Trade Deadline Rumors: Trevor Larnach Talk Heats Up

[Sherry Cerny]

The trade deadline is approaching, and the Twins front office has stayed silent outside of the trade dealing Jorge Lopez to the Marlins for Dylan Floro. It’s not that we don’t have anything to give away, but there isn’t much out there to get that would bolster the club into a post-season position. But one rumor has sparked interest, teams are certainly interested in Twins outfielder Trevor Larnach. 

Image courtesy of Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

For many, it's the most wonderful time of the baseball year. Along with the playoffs and the winter meetings, and even the draft, are also great times of the year. The trade deadline is great in many ways whether your team is a buyer or a seller. 

7:59pm, Sunday July 30th, Metsmerized editor Mike Mayer tweeted that the Mets have shown interest in Trevor Larnach, with Athletic writer Dan Hayes as the source in a report.

Larnach has been a topic of discussion among Twins fans over the past month, specifically since the All-Star Break. Larnach is hitting .216/.314/.401 (.715) in his big-league time this year, and has covered left field and right field quite well. The Twins need hitters, and while the Oregon State alum has shown flashes of big power, he has been inconsistent. With the Twins, he has moved up and down between the Twins and Saints the last couple of seasons. He needs consistent opportunities. Will that be available with the Twins? Maybe a trade will suit him as a AAA player who keeps riding the “option” train. 

If the Twins were to deal Larnach, what might the return be? The Mets are one of the teams that have shown some interest in the slugger. The Twins would undoubtedly need a bat back, a more heavy-hitting bat, and bullpen assistance. The Twins could never trade away enough to make a Justin Verlander trade (I could be wrong - looking back at the Carlos Correa surprise), but Verlander certainly would make not only a splash but give the bullpen a break. Verlander would cost a lot more than Larnach.

What else do the Mets have that could help us this season? Two players come to mind that could make a huge impact immediately offensively. 

Tommy Pham. Pham is having not only one of the best seasons at the plate, but he is also an outfielder that is effective and dominant. In 76 games, Pham is currently leading the team with a .816 OPS, 35 RBI, 15 doubles, and 11 stolen bases. He also has come in as the designated hitter and could be a potential option for getting Byron Buxton worked back into center field if that is an option. 

Something that could be used to compliment the already illustrious base-stealing duo of Michael A. Taylor and Willi Castro. He has not spent time on the IL this season and would be a consistent body in the outfield and at the plate. 

Pham signed only a one-year deal for $6 million with the Mets, making him an unrestricted free agent. 

Brooks Raley. The Mets southpaw reliever has been the most dependable on the Mets club. He has 43 appearances, a 2.57 ERA, and 38 strikeouts in his 35 innings. Righties are batting .177 against him, compared to lefty’s .250 average, and he has a WHIP of 1.26. With a solid middle reliever and one who doesn’t fold in high-pressure situations, the Twins could push further than the already struggling first-place “lead” at .505. It would be great to move into a position to be competitive to try for a post-season win. 

Raley is currently playing in the second year of a two-year, $10 million contract. His base salary this season in $4.5 million. The Mets have an option for him in 2024 at $6.25 million (with a buyout at $1.25 million).  

It’s hard to estimate what a package involving Larnach might look like. The Mets threw so much money around this past offseason; the best option might be to send Larnach to the Mets, and maybe with a prospect. The best thing about these two players (Pham and Raley) is they nearing the end of their contracts and make the most sense for what the Twins need. 

The Mets barely know what they want, so they may be an excellent club to trade with now. 

View full article

[LA Vikes Fan]

Raley is interesting because of the option. A straight swap of Larnach for Raley or with the Twins adding a low level flyer type prospect makes some sense. Pham makes no sense. He's 35 and on an expiring contract. He's the type of "win now" move the Angels are making.  This year's Twins are not a "win now" team. They're a group who is hopefully looking at a 3-4 year window. A guy like Pham isn't part of that. I'd be very disappointed if we gave up a potential player for a guy like that. 

Have you heard anything more about a Twins/Nats deal? I heard they were scouting the AAA group. Both Kyle Finnegan and Lane Johnson are appealing depending on price, and Jordon Weems could be a decent addition if one believes this year is real as compared to 2021 or 2022. 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Falvey called Larnach one of the team leaders back in April, so I would be very surprised if Larnach is traded before really getting a fair shot here. 

I know the Larnach steam is out there, I’d just be surprised. 

[CRF]

Saw that the Mets and Padres are supposedly interested in Larnach. I'd have no interest in Pham. Maybe Raley, but it depends on the deal. I have no idea what the Pads might be offering. 

[hitterscount]

26 minutes ago, Hosken Bombo Disco said:

Falvey called Larnach one of the team leaders back in April, so I would be very surprised if Larnach is traded before really getting a fair shot here. 

