How Alan Roden Can Make Twins Fans Accept the Louis Varland Trade

[miller761]

Roden has to stick with the big league club. Pass or fail. I can name 3 outfielders who will need to play everyday in St. Paul. It is those 3's turn this year and next year. If guys like Outman and Roden aren't producing it is time to send them packing so they aren't blocking the way.

[Over The Hill Again]

6 hours ago, Mahoning said:

What possible point could there be in keeping him at AAA? To hold onto James Outman? If the Twins need Outman they're utterly lost. Nobody else in baseball wants him.

Agree. Remind me - Why is Outman on this roster? 

[Wizard11]

It was still a bad trade IMO as was the Outman trade.  The one thing Roden has going for him is he is not James Outman.  Zoll can dump Outman as he is perceived as Falvey’s error.

[IndianaTwin]

10 hours ago, Fatbat said:

At this point, does it matter who performs well in the outfield?  Give the fans someone who is above average and everything. If it’s Roden, we should be his biggest fans. If he crashes and burns, we get to curse Falvey. It’s a win/win. 

I assure you that Roden's success or lack thereof will not stop the cursing of Falvey. 

[theBOMisthebomb]

The Varland trade was simply bad optics. This hometown fan will never accept and/or be reasonable about it. It was a bad trade, pure and simple. I will die on that hill. 

Maybe... maybe if Roden and Rojas become key players in a championship would I back down. Sometimes the human element has to be top priority and the Twins should have kept Varland. 

[DarrenPS]

I'd love to seem them give Roden a chance. Larnach should still be traded before the season starts which opens that avenue. If you don't trade him, Roden should play over Outman we all know it

To those comparing him to DaShawn Keirsey, my response would be Roden has been better at every minor league level. Keirsey would have him on speed and fielding and that's it

Make the outfield Buxton, Wallner, Martin, Roden and you're already more athletic which is what they've been preaching, then you got Gabby, ERod & Jenkins ready to come up when injuries occur

[DocBauer]

For me, this OP addresses 2 primary items: 1] Roden himself. 2] Poor roster construction. 

Let's stick with the more positive #1 item first. While not a TOP prospect, Roden was a high #3 draft choice for a reason. He's demonstrated in his MILB career to be a quality hitter with discipline, contact, and a high OB% as a result. He's got some legitimate POP, even if he doesn't have more than double digit HR power. He's also got decent speed, and has been successful at SB at an 87% clip in MILB. Based on various reports...and some general belief from the Twins...he's a capable CF to give Buxton days off here and there. And he can reportedly play both corners quite well.

Thus, why is Outman still on the roster instead of even a marginal veteran FA RP that might ACTUALLY help the bullpen depth.

Ultimately, Roden is PROBABLY a solid 4th OF who also has 1B experience, who should have a solid ML career based on talent level and defensive flexibility. He SHOULD be the starting LF to begin 2026 unless he just has a lousy ST. The Twins NEED more speed, athleticism, and better defense. Well, Roden does that in LF, while also covering CF/RF to give Buxton and Wallner days, or half days off.

I just don't buy in any theory a rookie only having 136ML AB and struggling as a warning sign. I believe service time will remove "rookie status" from Roden, but come on the kid will basically still be a rookie in '26.

POTENTIALLY,  he works with Keaschall as a pair of solid hitters, OB, contact hitters with POP and some speed at the top of the order. OR...depending how Shelton wants to construct his lineup...he's a potential bottom of the order "flip" producer in the lineup.

And Martin IS part of this discussion. A solid Roden should be playing about 75% of the time between LF, and covering CF/RF. There's still plenty of room for Martin to play LF...and can be the #3 CF and #3 2B potentially...when Roden gets a day off, or plays CF/RF. And while he doesn't have as much pop as Roden, he's a similar hitter in many respects. And he fits the same role as a contributor either at the top, or bottom, of the lineup, depending how Shelton builds it daily. But LF suddenly provides defense, athleticism, and speed. Aren't we looking for that?

