How Walker Jenkins Could Be Pushed Off The Twins' Opening Day Roster

[DJL44]

2 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

Emmanuel in LF, Walker Jenkins in CF

Rodriguez has the better glove 

[Karbo]

Emma and Jenkins are the future. Let them play and find out if they're able to live up yo the hype. Keaschal can rotate with them at DH, assuming Buck is healthy. Larnach and Roden are trade bait for pitching. Martin made progress last season and adds speed and athletic ability if he continues to improve. Look for the RH thumper at 1st base if Lewis continues to struggle as the trade deadline gets close. If they're even playing by then.

[Mike Sixel]

49 minutes ago, Woof Bronzer said:

Would it truly shock you if the Twins did this though?

1000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000% yes. Seriously stupid.

[Cory Engelhardt]

5 hours ago, Coach said:

Why do the Twins have to be forced to roster a player (E-Rod) that may not be as good as the one he’s replacing (Jenkins).  How much trade value does E-Rod, a #70 prospect (BA) have?
 

They don't. Both have a spot on this roster. At worst Alan Roden has options still, but I have to think that Buxton and Keaschall and Jenkins and Rodriguez all have a place on the team with DH involved. Roden or Rodriguez as the 4th outfielder in there all works. 

[tony&rodney]

2 hours ago, DJL44 said:

Rodriguez has the better glove 

Agree. Left field is really important at Target Field and we should expect Buck back in CF at some point. It seems disadvantageous to start Jenkins in Cf and then move him around but if he is batting third in the lineup I think he will do fine with the glove.

I'm actually ok with Emm in CF.

[Major League Ready]

1 hour ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

They don't. Both have a spot on this roster. At worst Alan Roden has options still, but I have to think that Buxton and Keaschall and Jenkins and Rodriguez all have a place on the team with DH involved. Roden or Rodriguez as the 4th outfielder in there all works. 

I went through the entire thread thinking the same thing. 

• Non-tender Larnach.  The question becomes what to do with Martin.
• Trade Lewis or non-tender
• Sign a good FA for 1B or 2B with Clemmens covering 1B or 2B depending on the FA signing.
• Keep one of Kreidler / Ross because they can cover a bunch of positions
• Assuming you don't roster Martin, you still have a bench spot open for another IFer.

[tony&rodney]

3 hours ago, Road trip said:

Almost made a trade with Houston last year for Abreu.  Houston could still use an outfielder.  How about...   Roden for Hayden Wesnescki?  Who says "no thanks"?

Twins say no because Roden has more control and value, although I do like Hayden W.

[Cory Engelhardt]

5 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

I went through the entire thread thinking the same thing. 

• Non-tender Larnach.  The question becomes what to do with Martin.
• Trade Lewis or non-tender
• Sign a good FA for 1B or 2B with Clemmens covering 1B or 2B depending on the FA signing.
• Keep one of Kreidler / Ross because they can cover a bunch of positions
• Assuming you don't roster Martin, you still have a bench spot open for another IFer.

You also don’t really have to choose between Kreidler and Ross since Ross has options. 
Martin was great in April and then just not good the rest of the year. Maybe he can get you some a ball prospect.

Larnach will maybe get you a middle reliever. Maybe. Otherwise dfa.

It kind of does come down then to Clemens vs Lewis in some ways. If they really think they can get Lewis right, now is the time that Clemens is at the height of his value no? But if Lewis needs a fresh start elsewhere, that’s easy too.

All of this to say, the idea that Jenkins won’t be on the twins is rage bait

[SE23]

8 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

I went through the entire thread thinking the same thing. 

• Non-tender Larnach.  The question becomes what to do with Martin.
• Trade Lewis or non-tender
• Sign a good FA for 1B or 2B with Clemmens covering 1B or 2B depending on the FA signing.
• Keep one of Kreidler / Ross because they can cover a bunch of positions
• Assuming you don't roster Martin, you still have a bench spot open for another IFer.

Larnach and Lewis to Arizona for Jordan Lawlar and Taylor Clark

[LyleCole]

If it is a matter of keeping Buxton and sending Jenkins back to the minors, then we should not keep Buxton.  

[TheLeviathan]

I really, really wish we'd choose right now to make Luke Keaschall start preparing to take over 1B.  His arm simply doesn't play anywhere else.

