Jackson being shopped?

[thelanges5]

MLB Trade Rumors has an article about the Twins shopping Alex Jackson. Probably won’t net much but he doesn’t make sense as a 3rd C on the 40. Package him with Larnach for a RH reliever?
 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/03/twins-shopping-alex-jackson.html

[Vanimal46]

13 minutes ago, thelanges5 said:

MLB Trade Rumors has an article about the Twins shopping Alex Jackson. Probably won’t net much but he doesn’t make sense as a 3rd C on the 40. Package him with Larnach for a RH reliever?
 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/03/twins-shopping-alex-jackson.html

Heard he's worth one of the highest assets in the game... Something called Cash Considerations. 

[Vanimal46]

I rarely recommend trades in the division, but the Tigers have an international prospect called Bonus Money that looks good too. 

[stringer bell]

Gee, a complete and total surprise. I suppose there might be someone with an interest which might net something. Barring injury or trade Jackson is on his way to a DFA.

[Dave Borton]

Someone will grab him. Catchers are in short supply, even the marginal ones. 

[dxpavelka]

7 hours ago, Dave Borton said:

Someone will grab him. Catchers are in short supply, even the marginal ones. 

Which means that if we trade him, we will have a short supply of marginal catchers.  The Twins way.

 

[Doctor Wu]

Shopped?! That would indicate that he has some sort of value to another team. Don't see it. 

[nicksaviking]

Not sure many teams would want to roster both Jackson and Larnach.

The headline had me come here thinking we were talking about the Twins trading for another post-hype prospect, Jackson Holliday.

[jaimedude]

I would shop Larnach too, we a have a good amount of young outfielders that need playing time. Gonzalez or Rodriguez will need to be called up this year after May, I presume. Walker Jenkins will be on the horizon too. We got guys that need major league experience that we do not want to get stale.  

[DocBauer]

I don't keep abreast of other teams enough to know if someone has had an injury recently, or their "hoped for" backup catcher has had a lousy camp. But considering how small his deal is, there's probably a couple teams that might have need for him, even as a temporary fill-in to start the season.

But I expect him to pass through waivers and end up with the Twins at AAA. Funny thing is, even if that happens, while he has actual ML experience, I'm still not certain that the younger Cardenas doesn't offer similar defense and potentially better offense. 

[DocBauer]

As far as Larnach, I see NOBODY interested in Larnach and Jackson as any sort of package. Name me a team that needs a LH DH AND a defense first/no hit catcher because someone is injured? That's a really small needle.

With all due respect, I NEVER would have offered Larnach arbitration. And for obvious reasons we don't have to go in to yet again. There's been speculation that teams like Houston, maybe Cincinnati, that have room for a solid LH bat. At this point, considering the horrible roster construction, I'd pay half his salary just to move him off the roster.

To be clear yet again, Larnach is NOT  a bad ballplayer. His career OPS against RHP is pretty solid. He's an OK corner OF used once in a while. He's actually got some value. He's just NOT A FIT for the Twins in 2026 or the future. But he might have some value to another team in his role. BITE the damn bullet, move him for what you can, or package him, but MOVE HIM. Swallow pride and admit retaining him doesn't make sense and just build the best roster you can from all the oblong pieces you've assembled. 

If someone had a Nick Punto type who wasn't going to make their roster, I'd jump at the chance to move Larnach for that guy. If someone had a "Varland" they were going to move to the bullpen this season and needed a solid LH bat for their team, I'd add a solid prospect to make it happen.

But Jackson is an offering unto himself. Does someone really, desperately need a defense only catcher? I doubt it, but maybe someone does. Maybe they have the next Punto/Castro type that they are going to send out. But again, I really doubt it.

Larnach is an issue unto himself. It stinks that he never turned out as hoped for. But again, he's not a lousy player. He's just a role player. And I'd do anything I could to remove him in a trade to get SOMETHING in return vs just DFA him.

And let's be honest, Larnach is a NICE roll player for a good team at DH and occasional OF use. But he doesn't FIT with the Twins in regard to Roden, Outman...Ugh...and Rodriguez and Jenkins, and Gonzalez sitting at AAA.

[Parfigliano]

4 minutes ago, DocBauer said:

As far as Larnach, I see NOBODY interested in Larnach and Jackson as any sort of package. Name me a team that needs a LH DH AND a defense first/no hit catcher because someone is injured? That's a really small needle.

With all due respect, I NEVER would have offered Larnach arbitration. And for obvious reasons we don't have to go in to yet again. There's been speculation that teams like Houston, maybe Cincinnati, that have room for a solid LH bat. At this point, considering the horrible roster construction, I'd pay half his salary just to move him off the roster.

To be clear yet again, Larnach is NOT  a bad ballplayer. His career OPS against RHP is pretty solid. He's an OK corner OF used once in a while. He's actually got some value. He's just NOT A FIT for the Twins in 2026 or the future. But he might have some value to another team in his role. BITE the damn bullet, move him for what you can, or package him, but MOVE HIM. Swallow pride and admit retaining him doesn't make sense and just build the best roster you can from all the oblong pieces you've assembled. 

If someone had a Nick Punto type who wasn't going to make their roster, I'd jump at the chance to move Larnach for that guy. If someone had a "Varland" they were going to move to the bullpen this season and needed a solid LH bat for their team, I'd add a solid prospect to make it happen.

But Jackson is an offering unto himself. Does someone really, desperately need a defense only catcher? I doubt it, but maybe someone does. Maybe they have the next Punto/Castro type that they are going to send out. But again, I really doubt it.

Larnach is an issue unto himself. It stinks that he never turned out as hoped for. But again, he's not a lousy player. He's just a role player. And I'd do anything I could to remove him in a trade to get SOMETHING in return vs just DFA him.

And let's be honest, Larnach is a NICE roll player for a good team at DH and occasional OF use. But he doesn't FIT with the Twins in regard to Roden, Outman...Ugh...and Rodriguez and Jenkins, and Gonzalez sitting at AAA.

Larnach is a roadblock for many of TC supposed top prospects.  Get him out of the way and let the best one play.

[DocBauer]

35 minutes ago, Parfigliano said:

Larnach is a roadblock for many of TC supposed top prospects.  Get him out of the way and let the best one play.

I think just about everyone not employed by the Twins agree with you. It's not always about being a bad ballplayer. It's about being a bad FIT for your current team. And it doesn't take a genius to look at the roster to realize Larnach doesn't FIT, even if he might FIT with another team in a small trade.

But if I'm T Pohlad, or Zoll, I HAVE the ability to quietly trade Larnach for SOMETHING, or even DFA him, and without saying anything publicly, sorta blame Falvey in the transition. It's not FAIR, but it could be implied subtlety that the final roster decision with our new manager it just didn't make sense. 

Regardless, it's time to bite the bullet and play Roden and see what you have and leave openings for the younger talent.

[SteveLV]

The decision to tender that Arb figure to Larnach remains a mystery.  They claim poverty.  Larnach is a decent player who is basically league average.  That makes him good on this roster, but I believe they should aspire for more than average.

Time will tell I guess.