Matt Wallner or Travor Larnach?

[tony&rodney]

1 minute ago, Jeff K said:

They both need to buy first baseman's gloves and hope to impress elsewhere or in spring training.  

This was something brought up numerous times in past years and has been a request this year as well. Larnach played 1 game at 1B in the Cape Cod Summer League in 2017. Wallner has never played first base anywhere. There must have been a determination that neither could ever field a ground ball or scoop a one hop throw. I'm guessing all consideration of this move (to 1B) has been thought of, discussed, given a few looks in practice, and dismissed as an option. I get why folks want there to be options for using either/both Larnach and Wallner somewhere other than DH.

[hitterscount]

First time checking in on things in over a week and am greeted by another Wallner article. What a shocker. What's not to love... the .204 BA, 21 HR's versus 39 rbi's, the speed on the bases....I know we really like that strong arm that pairs with the bottom 15% in range covered. As well run as this organization is I say let's run Wallner and Larnach back at the corners versus going with the high upside of Jenkins. 

Why we are considering either one of them exemplifies how poorly run we are. I would go with Buxton, Jenkins and possibly Martin with Clemens as your platoon guy if we are sticking with internal options.  I have no faith in a trade that lands us a quality OF or a meaningful FA signing. It's been a stress-free month not watching this product.

[ashbury]

Are we really misspelling the first names of Twins players in the headlines for Twins Daily Front Page News stories now?

[Major League Ready]

It will be unfortunate if either one of them is playing a corner OF spot at the end of 2026.  If Jenkins does not take one of the spots, it will be extremely disappointing.  We really need one of Roden, Rodriguez, Gonzalez, Rosario or Fedko to take the other.  Austin Martin is also looking like he is in the mix. 

We are also going to be smack dab in the middle of a rebuild or major retooling.  A couple of the above-mentioned prospects need to step up if we are to become a contender.  Larnach and Wallner are just not good enough complete players, so the answer is neither.  The more nuanced answer is Wallner has 4 years left and Larnach 2.  There is no point in holding onto Larnach.  Trade him for a RP.  Walner could be held onto as a DH / 5th OFer.

[RpR]

1 hour ago, Major League Ready said:

 

We are also going to be smack dab in the middle of a rebuild or major retooling.  A couple of the above-mentioned prospects need to step up if we are to become a contender.  

No we are not.

[David Maro]

This FO and manager should not be any where near trades or a rebuild. You only have to see the mess they run out on the field. Everyday is a different lineup and fans watching bases loaded with no outs and no runs. 

Both Wallner and Larnach are DH talent only and because they are LH bats trade the one that gets the most in return.

[Major League Ready]

2 hours ago, RpR said:

No we are not.

If trading away Duran, Jax, Varland and Correa did not convince you I guess we will just need to wait until this winter and see what happens.  Let's revisit this in March.  Changing direction now would be exceptionally incompetent.

[tony&rodney]

1 hour ago, Major League Ready said:

If trading away Duran, Jax, Varland and Correa did not convince you I guess we will just need to wait until this winter and see what happens.  Let's revisit this in March.  Changing direction now would be exceptionally incompetent.

I will grant that it would be surprising. However I have to wonder if there is a direction. I hope so and one should infer the purge of the bullpen was the beginning with the next phase to be a half dozen transactions this winter. Then again, we have those statements about how the team has now acquired the MLB ready pieces the team needed or words to that effect. Does anyone on this site have a feel for a direction?

[dxpavelka]

On 9/13/2025 at 5:46 PM, TopGunn#22 said:

I like the idea for of Larnach for Jared Jones.  But Jones (before the injury) had a value that was MUCH higher than Larnach.  Not sure where the value is for Jones at this time or when he would be expected to return.  He never really had any kind of 2025 season.  Would the Pirates sell low on him to get a bat NOW?  I doubt it with a 200K potential SP.

Larnach will have some type of trade value to the right kind of team.  A team where a $5 million dollar, .750 OPS type of OF is a drop in the team budget bucket.

