It remains to be seen how far Derek Falvey and the front office will go should they continue the roster deconstruction that went into high gear at the 2025 trade deadline. But the Twins aren’t the only side of this equation looking for change.

Jose Miranda as good as gone for the Minnesota Twins

Two years ago, Jose Miranda racked up hits in twelve consecutive plate appearances, to set a major league record. Last season, he was so putrid that, not only was he not big-league caliber, but he wasn’t even worth his batting average in St. Paul either… and that’s saying something since he hit .195 on the season at Triple-A.

And while the MN Twins have an opening at first base, Miranda isn’t interested in competing for that spot next spring. According to the Star Tribune’s Bobby Nightengale, the 27-year-old corner infielder “threw away his shot” and is now looking for a “fresh start” elsewhere.

After making the Opening Day roster, he threw away his shot. Hit .167 with the Twins and .195 with the Saints as a bat-first corner infielder.

2026 outlook: Looking for a fresh start with a new organization.

Bobby Nightengale Jr. – Star Tribune

It’s been a brutal fall from grace for Miranda, who moved from the hot corner to first base the past couple seasons, and failed to solidify his place in the Minnesota Twins’ future plans, despite that position having no real competition.

E5 • Jose Miranda • 1st error of the season

Minnesota Twins errors on the season: 8

0️⃣4️⃣/1️⃣0️⃣/2️⃣5️⃣pic.twitter.com/Bc7IB9yBMY

— MLB Errors (@errorsmlb) April 12, 2025

Beyond not being able to capably field at first base, Miranda also struggled to hold water quite literally. His injury at a local Target while attempting to remove a bundle of bottled water from the shelf cost him even more time with St. Paul.

It’s possible Miranda washes his disastrous 2025 away and resumes his trajectory as an everyday MLB infielder, but it won’t happen in Minnesota. Now, the late-blooming former second round draft pick — now out of options — will be a reclamation project for someone else.

Edouard Julien not quite in the Miranda boat

It’s easy to lump both Jose Miranda and Edouard Julien in together, given their career arcs and positional similarities. The reality is that they are not in the same place, and that’s why the Twins plan to give Julien one more shot to prove his worth at the big league level, according to Nightengale Jr.

After an excellent rookie season, he’s had two bad years. He hit .220 with three homers and 12 RBI in 208 plate appearances while maintaining a 29% strikeout rate. Out of minor league options, a new manager might give him a long look during spring training as a last chance. It’s hard to give up on hitters like him.

Bobby Nightengale – Star Tribune

Like Miranda, Julien is not a good defender. He posted a -2 DRS (defensive runs saved) and -3 OAA (outs above average) in just 175 innings at first base this year. That may be easier to ignore if he hit, but that hasn’t happened lately, either. Julien’s 75 OPS+ the past two seasons is nearly half of the 130 OPS+ he put up as a rookie.

Eddie Julien even said the other day that he doesn't usually pull his home runs — but he just did it again.

Got a hanging changeup, crushed it to the porch. 1-0 Twins early on his sixth. pic.twitter.com/C7ikAhZ5M8

— Do-Hyoung Park (@dohyoungpark) July 5, 2023

But the Twins are hoping, under a new manager, the Canadian slugger can regain the groove he was in prior to 2024, when he rose to one of the most exciting young hitters in the Minnesota Twins organization. At 26, Julien is a year younger than Miranda too.

This duo is just another data point in a previously up-and-coming core that seemed destined to lay roots with the organization, only to trip, fall and fall through the future floor plan of the MN Twins future.

Just because the 40-man roster has certain names on it right now doesn’t mean they will all make it through the crunch prior to Opening Day. After firing the manager, Derek Falvey will also need to shuffle some of the players on the roster. Some of those once thought to be pieces of the core could be looking for work elsewhere.

Jose Miranda and Edouard Julien may struggle to stay with Twins

No two players struggled to establish whatever hope there was left for them this season the Edouard Julien and Jose Miranda. Both looked to be future fixtures for the Minnesota Twins not long ago, and now both could be roster casualties. The Athletic’s Aaron Gleeman weighed in.

I’d consider Miranda a long shot to keep his 40-man roster spot until spring training. He was sent down to Triple-A St. Paul in April and never returned, hitting .195 in 90 games for the Saints, sending his stock plummeting.

Julien is perhaps more of a coin-flip situation, although it seems clear he’s no longer in the Twins’ long-term plans after following up a very promising 2023 rookie showing with back-to-back disappointing seasons.

