Twins Offseason Trade Watch: 5 Players Most Likely to Be Moved This Winter

[Cody Christie]

Image courtesy of © Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

 

The Dodgers are World Series champions once again, and for the Twins, the offseason has officially begun. As teams around the league prepare for free agency and the winter meetings, Minnesota finds itself in an uncomfortable but familiar position. Payroll is expected to dip, the roster is in transition, and the front office will have to balance short-term competitiveness with long-term sustainability.

That means trades are coming. The Twins already sold off several controllable pieces at the 2025 trade deadline, and more could follow this winter. Here are the five most likely Twins players to be traded as the club retools for the future.

5. Trevor Larnach, OF
Larnach was shopped at last year’s deadline, but he ultimately stayed put. Either the Twins didn’t receive an offer they liked, or other teams were hesitant to bet on his inconsistency. Now, as he enters arbitration with an estimated salary of $4.7 million, Minnesota faces a decision.

Larnach was worth $11.6 million in on-field value during 2024, but that number plummeted to $1.7 million in 2025, according to FanGraphs. The Twins could hold on and hope he rebounds, but that gamble might not align with a payroll-conscious front office. He has enough raw power and corner-outfield defense to attract interest, and if the Twins can find a team willing to take a chance, Larnach could finally be on the move.

4. Royce Lewis, 3B
Lewis was supposed to be the cornerstone of the next great Twins lineup. His electric rookie season in 2023 offered a glimpse of that potential. But the two seasons since have been a frustrating mix of injuries, inconsistency, and unfulfilled expectations. In 2025, he played a career-high 106 games but posted an 83 OPS+, a career low. 

Minnesota’s offense has been among the worst in the league the past two years, and Lewis has often symbolized that decline. His trade value has taken a hit, but sometimes a change of scenery benefits both player and team. Trading Lewis would be a bold move, signaling the front office's willingness to shake up the core. The Twins need offensive stability, and Lewis’s uncertainty may make him expendable in the right deal.

3. Ryan Jeffers, C
Jeffers has quietly become one of the more productive catchers in the American League (105 OPS+ since 2024), but the clock is ticking on his time in Minnesota. He’s entering his final year of team control, and with the Twins unlikely to extend him or contend in 2026, his trade value may never be higher than it is right now. However, the Twins have few options behind the plate if Jeffers is off the roster. 

Catcher trades at the deadline are always tricky. Learning a new pitching staff on the fly is no easy task, so if Minnesota intends to move Jeffers, this offseason is the logical time to do it. Teams looking for a veteran backstop with power and leadership could make compelling offers. The Twins would have to find other veteran options to take the reins with Jeffers out of the picture. 

2. Joe Ryan, RHP
Few players have had their names pop up in trade rumors more than Ryan. Reports swirled last July that he might be part of the Twins’ trade deadline sell-off, but he remained in Minneapolis. The situation feels unsustainable. Ryan is under team control through 2027 and will earn far less than his on-field value through arbitration, making him a cost-efficient asset for pitching-hungry contenders.

The Twins may be hesitant to move their All-Star starter, but that same logic could make him the centerpiece of a trade that replenishes their farm system. If he isn’t dealt this winter, expect his name to resurface again by the 2026 trade deadline.

1. Pablo López, RHP
This is the big one. López is owed $21.75 million in each of the next two seasons, which would be a bargain for most teams but may be too steep for the cost-conscious Twins. López has been the ace they hoped for when they traded Luis Arraez to get him, but the reality of Minnesota’s financial outlook could make him their most valuable trade chip.

If the Twins believe contention is unlikely in the next two years, trading López now would allow them to maximize his value and begin a deeper reset. Contenders across the league would line up for a playoff-caliber starter with swing-and-miss stuff. It would be a painful move, but one that might define this front office’s offseason strategy.

The Twins enter the winter with difficult choices and limited flexibility. Moving on from players like López, Ryan, or Lewis would not be easy, but staying the course might not be an option either. As the offseason unfolds, Minnesota will look to strike a balance between retooling and rebuilding, an act that could reshape the organization for years to come.

Do you agree with the rankings above? Who should the Twins trade this winter? Who will the Twins trade this winter? Leave a comment and start the discussion.

 

 

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