Wallner on the other hand hasn't tanked his value yet.  Last I looked, Wallner had a BBTV of 29.5.  Kyle Teel is at 24.8.  Edgar Quero 18.2.  Theoretically, the Twins could have either of those young catchers for Wallner in a straight up 1 for 1 trade.  Would the Twins be better with either of those young catchers at the cost of Wallner??  

I think they would.  The question is, would the White Sox be interested.  For the Power potential of Wallner, I think they would.  

A trade of Wallner for Teel or Quero would make the Twins better.  But one trade isn't what will "fix the Twins."  They need to make 2-3 more trades to even out the roster.  I think Twins fans should expect that one of Ryan, Lopez or Ober is traded.  It could be more than one of them, but I think you have to expect at least one.  

Trade for a catcher?  C'mon man.  Pereda and Gasper are the real deal..

 

[twinstalker]

On 9/13/2025 at 4:23 PM, TheLeviathan said:

Wallner feels like he still has upside.

Larnach does not.  I'm hoping Larnach is dealt for a reliever this offseason.

You wouldn't have to trade for the sort of reliever Larnach would bring.

[TopGunn#22]

I would have a better sense what our direction would be if the trade deadline had made more sense tony&rodney.  The Varland trade still confounds me in that they would have still had a Closer for the rest of 2025 and a potential Closer or certainly a set-up man for 2026.  Instead we added yet another LH hitting OF (Roden-who is now injured) and a LHP with some promise (Rojas-who is in the minors).

There just didn't seem a plan for that and it literally happened minutes before the deadline.  It was almost like Falvey had been tying one on at a bar and decided two more shots for the road was a great idea.  

I think there would be considerably more optimism if the team had been sold, the Pohlad's were gone, Falvey would be gone, as well as Rocco and his staff, immediately upon the end of the season.  But with the same people in charge it's hard to have a feeling of anticipation of better things ahead. 

I've complained for years here on TD that I never thought Falvey and Levine actually had an off season plan other than nibbling at leftover table scraps after the best talent had been signed or traded for.  The only deals I actually liked were getting Nelson Cruz, trading Nellie when it was clear he was done (and getting Ryan) and trading Petty for Sonny Gray.  

I guess I still think they can acquire a young, talented catcher.  A closer on the downside that could bounce back like Helsley, Doval or Yates, a 1B like Naylor or Yandy Diaz and a solid major league OF like (but not necessarily) Jaren Duran if they trade Ryan.

And if those fantasies come true, the young pitchers like Zebby, Bradley, Abel and Festa have to be healthy and pitching well, not to mention having prime Lopez and Ober.  That's a tall order of "Hopeium" but I'd rather stay positive than be negative.  

[Riverbrian]

How deep this rebuild is going to go this off-season. I don't know.

They could keep the starting rotation arms and build around it. 

They could trade starting pitchers and bring in names we are not talking about right now. 

And of course everything in between including the opportunistic didn't expect player X to be available adjustment to the direction. 

It's hard to advocate one way or another but I will say this. 

I generally struggle with the eagerness to throw away good in search of perfection. 

I also generally struggle with any logic that seems wrapped in the concept of "He Sucks so we should trade him... if they suck... who you gonna trade them to. 

On the opposite of that logic... there is the logic that if other teams are willing to give up real talent for a young player... wouldn't that young player also have value to us. 

Right now... I'm just going to say... these are two players who are above average hitters and we have a lot of players who are below average hitters. 

I'd keep them. 

 

[Major League Ready]

9 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

I will grant that it would be surprising. However I have to wonder if there is a direction. I hope so and one should infer the purge of the bullpen was the beginning with the next phase to be a half dozen transactions this winter. Then again, we have those statements about how the team has now acquired the MLB ready pieces the team needed or words to that effect. Does anyone on this site have a feel for a direction?

Think for a moment how many positions are question marks or need and upgrade.  Both corner OF spots.  1B has nobody and they have given some OF prospects reps at 1B.  Keaschall has solidified a spot on the roster but I am not sure it's 2B.  3B is Lewis for now but he is also questionable.  Catcher has no depth and Jeffers is gone after 2026.  Lee is not an everyday SS.  The BP has nobody.  They literally need 4-5  RPs with a couple of them being back of the BP types.  That's a team that needs to be rebuilt.

