Could Minorca have replaced Gibraltar as Britain's Mediterranean base?

If Gibraltar had fallen but Britain retained Minorca, could Minorca have filled the same role?

Minorca could offer a defensible base, but it would require tens of thousands of troops rather than Gibraltar's few thousand, making Gibraltar much more economical to hold.

Minorca offered space and defensive possibilities, but that size also raised the cost of protection. The estimate given is that Gibraltar could be held by a few thousand troops, whereas securing Minorca would require a much larger permanent army and a more complicated reinforcement effort. A larger possession may offer more facilities while imposing a disproportionate garrison burden.