Twins Arbitration Updates, Decisions, and Discussions (Larnach Tendered!)

[Sherry Cerny]

Image courtesy of © Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images

4:30 Update: We are still waiting on Twins news beyond the trade and the Topa contract. we will update this article as soon as we know more. 

4:35 Update: Trevor Larnach Tendered, per Darren Wolfson. 

4:53 Update: The Twins tendered a contract to all of their arbitration-eligible players. Also, DaShawn Keirsey was released, making him a free agent. 

Next Steps: On January 8, if the two sides haven't reached an agreement, they will submit their arbitration requests. Soon after, if an agreement is till not reached, the case will be heard with an arbitrator who will determine the player's 2026 contract. It will be either the player's request or the team's requested number. Often the sides just meet somewhere in the middle. 

Of note, tendering a contract to Trevor Larnach does not guarantee he will be with the Twins in 2026. The front office likely has had enough trade interest to indicate that he could be traded during the offseason. Teams would obviously much rather lose a player, especially a former first-round pick, for something rather than nothing.  

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Baseball's offseason can be long and winding, sometimes boring, and other times hectic. For instance, today (at 3pm central time) marks the deadline for teams to tender 2026 contracts to their arbitration-eligible players and pre-arbitration players. 

Check back to this article throughout the day to see if the Twins have reached agreements with their arbitration-eligible players or if they will need to exchange values.

Some of those decisions have already been made. The Twins DFAd three relievers, right-hander Michael Tonkin and lefties Genesis Cabrera and Anthony Misiewicz. They each became free agents. 

This morning, the Twins traded Saints utilityman Payton Eeles to the Orioles in exchange for catcher Alex Jackson. To make room on the 40-man roster, DaShawn Keirsey was DFAd. 

Jackson has played in parts of five big-league seasons and has just over three years of service time which makes him arbitration-eligible for the first time. 

Here are the eight arbitration-eligible Twins players with their MLB Trade Rumors 2026 salary projection: 

C Ryan Jeffers: $6.6 million (Arbitrary Thoughts) 
 

RHP Justin Topa: $1.7 million (Arbitrary Thoughts) 
The Twins had a $2 million team option for Topa that they declined. Adding the $225,000 buyout to his $1.225 million 2026 contract, Topa gets $1.45 million in an awkward total.  As for the 2026 contract, his salary will be $1 million with an option for $5 million in 2027 with a buyout at $225,000. 

RHP Bailey Ober: $4.6 million (Arbitrary Thoughts) 
 

RHP Joe Ryan: $5.8 million (Arbitrary Thoughts) 
 

OF Trevor Larnach: $4.7 million (Arbitrary Thoughts) 

3B Royce Lewis: $3.0 million (Arbitrary Thoughts)
 

RHP Cole Sands: $1.3 million (Arbitrary Thoughts) 
 

C Alex Jackson: $1.8 million

 

Again, continue to check back throughout the day for more updates and to discuss. 

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[DJL44]

I am seeing Spencer Steer mentioned as a possible non-tender by the Reds. I wonder if a Larnach for Steer trade is possible. The Reds are thin at LF/DH.

[ashbury]

7 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

I am seeing Spencer Steer mentioned as a possible non-tender by the Reds. I wonder if a Larnach for Steer trade is possible. The Reds are thin at LF/DH.

Both teams can just wait until the other cuts their guy, and sign him for cheaper.

[Blyleven2011]

It's after 3:00pm , where are the updates to discuss ....

Anyone know anything yet , I've been tuning into several areas and I see nothing  ...

Yes I'm anxious to know who's part of the team and who won't be , tendered , traded or DFA'd  ...

[Seth Stohs]

3 hours ago, ashbury said:

Both teams can just wait until the other cuts their guy, and sign him for cheaper.

I think Steer would make more. He missed some time with injury this year, but he is a Gold Glove finalist at first base... I actually think there's an interesting trade to be had there... Not that I'd expect it, but that could help both teams. Larnach would hit 30 homers in Cincinnati. 

[Seth Stohs]

30 minutes ago, Blyleven2011 said:

It's after 3:00pm , where are the updates to discuss ....

Anyone know anything yet , I've been tuning into several areas and I see nothing  ...

Yes I'm anxious to know who's part of the team and who won't be , tendered , traded or DFA'd  ...

This is my bad... I've seen multiple times for the deadline. I guess it was actually 4:00 central time. News is starting to trickle in around the league. Nothing more with the Twins yet. 

