Astros Owner Jime Crane Reportedly Blocks Abreu-for-Larnach Trade with Twins

[tlkriens]

Astros and Twins had agreed to a trade that would've sent Bryan Abreu to Twins for Trevor Larnach before Astros Owner Jim Crane "nixed" the trade, I do like Larnach and the improvements he has made this season, but even if this trade doesn't go through, hopefully it means the Twins aren't done adding pitching.

 

[Mike Sixel]

That's a terrible trade for Minnesota. I hope this isn't true. 

[tlkriens]

Abreu has been really good for a while. 2.28 ERA in 71 innings last season with 105 K's. I'd pull the trigger. He has a 1.45 ERA since June 4. 23 strikeouts in 18 2/3 innings. I would really like that trade for the Twins.

[Saxophone Joe]

I’m shook, y’all. Need Larnach on my team! Please…

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

https://x.com/i/status/2083562610834743629

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

Why would Houston say no? Thank goodness they saved the Twins from themselves. I get trading Larnach but Abreu is pretty toasty right now.

[Brock Beauchamp]

My understanding is that this guy is NOT a legit source.

[tony&rodney]

Maybe if the Twins added Travis Adams or Jack Anderson? I don't think so. Crane has the final say. He is involved more than most owners. 

[MMBoys93]

If true, I’m happy this was mixed. I’m all for removing Larnach, but even with his recent appearances being a lot better lately his stuff is not what it was last year.

[TheLeviathan]

22 minutes ago, MMBoys93 said:

If true, I’m happy this was mixed. I’m all for removing Larnach, but even with his recent appearances being a lot better lately his stuff is not what it was last year.

His numbers in terms missing bats are still pretty good, he's just walking too many people.  I'm not sure I like this deal, but it would've been one I signed up for in the offseason.

[Mike Sixel]

29 minutes ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

My understanding is that this guy is NOT a legit source.

thx

[AZTwin]

 

[USAFChief]

Again??

[CRF]

Damn! Lock Crane in a closet somewhere, and don't let him out until Tuesday. 

[clone52]

Would that be a good trade?  Rental reliever having a bad year?  

I want to trade Larnach but I think he is worth way more than that.

[clone52]

4 hours ago, tlkriens said:

Abreu has been really good for a while. 2.28 ERA in 71 innings last season with 105 K's. I'd pull the trigger. He has a 1.45 ERA since June 4. 23 strikeouts in 18 2/3 innings. I would really like that trade for the Twins.

Okay, if he has turned it around, maybe.  He must have been truly awful before that.

Actually fantastic in May and July and only one bad game in June.

 

Truly awful in March and April.

[Cory Engelhardt]

Bobby Nightengale just reported this did in fact happen, that it almost came to be 

[Greglw3]

10 hours ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

My understanding is that this guy is NOT a legit source.

That makes sense to me because this report doesn’t pass the smell test. I don’t believe it.

There is no way the Twins trade a high end hitter with an additional year of control for a reliever with a near 5 ERA, even if he has been good before, WITH an expiring contract.

Larnach is worth more than a rental. There had to be other players involved or the whole thing is fiction.

[Mike Sixel]

18 minutes ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

Bobby Nightengale just reported this did in fact happen, that it almost came to be 

Jeebus. I am slowly losing faith in Zoll. 

[Greglw3]

Just now, Mike Sixel said:

Jeebus. I am slowly losing faith in Zoll. 

Don’t believe it. It doesn’t pass thee smell test. Is Jeff Passan reporting that. I don’t think it happened as reported, if at all. There is no logic to the trade.

[Cory Engelhardt]

22 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Jeebus. I am slowly losing faith in Zoll. 

Why? Do you see Larnach here in 2027? Do you think the adjustments he has made are the hitter he is now? Both of those could be true, but selling high makes sense.

Abreu has been lights out in his career, and really since June 1 he has been lights out again. Bad start to the year, but do you really think he wouldn't be our best right handed reliever right now, or at least near the top of that list?

Plus, with Jenkins knocking on the door, it would open up a full time spot for him,

I fail to see the real problem here. Get real value for a player at the height of their value with a good replacement ready. 

But, maybe now it's a different move upcoming.

[Bangkok Twins Fan]

10 hours ago, Greglw3 said:

Larnach is worth more than a rental. There had to be other players involved or the whole thing is fiction.

