It’s challenging for major professional sports teams to add talent when the baseball operations staff is constrained by strict spending limits. That’s the reality facing Minnesota Twins president Derek Falvey, as the Pohlad ownership group has declared there will be no payroll cuts this offseason.
That sounds like good news, right? Well, there’s a catch. The 2025 Twins roster is already more expensive than last year’s, leaving Falvey and his team with the task of trimming a $140 million payroll down to $130 million. All this while needing to address significant gaps in both the batting lineup and pitching staff.
Aside from the occasional Carlos Correa trade rumors, the Twins were notably quiet at the Winter Meetings. The reason? They’re strapped for cash—likely why they gambled on a low-cost Rule 5 Draft pick to fill a spot in the pitching rotation.
Cardinals 1B Paul Goldschmidt linked to Minnesota Twins
For the Minnesota Twins to spend this offseason, they’ll first need to free up some payroll. A few players on their roster appear to be logical trade candidates. If the Twins can create some financial flexibility, they may have a chance to enter the free agent market. MLB experts at Bleacher Report have identified St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt as a “realistic” target for Minnesota.
“The Twins are in search of right-handed bats, with a particular focus on adding a first baseman,” Zach Rymer noted in Bleacher Report. “Goldschmidt fits the bill, and after two consecutive seasons of diminishing returns for the Cardinals, he could come at a reasonable price. That’s important because the 2025 Twins are already projected to exceed this year’s reduced payroll. Even if signing Goldschmidt pushes spending further, it’s worth exploring whether the 2022 NL MVP still has something left in the tank.”
Goldschmidt, however, comes with some concerns. His production has declined as he’s aged, posting just a 98 OPS+ last season after registering a solid 120 OPS+ in 2023. In 2024, the veteran first baseman showed mixed results—his hard-hit rate climbed to 40.0%, higher than either of his previous two seasons (including his MVP campaign), but his barrel rate dropped to a career-low 10.6%. The 2009 eighth-round pick out of Texas State has shown flashes of his past form, but it’s fair to question whether he’s a solution to the Twins’ offensive woes.
Twins love their value-add veteran free agents…
It’s no surprise that Paul Goldschmidt is being linked to the Minnesota Twins. The organization has a track record of buying low on veteran players, much like they did last season with Carlos Santana. Santana, who posted a 104 OPS+ across 146 games with the Pirates and Brewers in 2023, signed with Minnesota for $5.25 million and revitalized his career.
However, Goldschmidt comes with a heftier price tag. The Athletic’s Jim Bowden projects him to command $15 million on a one-year deal, making it clear that the Twins would need to free up significant payroll to afford the 2022 NL MVP. Time is of the essence if they hope to make a move.
Goldschmidt’s performance in 2024 showed signs of decline. He posted a career-low .248 batting average and a .716 OPS (his previous low was .808 as a rookie), contributing just 1.3 bWAR. Even so, he managed 22 home runs and 70 RBIs in 154 games for a struggling St. Louis Cardinals team. His struggles could partly be attributed to decision-making, as he expanded the strike zone more than ever, swinging at 28.9% of pitches outside it, which led to a career-worst 11.9% whiff rate. While bat speed naturally diminishes with age, some of these issues might be correctable.
For the Twins to justify such an investment, they’ll need to believe in new hitting coach Matt Borgschulte’s ability to help Goldschmidt regain his form. While Santana took time to settle in and faded late in the season, Goldschmidt could present a higher ceiling if he rebounds. Still, with his career 62.8 bWAR and a proven track record, he remains a gamble worth considering—if Derek Falvey can stretch the team’s financial limits to make it happen.
Paul Goldschmidt would be solid defensively at 1st base
One of the key reasons for considering a return to Carlos Santana is his elite defense at first base, a quality unmatched by any of the Twins’ in-house options. While Paul Goldschmidt isn’t on the same defensive level as Santana, he’s never posted negative defensive metrics in his career. That said, there are clear signs of decline in his defensive abilities.
In 2024, across over 1,300 innings, Goldschmidt recorded zero defensive runs saved, zero outs above average, and zero fielding runs above average. For comparison, his 2023 numbers were stronger, with 3 defensive runs saved, 3 outs above average, and 2 fielding runs above average. The drop-off is notable, suggesting age is starting to catch up with him on both sides of the ball.
Prioritizing defense at first base makes sense for the Twins, given their infield situation. Players like Edouard Julien, Royce Lewis, and Jose Miranda all have defensive limitations, and a steady first baseman could help elevate their overall play. The challenge will be whether the Twins can stretch their limited budget to accommodate an aging veteran like Goldschmidt, who may not offer the same defensive reliability as Santana.
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