They understand that fans hate the idea of a rebuild.  I interpret the statements about major league ready assets as posturing.  They can point to all the soon to be here prospects and make a reasonable case to the fan base that the rebuild period will be considerably shorter than normal. 

I would that from a buyer's perspective, they knew the core was just not there and tearing it down prior to a sale is far more appealing to a buyer than doing it soon after buying the team.

[tony&rodney]

19 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

They understand that fans hate the idea of a rebuild.  I interpret the statements about major league ready assets as posturing.  They can point to all the soon to be here prospects and make a reasonable case to the fan base that the rebuild period will be considerably shorter than normal. 

I would that from a buyer's perspective, they knew the core was just not there and tearing it down prior to a sale is far more appealing to a buyer than doing it soon after buying the team.

I think you are right on here. My frustration is  from the rancid taste left over from the past two years of rolling back a very flawed roster. No doubt, really, in my view that the Twins faced challenges of completing other deals at the deadline because numerous clubs still envisioned chasing a playoff position and felt the need to hold on specific players. The coming offseason should bring internal assessments across baseball. Hopefully the transactions made bring a different style of baseball, one that includes a vastly improved group of defenders which will be the best move for the pitching staff. In any event, it should be an interesting winter.

[Riverbrian]

29 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

Think for a moment how many positions are question marks or need and upgrade.  Both corner OF spots.  1B has nobody and they have given some OF prospects reps at 1B.  Keaschall has solidified a spot on the roster but I am not sure it's 2B.  3B is Lewis for now but he is also questionable.  Catcher has no depth and Jeffers is gone after 2026.  Lee is not an everyday SS.  The BP has nobody.  They literally need 4-5  RPs with a couple of them being back of the BP types.  That's a team that needs to be rebuilt.

They understand that fans hate the idea of a rebuild.  I interpret the statements about major league ready assets as posturing.  They can point to all the soon to be here prospects and make a reasonable case to the fan base that the rebuild period will be considerably shorter than normal. 

I would that from a buyer's perspective, they knew the core was just not there and tearing it down prior to a sale is far more appealing to a buyer than doing it soon after buying the team.

I won't argue with you on the direction forward because I honestly haven't made up my mind yet... but I'll give you credit for being a lot more confident in the direction you feel is the correct one and I can see solid reasoning for it. 

I still toy with the idea of keeping Ryan, Lopez and building around that. If I'm reading you correctly... you are trading Ryan and Lopez and if you are going to deepen this thing. Ryan and Lopez will probably return the most talent. Starting pitching is where we have actual depth. On the other hand... it's the one place where all that depth will also all be necessary because you need 9 or 10 starters to get through a typical season... so I have a natural reluctance to move any of it. 

If they trade Ryan and Lopez or one or the other... that could change my current thoughts on Larnach. Probably not Wallner though since he has another year of pre-arb.  

If they keep Ryan and Lopez and try to build around that starting staff. I'll be pretty tough to convert on either player. I'll probably fall back on my often repeated mantra. Utilize all 13 roster spots... don't focus on 9 spots wasting the other 4 spots. Open competition... provide opportunity. Don't use the word backup, limit pre-determination to who gets a 26 man spot but don't use pre-determination to anyone that you give a 26 man spot to. 13 spots as opposed to 9... in my mind... is also a quicker way back.  

[Trov]

I would agree that Wallner has more value between him and Larnach, but neither will have much value in my opinion. Waller has the 'if he only could' thought. If he only could not get overpowered by high fastballs, or if he only could not look lost against lefties, which this year he actually has, but he has been worse generally against righties. 

I could see them looking to trade Wallner and have him get on some hot streaks and reading all the comments on here about how terrible it was to let him go, see Spencer Steer and CES comments from past.  However, I think at this point Wallner will not develop more than he has, he is 27 now, will be 28 all of next season.  This means he is already on the wrong side of the prime years.  Yes, someone who has his power can have a longer career, but he has shown that he is like Plouffe.  He can hit HR when they do not really matter, when pitchers are not really trying to get him out.  Put guys on base and the pitcher is more dialed in to get him out and he fails.  However, when you have back end pen guys, or position players throwing to him he crushes like it is a slow pitch softball game. 

