What Should the Twins Do with Trevor Larnach?

Why do the Twins need to acquire a pitcher for next season?  They have Lopez, Ryan, Paddock, Ober and Varland already penciled in. Festa and Marco Rays will provide depth as well as Woods-Richardson. 

14 minutes ago, LewFordLives said:

The Twins will need to acquire a starter in the off-season, and maybe that involves trading some of the younger guys.  As of now, it would make sense for the Twins to pick up the options for both Kepler and Polanco, and that doesn't leave enough spots for all of the younger guys to get regular playing time.

Or we could not pick up the options and use the $18MM or so on a FA starter. But, you are most likely correct, both options are probably going to be picked up and that means less/no room for Larnach.  If I’m Larnach I’m praying every night that I get traded to a team that will give me a true shot - not the up and down circus he’s had here in Minnesota. He has nothing else to prove in AAA and he’s not getting younger.  Free the man - let him have his shot at what he has worked hard for his entire life, namely to be a major league ballplayer.  He’s earned that shot in our organization and he’s damn well good enough.

2 minutes ago, Supfin99 said:

Why do the Twins need to acquire a pitcher for next season?  They have Lopez, Ryan, Paddock, Ober and Varland already penciled in. Festa and Marco Rays will provide depth as well as Woods-Richardson. 

Excellent point.  But let’s say we do want another top end starter but don’t want extra payroll.  One way to achieve that is to resign Gray.  So, assuming Gray costs $25MM +, would we rather have Gray and Larnach, or Kepler and Polanco (Gallo’s $11 MM I’m already assuming is in the pot)?  We’d have to trade a lot more prospect capital than Larnach to come up with a starter like Gray.

Trading Larnach makes sense for the organization and it would give him a better opportunity to become an established major leaguer. But every other team knows that too, and that’s going to bring down his trade value. The ideal scenario is to find a team who has a need for a player with his skill set. 

24 minutes ago, Nashvilletwin said:

Or we could not pick up the options and use the $18MM or so on a FA starter. But, you are most likely correct, both options are probably going to be picked up and that means less/no room for Larnach.  If I’m Larnach I’m praying every night that I get traded to a team that will give me a true shot - not the up and down circus he’s had here in Minnesota. He has nothing else to prove in AAA and he’s not getting younger.  Free the man - let him have his shot at what he has worked hard for his entire life, namely to be a major league ballplayer.  He’s earned that shot in our organization and he’s damn well good enough.

Is this really true? What I remember is he has always gotten injured a few weeks into his MLB stints. The one time he played a little longer, he was playing hurt which tanked his overall MLB numbers. This is a tough game and when you get your chance you gotta step up.

I would call him up and get him at bats down the stretch with a possibility of making the playoff roster. Then next year keep him for depth until he either breaks through or you deal him at the deadline for next year's triumphant division winning stretch run. 

29 minutes ago, Supfin99 said:

Why do the Twins need to acquire a pitcher for next season?  They have Lopez, Ryan, Paddock, Ober and Varland already penciled in. Festa and Marco Rays will provide depth as well as Woods-Richardson. 

I agree. In addition, I expect them to put in a qualify offer to Gray (though I don't think he agrees), and I wouldn't be surprised if they try to sign Maeda. I'm also thinking they may try to sign Mahle to a deal similar to Paddock. Their need is relief pitchers.

Shop Larnach, there may be a team that is willing to trade some possible pen guys for him.  He has little trade value though that is the problem.  We cannot just have him up at the MLB level learning to hit off speed pitches.  If he cannot learn to do that, he has no value at majors.  If a team is willing to work with him and we can get something in return, make the move.  If not, he will most likely get DFA some time next year anyways. 

Larnach and Wallner K too much to really be impactful on making this team a consistent playoff contender. Organization needs to start developing talent that puts the bat on the ball.. Lee, Kiersey will be more helpful than these two in the future ..to go with Lewis , Julien, Kirilloff, 

12 minutes ago, wabene said:

Is this really true? What I remember is he has always gotten injured a few weeks into his MLB stints. The one time he played a little longer, he was playing hurt which tanked his overall MLB numbers. This is a tough game and when you get your chance you gotta step up.

I would call him up and get him at bats down the stretch with a possibility of making the playoff roster. Then next year keep him for depth until he either breaks through or you deal him at the deadline for next year's triumphant division winning stretch run. 

