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If Joe Mauer retires Larry Doby Jersey , who could open 2019 at first base for the Twins?" Farm ReportSatire, Irreverence, & Other HumorGame RecapsSpeculationSeven possible first base replacements in the Twins organizationNew,82commentsIf Joe Mauer retires, who could open 2019 at first base for the Twins?trading Lance Lynn to the Yankees. In 123 plate appearances since arriving in Minnesota, Austin has hit .241/.293/.500 with nine home runs and nine walks. These seem to line up fairly well with his career numbers. Austin has played in the big leagues in parts of three MLB seasons, and will be out of options. He seems to be a lock to make the opening day roster for the Twins, but the question is if he is their first baseman, designated hitter, or a bench bat.Miguel SanoFor years now, a move to first base has been predicted for the big Dominican third baseman. Despite this, both the team and Sano seem committed to his playing third for as long as possible. Sano’s struggles at the plate in 2018 would make the move highly detrimental to the team, as he would be a vastly below average hitter for a first baseman, yet we all know the potential that exists in his bat. The team currently has no viable replacement for Sano if they did move him from third base, which should be a consideration as well.Logan MorrisonThe Twins technically hold an eight million dollar team option on Morrison for 2019. With only a million dollar buyout Bob Feller Jersey , it seems unlikely the team will exercise that option, but it’s not impossible. Morrison struggled mightily in 2018, but much of that can be attributed to lingering injuries. A more likely scenario is for the team to buy out Morrison, and offer him a smaller “prove-it” contract for 2019, if they still believe in the slugger.Brent RookerRooker is a relatively recent draft pick, but has been rocketing through the Twins organization. He spent all of 2018, his second professional season, at double-A Chattanooga. Rooker hit .254/.333/.465 in the Southern League this season, and is slated to play in the 2018 Arizona Fall League. A good fall showing could easily open the door to a Spring Training competition. Compared to other candidates, his relative lack of professional experience and significantly longer team control means Rooker is more likely candidate to open the season at Rochester. He is a versatile player, spending nearly as much time in left field as at first base, so that could factor into roster construction as well.Willians Astudillo/Mitch GarverNeither of these guys are actually a first baseman, but both have played there this season for the Twins. They are listed together because the Twins will have three viable catchers for 2019 — with these two plus Jason Castro — and may be hesitant to carry them all on the 25-man roster. Rather than shipping someone to Rochester, could they convert one or two to part time first basemen? Both bats would play at the position. Astudillo is the more likely player to move, as Garver is the team’s short-term future at catcher. Garver does have a nasty concussion situation he is recovering from though http://www.indiansfanproshop.com/authentic-b.j.-upton-jersey , so that could complicate his future behind the dish.Kennys VargasVargas has played in 236 games with the Twins over four seasons, but never quite seemed to put things together. He has hit .252/.311/.437 in the big leagues, but pairs those numbers with a lot of strikeouts and sub par defense. Vargas also seems to have fallen out of favor in the organization, being removed from the 40-man roster, and not receiving even a cup of coffee at the big league level in 2018. Zander WielWeil is a 2015 Twins draft pick that spent most of 2018 destroying baseballs in Chattanooga. He hit .311/.382/.446 against Southern League pitching. He was a late call-up to Rochester, and struggled in his 58 plate appearances at the higher level. Still, at 25-years old, its hard to call him much more than organizational filler, so if the team seeks a stop-gap and he has a good spring, there is a possibility he sees some time in the pros. It would take an incredible combination of injuries and spring struggles from other guys, plus a great showing from Wiel, for him to open the season with Minnesota. NEW YORK (AP) — Chicago Cubs outfielder Jason Heyward and San Francisco reliever Mark Melancon let the deadline pass for exercising opt-out provisions in their contracts.Doing the same were two Cuban outfielders who have been major disappointments and spent all of this season in the minor leagues: Boston’s Rusney Castillo and Arizona’s Yasmany Tomas.Heyward keeps the $184 million, eight-year deal that pays him $106 million in the next five seasons. The others all have two years left in their contracts: Melancon is owed $28 million, Tomas $32.5 million and Castillo $24.5 million.They all had to make their decisions by Wednesday night.The 29-year-old Heyward, who in 2016 helped the Cubs to their first title in 108 years Joe Carter Jersey , hit .270 with eight homers and 58 RBIs in 127 games this season. He is owed $20 million in 2019, $21 million in each of the following two seasons and $22 million apiece in the final two years. If he has 550 plate appearances next year, he would again have the right to void the deal and become a free agent.Melancon, 33, was 1-4 with a 3.23 ERA and three saves in 41 relief appearances, allowing 11.1 hits per nine innings for the second straight year and a .302 opponents’ batting average in 2018. He has made 73 appearances in the first two seasons of a $62 million, four-year deal and is due $14 million in each of the final two seasons.The 31-year-old Castillo has appeared in just 99 games since agreeing in August 2014 to a $72.5 million, seven-year contract and has not played in the major leagues since he was sent outright to the minors on June 20, 2016.He hit .319 with five homers and 59 RBIs for Triple-A Pawtucket this year and is owed $11 million next year and $13.5 million in 2020. By keeping him in the minors, the Red Sox ensured his salary would not count on their luxury-tax payroll; under a change made after the 2016 season, he would count if he were brought up and sent outright to the minors again.Tomas, who turns 28 this month, was sent outright to the minors April 2 and hit .262 with 14 homers and 65 RBIs for Triple-A Reno. His $68.5 million, six-year deal calls for $15.5 million next year and $17 million in 2020.