40 Man Roster Management For 2022

[Danchat]

The Twins have many decisions to make as to how they will fill the 40 man roster in 2022. Assuming they plan on fielding a competitive team in 2022, they will need to balance the number of core pieces, prospects to protect, and new free agent additions. I've parsed out the Twins' current 40 man roster into categories below:

First we have the "locks" - 15 players who will likely be back barring a trade, and another 5 prospects who are unlikely to lose their spot. You could consider Dobnak and Colina are on the fringe, but Randy's contract and Edwar's potential to help our bad bullpen should keep them on the team.

I've then sorted the rest into a few other categories - Potentially Gone has players who may leave due to contract reasons. I see Sano and Kepler as possible trade options over the winter, and Thielbar might get moved at the trade deadline. Likely Gone is fairly obvious - Cruz could be retained, but they might choose to wait until January/February because MLB free agency is slow as heck. Fringe Veteran categorizes players who have played well enough to warrant consideration to be retained on the 40 man, but could also be DFA'd without being a big deal. Middling Prospect entails 1st-3rd year players who are in danger of losing their spots. Fringe Prospect has a few guys who will likely be DFA'd and make it through waivers.

Of course, then we've got the Rule 5 Prospects. The first 5 listed should be shoo-ins, but the Less Notable list should create some debate as to who is worth protecting. I also call it the Baddoo List since it includes debatable additions that are talented enough to possibly make an impact in the majors. Akil Baddoo is going to haunt our Rule 5 articles for years to come.

I'd like to see how you guys would fill your 40 man rosters. You can use my chart above, but don't forget there are other players in the minors who could be added at some point too. Here is a template with some initial suggestions:

#1-20: My aforementioned locks

#21-27: OF Max Kepler, UTL Nick Gordon, RP Cody Stashak, C Ben Rortvedt, OF Rob Refsnyder, SP Lewis Thorpe, SP Charlie Barnes

#28-35: SS Royce Lewis, 3B Jose Miranda, SP Josh Winder, SP Blayne Enlow, SP Cole Sands, SS Jermaine Palacios, RP Jovani Moran, RP Yennier Cano (not Rule 5 eligible, but I want to see him pitch in 2021)

#36-40 : Spots kept open for free agents / players or prospects acquired in deadline trades

Now it's your turn, give it a shot!

 

[beckmt]

I feel Thorpe, Refsnyder,  Stashak, should also be gone, add Javier and maybe vallimont.  Maybe you could also dispose of Rooker as a trade throwin.   Maybe Columbe and Garlick also stay (Garlick beat out Rooker this year).  Rest are TDB based on trade returns and FA this winter.

[Seth Stohs]

Robles and Pineda are free agents. They could be brought back, but wouldn't factor into their 40-man roster (unless signed before the end of the season). 

Fringe Veterans - I'd be shocked if Farrell, Coulombe, Refsnyder, Garlick are back on anything more than another minor league contract. Cave and Astudillo are probably 50/50. 

I think Stashak, Rortvedt and Gordon will stick on the 40. I think Thorpe and Smeltzer are 50/50. 

Burrows, Barnes and Jax should get a bunch of MLB time the rest of the way to help them make their decision. Right now, I'd guess Jax would stick, the other two woudl be in that 50/50 category. 

Likely gone - Again, free agents, so not a factor in this... Except Minaya, though he's certainly not going to be kept on the 40-man. 

The Likely 40 man adds, I agree with.

I think out of that next group, Moran and Cano will be added in-season, so I would guess they'll stick. I think Vallmont would be added as well. 

 

Of course, after the trade deadline, it'll be good to do something like this again, because it should be more clear. 

[Danchat]

1 hour ago, beckmt said:

I feel Thorpe, Refsnyder,  Stashak, should also be gone, add Javier and maybe vallimont.  Maybe you could also dispose of Rooker as a trade throwin. 

Thorpe is iffy since he's out of options, but I still think there is something there if they commit to moving him to the pen. Stashak had two quality seasons before looking bad this year, and still had good peripherals. I think if they DFA him, he definitely resurfaces with another team and we look dumb (see Littell, others). I assume we will know a lot more about Rooker after seeing many ABs in August and September and we can make a more informed decision then.

18 minutes ago, Seth Stohs said:

Robles and Pineda are free agents. They could be brought back, but wouldn't factor into their 40-man roster (unless signed before the end of the season). 

Good point, I see them as re-sign candidates, but it does make more sense to do that once the Rule 5 draft has passed.

18 minutes ago, Seth Stohs said:

I'd be shocked if Farrell, Coulombe, Refsnyder, Garlick are back on anything more than another minor league contract.