Miranda and Julien are prime examples of the Twins’ inability to develop promising young hitters into quality veteran hitters. And both players will be out of minor-league options next season, meaning they can’t be sent to the minors without first being exposed to waivers.

The Athletic

After posting a 112 OPS+ in 2024, Jose Miranda played just 12 games for the Twins this season. He was awful, and then was equally putrid at Triple-A. Miranda has been given a path to playing time at both third and first base. Now though, it would be a shock if he isn’t outrighted. It’s possible he goes unclaimed, but the former second round pick probably needs a change of scenery.

While Miranda had a respectable 2024 season, Julien has stacked two bad years in a row. His 76 OPS+ was just two points higher than his 74 OPS+ in 2023. He has proven to struggle as a defender almost everywhere, and the bat isn’t worthy of being an every day first baseman.

It’s unfortunate that this looks like the reality Minnesota will face. Miranda is just one year removed from his impressive streak of hits in 12 consecutive at bats. Julien batted .263/.381/.459 in 109 games as a rookie and has cratered since.

These aren’t the trends a team needing to rely on internal development can afford to have happen. Trevor Larnach could be among the candidates to join them as staple names no longer on the roster next year as well.

At 51-57, the Twins still have 54 games to play in the regular season. They aren’t going to make the playoffs, but they still have to field a team (likely against the Pohlad’s better wishes).

After dealing away 11 players, ten of which were on the big league roster, the minor league system had to be shuffled. Thankfully the St. Paul Saints are in Toledo, just a two-hour drive, and a gaggle of their talent is headed to Progressive field.

Rocco Baldelli gets nine players to fill out MN Twins active roster

The Guardians are still going to take the field on Friday night against the MN Twins, and that means Baldelli needs a 26-man roster. That requires a significant amount of maneuvering, but at least the incoming Saints could carpool.

We have made the following roster moves: pic.twitter.com/2EQQgeE19V

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) August 1, 2025

Martin will be making his 2025 Twins debut. He was left off the Opening Day roster, and injuries cost him multiple opportunities for a promotion early on. In 32 games for St. Paul Martin has hit .319/.431/.398. He doesn’t hit for power, and he isn’t stealing bases, but he’s worked as a slap-hitting utility player.

The MN Twins demoted Julien after a poor start to the season. It took a while for him to get going at Triple-A. Over his last 43 games though, he is batting .320/.432/.582 with 10 homers. He’s still got a good command of the strike zone, and appears to be a bit more aggressive.

Adams and Ohl are quick returned after both were recently optioned. They are joined by veteran pitchers Erasmo Ramirez and Jose Urena making their Minnesota Twins debuts. Urena and Ramirez needed their contracts to be purchased and added to the 40-man roster.

Related: What to Make of the Craziest Trade Deadline in Minnesota Twins History

Taj Bradley was assigned to the St. Paul Saints roster. He will likely slot into the starting rotation for Minnesota at some point in the not-so-distant future. Bailey Ober should join him, and likely beat him there.

The only new face to come from outside the organization is Alan Roden. A former third round pick for Toronto, Roden has played 43 games as a rookie this season. He owns a .204/.283/.306 slash line with one home run and a 24/8 K/BB.

After blowing a lead late against the New York Mets, the Twins were able to grab an extra innings victory on Wednesday. Surprisingly, Rocco Baldelli pinch hit Mickey Gasper for Willi Castro in the 8th inning. We found out after the game that Castro had suffered an oblique injury.

News broke on Thursday evening that top infield prospect Luke Keaschall was coming up to the show for his major league debut, sparking questions over the Twins’ corresponding roster move. On Friday, when the roster move became official, the answer was career minor league utility man, Mickey Gasper heading to St. Paul.

Luke Keaschall call up official – Mickey Gasper optioned – Matt Canterino DFA’d

To make room for Keaschall on the 40-man, the Minnesota Twins DFA’d one time promising pitcher prospect Matt Canterino. On Friday night, the 23-year-old Luke Keaschall — who’s ranked as the No. 57 overall prospect (MLB.com) — will bat 8th in the Twins lineup.

Thankfully, the Twins do not feel like Will Castro’s his injury is serious enough for a trip to the injured list… at least for now. We’ll see how that story develops over the coming days, but the medical staff must feel pretty good because DFA’ing Canterino is risky. He has a lot of talent.

Luke Keaschall has been called up by Twins, will bat 8th as DH vs Braves tonight. Mickey Gasper has been optioned to AAA St Paul. RHP Matt Cantetino has been DFA’d off 40-man roster to make room. Willi Castro recovering, stays on roster for now.

