman Josh Bell, who has been a productive hitter for multiple teams in recent years. The switch-hitter could provide a power boost to the Twins' lineup after they received a collective 89 OPS+ from the position in 2025. Another option is catcher Victor Caratini, a switch-hitter with a solid bat who could form a timeshare with incumbent Ryan Jeffers.
The Twins are also considering a reunion with utility man Marwin González, who was a valuable part of their lineup for several seasons before being traded away. While no longer a viable option at shortstop or center field, the switch-hitter could still provide versatility and some pop off the bench.
With their payroll constraints, the Twins will need to get creative in their roster-building efforts. But if they can uncover a few hidden gems on the free agent market, they may just be able to field a competitive team in 2026 despite their financial limitations.