I could see them keeping one of Refsnyder or Garlick as the RH OF, though they could also look to free agency to find that guy..

18 minutes ago, Seth Stohs said:

I think Stashak, Rortvedt and Gordon will stick on the 40. I think Thorpe and Smeltzer are 50/50. 

Agreed on all those.

Also, Derek Law should be on the Likely Gone list.

[beckmt]

8 minutes ago, Danchat said:

Thorpe is iffy since he's out of options, but I still think there is something there if they commit to moving him to the pen. Stashak had two quality seasons before looking bad this year, and still had good peripherals. I think if they DFA him, he definitely resurfaces with another team and we look dumb (see Littell, others). I assume we will know a lot more about Rooker after seeing many ABs in August and September and we can make a more informed decision then.

Good point, I see them as re-sign candidates, but it does make more sense to do that once the Rule 5 draft has passed.

I could see them keeping one of Refsnyder or Garlick as the RH OF, though they could also look to free agency to find that guy..

Agreed on all those.

Also, Derek Law should be on the Likely Gone list.

I don't feel the Stashak is more than long relief, and not in a major way.  I feel some of the other options the Twins have are better.  I had stronger feelings on Littell, than on Stashak.

[Dman]

This is a brutal exercise.  Right now there are too many young pitchers being protected or needing to be protected that is messing things up until they start producing at the MLB level.  Duran, Balazovich, Winder, Enlow, Sands and Vallimont are all pretty much dead weight right now but are our best future hope at good young starting pitching.

The guys I have in red are guys that could be taken off if the Twins find something better via trade or free agency,  I penciled in Smeltzer mainly because he is a lefty and left Barnes and Thorpe off of my list.  I have concerns with Thorpe's velocity and his tendency to give up the HR ball.  I don't feel like Barnes K's enough guys to be a legit MLB starter.  

I kept Ferrell on mainly because he was doing well when healthy and we don't seem to have much for pen arms as it is.

Rijo is still a wild card for me.  He has that great curve but the fastball has been suspect.  Hopefully if he can show more this season I can make a better guess whether to add him or not.

Colina is on my penciled in list mainly because the last time I saw him he was getting blown up at the MLB level.  Haven't had a chance to see him yet this year so it is hard to make a decision but I left him penciled in.

I have Cano on my list because I think the Twins are going to add him if he performs well at AAA.  I think he will but if not they don't need to add him but I penciled him in because I think they will.

I left Thielbar off because I think he will get traded.  He has three years of control left but but he is also 34 so likely only a couple of good years left.  I could be wrong the Twins might keep him as he is one of the few lefty relievers they have.

I didn't keep Burroughs or Jax.  I had Jax on initially but I needed space for FA starters and went with Smeltzer instead mainly because he is left handed.

Hitters I did not add Cave or Refsnyder to my list and penciled in Garlick but even he could end up being replaced depending on what the Twins decide to do there. I also did not put Gabriel Maciel on because he is more of a 4th outfielder and has no power.

I added Jermaine Palacios but only penciled him in.  He hasn't been hitting quite as well at AA recently and the Twins might do something in FA for Shortstop and they still have Lewis.  I think they will add Jermaine though as insurance it will certainly be between him a Javier.  I just personally don't see Javier as even lose to ready for MLB ball it seems like he might have confidence issues and he is very up and down and his underlying numbers are not that great either.  So giving the nod to Palacios.

I have left a lot of talent off of my list and saved only three spots but likely need 5 so some of the penciled in will likely have to go.  The Twins will need one or two starting pitcher FA.  A shortstop FA and couple of veteran bullpen arms as well.  Guys are going to get exposed to rule V no question.  That is my list will be interesting to see how the FO handles things.

 

Pitchers
Maeda	Keep
Berrios	Keep
Dobank	Keep
Ober	Keep
jhoan Duran	Keep
Balazovich	Keep
Taylor Rodgers	Keep
Jorge Alcala	Keep
Tyler Duffey	Keep
Josh Winder	Keep
Blayne Enlow	Keep
Cole Sands	Keep
Chris Vallimont	Keep
Devin Smeltzer
Luke Farrell
Luis Rijo
Jovani Moran	Keep
Edwar Colina
Yennier Cano
Hitters
Mitch Garver	Keep
Ryan Jeffers	Keep
Ben Rortvedt	Keep
Alex Kirilloff	Keep
Jorge Polanco	Keep
Luis Arraez	Keep
Trevor Larnach	Keep
Byron Buxton	Keep
Donaldson	Keep
Max Kepler	Keep
Miguel Sano	Keep
Brent Rooker	Keep
Kyle Garlick
Gileberto Celestino	Keep
Nick Gordon	Keep
Rotce Lewis	Keep
Jose Miranda	Keep
Jermaine Palacios

[Rosterman]

Something good to sort thru. Of course, the Twins could say goodbye to Stashak or Cave or Smeltzer or even Colina, but a team can have the player by just claiming and putting on their own 40-man. You might try it still this tear, but then most of those would just become free agents come the fall.