— Phil Miller (@MillerStrib) April 18, 2025

Mickey Gasper couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity for the 29-year-old career minor leaguer to finally catch on in the big leagues. Unfortunately, he failed to take advantage, batting .111 in 22 plate appearances (.384 OPS. Gasper managed just 2 hits and 4 walks to go with his 7 strikeouts.

With their two most flexible defensive players now out of the lineup, in Gasper and Castro, Luke Keaschall — who played infield and outfield in 2024 — has only played 2B and DH since undergoing Tommy John surgery in August, 2024. In fact, it wasn’t until Tuesday April 15 with St. Paul that Keaschall played his first full nine-inning game.

Other MN Twins infielders will get chances

Thus, it’s no surprise Luke Keaschall is making his debut as a DH. It’s something he proved he could handle down in the minors, where he was written into the lineup for much of last season, posting a .303/.420/.483 slash line across 103 games between Single and Double-A.

Luke Keaschall's first Triple-A @StPaulSaints homer was a no-doubter 😤

MLB's No. 57 prospect has soared up the @Twins' system since being a second-round pick in 2023. pic.twitter.com/r1aL4kRyAI

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) April 12, 2025

Edouard Julien has not been the player he was as a rookie in 2023, but looks much closer to it than last season. His .250/.304/.385 slash line leaves room for improvement, but offensively he may be as capable or better than Castro was or will be, when he gets healthy.

The final two Twins who are sure to be most impacted by Keaschall’s addition to the dugout are newly acquired Jonah Bride and regular DH Trevor Larnach. If Keaschall is going to be the designated hitter, Larnach could lose at bats. Harrison Bader and DaShawn Keirsey Jr. give the Twins a much better defensive outfield when paired together.

Related: Minnesota Twins Calling Up Latest Top Infield Prospect

Over the course of his career, Bride has spent the majority of his time at corner infield spots. He does have 35 big league games at second base as well. It’s been a slow start for him in 2025 (4-for-40), but he batted .276/.357/.461 in 71 games with Miami last year.

Man Jonah Bride was a pulled fly ball expert in 2024 pic.twitter.com/YptSPf4Hs3

— FreeMNTWINS (@freemntwins) April 17, 2025

Ultimately Baldelli is going to rely on some youth and new faces to step up and bring the Twins back to a level of competitiveness. It’s not the path they planned, but with Keaschall in tow, could be a fun one to watch.

It was a relatively quiet offseason for the MN Twins, who waited until the final hour before they made any moves at all. For the most part, manager Rocco Baldelli will be working with the same talent as he did in 2024, especially in the infield.

Minnesota Twins infield looking very set for Opening Day (health permitting)

The only 2025 projected starter in the Twins infield who was not on the roster in 2024 is newly signed first baseman — 30-year-old former All-Star, Ty France — who’s expected to get most of the reps, replacing last season’s gold glove winner, Carlos Santana.

Of course, we all know this is Carlos Correa’s infield, until proven otherwise. The 10-year veteran will be locked in at shortstop all season, as long as he is healthy. Then, in a bit of a surprise move, Rocco handed Royce Lewis third base at the start of camp, in order to preserve his mental health.

In case you haven’t been keeping track, that leaves second base as the only infield position up for grabs at Minnesota Twins Spring Training. But, a recent report out of The Athletic calls into question how much of a competition is really being had at 2nd base.

Theoretically, the Minnesota Twins have multiple legitimate options to partner next to Correa up the middle. They could go with 2024 Do-It-All-Star Willi Castro OR left-handed hitting machine Edouard Julien, who was out of order last summer OR newly acquired minor league veteran Mickey Gasper OR former top prospect Brooks Lee.

Willi Castro penciled in as Minnesota Twins second baseman

In a pinch, any of the above players could play a competent big league second base. Well, unless Julien can’t hit again. If that happens, his baseball career is in trouble. But in reality, it probably doesn’t matter how Julien, or any of the other second base options play down in Fort Myers.

Because unless there’s an injury in the infield, there really is no competition at second base, according to Dan Hayes (The Athletic). Even if the Minnesota Twins are trying to sell 2B as an open competition, Hayes reported Tuesday that Rocco’s plan is to have Willi Castro take the bulk of reps there, health permitting.

“In an ideal world, the Twins would be injury-free as they embark for St. Louis two weeks from now. Were they to be in such a position, the Twins likely would give the bulk of their plate appearances at second base to Castro, the team’s reigning most valuable player.”

Dan Hayes – The Athletic

Of course, Castro is Rocco’s swiss army knife, who can play any position on the field. So any injury the Twins suffer, will likely require Willi to move positions, thus opening up second base for one of the other guys.

