The Twins Need To Stop Spending On (and Retaining) Left-Handed Corner Outfielders

[DocBauer]

My response is both YES and NO to the OP. They need GOOD LH OF, and they have some pretty interesting ones on hand, and two that should be removed.

The recent TWINS OFF DAY podcast put together a very interesting $110M forecast for 2026 that included Larnach being moved...with an additional asset or two...to the Phillies to bring in young pen arm Orion Kerkering who many not exactly be welcome back in Philadelphia after a major error that may have ended their season. Unless I missed it somewhere, I don't recall them ever stating what the other piece(s) in the deal were. But that's the kind of thinking the FO should be looking at. Larnach is NOT  bad player. But he only sets a floor for the Twins at this point, and might be more valuable for another team.

Outman ONLY makes sense if both Rodriguez and Jenkins begin 2026 in AAA. He could be a temporary 4-5th OF until promotions take place. I'm on record as saying I'd give RF to Rodriguez for opening day if he has a decent, healthy ST, and just live with some growing pains. If they need to send him down at some point. I'd rather do that in June instead of July or August. And Outman should ONLY be a temporary player at best.

So that kind of eliminates 2 of the proposed "glut".

I think it's a mistake to be down on Roden after a very brief rookie debut that was cut short by injury. He's solid defensively at the corners, has experience at 1B and shouldn't be dismissed there, and can cover CF on occasion. Offensively he profiles as a decent hitter with some power and has decent speed. Very doubtful he has STAR potential, but he could be a really useful player. Maybe a LH version of old favorite Lew Ford? 

Mendez moving to 1B is the kind of imaginative thinking I've been begging the FO to consider. He's average at best in the OF but has an interesting bat? Then put him at 1B and see if you've got something there! Although they are RH, do the same thing with Gonzalez and Rosario. 

I am fully on board for the Twins added a FA 1B for 2026. There simply aren't any obvious, internal choices at the moment. My choice would be Nathaniel Lowe. I don't care that he bats LH. 75% of the league throws RH, and he has solid career splits against LHP. He's not a STUD, but he's a really solid player. Only 30yo, I'd be willing for a 2yr deal to just settle 1B for the short term. He easily fits in to a payroll of $110M. But quit "shoving" the likes of Arraez and the such at 1B and just tell them to do the best they can. Start being imaginative at the MILB level.

Regarding Clemens, please stop telling us what a great "value" he was. He did a solid job. He's not bad as a LH power hitter who can play 4 spots, and maybe 5 if he can be a competent, emergency 3B, which he's played in the minors. But he should NEVER be considered as a potential starter anywhere. He's a decent, solid bench option that you hope to replace a year from now. Period. 

Regarding the whole Red Sox/Ryan rumors and scenarios. I absolutely, positively don't want to move Ryan. (Or Lopez). But I'm not going to go on another rant about my feelings on the potential of the team with a few smart moves, etc, etc. IF such a trade were made, there's nothing wrong with adding a quality, experienced LH OF. At least in theory. But is that really the smart play when you have TWO top 50 prospects who have tremendous talent...not proven yet, granted...who you haven't even debuted yet? I'm all about adding talent in any proposed trade. But why not actually SEE if the TOP prospects you've been nurturing, and are very close, and could have multiple years of control ahead of them, are what they might actually be before you add another option? 

Outman should be gone soon, if not immediately. But if Rodriguez and Jenkins are held back for a while, I guess he might have a temporary bench role.

Larnach should be moved. Be smart. Be creative. Add a prospect or two, and add someone who can help the club. Maybe the previously mentioned move to the Phillies for Kerking isn't really so crazy.

Wallner should be the primary DH sooner rather than later. He could really excel in that area, and still be a competent backup corner OF here and there.

Roden has a chance to be a solid, versatile, and fairly productive role player.

Clemens should be a role player, NOT a starting player.

Mendez should be playing a lot of 1B going forward. 

Too many LH OF? YES and NO.  Move one, get rid of another ASAP, move one to 1B, and see what you have with the other 3.

 

[ashbury]

The front office's philosophy with roster assembly where it comes to LH corner outfield seems to be: “There must be a pony in this pile somewhere!”

[saviking]

22 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

Well said Cody, but I'm afraid you put in an extraordinary amount of extra work. I'm sorry to say it, but you already had achieved unanimous fan agreement simply by typing the headline.

Amen!!! Lol Guess that rules out Carson Benge in any deal with the Mets.