FORT MYERS, FLA. — Trevor Larnach noticed his new teammate unpacking at a locker across the Twins clubhouse last week, and seized his chance. The second-year outfielder walked over to Gary Sanchez and stuck out his hand.
"I said, 'What's up, man? I'm No. 24,'" Larnach said. "'And it's going to cost you.'"
Sanchez took him seriously, but Larnach said he burst out laughing. Just kidding, he told Sanchez. You have seniority, you've been wearing 24 a long time. I'll switch to something else.
"I was completely joking, but I don't think he believed me. At the end of our conversation, he was like, 'OK, what do you want?'" said Larnach, who wore 11 at Oregon State, 9 in Class AA, and 81 when he was a non-roster invitee to spring training. "I told him again, no, I'm kidding. It didn't cost me anything. It doesn't matter to me."
Which is why any Larnach jerseys sold at Target Field this summer will have a No. 13 on the back. (Well, except for leftover 24s on the clearance rack, probably.) His new number was in his locker on Monday, and Larnach pronounced himself satisfied.
Numbers can be a delicate matter when veteran players change teams, as the Twins discovered two springs ago when Josh Donaldson signed with Minnesota and discovered Eddie Rosario wearing Donaldson's traditional No. 20. The newcomer reportedly offered Rosario all manner of compensation, even a car, but Rosario was as superstitious about it as Donaldson, and wouldn't budge.
Now comes Carlos Correa, the highest-paid player in Twins history, and someone who wore No. 1 throughout his seven seasons in Houston. Utility player Nick Gordon, who has worn No. 1 since being promoted to the majors last year, already was jokingly savoring the prospect of negotiating with a player who will earn a $35.1 million salary this season.
Alas, Correa, who will have a news conference Wednesday, intends to change his number in Minnesota. "New chapter, new start, new number," he said as he introduced himself in the clubhouse Monday. Correa has chosen, for no particular reason other than he just likes it, to wear No. 4 — Royce Lewis' current number.