Willi Castro was an All-Star for the Minnesota Twins in 2024. He also looked like a potential trade candidate this offseason given the arbitration salary increase. That didn’t happen and he’s now looking like the Opening Day second baseman.

When injuries hit, shuffling is imminent at 2B

Baldelli told The Athletic that, as of this moment, he doesn’t see a player that will get 600 plate appearances at second base, because there will be a lot of shuffling at that position throughout the season, but those will mostly be due to injury, according to the Twins. When healthy, it’s Willi Castro’s job to lose.

Where does that leave Brooks Lee? Probably down at Triple-A St. Paul. If the Twins are focused on playing time for Willi Castro, then Lee won’t get starting reps on a healthy team. At 24 years old, he’s a kid who needs to be playing, even if that means getting reps at a lower level.

Related: Insider Calls Minnesota Twins Starter a Breakout Candidate

If that isn’t going to be with the Twins, then he needs to get those reps with the Saints. Brooks was quoted in Hayes’ story, and you can tell he knows his fate, barring an injury he does not want to see happen to one of his teammates.

Lee is following a rookie season in which he hit well early before cooling off, batting .221/.265/.320. He’s more eager to prove he belongs than he is focused on winning a job.

“We just get better every day,” [Brooks] Lee said. “At the end of the day, we’re teammates. So I really wouldn’t view it too much as competition. If we all get better at what we’re doing, then it’s great to be a better team, and that’s what matters.”

The Athletic

It’s hard to put a ton of weight on Spring Training statistics, but Lee needed to do everything he could to put the .221/.265/.320 slash line from 2024 behind him. He’s responded with a .267 batting average and .757 OPS so far down in Florida. Barring an unforeseen injury, it won’t matter how well he hits though (see below).

Tale of the Minnesota Twins second base situation

Of the four players who have supposedly been vying for time at second base with the Minnesota Twins this spring, Mickey Gasper has played the best, by far, followed by Brooks Lee, then Eddie Julien. The crowned starter at 2B, Willi Castro, is batting .174 with a .557 OPS. Anyone who says Spring Training performance matters is a liar.

Last season, Castro played six different positions for the Twins. He got 40 games at second base, which trailed his time in the outfield and at shortstop, much of which was due to Correa’s injury issues in the second half.

The Minnesota Twins may plan to play Castro more, come the regular season, but they have maintained his positional flexibility this spring, where he has played just three of his nine appearances at second base. If he is going to open the year as the regular second basemen, it would make sense for the Twins to stack some starts for him over the next couple weeks.

Related: Minnesota Twins Make First Round of Spring Training Cuts

It’s a very real possibility that Gasper winds up being the backup second baseman for the Twins to start the season. It makes more sense to have him sit and fill in, when necessary, while Brooks Lee gets reps across the river. Gasper got a taste of the big leagues for the first time last season with the Boston Red Sox. The 29-year-old has an impressive career .317/.422/.498 slash line at Triple-A.

This offseason wasn’t exactly the busiest one for the Twins, but they did make a plethora of moves. Harrison Bader is taking over a roster spot as an additional outfielder for Manuel Margot, who is now in Spring Training with the Milwaukee Brewers. Ty France is replacing Carlos Santana at first base, who signed a nice deal to return to aforementioned Cleveland. And, Danny Coulombe returns as the bullpen lefty, as Caleb Thielbar left for Wrigley Field to play for the Chicago Cubs.

The Twins have plenty of returning talent, so there aren’t a ton of roster spots up for competition. However, there are still a couple that should be your focus during Spring Training action.

Who is the Minnesota Twins fifth starting pitcher?

Rocco Baldelli already has three starting pitches written in ink. To no surprise, Pablo Lopez is the Opening Day starter, who held a 4.08 ERA last season. Joe Ryan and Bailey Ober are locks to join him as key members of the rotation, as they held 3.60 and 3.98 ERA’s respectively. From there, things get a bit more interesting.

Chris Paddack was a main candidate to draw trade interest this offseason, while the Twins were supposedly shedding more cap. A deal surely would have opened salary flexibility for the Minnesota Twins. However, he is still on the roster, and will work as the fourth starter if he can maintain the spot. Paddack is another year removed from his second Tommy John surgery, so the bar for him to provide a level of value is not very high.

That leaves just the fifth spot in the rotation, and right now, Simeon Woods Richardson is the frontrunner to grab it. Last season, Woods Richardson started 28 games as a rookie in the Bigs. He posted a 4.17 ERA and struck out 117 batters across 133 2/3 innings. That sort of production is just fine from a back-end starter, especially when one would expect him to continue improving as he gets more experience.