Your suggestion is exactly my point about why Larnach prays every night to be traded.  Yeah, just what he wants - to be kept in AAA for most or all of another year as “depth”.  The man wants to be a major leaguer - not a permanent AAAer.  For crying out loud, the Twins spent $11MM on Joey Gallo and gave him hundreds of ABs while Larnach has festered in St.Paul. Larnach must be shaking his head wondering how much better he’d be if he had those major league ABs (and how much more valuable he might be for the Twins in the trade market - his value couldn’t really be any lower now.). Honestly, Larnach must be wondering how much the organization thinks of him with Gallo having played nearly the entire season. Not much is the answer. Meanwhile, Larnach is in AAA thinking Garlick looks like his best career ceiling with the Twins.  Free the man - he needs another organization. He deserves it.

2 minutes ago, Nashvilletwin said:

Your suggestion is exactly my point about why Larnach prays every night to be traded.  Yeah, just what he wants - to be kept in AAA for most or all of another year as “depth”.  The man wants to be a major leaguer - not a permanent AAAer.  For crying out loud, the Twins spent $11MM on Joey Gallo and gave him hundreds of ABs while Larnach has festered in St.Paul. Larnach must be shaking his head wondering how much better he’d be if he had those major league ABs (and how much more valuable he might be for the Twins in the trade market - his value couldn’t really be any lower now.). Honestly, Larnach must be wondering how much the organization thinks of him with Gallo having played nearly the entire season. Not much is the answer. Meanwhile, Larnach is in AAA thinking Garlick looks like his best career ceiling with the Twins.  Free the man - he needs another organization. He deserves it.

Again he wasn't jerked around. He got hurt and didn't perform. I agree about Gallo, I didn't like the signing, but Wallner would've ended up taking those at bats, don't you think? 

Maybe he is the next Rooker or Raley - he needs a true chance to play through the challenges.  He is not going to be part of the Twins OF based on the names and numbers. 

Brent Rooker 28

Luke Raley 28

First off, start with his issue hitting off-speed. As soon as the league figured that out he was doomed. Might be the same now with Wallner .Also, Larnach is very average in the outfield. Doesn't play the wall very well.

Next as a throw-in on a trade it shouldn't be for a Starter! It has to be for a Pen guy. Garland may be the answer but he wants to be a starter and may replace Gray. So the Pen is the #1 trade issue. Can't go another year with the AAA guys we have out there now. It is hard to watch when they come in. 

The team has depth in corner outfielder and Larnach has enough potential to bring something if value in a trade. He has a lot of power with his swing and miss. But a team that needs power should take a chance. I think he is a decent outfielder and has a good arm. 

I would certainly shop Larnach.  He's slid too far down the pecking order to be considered a future starter or even a role player.  Both Kepler and Polanco have made the case to have their options picked up.  But the very real possibility exits that one could be traded.  In my opinion, the player most likely to be dealt is Polanco, especially if he has a strong finish to this season and performs well in the playoffs.  Lewis is here to stay.  Lee will probably break camp with the team in 2024.  With Castro and Farmer coming back, (maybe Gordon or Austin Martin) and if Polanco builds his value back up, I could see Polanco traded for a full time CF or a SP to replace Gray.

If the Twins traded Polanco in a multi player package for a full time CF, depending on how much that guy would cost payroll wise, I could see them sticking their necks out trying to get Sonny Gray to return and have stability in the rotation for next season.  Really, this is what makes the most sense.  You invest in a couple of vets like Lopez and Gray to lead a staff with young talent on the rise, Ryan, Ober, Varland and Paddock.  

Maeda should NOT be retained.  He should no longer be in the conversation for our rotation next year.  He's too inconsistent.  I'd sign him to a team friendly contract as a BP piece, but not as a SP.  

So maybe Larnach is included in a deal with Polanco or maybe each are dealt separately.  But I see the Twins making at least a couple of trades this off season.  

28 minutes ago, wabene said:

Again he wasn't jerked around. He got hurt and didn't perform. I agree about Gallo, I didn't like the signing, but Wallner would've ended up taking those at bats, don't you think? 

Love Wallner, but the jury’s still out on him too. 100% agree -  Gallo ABs (and $11MM) were wasted in terms of player development and future trade value - regardless of whether all or some were allocated to Larnach, Wallner and/or someone else.  But the point remains the same - Larnach is unlikely going to get his shot to be an every day major leaguer here in Minnesota at this point. And he knows it. And so he probably prays he gets a shot somewhere else, ala Steer et al.

