Trevor Larnach’s offseason got a little more complicated this week, but the Twins don’t sound worried about the long view.
Minnesota general manager Jeremy Zoll said the outfielder will have arthroscopic surgery on his left wrist this week after soreness lingered when Larnach started his offseason training. Larnach had already missed the final two weeks of the season because of a wrist sprain.
Zoll described the operation as a “cleanup,” which points to a relatively minor procedure. He also said he does not expect it to affect Larnach’s availability at the start of Spring Training.
That said, any medical note attached to Larnach matters because he’s been one of the more obvious trade candidates in the league this winter. The Twins had a deadline deal lined up with Houston that would have sent Larnach to the Astros for impending free agent reliever Bryan Abreu, but Houston’s ownership shut it down late in the process. Larnach stayed put in Minnesota, where the roster still has a surplus of left-handed hitting outfielders and clear needs on the pitching staff and possibly on the right side of the infield.
Larnach, a first-round pick in 2018, has carved out a useful role as a strong-side platoon bat. He’s a career .255/.341/.431 hitter against right-handed pitching. This past season, he posted a .284/.365/.454 line with a 10% walk rate and a modest 17% strikeout percentage while holding the platoon edge.
He’s also entering his final year of club control, and MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projects his arbitration salary at $6.3MM.
In Other News...
Twins Could Face A Tough Ryan Jeffers Decision This Winter
The Twins are heading into the winter with a familiar kind of uncertainty behind the plate, and it starts with Ryan Jeffers. Minnesota has already put a qualifying offer on the table, but if Jeffers decides to move on, the front office will have to sort through a catcher market that is thinner than it looks at first glance. That puts a premium on fit, cost and whether the club wants to chase a veteran stopgap or explore a longer-term solution.
Among the names being weighed are Victor Caratini and Tyler Stephenson, along with other possibilities that could come via free agency or a trade. Each brings a different mix of offense, defense and contractual complexity, which is why this decision feels so important for a team that would prefer stability at a position where continuity matters. For now, the Twins are still in evaluation mode, and the real question is how aggressive they want to be if their current catcher ends up elsewhere. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Offseason Urgency Is Already Showing Around Ryan Jeffers
The Twins are already moving with purpose as the offseason opens, and much of the early focus has centered on Ryan Jeffers. General manager Jeremy Zoll said the club remains in contract discussions with the free-agent catcher, who is weighing the qualifying offer Minnesota extended to him. It is the kind of early hot stove business that can shape the rest of the winter, especially for a team trying to line up its next steps before the market really starts to move.
Minnesota also filled out part of its coaching structure, promoting Jonas Lovin to major-league assistant pitching coach. He will join Brian Reith and LaTroy Hawkins on the staff, another sign the organization is laying groundwork on multiple fronts while the offseason is still in its opening stretch. For the Twins, the Jeffers situation and the staff adjustment both point to the same thing: there is already a sense of urgency around what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Bullpen Pursuit Could Hinge On How Far They'll Go
The Twins are still looking for bullpen help, and JoJo Romero has emerged as a name worth watching as the market starts to take shape. Minnesota has obvious reasons to stay involved, with free agency opening up holes in the relief corps and a need to find dependable left-handed depth, while projections around the industry have pointed to a deal in the neighborhood of two years and $13 million.
What could make the difference is how aggressive the Twins are willing to be if the bidding gets tight. Romeros market is already drawing interest from multiple clubs, and Minnesota may have to lean into the kind of contract structure that gives a reliever extra security if it wants to stay in the mix. For a team trying to stabilize the bullpen without overcommitting, that balance could end up being the real test. [Read more 🡒]