It’s worth wondering what Woods Richardson’s ceiling looks like, though. His velocity took a jump last year as he averaged 93.1 mph on his fastball, up from around 91 the year prior. That made a huge difference, as his arsenal played better and ultimately helped him get more batters out. That still is on the low-end of what top big league arms are providing, however, so how SWR’s velocity plays this year will be something to watch.

Related: 2025 Minnesota Twins Opening Day Roster Projection (1.0)

Minnesota has nice starting pitcher depth in the form of David Festa and Zebby Matthews. Both made their major league debuts in 2024, with varying results. Festa is highlighted as a breakout candidate to keep an eye on in 2025. It’s an uphill battle to think he could surpass Woods Richardson out of the gate, but he is the one to watch. Matthews had his toes dipped in the MLB water, and owned a 6.69 ERA over 37.2 innings pitched. During his minors time last year, Matthews owned a much better 2.60 ERA across 97 innings pitched.

David Festa’s my favorite undrafted fantasy SP this season. 24yo who’s 6’6” 185lbs with 3 pitches led by a fastball around 95mph

4.90 ERA last season in 14 outings but a 3.58 SIERA and xFIP along with a 19.5% K-BB. Could be this year’s Hunter Brown.pic.twitter.com/RQRqDL5rS7

— kev mahserejian (@RotoSurgeon) February 21, 2025

Across 64 1/3 innings Festa owned a modest 4.90 ERA. After two tough outings and a recall, Festa then returned for 54 1/3 stellar innings with a 3.81 ERA, 3.15 FIP, and 69 strikeouts. That’s more along the lines of what the Minnesota Twins believe they have in the former top prospect.

It’s most likely that Festa (and Matthews) begin in St. Paul, with a rotation that all could impact the big league team if and when they are called upon. That would mean Woods-Richardson is Minnesota’s 5th starting pitcher. If the Minnesota Twins do pull a surprising move in the rotation, though, a strong spring would be what makes it happen.

MN Twins could make changes to the bullpen

The Minnesota Twins are projected to have one of baseball’s best bullpens, as they did last year. The high-leverage combination of Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax are plenty to get excited about, as they are projected to have ERA’s of 2.36 and 3.21, each. Coulombe and Cole Sands will get back-end innings as well, and there are other familiar names in the Twins bullpen.

Of the eight expected spots in relief, the only other that should be guaranteed goes to Justin Topa. That leaves Jorge Alcala and Michael Tonkin as the fringe candidates. The former was optioned multiple times last season and had an up-and-down year. The latter was designated for assignment but was brought back and got a $1 million deal for 2025.

15. Eiberson Castellano: 23, SP (A+/AA)

Rule 5 pick-up. He pitched 103 innings to a 3.99 ERA, 31.3% K%, 6.7% BB%, 1.14 WHIP and kept opponents to a .226 BAA. Mid-90's fastball and mid-80's changeup are plus. Curveball in development. RP for now, likely SP in future. pic.twitter.com/TivEp2GMbV

— LouisAnalysis (@LouisAnalysis) February 1, 2025

There are a few arms behind that main pairing that could also push for consideration. The Minnesota Twins took Eiberson Castellano in the Rule 5 Draft this year. That means he must remain on the big league roster for the entirety of the season, or be offered back to the Phillies. The worry with that? He hasn’t pitched above Double-A, but he has 291 strikeouts in 238 minor league innings. Named the Philadelphia minor league pitcher of the year last season, Castellano had a 3.99 ERA across 103 2/3 innings at High-A and Double-A. The Twins are obviously hoping that success continues at the MLB level.

Related: Time for Twins Pitching Prospect to Sink or Swim

Louis Varland will work as a reliever this season, if the starting rotation arms get through Spring Training healthy. We have seen his high-octane stuff play well out of the bullpen, and he touched 98 mph during his first Grapefruit League outing. He posted an 11/2 K/BB and 2.35 in his final five relief appearances last season, leaving plenty to be excited for.

The Minnesota Twins could also consider a second lefty if Kody Funderburk bounces back strong. He had a stellar debut in 2023 with a 0.75 ERA across 12 innings, but was knocked around last season. Don’t expect Matt Canterino to make the Opening Day roster, but his health should have him at Triple-A, and performance would make him an early option for the Twins.

Can someone shuffle Minnesota’s bench?