Once again, why is Outman even still on the roster? If Buxton has an injury that keeps him out for a couple of weeks instead of just needing a day off, what do you do? Well, 2 of your TOP prospects sitting at AAA are CF options waiting for opportunity. And 1 is already on the 40 man roster!

Once again, why is Outman even still around? Because a poor ML player, except for 1 year, is better than playing a 26yo with potential? I'm hopeful no ghost of Falvey ego will prevent Zole from just letting Outman pass through waivers and MAYBE signing up with St Paul, even though I don't know he has much potential there considering younger, better talent on hand. 

For a team looking for defense, speed, and athleticism, the Twins would be borderline stupid if they didn't go the younger, more potential route. Unless, of course, Roden just had a really poor ST.

But I just can't escape POOR position player construction! Even IF the Twins are holding on to Outman as a "just in case someone is injured or just has a lousy ST", where does Larnach POSSIBLY fit in?

He's the primary LF? What happened to more speed and athleticism to make the team BETTER? And ONCE AGAIN, how does Outman even figure in at that point? Do you keep Martin...or maybe Outman as ANOTHER LH OF...and just punt on Martin...and put Roden back at AAA to play with Rodriguez, Jenkins, Gonzalez, and Fedko and Rosario? What the hell is the point?

Being the primary DH and someone else playing LF daily you still have the same issue. Martin or Roden plays LF while Larnach is the primary DH and you again punt on Martin or Roden as options, much less the dead albatross that is Outman to have a 4th OF.

It's comical how poor the current player roster construction is!

Let Martin and Roden not only prove themselves in ST, but don't be afraid to run with younger, more athletic talent. ESPECIALLY considering you have THREE TOP 10 talents in the OF sitting at AAA with a solid top 20-25 options like Rosario and Olivar ready to join in, plus a potential wild card like Fedko as a kid who just might be a late blooming 4th OF type.

And that leads me to the #2 point that I am as tired about posting as you are reading what I have to say. (Sigh).

Position player wise, you couldn't ask for a better outcome than has been presented to TOM, and Zole.

MOVE Larnach for whatever you can get. SOMEONE must need a fairly cheap $4.5M LH DH part time OF for a prospect of semi decent quality, or package him with a solid 20-25 prospect for a BP arm, a solid AAA utility player...I'd love the next possible Castro or Newman, or Punto be brought back at this point. But for a cheap 2026 Twins payroll, I just want Larnach moved for WHATEVER...even though I think he's a pretty solid player...and just free up $ even if he doesn't bring back an immediate return.  Why? Because it might not be too late to help fix the position roster!!

Honestly, Roden and Martin SHOULD hold down the LF portion of the roster/lineup not only for potential, and the prospects set to arrive, but also because WHY IN THE HELL WOULDN'T YOU BE TRYING TO HAVE THE BEST PLAYER ROSTER YOU CAN?

OOPS. Did I do that? It's NOT yet too late for Tom to allow Zole to FIX the player roster at least.

Again, the FA market has fallen in the Twins favor in regards to position players. I will GLADLY admit to eating crow if the Twins dump Larnach and spend a lousy $2-3M more for a solid, rebounding, 30yo Lowe at 1B. But suddenly the lineup starts to actually makes sense. 

Lowe is a solid 1B who is decent bat with neutral splits and has proven every day availability. He's coming off a poor season that makes him cheap, but has a solid career at only 30yo. 

Now Bell gets to DH every day. And ONLY being a DH, his WAR...for those counting...might be 2-3 ONLY being a DH. And we have a career 12.2 WAR 1B has been in conversation for a GG here and there.

And suddenly Clemens is what he is supposed to be. A decent, 5 position player who brings some power value from the LH side, without being stretched as a starter anywhere. 

It ALSO allows freedom for him to be the 5th OF.

So Roden and Martin claim LF with the ability for Roden to be a sort of every day 4th OF. And we move Larnach for whatever we can get and no prospects are blocked. 

And the FO, with Larnach moved only needs a couple $M to add an ACTUAL ML 1B. How does all of this make so much sense? 

 

[Gamblerssoftball]

DocBauer, your points are valid. The front office would be wise to follow through. In other words, what in the world is taking so long ? I don't get it. 