[mnfireman]

Larnach has been tendered a contract.... 

[Mike Sixel]

WTAF are they doing with Larnach? Sigh. This team. Sigh.

his BEST year he was below league median....and last year? Brutal. I just do NOT understand their lack of willingness to move on. Just awful for a team that is restricting its budget and filled with OF prospects. Just awful.

[thelanges5]

Bobby N:

The Twins tendered a contract to all their arbitration-eligible players, including Trevor Larnach. 

DaShawn Keirsey Jr. was released and is now a free agent.

[rdehring]

Considering they offered a contract to Larnach doesn't mean he will be with the team come March. 

The bigger issue to me is that they didn't remove anyone from their 40-man which means they will not be able to make a pick in the Rule 5.  That must mean of all the players eligible to be picked, they didn't believe any of them are better than all the players on their current roster.  Just because every once in awhile someone hits big on a player such as Santana or that guy with the White Sox last year, doesn't mean that caliber player is out there this year.  

Considering they would have drafted high this year, it is surprising to me.

[sweetmusicviola16]

With Larnach tendered where does that leave Roden, Gonzalez, Rodriguez? If he's not traded he will play. We know that much.

[Schmoeman5]

13 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

WTAF are they doing with Larnach? Sigh. This team. Sigh.

his BEST year he was below league median....and last year? Brutal. I just do NOT understand their lack of willingness to move on. Just awful for a team that is restricting its budget and filled with OF prospects. Just awful.

They did it just to tick you off

[sweetmusicviola16]

2 minutes ago, rdehring said:

Considering they offered a contract to Larnach doesn't mean he will be with the team come March. 

The bigger issue to me is that they didn't remove anyone from their 40-man which means they will not be able to make a pick in the Rule 5.  That must mean of all the players eligible to be picked, they didn't believe any of them are better than all the players on their current roster.  Just because every once in awhile someone hits big on a player such as Santana or that guy with the White Sox last year, doesn't mean that caliber player is out there this year.  

Considering they would have drafted high this year, it is surprising to me.

I didn't realize the 40 man was set. I feel that this is a mistake by them. The most you'd lose by getting a look at another prospect would have been 50k. I don't get it. You don't find a Santana if you don't look for him.

[DJL44]

3 minutes ago, rdehring said:

The bigger issue to me is that they didn't remove anyone from their 40-man which means they will not be able to make a pick in the Rule 5.  That must mean of all the players eligible to be picked, they didn't believe any of them are better than all the players on their current roster. 

They just added Orze as a bullpen arm and Jackson as a backup C. That lessens their demand for a Rule 5 pick. I still would have liked to see them add another reliever.

[thelanges5]

17 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

WTAF are they doing with Larnach? Sigh. This team. Sigh.

his BEST year he was below league median....and last year? Brutal. I just do NOT understand their lack of willingness to move on. Just awful for a team that is restricting its budget and filled with OF prospects. Just awful.

Maybe they haven’t found a trade partner yet. They can still trade him after they settle on a salary. 

[Mike Sixel]

3 minutes ago, sweetmusicviola16 said:

With Larnach tendered where does that leave Roden, Gonzalez, Rodriguez? If he's not traded he will play. We know that much.

This. We now know zero of the rookies will be up starting day w/o trades....because Roden and likely Outman are up, plus Buxton, Larnach (wtf), Wallner and Martin. I just do not understand this at all. He's not good. He's not free/cheap. He better part of a trade. 

Or, maybe they are just punting next year completely and won't even call up youth at all other than pitchers? 

[Mike Sixel]

1 minute ago, thelanges5 said:

Maybe they haven’t found a trade partner yet. They can still trade him after they settle on a salary. 

Why even take that chance? He's not worth much if anything. They couldn't deal him at the deadline....Who would give up value for a guy that has only been worth more than 1 war in 1 of 4 years and who costs more than five million?

[SD happy]

Hope Kiersey gets another chance with another team. Yes, hitting really sucked this year, but he did provide some value with his speed and defense. The thing I really admired about him was every single time the camera showed him in the dugout, he either had a big smile or was cheering his team on. You could just tell he was living the dream being in  the big leagues.

[tony&rodney]

The lineup and roster is nearly set: C) Jeffers, Jackson; 1B) Clemens, Julien; 2B) Keaschall; 3B) Lewis; SS) Lee; ut. if.) Kreidler; OF) Martin, Roden, Buxton, Outman, Wallner; SP) Lopez, Ryan, Ober, Woods Richardson, Bradley; RP) Sands, Topa, Orze, Funderburk, and four others from among the young fellas.

