MINNEAPOLIS — The Twins traded for a catcher and agreed to terms with a relief pitcher on Friday, but the most surprising news of the day may have been what they didn’t do.
Minnesota elected to tender a contract to designated hitter/outfielder Trevor Larnach rather than non-tendering or trading him, bringing back the left-handed hitter for a sixth season at Target Field. Larnach had been widely speculated as a non-tender candidate.
Larnach made $2.1 million in 2025 and is likely to receive a raise via the arbitration process in 2026. Given the Twins’ move toward a more aggressive, athletic offensive model, it seemed he might be an awkward fit as a bat-first player who hit at a league-average level but played almost exclusively designated hitter and has a significant platoon split.
Additionally, the Twins acquired veteran catcher Alex Jackson from the Orioles in exchange for Minor League infielder Payton Eeles. Jackson presumably becomes part of the mix for the club’s backup catcher role, an opening that results from Christian Vázquez’s free agency.
To create space on the 40-man roster, the Twins designated outfielder DaShawn Keirsey Jr. for assignment, then later non-tendered him, making him a free agent. They also agreed to terms on a 2026 contract with arbitration-eligible reliever Justin Topa. Minnesota had previously declined Topa’s ’26 contract option, but he remained under team control and is now signed. He will receive a reported $1 million with a 2027 mutual option, less than the $2 million the original option would have paid him.
Aside from Keirsey, all of the Twins’ arbitration-eligible players were tendered contracts on Friday. That list includes pitchers Bailey Ober, Joe Ryan, and Cole Sands; catchers Ryan Jeffers and Jackson; and infielder Royce Lewis.
Friday was Major League Baseball’s tender deadline, when clubs must decide whether to offer a 2026 contract to their arbitration-eligible players or otherwise non-tender them, making them free agents. Topa had been a possibility for a non-tender, but as one of very few experienced relievers on the roster, he will return for 2026. The Twins’ most likely candidate for a non-tender (or a pre-deadline trade) is outfielder/designated hitter Trevor Larnach.
Jackson, who turns 30 next month, thrived in limited time with Baltimore last year, hitting a career-high five home runs in 100 plate appearances. He posted a .220/.290/.473 slash line for the O’s, but overall has a .153/.239/.288 slash line over parts of six seasons with the Braves, Rays, Marlins, Orioles and Brewers.
A right-handed hitter, Jackson is a former Top 100 prospect who has slugged .517 in 313 career Triple-A games. He’s thrown out 29 percent of would-be base stealers in his career, a number that has stayed stable since the 2023 rule change. He joins a catching mix behind starter Ryan Jeffers that could also include Jhonny Pereda and utility player Mickey Gasper.
Eeles, 26, is a former independent league player who went undrafted out of college. He has a career .285/.410/.417 slash across three levels since signing with the Twins.
The Twins’ 40-man roster is currently full.