Personally, I think it is time to move on from both guys, let Jenkins, E-Rod, Gonzales and others get their shots. 

[Major League Ready]

5 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

I won't argue with you on the direction forward because I honestly haven't made up my mind yet... but I'll give you credit for being a lot more confident in the direction you feel is the correct one and I can see solid reasoning for it. 

I still toy with the idea of keeping Ryan, Lopez and building around that. If I'm reading you correctly... you are trading Ryan and Lopez and if you are going to deepen this thing. Ryan and Lopez will probably return the most talent. Starting pitching is where we have actual depth. On the other hand... it's the one place where all that depth will also all be necessary because you need 9 or 10 starters to get through a typical season... so I have a natural reluctance to move any of it. 

If they trade Ryan and Lopez or one or the other... that could change my current thoughts on Larnach. Probably not Wallner though since he has another year of pre-arb.  

If they keep Ryan and Lopez and try to build around that starting staff. I'll be pretty tough to convert on either player. I'll probably fall back on my often repeated mantra. Utilize all 13 roster spots... don't focus on 9 spots wasting the other 4 spots. Open competition... provide opportunity. Don't use the word backup, limit pre-determination to who gets a 26 man spot but don't use pre-determination to anyone that you give a 26 man spot to. 13 spots as opposed to 9... in my mind... is also a quicker way back.  

For me there are a number of reasons when taken collectively say reboot.  The catalyst is I just don't think they have a chance in 2026 to completely rebuild the BP and fix the position players enough to have a reasonable shot at a playoff spot much less legitimately contend.  I also expect a significantly shortened season in 2027.   Given these realities for 2026-27 and the point you made about Ryan and Lopez returning the most talent, I think they move both unless the return is not compelling for some reason.

Keeping Ryan/Lopez/Ober also means losing 3 primary SPs at the end of 2027.  If they are successful transitioning Keschall / Jenkins and a couple of Gonzalez / Rodriguez / Rosario / Fedko and Culpepper, now they have a core of position players and 3 new spots to fill in the rotation.  Some SP prospects are not going to get a shot at the big league level with this approach and they have created a problem.  I guess they could move Ober but I think they want to audition as many SPS as possible, build a rotation and add to the BP with 2 or 3 guys that don't make the rotation.  They need the roster spots for this portion of the rebuild.  

This rebuild approach is very complimentary to the point you have been making about prearb players.  

[Riverbrian]

1 hour ago, Major League Ready said:

For me there are a number of reasons when taken collectively say reboot.  The catalyst is I just don't think they have a chance in 2026 to completely rebuild the BP and fix the position players enough to have a reasonable shot at a playoff spot much less legitimately contend.  I also expect a significantly shortened season in 2027.   Given these realities for 2026-27 and the point you made about Ryan and Lopez returning the most talent, I think they move both unless the return is not compelling for some reason.an entire rotation

Keeping Ryan/Lopez/Ober also means losing 3 primary SPs at the end of 2027.  If they are successful transitioning Keschall / Jenkins and a couple of Gonzalez / Rodriguez / Rosario / Fedko and Culpepper, now they have a core of position players and 3 new spots to fill in the rotation.  Some SP prospects are not going to get a shot at the big league level with this approach and they have created a problem.  I guess they could move Ober but I think they want to audition as many SPS as possible, build a rotation and add to the BP with 2 or 3 guys that don't make the rotation.  They need the roster spots for this portion of the rebuild.  

This rebuild approach is very complimentary to the point you have been making about prearb players.  

The CBA negotiation and the possibility of a work stoppage is a wild card that should absolutely be a very important consideration but I don't know how you consider it because right now... it's just going to be tough talk and posturing leading up to getting into a room together. 

Right now...If you plan for it and a work stoppage doesn't happen... that's a problem. If you don't plan for it and it happens... that is also a problem. It's a wild card that keeps me torn on the direction to go.  