 

You always have to judge 40-man adds as guys who will either break camp with the Twins in 2022, or come up sometime during the season. Right now, the Twins have been stuck with folks like Duran and Balazovic who basically are wasting a year on the 40-man and aren't guaranteed to be a contributor for much of 2022. The Twins will need to add Royce Lewis, but someone like Wander Javier may be kept at A+ ball, or just a few AA at bats, to lessen the chance of him being taken (a second) time, with next year being his push for the Twins to commit.

The Twins do, now, have to make hard decisions on names like Barnes and Jax and Ober as real keepers. They are, now. Although Jax may be on the bubble.

 

Of course, 40-man adds during the off-season can only be traded, not released, into spring training. So you always need some names on the roster than you might jettison if you sign a free agent and don't have a spot. But many will just walk (Law, Farrell, Rooker, Minaya) when the time comes, and maybe answer the Twins phone call if no one else shows interest.

 

Winder, Moran, Miranda all look to join Lewis as protective players. Enlow they may try and pass, due to his lost injury season. Names like Sands and Vallimont may be interesting, depending on where the end up the final month of the minor league season.

 

Not sure who the six year minor league names are that the Twins could just have walk away. But they sure aren't on the Saints minor league free agent heavy-laden roster.

 

Not sure what the Twins plans are for Ian Hamilton. 

 

[lecroy24fan]

There is zero chance they take Rooker off the 40 man. Zilch. Zero. None.

[umterp23]

am I missing something, but don't see Donaldson on the list anywhere?

 

[Danchat]

21 minutes ago, umterp23 said:

am I missing something, but don't see Donaldson on the list anywhere?

 

No, you are correct. I've corrected the list, as the roster I was looking at didn't include him for some reason.

[beckmt]

11 hours ago, Dman said:

This is a brutal exercise.  Right now there are too many young pitchers being protected or needing to be protected that is messing things up until they start producing at the MLB level.  Duran, Balazovich, Winder, Enlow, Sands and Vallimont are all pretty much dead weight right now but are our best future hope at good young starting pitching.

The guys I have in red are guys that could be taken off if the Twins find something better via trade or free agency,  I penciled in Smeltzer mainly because he is a lefty and left Barnes and Thorpe off of my list.  I have concerns with Thorpe's velocity and his tendency to give up the HR ball.  I don't feel like Barnes K's enough guys to be a legit MLB starter.  

I kept Ferrell on mainly because he was doing well when healthy and we don't seem to have much for pen arms as it is.

Rijo is still a wild card for me.  He has that great curve but the fastball has been suspect.  Hopefully if he can show more this season I can make a better guess whether to add him or not.

Colina is on my penciled in list mainly because the last time I saw him he was getting blown up at the MLB level.  Haven't had a chance to see him yet this year so it is hard to make a decision but I left him penciled in.

I have Cano on my list because I think the Twins are going to add him if he performs well at AAA.  I think he will but if not they don't need to add him but I penciled him in because I think they will.

I left Thielbar off because I think he will get traded.  He has three years of control left but but he is also 34 so likely only a couple of good years left.  I could be wrong the Twins might keep him as he is one of the few lefty relievers they have.

I didn't keep Burroughs or Jax.  I had Jax on initially but I needed space for FA starters and went with Smeltzer instead mainly because he is left handed.

Hitters I did not add Cave or Refsnyder to my list and penciled in Garlick but even he could end up being replaced depending on what the Twins decide to do there. I also did not put Gabriel Maciel on because he is more of a 4th outfielder and has no power.

I added Jermaine Palacios but only penciled him in.  He hasn't been hitting quite as well at AA recently and the Twins might do something in FA for Shortstop and they still have Lewis.  I think they will add Jermaine though as insurance it will certainly be between him a Javier.  I just personally don't see Javier as even lose to ready for MLB ball it seems like he might have confidence issues and he is very up and down and his underlying numbers are not that great either.  So giving the nod to Palacios.

I have left a lot of talent off of my list and saved only three spots but likely need 5 so some of the penciled in will likely have to go.  The Twins will need one or two starting pitcher FA.  A shortstop FA and couple of veteran bullpen arms as well.  Guys are going to get exposed to rule V no question.  That is my list will be interesting to see how the FO handles things.