Trade him while he is having a little success. I watched him numerous times this year and he has struggled mightily. He isn't goin to find his way on to the Twins roster and we should for once do him and the Team a favor and get something for him.

Twins should move on from Larnach, for hus sake.  He's proven he can hit major league hitting.  Sure he has holes in hus swing.  Look at Wallner.  I love the guy but he'd been in a horrendous slump since August 7th.  Yet the keep playing him.  Look, I like both Polanco and Kepler but we probably have players that can take their place.  Gallo?  Don't even go there.  He's probably the worst 11 million ever spent.  Oh that's right we have Buxton.  Anyway some interesting decisions will need to be made this off season.  Go Twins!

Baseball is a difficult job which holds very little permanence to all but the stars. The promise of making a large salary creates stupendous competition. Larnach had some opportunities but none that allowed him any status to play through poor performance. Both injuries and the previously discussed holes in his batting profile made him easy to send to AAA.

I hope Trevor Larnach gets a chance with another MLB team, similar to the chances afforded to Brent Rooker. He doesn't have much value right now and may only be a throw-in if the Twins can swing a trade. Larnach has made a tidy pile of earnings from his job, however, and should be able to live comfortably if baseball no longer is a viable profession for him. There is more than an even chance that Larnach is able to play baseball for another decade though, so I'm not too worried about him. He just hasn't worked out as a Twin.

54 minutes ago, wabene said:

Again he wasn't jerked around. He got hurt and didn't perform. I agree about Gallo, I didn't like the signing, but Wallner would've ended up taking those at bats, don't you think? 

No Gallo provides opportunities.  Sure Wallner gets some of those PAs but it could also provide more MLB PAs for Larnach.  I grimace when I see Gallo's 100 OPS+ and positive WAR knowing how many 2 out walks and solo HRs (oh, but that glorious 3 run HR...against a utility infielder) he has to bolster those numbers.  His -1.2 WPA and -5.3 RE24 confirm he has not provided value.  It would have been better to give the younger players opportunity to reach their potential.

I believe if we keep Kepler, Larnach will be gone. But if we trade Kepler, Larnach gets his chance (again) to prove that he can hit MLB pitchers breaking balls. I would trade Kepler as his hitting wasn't good for 3.5 years before being great the last half of this season. Certainly can see why many would disagree with me on that and think Kepler has found something that will carry over to 2024. If he goes 0fer in the playoffs, many people will turn on Kepler. If he does great in the playoffs, he will be with the Twins in 2024.

Interesting off season decision for the Twins.

I think the decision on Polanco and Kepler should be made based on how we do in the playoffs.  If we lay an egg again it is time to move on from them and bring up the young guys including Larnach.  Yes Polanco and Kepler have been productive when healthy but if we can't win in the playoffs with them then it is time to go another direction.  How many years do you want to give them, they have had their chance and this should be their last chance.

2 hours ago, Supfin99 said:

Why do the Twins need to acquire a pitcher for next season?  They have Lopez, Ryan, Paddock, Ober and Varland already penciled in. Festa and Marco Rays will provide depth as well as Woods-Richardson. 

Raya is 21 in A+ with 59 innings he probably isn't a real solution next year, Festa has 90 innings and a 4.39 ERA in AA, again probably not a solution other than a few starts. Paddock is coming off TJ surgury and will be on a innings limit. So in reality there isn't much depth after the starting 4.

Tom Kelly used to say teams need give a guy 1,000 AB's before you know what you have.  He is still about 350 AB's away from that number.  My feeling is to keep him and give him those AB's at the MLB level so we can see if he can adjust.  As most have said, his value is low anyway so if he improves, then we have a solid corner OF guy or one with more trade value.

None of us knows what the future holds with guys like Larnach.  And Wallner.  Not me, not anyone here at TD, not the players and not the Twins.

The Matt Wallner I see striking out for the Twins certainly hasn't locked down his spot in 2024.  The way Larnach has been playing at AAA is encouraging.  I expect both will be in spring training with the better player opening the season with the Twins.  The other player will be at AAA and likely moved in a trade late in spring training or more likely during the season.

Larnach was given a starting job as the clean up hitter out of spring training and did nothing with it. You can't be given a better opportunity as a bat first corner outfielder.

The Twins don't need to do anything with him unless he proves he deserves another shot.