If the Twins are going to move a player from the Major League roster this offseason, Trevor Larnach is the name that makes the most sense.
Minnesota has reasons to listen. Larnach hit .269/.352/.436 with 13 home runs in 122 games before a left wrist sprain landed him on the injured list in September.
He made $4.475 million in 2026, remains under team control through arbitration for 2027, and is scheduled to reach free agency after next season. That gives any acquiring team a year of control without a long-term commitment, which is exactly the kind of setup that can draw interest.
There was already evidence of a market. MLB.com reported interest in Larnach before the summer trade deadline and pointed to corner outfield as a spot where the Twins could deal from the big-league roster while chasing pitching help.
Minnesota held onto him then, but the outfield picture changed after that. Walker Jenkins and Emmanuel Rodriguez both reached the Major Leagues, while Matt Wallner and Alan Roden add more options.
That depth does not make Larnach disposable. Rodriguez has only a brief Major League track record.
Jenkins is expected to be ready for 2027 after planned right elbow surgery, and Byron Buxton is coming back from hip surgery. Larnach’s bat gives the Twins a real fallback if any of those pieces need more time or if the younger outfielders hit bumps along the way.
The organizational direction matters too. Chairman Tom Pohlad has said he expects payroll to rise, and general manager Jeremy Zoll has made clear he does not want to trade the young players the club expects to help in 2027 and beyond.
That makes Larnach a cleaner trade candidate than a core young piece. If Minnesota moves him, it should be to improve the roster - especially the pitching staff - not simply to trim money.
His .352 on-base percentage makes him appealing to a team looking for a left-handed corner outfielder or designated hitter. The catch is that the late wrist injury and the fact that he only has one year of control left could soften the return.
Even so, the Twins have a clear need to target pitching that can help in 2027, with bullpen help standing out in particular. Anthony Banda is expected to miss roughly the first half of next season, which only adds to the relief concern.
That’s why Larnach sits ahead of a bigger name like Joe Ryan. Trading a front-line starter would create another major hole on the pitching side. Dealing Larnach offers a more direct way to address one need while opening more playing time for the outfielders behind him.
The Twins should tender him a contract and see what the market brings. If another club is willing to send back meaningful, Major League-ready pitching, the fit makes sense.
If the return is only depth, Minnesota is better off keeping a productive hitter. Right now, Larnach is the Twins’ best trade candidate - not someone they have decided to move, but the most logical one if they choose to act.
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