5 Big Moves the Twins Could Still Make Before Opening Day

Under Derek Falvey, the Twins front office developed a penchant for making moves — including some of their biggest moves — in the very late stages of the offseason. This was best exemplified by the Taylor Rogers trade, which took place on the eve of Opening Day in 2022, but there were plenty of others.

It's possible that Falvey's successor, Jeremy Zoll, will eventually differentiate himself from this tendency. But by virtue of stepping into the lead role so late in the offseason, for a team with an unfinished and imbalanced roster, he almost has no choice but to pick up the mantle with some February or March moves. Given the team's circumstances, I wouldn't rule out one or more transactions of some significance.

Here are five signings, trades and extensions I could pretty easily envision taking place before Opening Day. Not all would make the team better, but they'd at least provide a further sense of direction and long-term vision.

Trading Joe Ryan or Pablo Lopez
Yeah, the Twins have said they don't plan to trade either of their frontline starters. But the time for rallying season-ticket sales has mostly passed, and by now reality has to be setting in that this team is not equipped to contend in the AL Central, especially after Detroit's bold move to add Framber Valdez alongside Tarik Skubal top their rotation. 

Tom Pohlad might not like the business optics, but the baseball wisdom of trading one of these two premier starters is undeniable. It means opening up more innings for the young arms Minnesota needs to audition, while bringing back a haul to bolster the team's post-2026 outlook. 

The Twins acquired Ryan while he was competing in the Olympics. Could they trade him away while he competes in the World Baseball Classic?

Trading Ryan Jeffers
After acquiring Victor Caratini and Alex Jackson this offseason, the Twins now have three catchers. None have minor-league options. Conventional wisdom says they'll go with the two best ones, Jeffers and Caratini, while seeking a low-scale trade for Jackson or trying to sneak him through waivers at the end of camp. That puts them at risk of losing Jackson for nothing, and while the team didn't invest a ton to acquire him (Payton Eeles), it was something. Clearly they like him to some extent.

The bigger risk for the Twins in this scenario is that they lose Jeffers for nothing after this season, when he's due for free agency. An opportunistic gambit would be to trade him now and roll with a catching duo of Caratini and Jackson. That'd be a clubhouse leader and quality player out the door, but again, if the Twins aren't contending, it doesn't matter. Jackson is under control for two more seasons so he'd provide some continuity at least alongside Caratini, who signed a two-year deal.

Trading Trevor Larnach
It would almost be more surprising if this doesn't happen. The Twins have to move Larnach or someone else in the lefty-swinging 1B/DH/COF mix, because currently the pieces simply don't fit together. He continues to be the most likely candidate, though he hardly offers clear surplus value at $4.5 million. 

You'd like to think the Twins can flip him for at least a decent middle reliever, which they could sorely use. But if such a deal were available, wouldn't they have already made it? Maybe spring developments will create new opportunities but it seems the front office is struggling to find takers for its superfluous lefty corner bat — not exactly a first for them.

Signing Michael Kopech
Finally, an additive move! The Twins made a play for Framber Valdez, so clearly they've been given the green-light to pursue a somewhat sizable investment as Pohlad pushes for an energy boost. There aren't many places left to spend, as the free-agent market has been picked over, but there's one clear standout atop the relief market.

Kopech is hardly a big splash, but he's the last remaining reliever from The Athletic's top-50 big board (he was #50) and really the last chance for Minnesota to make a remotely emphatic addition to its needy bullpen. He's been oft-injured and rarely good, but the 29-year-old righty offers undeniable upside with his bigtime fastball. This is the team's last chance to truly bolster the relief pitching outlook via free agency.

Long-term contract for Luke Keaschall or Walker Jenkins
This wouldn't really impact the 2026 season, but it would generate some much-needed positive headlines for a Twins team that needs them. Extending young players and even yet-to-debut players on long-term deals has become in-vogue for MLB teams, and tends to be a win/win for both sides. The player secures generational wealth, guaranteed. The club gets price breaks down the line if things to plan, with modest risk on their side.

The Twins say they're serious about building from within and getting behind the talent they draft and develop. A move like this would be a statement to back that up. And while it might not make much difference this year, gaining cost control over Keaschall or Jenkins — whom I recently ranked as the two most valuable player assets in the organization — could make greatly improve the front office's ability to add around them in their primes.