I know the Larnach steam is out there, I’d just be surprised. 

Does the FO have any credibility? Seriously he (Larnach) is one their perceived leaders… than they go onto keep Kepler and sign Gallo…. The OF is a disaster, left handed heavy with a weak hitter in Taylor. I have zero faith in the entire management team. 

[Brandon]

Tony Pham is fine for the rest of the season acquisition.  If we do get him, I hope it’s for a lower level prospect.  Or Larnarch with a low level prospect for Raley and Pham is ok.  
 

The Twins can be a good playoff team if the offense picks it up for the playoffs.  For that to happen we need Buxton and Correa to be back to normal.  Correa seems to be close….  We also need continued contributions from Kepler, Solano, Killeroff, Julien, Polanco, Jeffers and Lewis when he is healthy and back in the lineup.  

[mikelink45]

Larnach alone cannot get any of these players.  The team has diminished Larnach's value by the way they have treated him. 

[gman]

I would send them Kepler ad Gallo instead.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

52 minutes ago, hitterscount said:

Does the FO have any credibility? Seriously he (Larnach) is one their perceived leaders… than they go onto keep Kepler and sign Gallo…. The OF is a disaster, left handed heavy with a weak hitter in Taylor. I have zero faith in the entire management team. 

Well, right. To their credit, Larnach was their starting left fielder as the season opened, but when they started needing roster slots, Larnach usuall drew the short straw because he had options. Larnach does strike out a lot but he can hit and is still among the team leaders for RBI, despite not playing for the last month.

Kepler and Gallo are gone next year. I don’t know what problem is solved by trading Larnach.

[Sherry Cerny]

1 hour ago, LA VIkes Fan said:

Raley is interesting because of the option. A straight swap of Larnach for Raley or with the Twins adding a low level flyer type prospect makes some sense. Pham makes no sense. He's 35 and on an expiring contract. He's the type of "win now" move the Angels are making.  This year's Twins are not a "win now" team. They're a group who is hopefully looking at a 3-4 year window. A guy like Pham isn't part of that. I'd be very disappointed if we gave up a potential player for a guy like that. 

Have you heard anything more about a Twins/Nats deal? I heard they were scouting the AAA group. Both Kyle Finnegan and Lane Johnson are appealing depending on price, and Jordon Weems could be a decent addition if one believes this year is real as compared to 2021 or 2022. 

Raley is *also* 35...while I know we aren't probably going to make a run like the Rangers, I do think they bring something that could change the trajectory...but, I don't know. I haven't heard about the Twins/Nats, but I am going to look now!

[Sherry Cerny]

1 hour ago, Hosken Bombo Disco said:

Falvey called Larnach one of the team leaders back in April, so I would be very surprised if Larnach is traded before really getting a fair shot here. 

I know the Larnach steam is out there, I’d just be surprised. 

I think he IS a team leader - but he's been optioned so many times this season, the Twins really need to leave him up or let him go somewhere that he can truly play and stay. I would hate to see him go - but if I am him - right now I am frustrated with all the movement. 

[Sherry Cerny]

29 minutes ago, gman said:

I would send them Kepler ad Gallo instead.

They aren't going to want those. They aren't interested in them. No one really is. can you blame them?

[Sherry Cerny]

55 minutes ago, Brandon said:

Tony Pham is fine for the rest of the season acquisition.  If we do get him, I hope it’s for a lower level prospect.  Or Larnarch with a low level prospect for Raley and Pham is ok.  
 

The Twins can be a good playoff team if the offense picks it up for the playoffs.  For that to happen we need Buxton and Correa to be back to normal.  Correa seems to be close….  We also need continued contributions from Kepler, Solano, Killeroff, Julien, Polanco, Jeffers and Lewis when he is healthy and back in the lineup.  

And that's the entire intent here. I don't THINK we are a WS team, but I'd like to clinch the central with more than a half game and make a run at the post season. all we have to do is get into the post-season and it all changes. I'm not delusional - just hopeful lol

[Sherry Cerny]

52 minutes ago, mikelink45 said:

Larnach alone cannot get any of these players.  The team has diminished Larnach's value by the way they have treated him. 

I could not agree more, which is why I said that we would have to send cash and a prospect - and I didn't say which prospect because the Mets have no standards - just money they like to throw around. 

[Sherry Cerny]

1 hour ago, CRF said:

Saw that the Mets and Padres are supposedly interested in Larnach. I'd have no interest in Pham. Maybe Raley, but it depends on the deal. I have no idea what the Pads might be offering. 

I don't think the Padres would give us anything that we can use now. Which, is fine. I don't know if we need anything right now. I'd love to see a post season run - but like I said to someone else, I don't know if it's going to be enough that anything would matter. 

