When asked whether first base would be a position the Minnesota Twins prioritize in free agency or the trade market this offseason, president of baseball and business operations Derek Falvey’s answer was a mixed bag. As anticipated, the executive sang praises for the club’s post-deadline primary starting first baseman.

“Kody Clemens was a huge, you know, value add for us last year,” Falvey said while discussing first base at last week’s GM Meetings in Las Vegas. “We want to give Kody a lot of runway at (first base) too, because he was really a, he was a special fit for us last year.”

Unsurprisingly, Falvey also suggested the club could add a right-handed-hitting first baseman to complement Clemens. His comments on the club’s other internal options, including a once highly-touted prospect Twins Territory has understandably soured on, were less on-script.

“I think (first base is) an area where we’re going to hope that there’s a few guys internally that we’ve asked to continue to grow and develop there,” he said. “Eddie Julien got some time there, and, you know, we’ll continue to get a little more work.” 

Despite operating as Clemens’s time-share partner at first base post-trade deadline (appearing in 26 games at the position), Edouard Julien’s inclusion comes as a surprise. Given how poorly the 26-year-old has performed at the plate since his breakout 2023 rookie campaign (80 wRC+ over a combined 509 plate appearances) while being one of the worst qualified defenders in baseball the past two seasons, those who follow the Twins believed the once-beloved French Canadian was a candidate to be removed from the 40-man roster this winter. 

Falvey’s comments all but bury that notion, and barring Minnesota signing a cost-effective right-handed first base option (a decision that would make this analysis moot), Julien is slated to enter next season as Clemens’s backup. Obviously, entering a 162-game season with two defensively deficient, same-handed Quad-A players as the only options at an offense-first position is an unwelcome outcome.

One could justifiably criticize Falvey for naming Julien as an option at first base. Arguably, the organization has handed the 26-year-old too long a leash already. Yet, given the significant spending restrictions ownership has imposed on the front office, team decision-makers have both hands tied behind their back, with Kyler Fedko and Aaron Sabato being the only other internal candidates with experience at first base in the high minors. 

Fedko and Sabato probably aren’t MLB-caliber contributors. That being the case, Falvey named Julien because he is the only other option. Again, Clemens and Julien’s redundant offensive profiles make them poor platoon partners. However, since Julien can play second base (and start at designated hitter) and Clemens could rotate between second base and both corner outfield spots, the two left-handed bats could co-exist as a versatile tandem. 

Julien is out of minor-league options. He would need to pass through waivers before being outrighted to Triple-A. Despite his lousy performance in 2024 and 2025, a club would be justified in taking a chance on the left-handed bat, given his exceptional rookie campaign. Minnesota is justified in keeping Julien on the 40-man roster and not risking losing him to waivers before next season. However, if he struggles in April, they should be quick to pull the plug. Unfortunately, given how shallow the position player pool is, Julien’s leash will likely be longer than deserved. 

Twins Daily’s John Bonnes contributed to the reporting in this piece.