Twins spring preview: Key dates, position battles and 3 questions to answer

Spring training is here, finally providing the Twins with an opportunity to eliminate all the nightmares and bad tastes lingering from last season’s shortcomings. For the most part, their roster looks very similar to the group that went 82-80 and finished in fourth place in the American League Central after stumbling over the final quarter of the season with a 12-27 mark. Running it back leaves a few big questions in camp about manager Rocco Baldelli’s lineup and more focus on how to get improved production from young players.

Key battles

Starting rotation candidates for two spots: Chris Paddack, Simeon Woods Richardson, David Festa, Zebby Matthews

Bullpen candidates for two spots: Louie Varland, Michael Tonkin, Justin Topa, Eiberson Castellano, Kody Funderburk

Three questions to answer by the end of camp

1. Who’s on first?

Although the Twins were blessed with the relative stability provided by Carlos Santana — and a stalwart defensive effort — this season’s options are a wild card. Signed last February for a bargain $5.25 million, Santana was a clutch bat during the middle of the summer and a Gold Glove defender throughout the season. FanGraphs credited him with 3.0 WAR, a number that will be nearly impossible to replace after Santana returned to Cleveland on a one-year deal for $12 million.

The pre-camp leaders to start at first base are Jose Miranda and Edouard Julien, two players who spent little time at the position before reaching the bigs. Miranda has amassed 90 games at first with the Twins, but produced a minus-5 Fielding Run Value in 100 innings there last season, according to Baseball Savant. Julien also grades as a negative defender, but has only 19-plus innings at the position. Though he’s never played there before, Twins 2024 MVP Willi Castro could also see time at first and would easily be the best defender of the bunch. As constructed, the Twins would be willing to sacrifice defense at first for offensive upside. But all three candidates need to improve their consistency at the plate as each slumped in the second half after starting strong.

As the “offseason” extends on, the Twins could seek more help in the form of veteran free agents. They’ve dabbled in the non-roster invitee market this winter and several interesting veterans remain available in free agency. For now, Mike Ford, 32, who had a .798 OPS with Seattle in 2023, is the only other competition.

2. How will the pitching staff shake out?

By all indications, Joe Ryan and Paddack are ready to go for spring training, which leaves little competition for the starting rotation. If Paddack is healthy, he’ll be in the rotation as the Twins are paying him $7.5 million this season.

Essentially, good health in the rotation leaves the Twins with Woods Richardson, Festa and Matthews battling for the final spot. That’s a great place to start after injuries crushed the Twins all season long in 2024, beginning with Anthony DeSclafani in the spring, Paddack in July and Ryan in August. Saddled with three rookie starters from early August onward, the Twins’ postseason hopes were crushed by a rotation that couldn’t provide the length they needed. Now, the Twins have seven starters with major-league experience. After last year’s trio of rookies each reached personal highs in innings pitched, the group could potentially be pushed further in 2025, if necessary.

Though Brock Stewart (who had arthroscopic shoulder surgery in August) is the bullpen’s biggest question mark entering camp, the Twins said last month he’s only a few bullpen sessions behind. Were he not ready, the bullpen competition would expand to three open spots. The Twins like Castellano’s arm, but his Rule 5 status makes it imperative he proves capable of contributing immediately to have a chance to stick around.

3. Is this the final roster? 

The Twins are always active in late January and February — and this offseason is no different. The team signed free agents Danny Coulombe and Harrison Bader last week to round out the roster, adding a lefty for the bullpen and a dynamic defender capable of playing center field when Byron Buxton is not. Even though the Twins have increased payroll by $13.9 million after the previous year’s $30 million reduction, the front office remains active. Derek Falvey and company are still searching for more depth, whether it be a backup shortstop for Carlos Correa or another option at first base.

Were the team to add, it does lead one to wonder if the Twins might look to trim payroll slightly by trading Paddack, Castro or catcher Christían Vázquez. Asked about the trade market on Friday, Falvey said other teams were “internally focused” with the start of camp approaching. But waiting until spring training to make significant moves hasn’t deterred the Twins before; they dealt reliever Taylor Rogers to San Diego on the eve of Opening Day 2022.

Falvey learned from the later signings of Lance Lynn and Logan Morrison in 2018 that arriving to camp late can hurt continuity. But the team also had success with the February additions of Donovan Solano and Jake Odorizzi. If it’s adding on the fringes of the roster, it wouldn’t be a shock to see the Twins make an acquisition after camp begins.

Key dates

Pitchers and catchers first workout: Thursday, Feb. 13