[LA Vikes Fan]

I suspect that the FO has decided that this team isn't good enough to sacrifice prospects for short term vets. Maybe they move Larnach  but I'd be surprised to see a trade of any of our better prospects to get a vet to fill a hole like a RH hitting OF or a BP piece. They might have been on the fence until last weekend but now I doubt that short term moves are coming. This team will ride with what we have. By the way, I agree. with that thought except for one thing - please move/DFA Gallo so Wallner and/or Larnach have a place to play. 

[Brandon27]

Twins are not  trading Larnach 

[MGX]

The best move they can make is to trade/DFA vets who aren't producing to get them out of the way of younger players who are already out producing them. Why is Gallo still a Twin???

[whosafraidofluigirussolo]

2 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

Larnach alone cannot get any of these players.  The team has diminished Larnach's value by the way they have treated him. 

1 hour ago, Sherry Cerny said:

I could not agree more, which is why I said that we would have to send cash and a prospect - and I didn't say which prospect because the Mets have no standards - just money they like to throw around. 

I know the BTV trade simulator can show some real flaws—and particularly at the trade deadline, the higher value placed on proven MLB players relative younger/MiLB players' upside will deviate from the formula that puts an "absolute" trade value on each player. However, for what it's worth, the simulator values Larnach alone more than Raley and Pham together.

The Mets certainly have money to throw around, but I don't know what backs up the claim that they have "no standards." Certainly with their last big deal, they used their spending power to pay down Scherzer's contract with the precise purpose to get a particular prospect, or level of prospect, back. Even with the Lindor trade a couple years ago (leaving aside how the subsequent contract extension looks) they didn't touch their top prospects to make the deal.

[TNtwins85]

2 hours ago, LA VIkes Fan said:

I suspect that the FO has decided that this team isn't good enough to sacrifice prospects for short term vets. Maybe they move Larnach  but I'd be surprised to see a trade of any of our better prospects to get a vet to fill a hole like a RH hitting OF or a BP piece. They might have been on the fence until last weekend but now I doubt that short term moves are coming. This team will ride with what we have. By the way, I agree. with that thought except for one thing - please move/DFA Gallo so Wallner and/or Larnach have a place to play. 

Well, Wallner is gonna stay in place for now with the injury to Kiriloff. Also, he’s one of their best hitters at the moment. They are not moving any big name prospects. Falvey has said that they will make “baseball” moves. A LH relief pitcher and a RH bat. That’s what they need and all reports are that’s what they are shopping for. If they can get Raley and Pham for Larnach you make that trade. It helps the team. It doesn’t move the needle much but it helps tremendously short term while not sacrificing much long term.

[Fred]

4 hours ago, gman said:

I would send them Kepler ad Gallo instead.

They would have to want that. No chance.

[Fred]

3 hours ago, Brandon27 said:

Twins are not  trading Larnach 

What have you seen from Larnach that suggests he is anything more than a AAAA player? My brain screams Jake Cave when Larnach is brought up. Except Cave could occasionally hit a curveball.

[RpR]

5 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

Larnach alone cannot get any of these players.  The team has diminished Larnach's value by the way they have treated him. 

Disregarding his injury, no one does that to one's self, any diminished value is self-inflicted.

[Nashvilletwin]

No - do not trade Larnach for a couple of middle aged two month rentals. Why in the world would we even consider that?  Do we really think those two players are going to add that much to carrying us to the AL Central crown?  To an actual playoff game victory? Are they that much of difference makers on our incredibly average/mediocre team? Next year Larnach will turn into an above average everyday player (like Steer and CES) for the Mets and we will have nothing.

The only person hoping Larnach gets traded to the Mets is probably Larnach himself - get out of this Gallo/Kepler morass and find himself in situation where he gets a real chance to develop into a true major leaguer. 

[Beast]

It seems likely that Kepler and Gallo will be gone.  Alex K. is having a hard time staying healthy.  Wallner is no guarantee to succeed.  Seems like they’ll need a LH bat and someone that can play corner OF/DH next year.  He’s cheap.  Offers some upside.

It’s a coin flip right right now that this team makes the playoffs.  If they do, they’ll be fairly heavy underdogs against anybody they play.  The prospects of a deep playoff run aren’t looking good.  Without packaging a top guy, which they can’t do, the return in a Larnach trade wouldn’t change that.

I’m overly opposed to it.  I’m not overly high on Larnach.  I just don’t really see a reason to trade him for a marginal rental player. I can’t see them doing that.

[Doctor Wu]

16 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

Larnach alone cannot get any of these players.  The team has diminished Larnach's value by the way they have treated him. 

Very true, and I  can't imagine that he much if any trade value at this point. 

[Blyleven2011]

It's been a bad baseball season for Twins fans to follow the underperforming lineup ...

It could get worse unless the formula for winning changes ....

We barely have any leaders on the 26 man roster , we definitely don't have a manager and FO  that are leaders ...