Falvey stated each of the last two years that he liked the team and they rolled it back. He has been positive and stated that he expects further development just recently.

It is what it is. Unless someone manages to get the ear of a Pohlad, this is likely it. Ironic that Joe Pohlad is our only hope.

[chpettit19]

8 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

This. We now know zero of the rookies will be up starting day w/o trades....because Roden and likely Outman are up, plus Buxton, Larnach (wtf), Wallner and Martin. I just do not understand this at all. He's not good. He's not free/cheap. He better part of a trade. 

Or, maybe they are just punting next year completely and won't even call up youth at all other than pitchers? 

They think they have the pieces to compete. Falvey hasn't been lying. He really is looking to build around the pieces they have because he thinks they can win. They aren't punting next year (on purpose), they're trying to compete next year. With Alex Jackson, Ed Julien, Kody Clemens, and Trevor Larnach.

[sweetmusicviola16]

2 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

They think they have the pieces to compete. Falvey hasn't been lying. He really is looking to build around the pieces they have because he thinks they can win. They aren't punting next year (on purpose), they're trying to compete next year. With Alex Jackson, Ed Julien, Kody Clemens, and Trevor Larnach.

But this team was playing at a .300 something clip after the AS break. It's not a good team. How can he think it can be????

[Mike Sixel]

6 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

They think they have the pieces to compete. Falvey hasn't been lying. He really is looking to build around the pieces they have because he thinks they can win. They aren't punting next year (on purpose), they're trying to compete next year. With Alex Jackson, Ed Julien, Kody Clemens, and Trevor Larnach.

If they want to win, playing Larnach is no way to do that.....he's never been good. 

[chpettit19]

2 minutes ago, sweetmusicviola16 said:

But this team was playing at a .300 something clip after the AS break. It's not a good team. How can he think it can be????

Same way he thought the last 2 teams were going to be good enough to compete without making real additions during the offseason. He's bad at self-scouting.

[chpettit19]

1 minute ago, Mike Sixel said:

If they want to win, playing Larnach is no way to do that.....he's never been good. 

I didn't say it was a smart belief for him to have...

[Mike Sixel]

6 minutes ago, sweetmusicviola16 said:

But this team was playing at a .300 something clip after the AS break. It's not a good team. How can he think it can be????

I mean, getting Lopez back is worth like 40 wins or something....

[sweetmusicviola16]

2 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

If they want to win, playing Larnach is no way to do that.....he's never been good. 

Is he going to be worse than Gonzalez? We never get to find out........ cuz he will play.

[rdehring]

Is it possible Falvey tendered Larnach just to p..... a lot of us off?

Considering keeping Larnach doesn't make sense to a lot of us, I have to believe Falvey believes there is a market for Larnach and he will be able to include him in a trade either over the winter or next summer.  He must believe that his top prospects, GG, EmRod and Jenkins will need a spot to play come summer.  That can only come by replacing at least one of Larnach and Wallner, likely both.  There is no other answer that makes any sense.  Is there?

 

[sweetmusicviola16]

22 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

The lineup and roster is nearly set: C) Jeffers, Jackson; 1B) Clemens, Julien; 2B) Keaschall; 3B) Lewis; SS) Lee; ut. if.) Kreidler; OF) Martin, Roden, Buxton, Outman, Wallner; SP) Lopez, Ryan, Ober, Woods Richardson, Bradley; RP) Sands, Topa, Orze, Funderburk, and four others from among the young fellas.

Falvey stated each of the last two years that he liked the team and they rolled it back. He has been positive and stated that he expects further development just recently.

It is what it is. Unless someone manages to get the ear of a Pohlad, this is likely it. Ironic that Joe Pohlad is our only hope.

You actually omitted the now tendered Larnach. Don't we carry 14 players or am I wrong? Regardless this is not a good team at all. Maybe Falvey is waiting for Buxton to ask out before he tears what's left apart.

[jorgenswest]

43 minutes ago, rdehring said:

The bigger issue to me is that they didn't remove anyone from their 40-man which means they will not be able to make a pick in the Rule 5.

Do they still have time to remove someone? I know they can’t remove anyone they just added to protect them from rule 5. Couldn’t they trade or DFA someone else prior to the draft?

[weitz41]

Good. None tendering Larnach is like hoping someone who hasn't produced yet will. The FO may be selling hope but I'll take a floor over hope on this team.