 

Pitchers
Maeda	Keep
Berrios	Keep
Dobank	Keep
Ober	Keep
jhoan Duran	Keep
Balazovich	Keep
Taylor Rodgers	Keep
Jorge Alcala	Keep
Tyler Duffey	Keep
Josh Winder	Keep
Blayne Enlow	Keep
Cole Sands	Keep
Chris Vallimont	Keep
Devin Smeltzer
Luke Farrell
Luis Rijo
Jovani Moran	Keep
Edwar Colina
Yennier Cano
Hitters
Mitch Garver	Keep
Ryan Jeffers	Keep
Ben Rortvedt	Keep
Alex Kirilloff	Keep
Jorge Polanco	Keep
Luis Arraez	Keep
Trevor Larnach	Keep
Byron Buxton	Keep
Donaldson	Keep
Max Kepler	Keep
Miguel Sano	Keep
Brent Rooker	Keep
Kyle Garlick
Gileberto Celestino	Keep
Nick Gordon	Keep
Rotce Lewis	Keep
Jose Miranda	Keep
Jermaine Palacios

I still feel like Rooker is AAAA type, his K rate is way to high for AAA and would only be worse here.  I think they will look at Cano and possibly keep him. You are missing Thielbar on this list, but maybe hoping he is traded. Maybe Rortvedt is exposed or Garver is traded, hopefully Garver is traded as he has some value, more than a lottery ticket. 

[Dman]

46 minutes ago, beckmt said:

I still feel like Rooker is AAAA type, his K rate is way to high for AAA and would only be worse here.  I think they will look at Cano and possibly keep him. You are missing Thielbar on this list, but maybe hoping he is traded. Maybe Rortvedt is exposed or Garver is traded, hopefully Garver is traded as he has some value, more than a lottery ticket. 

Yep tend to agree with you on Rooker.  Until he proves he can sit on Breaking balls and hit them he will never make it.  I just think they will keep him over other options as they have before.

I had Thielbar in my trade scenario.  I mentioned it might not happen as he is one of the few effective lefties they have but he is 34 so not sure how much more they can get out of him at this point.

Personally I think they keep all three catchers.  Rortvedt is a pretty elite defensive catcher another team would love to grab him in Rule V.  The Twins will wait fir his offense to pick up.  They love Garver for some reason and even if not behind the dish appear see him as a 1st base DH option as well and a team always needs catcher depth anyway so there is that.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Wow, some really great work in this thread. 

[ashbury]

2 hours ago, Dman said:

Rortvedt is a pretty elite defensive catcher another team would love to grab him in Rule V.

Rortvedt is on the 40-man roster and thus not eligible for the rule-5 draft.

[Dman]

21 minutes ago, ashbury said:

Rortvedt is on the 40-man roster and thus not eligible for the rule-5 draft.

Caught me sleeping eh. My bad someone would claim him then if dropped.

[ashbury]

10 minutes ago, Dman said:

 someone would claim him then if dropped.

True. They have no reason to drop him from the 40-man, though. He has minor league options, and carrying 3 catchers on the 40-man (as opposed to the active roster) isn't a burden for roster management.

[Rosterman]

Rortvedt is no worse a carry than Twins past from Jerry Zimmerman to Drew Butera. He ahs a rifle for an arm. He is working on controlling his upper body strength. Plus, he ahs minor league options if you choose to keep Jeffers and Garver. Garver, if Cruz is gone, could also be a DH or fill in at first base. When Garver comes back and IF he can play daily, I would almost send Jeffers down to the Saints to play everyday.

[jorgenswest]

Rooker is similar to Tyler Austin and many other right handed bats that don’t help on defense. 

Austin has 583 career major league at bats with 33 home runs and a batting average of .219. That seems a reasonable comp for Rooker. Austin has a career OPS against left handed pitching of .884. Unfortunately it is the short side of the platoon. In most games that a lefty starts Rooker would see that pitcher only twice and see a right handed pitcher the remaining at bats. Like Austin he would end up facing right handed pitching more than left handed pitching over the course of a season. Rooker does have one advantage over Austin. There is an extra spot on the roster that might give him more opportunity.

[Danchat]

With the Cruz trade in place, you can put Strotman in the Locks list and Joe Ryan in the Notable Rule 5 Eligible Prospects, which means that our 40 man flexibility has been further limited. I am now thinking that it is likely that Thorpe and Smeltzer will be DFA'd for their 40 man spots after the season is over... there's a decent chance they get plucked off waivers, but we need the space and if they do make it through, they will be nice to have in AAA while not taking a 40 man spot.