Larnach is having the best year of his career but many people are starting to think he's some sort of superstar or something. Think back about four months ago, when most people on this board were willing to trade him for a low level prospect, or pretty much anything. I'd trade him while his value is as high as it may ever be. 

[Mike Sixel]

12 hours ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

Why? Do you see Larnach here in 2027? Do you think the adjustments he has made are the hitter he is now? Both of those could be true, but selling high makes sense.

Abreu has been lights out in his career, and really since June 1 he has been lights out again. Bad start to the year, but do you really think he wouldn't be our best right handed reliever right now, or at least near the top of that list?

Plus, with Jenkins knocking on the door, it would open up a full time spot for him,

I fail to see the real problem here. Get real value for a player at the height of their value with a good replacement ready. 

But, maybe now it's a different move upcoming.

This team isn't a bunch of mediocre rentals from winning it all. They just aren't. They refuse to acknowledge that.

[Cory Engelhardt]

17 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

This team isn't a bunch of mediocre rentals from winning it all. They just aren't. They refuse to acknowledge that.

Abreu isn’t mediocre 

[Mike Sixel]

Just now, Cory Engelhardt said:

Abreu isn’t mediocre 

What, twenty appearances, or so, the rest of the year? That's worth Larnach to you, on a mediocre team?

[tony&rodney]

The Twins have a glut of DH bats who are listed as outfielders. Larnach is having a better season than most believed he would produce, so he leads the list because he could bring back something worth a roster spot. Abreu would be #1 in the Twins bullpen.

It really isn't about liking Larnach, it is about finding some balance with the roster. Wallner, Mendez, and Gonzalez are DH bats. Roden and Rodriguez are questions, both LH bats. Martin has some utility and Fedko had a rough intro to MLB. Jenkins is waiting for a shot. Keaschall is unlikely to play on the dirt again. Buxton has a contract. That is eleven outfielders, not counting Kody Clemens or Ryan Kreidler who can both play out on the grass.

So 13 guys is a lot. Somehow this piled up on the Twins and eventually the numbers will need to be sheared down. The biggest problem with the list is that only Jenkins projects as a talent to lean on, although Buck will still be around too. So if one deletes Clemens and Kreidler and looks over the eleven names it seems like Buck and Jenkins are keepers and then pick two more. However one looks at it there needs to be a trade of an outfielder or three. Larnach seems like he has the most value. Send Wallner somewhere where he might get another chance as a favor. 

[Cory Engelhardt]

40 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

What, twenty appearances, or so, the rest of the year? That's worth Larnach to you, on a mediocre team?

Sure

[Greglw3]

2 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

This team isn't a bunch of mediocre rentals from winning it all. They just aren't. They refuse to acknowledge that.

At the risk of another thumbs down, I don’t think A.J. Minter was a mediocre rental. AT the time of the trade, Passan described him as one of the top relievers on the market.

Kremer, I’m reserving judgement on but I think he has another year of control in 2027. Lifetime 4.37 ERA for a #4 or #5 starter isn’t bad, especially replacing Zebby’s 5+ ERA or, to a lesser degree even Prielipp’s 4.75 ERA. I love Prielipp’s potential but maybe Kremer can hold up in big games better, we’ll see.

What would really excite me is getting Robbie Ray or Emerson Hancock and/or trading Larnach for a strong reliever or controllable starter, perhaps younger and opening up a spot for Walker Jenkins.

[Mike Sixel]

Just now, Greglw3 said:

At the risk of another thumbs down, I don’t think A.J. Minter was a mediocre rental. AT the time of the trade, Passan described him as one of the top relievers on the market.

Kremer, I’m reserving judgement on but I think he has another year of control in 2027. Lifetime 4.37 ERA for a #4 or #5 starter isn’t bad, especially replacing Zebby’s 5+ ERA or, to a lesser degree even Prielipp’s 4.75 ERA. I love Prielipp’s potential but maybe Kremer can hold up in big games better, we’ll see.

What would really excite me is getting Robbie Ray or Emerson Hancock and/or trading Larnach for a strong reliever or controllable starter, perhaps younger and opening up a spot for Walker Jenkins.

I agree on minter. He's likely good for this team, and cost guys that will never see the field as Twins.