Almost all of the starting position roles in the lineup are accounted for. First base may have been a question mark up until a few weeks ago, but the addition of Ty France changed that. Second base is a spot the MN Twins would love to see Brooks Lee play, but he’ll need to earn it, as they nave other options if he isn’t performing up to standards.

Willi Castro is going to be on the roster, and will start plenty of games. Christian Vazquez is also going to make the roster, but he may cede a bit more playing time to Ryan Jeffers than last year. A final bench spot comes down to what sort of plan Baldelli is more comfortable with.

Brooks Lee needs to play every day, so if he’s not starting at second base with the big league club, then he should be with St. Paul getting at-bats. Austin Martin could be carried as an additional outfielder, but may be seen as sort of redundant with Harrison Bader in front of him.

Related: Brooks Lee May Not Join Twins on Opening Day

The most logical option right now could be to go with Edouard Julien. He had a great rookie season, and hit .263/.381/.459 in 2023 before turning in a putrid .199/.292/.323 slash line last season, which earned him a demotion. He does not need to play every day, but he would at least give Baldelli another second base option off the bench.

Veteran journeyman Mike Ford may have been a first base option as a non-roster invitee before Ty France showed up, but no longer. Luke Keaschall remains the most high-ceiling non-roster guy in camp, but he’ll be to Triple-A first.

There won’t be too much of a focus put on spring training numbers as a whole, but some of the fringe position players could really help themselves. By getting hot and riding that into the regular season, you never know who you might see come Opening Day.

Minnesota Twins need a bounceback from Edouard Julien

When the Minnesota Twins took Edouard Julien in the 18th round of the 2019 Major League Baseball Draft, they did so banking on his upside. It took some work to draw him away from a return to Auburn. The talent was realized as he posted a 130 OPS+ as a rookie. Things fell off the table last season and ESPN’s David Schoenfield owned that. He predicted 30 home runs and an OBP north of .400 for the Canadian.

“Julien had posted a .381 OBP with 16 home runs as a rookie in 109 games, but this was still way too hopeful considering only two second basemen (Rogers Hornsby and Jeff Kent) had reached those 30/.400 figures in the same season. Julien was just bad at the plate, hitting .199/.292/.323 and earning a demotion back to the minors. The plate discipline is elite, so there’s a chance Julien will rebound, but the swing-and-miss is a problem and his poor range at second is a drawback as well. He might end up as a platoon bat or move to first base to replace free agent Carlos Santana.”

Dave Schoenfield on Twins Edouard Julien (ESPN)

In 94 games, broken up by the minor league demotion, Julien lost nearly 100 points from his on-base percentage. The .292 mark was a non-starter, and his .830 OPS in April was never going to save him. Things got ugly quickly and they never turned around. He’s a better defender than what he originally came up as, but the offensive production was broken last year.

Edouard Julien, which is French for somebody's pissed to be demoted to the minor leagues. #MNTwins https://t.co/vzw8XxQAAE

— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) June 6, 2024

Related: Will Twins Keep Carlos Correa at SS… and What’s the Plan for Royce Lewis?

Julien is still just 25 years old and his future with Minnesota remains entirely in front of him. He didn’t take the step forward you’d have hoped for this season, but maybe he can use the offseason to accomplish those results in 2025. Rocco Baldelli needs Julien to re-establish himself as a leadoff hitter with functionality. The more that can manifest itself out of the gate in 2025, the better.

Related: Two Free Agent Pitchers Linked to Minnesota Twins

It was incredibly disappointing how bad Julien was last season. If he can make that a small blip on the radar, both the player and organization stand to benefit in a substantial way.

Rocco Baldelli had to shuffle players around the diamond, down the stretch last season. Unless some major changes are made on roster over the next few months, there will be more than a couple of Twins players who could very well be playing a different position than what they played in 2024.

For example, Royce Lewis was drafted by the Twins No. 1 overall in 2017 as a shortstop, because of his elite athleticism. That’s also where he stayed throughout his time on the farm. At the big league level, Lewis was moved to the 3rd base, since Carlos Correa was at shortstop.

Watch for Minnesota Twins to move Royce Lewis

Lewis has played primarily 3rd base ever since. It was the first time since high school that he was asked to take so many reps at the hot corner, and he has certainly taken some lumps. The 25-year-old posted a -2 DRS (defensive runs saved) in 2024, despite a 2 OAA (outs above average). He struggled to throw on target to 1B, at times, especially when on the move. These struggles have raised questions about his future on the left side of the infield.

Royce Lewis will start at 2B for the Twins tonight pic.twitter.com/xaxSwnUIoL

— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) September 4, 2024

Brooks Lee is a better defensive shortstop than Lewis. He also has a better arm and looks more comfortable at 3rd base too. After a resurgent season, Jose Miranda has settled in as a third baseman, as well.

