It seems clear that the Minnesota Twins will move on from outfielder Trevor Larnach this offseason. Non tendering him is an option, but the Twins would be wise to tender him a contract for 2027, his final year of team control, and then trade him. Unfortunately, a wrist injury he suffered late in the 2026 season could impact his trade market.
Larnach, 29, will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left wrist on Friday, according to Bobby Nightengale of The Minnesota Star Tribune. Larnach felt pain in his wrist when he started his offseason workouts. Nightengale added that Twins general manager Jeremy Zoll expects Larnach to be ready for spring training.
Even though it seems like a minor surgery for Larnach, it could hurt his trade value. Based on what Zoll said, Larnach will most likely be OK, but teams may worry that he could reaggravate his wrist injury.
Twins will likely trade Trevor Larnach this offseason
When looking at Larnach's 2026 numbers, some may wonder why the Twins would consider trading him. He had his best career offensive season in 2026, slashing .269/.352/.436 (123 wRC+) over 122 games. However, there is no room for him on the Twins' 2027 roster, as Minnesota should want to give regular playing time to outfielders Byron Buxton, Walker Jenkins, Luke Keaschall and Emmanuel Rodriguez, meaning there isn't even room for Larnach to serve as a designated hitter.
And while Larnach is coming off his best season, he's been an average hitter throughout his six-year MLB career. He is also a poor defender, posting -8 Defensive Runs Saved and -5 Outs Above Average in 809 1/3 innings at left field this year. Another flaw of Larnach's game is that he struggles against southpaws, slashing .167/.259/.313 in 55 plate appearances against left-handers last season.
Is Larnach a perfect player? No. Is he a bad player? Not at all. Unfortunately, he just doesn't fit the Twins' roster as currently constructed. Moving him this offseason would be wise for Minnesota.
The Twins already tried to trade Larnach at this year's trade deadline, as Minnesota agreed to send the outfielder to the Houston Astros for top reliever Bryan Abreu before Houston owner Jim Crane nixed the deal. Since Minnesota was willing to trade him at the deadline, the front office will likely be interested in moving him this offseason.
MLB Network's Jon Morosi reported that teams are hesitant to trade prospects for players on expiring contracts before the Dec. 1 lockout, meaning if the Twins trade Larnach this offseason, it will likely be for another player with only one year of control left. If the Twins want to deal Larnach for prospects, they will likely have to wait until after the lockout.
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