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\n \tImage courtesy of \u00a9 Jordan Johnson (Lewis), Matt Krohn (France)-Imagn Images\n <\/p>\n
\n\tWith the All-Star break approaching and the summer heat cranking up, the Minnesota Twins find themselves once again staring down a pivotal trade deadline. Like every contending team, they\u2019ll be forced to decide where to patch holes, where to ride internal options, and whether the upgrade is worth the prospect capital. The American League Central remains winnable, and the Twins are in the thick of it. Still, if the front office is serious about making a run in October, there are a couple of clear roster spots that demand immediate attention.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tThe Hot Corner Is Ice Cold
There\u2019s no sugar-coating it because third base has been a black hole for the Twins in 2025. Minnesota ranks dead last in MLB with a -1.0 fWAR from its third basemen, and only the Milwaukee Brewers have posted a lower wRC+ at the position. It\u2019s one thing to struggle; it\u2019s another to have replacement-level production or worse from a premium defensive spot that should also provide some offensive punch.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tThis isn\u2019t how it was supposed to go. Royce Lewis opened the spring as the clear-cut starter at third, but a hamstring injury put him on the IL to start the year. Since returning, he has been one of the team\u2019s worst hitters, including being moved to the bottom of the batting order and even being pinch hit for in late inning situations. He\u2019s now carrying a negative WAR total, and a demotion to Triple-A isn\u2019t out of the question.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tBrooks Lee was supposed to be the next man up, offering a polished bat and enough glove to hold down the fort. Instead, he\u2019s found himself overmatched at the plate more often than not (76 OPS+), and like Lewis, sits below replacement level for the season (-0.1 fWAR). Rocco Baldelli continues to speak highly of Lee, and there is hope that some of his struggles are due to inexperience at the big-league level.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n\tThe team has mixed in Jonah Bride and Willi Castro, but neither looks like more than a short-term Band-Aid. Castro\u2019s value lies in his versatility; asking him to be an everyday third baseman is asking too much. And Bride, while competent defensively, hasn\u2019t produced with the bat in limited action (66 OPS+).\n<\/p>\n
\n\tJose Miranda, once viewed as a long-term solution at third base, hasn\u2019t made a case for a call-up either. He\u2019s posted a .636 OPS at Triple-A and continues to look lost against anything with spin or velocity. That ship, at least for the time being, appears to have sailed.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tIf the Twins are serious about winning the division and advancing beyond a token playoff appearance, they\u2019ll need to upgrade at third. It\u2019s not just about getting league-average production. It\u2019s about stopping the bleeding.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tOptions at Third Base
So, who\u2019s out there? Luis Urias is an intriguing option at third base and is a pending free agent for the A\u2019s, who are expected to be sellers. He has posted a 115 OPS+ this season and has some defensive flexibility. Miguel Andujar is another A\u2019s third baseman who could be a trade target. He has a 106 OPS+ and can play corner infield and outfield. Arizona\u2019s Eugenio Su\u00e1rez might be the biggest named third baseman traded at the deadline. The Diamondbacks are under .500, and he is a pending free agent. Su\u00e1rez has 16 home runs and a 124 OPS+. These aren\u2019t sexy names, but the bar is so low for the Twins at third base that even modest production could represent a massive upgrade.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tTy France and the First Base Dilemma
First base isn\u2019t quite the mess that third is, but it\u2019s trending the wrong direction. The Twins brought in Ty France, hoping he could be a stabilizing veteran bat at the back end of the batting order. So far, he\u2019s been anything but\n<\/p>\n
\n\tFrance has posted a 97 OPS+, meaning he\u2019s below league average offensively and at a position where above-average offense is a requirement, not a luxury. Minnesota\u2019s overall first base production sits at a 103 wRC+, good for 16th in MLB. That\u2019s dead average, and average doesn\u2019t cut it when you\u2019re getting replacement-level work at third.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tWhat complicates the France situation is that, on paper, he appears to be producing. He ranks near the top of the team in RBI, but that\u2019s more a function of hitting with runners in scoring position than actual offensive dominance. His underlying production, including exit velocity (36th percentile), barrel rate (47th percentile), and walk rate (10th percentile), all indicate a player who is no longer a middle-of-the-order threat.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tOptions at First Base\u00a0
So, what do the Twins do? Josh Naylor is a familiar name to Twins fans after playing the last three seasons in Cleveland. He is a pending free agent for Arizona and has posted a 103 OPS+. However, his $10.9 million contract might be tough for the Twins to absorb, even though they would only be on the hook for a portion of that total. Other potential first-base options look bleak. But with third base being such a clear area of need, first base might be more of a \u201cnice to upgrade\u201d rather than a \u201cmust fix\u201d situation unless the right opportunity presents itself.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tWhat\u2019s the Priority?
There\u2019s no question: third base is Priority No. 1. The production there is actively hurting the team, not just failing to contribute. With no internal solution stepping forward, Derek Falvey and Jeremy Zoll will need to act. The key will be identifying a buy-low veteran or controllable bat who can provide stability and league-average offense. That alone would represent a sizable upgrade over the current crop of sub-replacement contributors.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tWith the division race tight and the margin for error shrinking, the Twins can\u2019t afford to let the trade deadline pass without action. They\u2019ve built a strong enough foundation to compete, but it\u2019s time to shore up the weak spots. And it all starts at third base.\n<\/p>\n
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