That leaves little room for Royce Lewis. That’s why we could see Lewis move positions yet again. This time, to 2nd base, a position that has been in flux, since the departure of Jorge Polanco. It’s a shift the Twins tried briefly last season, and one that makes permanent sense in 2025.

It was a tough end to the season for Lewis. He was vocally frustrated, and asked to do a lot while Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton were both rehabbing injuries for much of the 2nd half. Making the move now would give him ample time to prepare for a new position that he made clear he isn’t comfortable playing on short-term notice.

Related: Minnesota Twins Utility Player a Surprise Finalist for Somewhat New Gold Glove Award

Scott Boras and Royce Lewis won’t like the position change idea, being left side infielders make a lot more money, normally, than right side infielders. It could be beneficial to his body, though. And once he got used to the position, he’ll be a better 2nd baseman than 3rd.

Twins task Edouard Julien to move over for Lewis

When the Twins drafted Edouard Julien in the 18th round of the 2019 MLB Draft they paid for it. He had to be lured away from Auburn. He even initially deciding to return to Auburn, but wound up turning pro.

Julien has shown solid plate discipline and contact ability during his pro career thus far. But he took a substantial slide offensively last season. If the Twins, and new hitting coach Matt Borgschulte, can get his confidence back he needs a spot on the infield.

Related: Minnesota Twins 1B Carlos Santana Keeps Gold Glove Hopes Alive

He’s not the horrid second baseman he was as a rookie, but he’s better suited at a different position. With Royce Lewis probably on his way to 2nd base Julien could be on the move too. 1st base makes sense. No, he won’t be a Gold Glove finalist like Carlos Santana, but he should make a much better defensive first baseman than 2nd baseman.

Been waiting all season for Edouard Julien to get some starts at first base. So of course this was the very first play of his first career start there. pic.twitter.com/OjHDrwitmc

— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) September 6, 2023

Last season, with the St. Paul Saints, Julien drew six starts at first base. In other words, the Minnesota Twins have already opened the door to this change. Miranda, Alex Kirilloff, or a free agent could all be options at first base, too, if the Canadian can’t recover from his poor 2024.

Griffin Jax to the starting rotation…?

Griffin Jax is one of baseball’s best relievers. Full stop. The problem is that he has multiple pitches, is a former starter, and knows where the money is. A desire to try the rotation one last time is looming, and it’s something the reliever recently told the Star Tribune he remains curious about.

Griffin Jax, K'ing the Side with Filth. 😷 pic.twitter.com/a2cvKhDru0

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 22, 2024

“I’m starter-curious, that’s a good way to put it. I’m still looking at it as maybe an option down the road. It’s a conversation we’re going to have to have at some point. I have no idea where the team’s head is at. I know in their minds, it probably would be kind of hard to replace what I’m doing. I understand that.”

Griffin Jax on joining the rotation (Star Tribune)

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As Jax said, it would be incredibly difficult to replace his production in the bullpen. Minnesota has not typically spent on bullpen arms under Derek Falvey, and they won’t have the funds to make that a priority. The President of Baseball Operations isn’t ruling it out though.

“We’re not ruling it out this offseason, and we shouldn’t. We want to have that conversation with him, to talk about what the upsides and downsides are, what the risks and benefits to it are for him and the team. We’ve got to be open-minded. We can’t rule out any potential path.”

Derek Falvey on Griffin Jax as a starter (Star Tribune)

What Griffin Jax did in 14 games as a starter back in 2021 should have little bearing on the outcome of this decision. He is a different pitcher now and the stuff certainly plays. The question comes down to where the rotation is, and if the bullpen can survive his absence. This may be among the most intriguing storylines to watch for Minnesota this offseason.

In order to open up a 26-man roster spot, it appears the Minnesota Twins plan to send infielder Edouard Julien down to triple A St. Paul, in order to make room for their now healthy superstar 3rd baseman.

No official word from #MNTwins. But Edouard Julien was summoned to Rocco Baldelli’s office during postgame and was talking to several teammates after. Royce Lewis is expected back on Tuesday as long as he emerged from today’s game healthy.

— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) June 2, 2024

After an impressive rookie campaign that saw Edouard Julien post an excellent 132 OPS+ across 109 games, life in the batters box has not gone well in year two. The 25-year-old canadian has a .676 OPS through 58 games.

While that’s not far off from league average, it’s not what the Twins need from him, especially when guys like Jose Miranda and Trevor Larnach are raking. Yes, sending Julien down does clear a spot for Royce Lewis to return, but a quick reset in St. Paul makes sense for Eddie too.