This feels like a decision we'll make 6 months from now and feel dumb for not giving him the offseason to prep.

[Linus]

If I was the GM Jenkins would be my RF for the next 12 years. However everyone should carefully read @Riverbrians comments. He accurately describes what the Twins have done in the past. Granted not with a Jenkins caliber prospect but this is a team that rostered James Outman for months last year. Just sayin. 

[SE23]

9 minutes ago, Linus said:

If I was the GM Jenkins would be my RF for the next 12 years. However everyone should carefully read @Riverbrians comments. He accurately describes what the Twins have done in the past. Granted not with a Jenkins caliber prospect but this is a team that rostered James Outman for months last year. Just sayin. 

If we TD users were responsible for creating the Twins 2027 roster, I'd feel very confident that real improvement was on the way. Then I remember Outman. Alex Jackson. Margot. Etc. With this FO, the inexplicable is always in play...

[Woof Bronzer]

4 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

1000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000% yes. Seriously stupid.

We agree it would be dumb.  I don't think they'll do it.  I don't want them to do it.  I'm just saying this is an organization that has preferred stop gap vets vs unpolished kids for a very long time now.  

[Mike Sixel]

2 hours ago, SE23 said:

Larnach and Lewis to Arizona for Jordan Lawlar and Taylor Clark

Why is Arizona doing this? While they vow to cut costs? Or even without money?

[jkcarew]

Just so many as-good/better…and proven…options!!

It’s an embarrassment of riches, is what it is.

The Twins find themselves in an enviable position: perennial winners of 75 games per season, with a roster jam packed with high-value veterans. It absolutely screams “play it back”. What are the odds this veteran group could possibly be denied a pennant for a third consecutive year!? Probably better to trade Jenkins for a legit closer who can reliably nail the door shut against playoff-calibre teams this coming October and early November.

[ashbury]

4 minutes ago, jkcarew said:

Just so many as-good/better…and proven…options!!

It’s an embarrassment of riches, is what it is.

The Twins find themselves in an enviable position: perennial winners of 75 games per season, with a roster jam packed with high-value veterans. It absolutely screams “play it back”. What are the odds this veteran group could possibly be denied a pennant for a third consecutive year!? Probably better to trade Jenkins for a legit closer who can reliably nail the door shut against playoff-calibre teams this coming October and early November.

[Major League Ready]

14 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

Why is Arizona doing this? While they vow to cut costs? Or even without money?

Those guys (Larnach / Lewis) are going to be the current day Brian Duensing.  The guy with little value that is proposed in many trade scenarios.  If they are traded it will be for prospects or perhaps a BP arm.

[Twins GFP]

The Twins could easily keep Trevor Larnach. That has been hugely glossed over in these comments. All these ideas without considering him as part of the equation doesn't seem to make much sense.

If Jenkins has a sold ST, he will probably make the team. But he could just as easily be sent to AAA until there is an injury. Ideally we start getting Buxton time in a corner OF slot. The Twins DO currently have a logjam in the outfield. Logic dictates they will move 1-2 of these guys, but this is the Twins and logic doesn't always seem to be followed.

[Major League Ready]

2 hours ago, Twins GFP said:

The Twins could easily keep Trevor Larnach. That has been hugely glossed over in these comments. All these ideas without considering him as part of the equation doesn't seem to make much sense.

If Jenkins has a sold ST, he will probably make the team. But he could just as easily be sent to AAA until there is an injury. Ideally we start getting Buxton time in a corner OF slot. The Twins DO currently have a logjam in the outfield. Logic dictates they will move 1-2 of these guys, but this is the Twins and logic doesn't always seem to be followed.

The Twins have generally acted as you suggest.  Larnach is being ignored because most of us are tied of this approach and the mediocrity perpetuates.  We all know the twins just might keep him but we are hoping for a plan that raises the ceiling instead of the floor.

[tony&rodney]

3 hours ago, Twins GFP said:

The Twins could easily keep Trevor Larnach.

Any plan that puts Trevor Larnach in the outfield screams for a losing season. Larnach as a strong side DH is fine if money is no obstacle. Just recently one of the writers on this site had a roster that came in at $160M. The payroll is a mystery.

[Road trip]

19 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

Twins say no because Roden has more control and value, although I do like Hayden W.