I tend to think business as usual because a work stoppage should be something neither party is interested in and I hope that both sides realize that and can therefore avoid it. 

There is no doubt that I'm pre-arb focused in order to have a budget to work with and eventually extend players that should be extended or play in the bigger money areas of free agency.

We have a lot of pre-arb players on the roster now and we have (in theory) budget to work with and that's a good starting point. 

If they keep the starting staff... there is a chance that this rebuild can happen quicker than most think it can. 

Yes the bullpen is going to require a lot of attention, a lot of trial and error but bullpens can be built using a variety of sources from converting starters to finding Brock Stewart types. 

On the position player side.

At Catcher... I think they should sleep in the bed they made and not over pay chasing catchers. If they end up punting the position... they punt the position. Just make sure they can play defense. If they have the players to pay the price for a young catcher MLB ready with potential. They should take those same players and pay for someone who will play more games at 1st base or SS. More bang for the buck. If it's Jeffers and Pereda next year with Gasper in AAA or vice versa... That's what it is. Just ride it out until they can develop a catcher or two or three that gets people excited. 

I'm ok with the following next season in the outfield. Buxton, Larnach, Wallner, Martin, Outman. Outman I assume is on the roster because they traded for him despite running out of options. They will need another year at least to see if they can get him to display the potential they traded for. But... I want to be clear.... Only Buxton has earned every day playing time and even he will need a rest day. I want the other 4 competing so use the DH position and give them the opportunity to become what they believe they can become. 

On the infield... it's a little more concerning. Only Keaschall is earning every day playing time at the moment but he is still a small sample size. Lewis should play every day but a year long slump should temper that temptation a bit so he can give up some playing time and same with Lee... but we got to find out what Lee can do and we got to keep trying to get Lewis unlocked. I think Clemens has earned an arbitration offer and his flexibility will be useful so I'm Ok with those 4 breaking camp with the club but... once again... same as the outfield. Only Keaschall is earning every day playing time at the moment. The rest... I want to get the opportunity to compete for playing time. Lewis, Lee and Clemens haven't earned every day playing but they have earned the right to get playing time and compete. 

Jenkins, GG, Erod, Culpepper, Fedko... there will be injuries and that is when you call up the most ready of the group and when they get the call. You play them... you give them an honest to god chance to compete but I wouldn't prematurely move a player that you have invested in like Wallner to clear a path for an immediate move from those waiting on debuts. They will get their chance. Injuries will make sure that they do.  

That's 11 out of 13 spots... That leaves 1B and SS and those are the positions where I scratch my head.  

SS... Not saying Lee should be taken off SS but I am saying that we need to hedge our bet at the same time. I'd like to see a decent young SS brought in to compete with Lee so Lee can also compete with Lewis, Clemens and even Keaschall. Nobody on the farm looks ready to take the jump for opening day 2026 so they may have to try to find someone outside of the system.  

1B... Do you give Sabato a chance out of spring training? He will have to be placed on the 40. Or do you keep trying to get Julien to display the potential he showed two years ago. Or do you just go get the best young 1B you can find outside the system?    

And that brings me back to trying to find the best young 1B and young SS from outside the system. To get those type of players... You'll probably have to trade Ryan to get the quality. 

If you trade Ryan... Well now you have weakened the one thing that looks pretty good next year and I'm torn between both paths.     

It all starts with the 40 man roster decisions this off-season but... I'm pretty adamant on one thing. You have 13 roster spots to work with in this incubator. Use all 13... Don't use only 9 because some of those 9 eggs are just not going to work out and the front office or any of us can say with certainly which eggs will or won't develop. The only thing that is gaurenteed is that a player won't develop if you waste one of the 13 spots and don't provide the chance to compete.

13 egg slots compared to 9 increases your odds and hastens the getting competitive part so please don't let predetermination stand in the way. 

As for as the money available to spend. I'd rather they wait until we start seeing something out of the younger players. If this comes together quicker... then the trade deadline can come into play... money can be spent to shore up areas. 