[TopGunn#22]

I think Doc Bauer makes many solid points about roster construction, which points to Falvey and whatever his "plan" for roster construction was.  There is no way the Twins should have Larnach and Outman on their roster.  Couple that with having Wallner AND Josh Bell and it gets even harder to find ANY logic in how the process of our 2026 roster construction, or the dismantling of our once elite BP factored into "The Plan."

We've just seen a rather exhaustive analysis showing the Twins lack of having a truly Major League SS.  Bringing Orlando Arcia or Gio Urshela is not the answer.  Not admitting that Brooks Lee needs to be a 3B or 2B or Utility IF,  and is no solution to the Black Hole at SS is disappointing.    

Larnach and something else should be offered to the D-Backs for Jordan Lawlar.  Word is, the D-Backs are considering Lawlar in the OF for 2026 because they are set with an IF of Blaze Alexander at 3B, Perdomo at SS and Ketel Marte at 2B.  Lourdes Gurriel is out to begin the season, and Jake McCarthy, while speedy as a LF has no pop.  At least Lawlar, at 23 years old is still believed to have what it takes to be a SS.

We've seen how atrocious the Twins OF defense is with Larnach and Wallner in the corners.  Roden is a MUCH better OF than Larnach, but Roden needs to prove he can at least be somewhat equivalent to Larnach at the plate.  There is at least a consistent level of mediocrity with Larnach as a hitter.  Roden hasn't shown he can be close to that in the minors.  

There are a handful of guys who realistically could still be traded by the Twins either before spring training or during it.  These are guys who "could" be traded and some who "should" be traded.  Ryan, Larnach, Jeffers, Ober, Lopez, Wallner, and even Brooks Lee if the Twins are serious about trading for someone who could play SS at a Major League level right now.  I have to think the Twins are not done making moves.  But when I see them sign Gio Urshela, I wonder...what IS the PLAN ??? 

 

[JADBP]

I am pretty sure that Tom Pohlad has said "Shelton....we have all these supposed great players many who we drafted in the first round, on this team...so its up to you to turn this thing around with these players. Get to work!"

Meaning that at least Tom believes that there are several players on the team now with excellent potential.  I have to agree.  Lewis, Lee, Keaschall, Martin, Larnach and Wallner--we always talk about their great potential.  And the next wave, Jenkins, Emma, Gabby, and Mendez, to go along with a ton of pitchers--Prielipp, Raya, Morris, Festa, Zebby, and Rojas.  Can Shelton and his coaches turn around all of these players to reach their ceiling? 

Lewis should be popping 30+ homers and hitting .270+ every year.  Larnach and Wallner should be bringing in 90 RBI or they should be moved out.  Lee should be hitting over .300 consistently.  Keaschall needs to learn to excell at one position in the field.  All of this falls on Shelton.  Its his team to build on.  

I think about it this way....go back a few years, when these players were in A ball--how lucky would have the Twins felt if they were to trade for all of these huge upside players?  But they drafted (almost) every one of them and now they are in or near to the biggs and just fell flat.  I think Tom realizes this and he changed everything, coaching staff, GM, etc to clear the way for a whole new coaching/training/management staff to come in and whip these players into star.  I think he looked at what David Popkins achieved in TOR and realized that the problem was not Popkins, it was somewhere else on the coaching staff.  So he cleaned house.  

I believe there are some stars in the mix here.  I am still very high on Lewis, and still semi-high on Lee and some of the pitchers.  I hope the new staff makes a difference.  Otherwise, there is only one other variable, and that means the Pohlads have to go.  

[dxpavelka]

On 2/9/2026 at 7:08 AM, mikelink45 said:

His start was not a good one for Twins fans, but is he can be better than the incumbents that would be good - except that we are all waiting for the three prospects - Rodriguez, Walker, Gonzales with more enthusiasm.

The thing about having three prospects is that baseball history tells us anything it's that one of the three will be a bust, one will  a player and maybe, just maybe, if all the stars align, one of  them will be everything hoped for.  That's why it's not a bad idea to have other options.

[Twins33]

For some reason I have faith that he will be decent. Don’t ask me why.