Perhaps.  I guess I view Roden's potential upside as "peak Trevor Larnach", and I have doubt he will get there.  He has control, but Roden seems to be transforming from potential CF to "slow corner outfielder with minimal power".  Twins already have plenty of those...

Maybe Houston could throw in a marginal prospect low A pitcher to sweeten the deal...

[laloesch]

The Twins have a lot invested in Jenkins.  I can't imagine he'd start the season in AAA unless he doesn't do well in spring training AND they still have Larnach, Roden, and Martin on the roster come spring training.  

[JADBP]

On 11/10/2026 at 7:28 AM, Riverbrian said:

The article talks about a very real possibility. Jenkins could very well end up starting the season in AAA. Unless they immediately change how they have done things for the past 3 years. 

The article has no mention of the immediate threat. His name is Austin Martin. 

There is no recent evidence that the Twins will not roster Austin Martin because someone has to take the left handed hitters out of the lineup when a left hander is on the mound. The Twins have been consistent doing this sort of thing for the past 3 years.    

We have three locks... Buxton, Keaschall and Emma. Someone is going to have to handcuff to Emma. That would be Martin. Now you have 4 spots locked. 

Once that decision is made and they will make that decision based on how they have approached roster construction for the past 3 years... unless they immediately change how they have done things.  

That leaves the 5th outfield spot. Jenkins, Larnach, Wallner or Roden are all left handed. DH is now a possibility with Bell gone. They could give that spot to Larnach because DH is now a possibility. Larnach can be handcuffed to Caratini at DH as Alex Jackson plays against left handers. Or sign a right handed infielder that can move Lewis to the DH spot against left handed pitchers. 

If anyone can't see this as a very real possibility based upon the recent years of roster construction. If anyone thinks that the Twins wouldn't platoon Jenkins if he did make the lineup hasn't been watching what the Twins do. 

I'm saying this out loud.

If the front office maintain their strict three-year pattern of platoon optimization and attempting to maximize tactical matchups, the path for Walker Jenkins to break camp in the majors becomes incredibly congested.

Martin could force Jenkins to AAA to start the year. Jenkins becomes the call up when Emma gets hurt and Martin will attach to him. Gonzalez becomes the call up when Martin or Keaschall or Buxton gets hurt. 

We are only having this conversation because the Twins are going to staff 3 right handed outfielders despite having 20 left handed better options.     

OK.....I'm saying this OUT LOUD.  This platooning just has to STOP!  Its nonsense.  

First, any MLB hitter needs to learn how to hit both RH and LH pitchers.  Period.  Maybe there can be some success variance among LH/RH pitchers, but these are skills that every player just needs to learn.  

Second, platooning him only deprives a young hitter the valuable training tool of facing both RH/LH pitchers.  It may deepen the damage by diminishing his confidence at the plate.  

Finally....I am pretty sure that what Tom Pohlad meant to say out loud when he canned the Twins President of Baseball and Business Operations (Falvey), Executive Chair/Controlling Owner (Joey Pohlad), Assistant GM (Dan Adler) and Head Coach/Manager (Baldelli) among several others was that the ownership NO LONGER WANTS TO DO THINGS the way they have for last three [or more] years! 

Wake up Zoll and READ the ROOM!

[Riverbrian]

12 minutes ago, JADBP said:

OK.....I'm saying this OUT LOUD.  This platooning just has to STOP!  Its nonsense.  

First, any MLB hitter needs to learn how to hit both RH and LH pitchers.  Period.  Maybe there can be some success variance among LH/RH pitchers, but these are skills that every player just needs to learn.  

Second, platooning him only deprives a young hitter the valuable training tool of facing both RH/LH pitchers.  It may deepen the damage by diminishing his confidence at the plate.  

Finally....I am pretty sure that what Tom Pohlad meant to say out loud when he canned the Twins President of Baseball and Business Operations (Falvey), Executive Chair/Controlling Owner (Joey Pohlad), Assistant GM (Dan Adler) and Head Coach/Manager (Baldelli) among several others was that the ownership NO LONGER WANTS TO DO THINGS the way they have for last three [or more] years! 

Wake up Zoll and READ the ROOM!

I'll give you a microphone and very large PA system with massive speakers to say what you just said. 

Zoll is making phone calls as we speak.