Minnesota Twins Have Tough Trade Decision to Make on Trevor Larnach

The Minnesota Twins have a difficult decision to make on their outfield this offseason, and Trevor Larnach could be the odd man out. The 29-year-old had a productive 2026 season, but Minnesota has several younger outfielders pushing for opportunities as the organization reshapes its roster for the future.

Larnach gave the Twins a solid year at the plate. He hit .269 with a .352 on-base percentage and .788 OPS across 122 games, adding 13 home runs and 48 RBIs. Those numbers make him a useful player, but his place on this roster is less certain with younger options available and an arbitration raise on the way.

The financial picture is part of the equation. Larnach earned $4.475 million in 2026 and is projected to make around $6.3 million in 2027 through arbitration, according to MLB Trade Rumors. Minnesota has to decide whether that increase makes sense when other outfielders offer more years of team control at a lower cost.

The roster logjam makes the decision harder. Byron Buxton remains the everyday center fielder when healthy, while Matt Wallner provides another left-handed power bat. Austin Martin gives the Twins a right-handed option and Alan Roden adds more depth. Keeping Larnach could limit development opportunities for some of those players.

The bigger picture though involves the prospect pipeline. Walker Jenkins and Emmanuel Rodriguez are two of the organization's most important young position players, with Gabriel Gonzalez and Hendry Mendez adding further outfield depth.

Jenkins still needs to fully establish himself at the major-league level, so Minnesota cannot assume every prospect will immediately become a regular. Still, the organization needs to create space for its younger players to develop.

Larnach's late-season injury should not be mistaken for a larger concern. The Twins placed him on the 10-day injured list in September with a left wrist sprain before activating him September 28th. He finished the year with 122 games played, giving Minnesota a full picture of his production.

A trade could bring back help elsewhere while opening a path for younger outfielders. His .788 OPS and durability should make him an attractive option for teams looking for a dependable corner outfielder. With arbitration raising his cost and younger players needing opportunities, moving Larnach this offseason makes sense for both sides.

Larnach has spent his entire six-year career in Minnesota since debuting in 2021. But it may be time to move him, especially because of the weak free agent class.