Also... one last thing. Never feel like a player is not worth it unless they can give you 6 years with the organization. If you get a year or two out of a young player... that's a year or two and it has value. I'm also don't advise letting age get in the way. Nathan Lukes is 31 and Ernie Clement is 29 and they are both playing key roles with the Blue Jays right now. Don't wory about what Lukes will be at age 37 when he reaches free agency.  

The bullpen... Uff Da. It can be done... but yeah right now... Uff Da. 

[jorgenswest]

Slash stats need such a large sample that I appreciate the statcast expected stats that are based on quality of contact. I think they are a better predictor of future success for those with a small sample in their career.

The Twins top four in xwOBA

.388 Martin

.369 Buxton

.347 Clemens

.344 Keaschall

Clemens ranks 16th in MLB among those that play 1B with over 300 PAs. He is at least an average defender.

Only Alvarez has a better xwOBA than Martin in LF. Martin has a positive DRS and OAA in LF.

I don’t think they have a better option other than to build around these four players. Three will be very inexpensive.

I also think they need to bet on other inexpensive players in Wallner, Lewis and Lee. Betting on inexperienced players to take a step forward was crucial in the 26 win improvement from 2016 to 2017. They may lose the bet but it is time to bet on the player’s in the system.

[Hubie29]

On 9/14/2025 at 8:46 AM, TNtwins85 said:

His arm doesn’t make up for his terrible routes and jumps in RF. We’ve got 2 guys in St. Paul who are superior to him in RF right now. Give him a 1B mitt. As it stands right now as much as John Bonnes brings up Kody Clemens and Gleeman poo poos him and constantly points out how Wallner has the better OPS Clemens and Wall er are essentially the same player. I don’t know the numbers but Clemens seems to come up clutch more times than not compared to Wallner. Make whatever meaning you want from that but I’m over the Wallner experiment. If his arm is so good then put him in the bullpen at this point. Maybe he brings more value there.

Love this!

[Hubie29]

Wallner is a perfect example of why you can't base a player's value on just OPS.  He does so many things badly that he is more of a liability in the line up than a positive. Can't move runners, can't hit in the clutch, suspect defense, way too many K's, an average that is embarrassing. It is time to move on and get anything for him. He is not a piece of a winning team.

[RpR]

25 minutes ago, Hubie29 said:

Wallner is a perfect example of why you can't base a player's value on just OPS.  He does so many things badly that he is more of a liability in the line up than a positive. Can't move runners, can't hit in the clutch, suspect defense, way too many K's, an average that is embarrassing. It is time to move on and get anything for him. He is not a piece of a winning team.

The worst thing is he was never a good fielder but he is now getting worse, while he rarely gets hit by a pitch to at least get on base now also.

[Jeff K]

On 9/14/2025 at 11:33 AM, tony&rodney said:

This was something brought up numerous times in past years and has been a request this year as well. Larnach played 1 game at 1B in the Cape Cod Summer League in 2017. Wallner has never played first base anywhere. There must have been a determination that neither could ever field a ground ball or scoop a one hop throw. I'm guessing all consideration of this move (to 1B) has been thought of, discussed, given a few looks in practice, and dismissed as an option. I get why folks want there to be options for using either/both Larnach and Wallner somewhere other than DH.

That's pretty logical.  My problem with both is they should only play outfield in an emergency.  Having a full time dh works best with a Nelson Cruz type hitter and neither have demonstrated that hitting prowess.

[Jacksson]

The approach by the FO for this offseason is to HAVE A PLAN and EXECUTE IT !!

The FO needs to identify the current roster for players that are expendable.  Instead of taking what trading partners are willing to offer; IDENTIFY players that will be a fit for the organization based on need and overall goals for player types and seek out opportunities that will yield that specific talent in return.  Each player who is a member of the organization  should have a timeline indicating when (and if) they will be ready for the MLB team.  Most importantly, player projections need to be accurately and realistically put together at the middle minor league levels early enough that the resources of the upper minors and the major league levels are not wasted on players who do not "fit".  In this way the organization isn't saddled with players at the MLB level who realistically shouldn't even be there - at least for this organization.  SO: Identify the HOLES, Review every organization for who may be available, be open to 3 team trades, have an offseason plan for every current player to improve their  areas of weakness.