Edouard Julien odd man out with Royce Lewis set to return

At different points over the past couple of weeks there have been multiple potential candidates that could have been optioned when Royce Lewis was ready for a return. Alex Kirilloff, Jose Miranda, and Trevor Larnach all have options as well, but only Julien has consistently performed well-below expectations recently. That’s why he gets the demotion.

Coming into the year as the leadoff hitter that would take over at second base for Jorge Polanco, Julien has made significant strides defensively, but his offense has fallen off the table. It’s possible Julien has sold out for too much power, which is getting him into too many bad counts. Something a quick trip to Triple A will hopefully fix.

Minnesota Twins won’t DFA veterans unless forced to

While it’s more than fair to suggest Edouard Julien could use a reset at St. Paul, in hopes of finding his bat again, it’s also true that he, Kirilloff, Miranda, and Larnach aren’t the only choices to be replaced. Kyle Farmer has been horrible and deserves to have his spot taken even more than Julien.

Manuel Margot has shown little reason to be on a major league roster at this point, either, but designating either for assignment would mean losing them for nothing. That doesn’t seem problematic right now, given their performance, but it quickly removes depth options when a different path forward is still viable.

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Ultimately the hope would be that Julien goes back to the Saints and tears it up for a couple of weeks. He can then bring a solid process back to the big leagues and put the screws to Minnesota if Farmer hasn’t turned things around. The best roster for Baldelli right now includes Julien, but it would be doing a disservice to a young player by failing to develop them to their potential.

Much of that had to do with concerns surrounding Julien’s defensive liabilities. Making his way through the minors, Julien made his MLB debut last season. His bat played immediately. His defense, unfortunately, did not.

A 2019 18th round pick out of Auburn, Eddie Julien originally decided to return for another year of college after being picked by the Twins. That was until Derek Falvey & Co found some additional draft pool funds to sway his decision.

Edouard Julien suddenly more than serviceable at 2nd base

Looking back at recent success stories for the Minnesota Twins, and there are certainly a few, Edouard Julien stands out among the best of them. And those defensive concerns started to dwindle late last year. Now, he seems to have pulled a complete a 180 at 2nd base.

In 2023, Julien owns a -3 DRS (defensive runs saved) in 2023, he was able to push the OAA (outs above average) total to a neutral zero by season’s end. This year, those improvements have gone into overdrive.

In 2024, Eddie owns a four OAA tally through the first third of the season, which ranks him in the top-five among big league second baseman.

The top five defensive 2B in MLB: pic.twitter.com/eIU5SkJNa0

— Nick Nelson (@NickNelsonMN) May 28, 2024

Minnesota Twins infield teammates helping Edouard Julien

Making sense of how this is happening requires a multi-faceted approach. First, Julien has certainly put in work on his own. With a range factor now ranking in the 94th percentile (as opposed to the 58th).

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Eddie has also bumped up his arm strength from noodle territory (14th percentile) to something slightly better (27th percentile). His arm will never be a calling card, which is why he plays second base, but combined with his range, he is putting it all together and the work is paying off.

Eddy went 🆙 pic.twitter.com/eDuvtjHDon

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) April 14, 2024

Then there’s the Carlos Correa factor. Now fully healthy from a bout of plantar fasciitis that clearly slowed him last season, the Twins shortstop has been able to cover ground once again. Specifically up the middle, Correa has made a greater amount of plays to his left, which drastically cuts down on the demand for Julien to go that direction.

Minnesota has seen their second baseman excel most when charging the ball this year, and having a standout defensive first baseman in Carlos Santana to guard the line, means the lateral area has never been smaller.

Edouard Julien’s offense going the other way…

Unfortunately, Julien’s offense has gone the opposite direction of his defense. At the plate, he’s been one of Rocco Baldelli’s biggest disappointments this season. A 3-hit Memorial Day pumped his OPS+ up to 99, pretty much league average.

Related: Twins Call Up Proven Big League Reliever Who’s Been Dominating in St. Paul

Still, that’s a far cry from the 132 OPS+ he posted last season, as Minnesota’s mainstay in the leadoff spot. He could be selling out for more power, and both his strikeout and walk rates are trending in negative directions. His defense though has been a bright spot.

We aren’t yet at a place where the Twins should be planning Gold Glove ceremonies for their second baseman, but he’s playing a better second base than Polanco ever did. Although the bat has slumped out of the gate, Minnesota is benefitting by having a guy that is now an all-around contributor.