Beyond the bullpen, an obvious area of need, finding a capable starting first baseman is a priority. At the moment, the job appears likely to fall to Kody Clemens. If that’s the extent of their plan, Derek Shelton’s team can’t be taken seriously. Fortunately, there are low-wattage options available on the open market.

Slugging Help at First Base on the Horizon

Minnesota acquired Kody Clemens last season as injuries continued to pile up, and he handled his first extended opportunity in the big leagues reasonably well. Still, expecting another step forward, or simply allowing first base to go unaddressed, would be risky. According to The Athletic’s Dan Hayes, the Twins have at least explored external options.

Team and league sources confirmed Wednesday that the Twins inquired about or have shown interest in veterans Rhys Hoskins, Josh Bell and 2025 All-Star Ryan O’Hearn, among others.

The Athletic

None of the reported candidates are particularly inspiring, but the bar to clear for improved offensive production is not high. In 112 games last season, Clemens hit .216/.284/.442, good for a just-below-average 96 OPS+. While that was easily the best showing of his career, his performance dipped significantly in the second half.

The Twins are heavily left-handed at their power positions, which makes either Rhys Hoskins or Josh Bell a potential fit. Hoskins, who recently signed with the Milwaukee Brewers, posted a 108 OPS+ last season and once looked like an ideal target. Bell, a switch hitter, recorded a 110 OPS+ in 2025 and brings proven power, with 193 career home runs.

Ryan O'Hearn demolishes the 4th @Padres home run of the night 😳 pic.twitter.com/JJ96j5xZj5

— MLB (@MLB) August 21, 2025

Former Kansas City Royals infielder Ryan O’Hearn also fits the profile. He appeared to unlock another level in Baltimore under former Twins hitting coach Matt Borgschulte. O’Hearn posted a career-best 125 OPS+ last season and earned his first All-Star selection. He would have been an ideal trade target for Minnesota had they not been a 92-loss team, but instead was dealt to the San Diego Padres at the deadline.

Path for Twins Additions Looks Murky

The Twins made it clear they don’t intend to trade their stars and still plan to add pieces. However, with the payroll currently checking in under $100 million, there isn’t much financial flexibility unless the new minority owners are willing to spend.

Still, fielding a competent roster in 2026 shouldn’t require a massive investment. Adding even a modest, needle-moving slugger at first base would be a meaningful step in the right direction.

“On the offensive side, another bat or two with some thump, with some impact, to bolster a group that we’re excited about and that young core that we’re excited to keep growing with.”

Jeremy Zoll – The Athletic

Beyond first base, the bullpen remains an unresolved concern. General manager Jeremy Zoll told The Athletic this week that Minnesota is looking to add help to supplement the current relief core. Doing so shouldn’t be prohibitively expensive, and even a modest willingness to spend could meaningfully improve the roster.