My 40 man now: 

#1-20: My aforementioned locks (Strotman is now on that list)

#21-26: OF Max Kepler, UTL Nick Gordon, RP Cody Stashak, C Ben Rortvedt, OF Rob Refsnyder, SP Charlie Barnes

#27-35: SS Royce Lewis, 3B Jose Miranda, SP Josh Winder, SP Blayne Enlow, SP Cole Sands, RP Joe Ryan. RP Jovani Moran, RP Yennier Cano, SP Chris Vallimont (Palacios removed, Ryan and Vallimont added)

#36-40 : Spots kept open for free agents / players or prospects acquired in deadline trades

We've certainly got a lot of pitching coming from the minors in the near future!

[Otto von Ballpark]

3 hours ago, Danchat said:

I am now thinking that it is likely that Thorpe and Smeltzer will be DFA'd for their 40 man spots after the season is over... there's a decent chance they get plucked off waivers, but we need the space and if they do make it through, they will be nice to have in AAA while not taking a 40 man spot.

Even if Thorpe clears waivers, he will be eligible for minor league free agency (which requires parts of 7 seasons on a minor league roster or injured list).

Smeltzer would not be eligible yet, since he only has parts of 6 seasons in the minors. (2020 still counts as a minor league season for this purpose too.)

[ToddlerHarmon]

Just to bump this, does anyone know the rule 5 status of the traded-for prospects? Presumably Martin and Woods-Richardson are not Rule 5 eligible this year, while Gant and Ryan and Scherff are. So I guess that leaves Strotman and whatever mistakes I made

[ToddlerHarmon]

7 hours ago, ToddlerHarmon said:

Just to bump this, does anyone know the rule 5 status of the traded-for prospects? Presumably Martin and Woods-Richardson are not Rule 5 eligible this year, while Gant and Ryan and Scherff are. So I guess that leaves Strotman and whatever mistakes I made

My back of the envelope guess is Strotman is eligible and Sisk is not

[Danchat]

8 hours ago, ToddlerHarmon said:

Just to bump this, does anyone know the rule 5 status of the traded-for prospects? Presumably Martin and Woods-Richardson are not Rule 5 eligible this year, while Gant and Ryan and Scherff are. So I guess that leaves Strotman and whatever mistakes I made

I am working on an update, but to answer your question - only Ryan is in needed of protection. Scherff and Sisk are eligible, but massive long shots. Strotman is already on the 40 man. Grant has 5 years of MLB service and is on the 40 man. Martin is eligible in 2023 and SWR in 2022.

[Steve71]

Dan, are you sure SWR is eligible in 2022, or is that a typo?

[Otto von Ballpark]

26 minutes ago, Steve71 said:

Dan, are you sure SWR is eligible in 2022, or is that a typo?

SWR is 2022. Generally, guys who sign at 18 years old like he did in summer 2018 are eligible on the 5th Rule 5 draft after their signing, which would be December 2022.

[Mike Sixel]

Fangraphs roster resource page is your go to spot for status of players and 40 man and other information.....

[Otto von Ballpark]

1 hour ago, Danchat said:

Scherff and Sisk are eligible, but massive long shots.

I'm not so sure about this characterization of Scherff. I don't think he's a likely Rule 5 pick but he would appear to have a chance, which probably contributed to the Red Sox willingness to move him (as contenders, they have less incentive to protect a reliever in AA).

The Red Sox actually gave Scherff a $700k bonus in the 2017 draft -- more than double his 5th round slot value. On paper, Scherff reminds me a bit of Ryan Pressly -- both drafted by the Red Sox out of a Texas high school. Both RHP about the same size. Both spent their first few pro seasons as unimpressive starters in the low minors before successfully switching to relief at AA in their last season before becoming Rule 5 eligible.

Sisk would be the longer shot. He's left-handed, but he hasn't even fared well vs LHB in the minors this year, much less impressed much overall. 16th round pick after his junior season of college in 2018.

[Rosterman]

I'm looking at names the Twins might lose as they become minor league free agents (besides the 33 minor league free agents the Twins signed this season on the rosters of their two top affiliates).

 

Lachlan Wells, Aaron Whitefield (who played for the Twins briefly but still at AA), Zander Weil, Tyler Watson, Jovani Moran, Jose Miranda, Ryan Mason, Hector Lujan, Gabriel Maciel (one of the top guys in the trade of Escobar). Wander Javier, Trey Cabbage, Adam Bray, Joe Ryan, Caleb Hamilton, and Andrew Vasquez. Because of time in the organization (and correct me on any of the names), these guys could basically walk away from the Twins and take services elsewhere. 

 

Moran, Miranda and Josh Winder and shoe-ins to protect at this point. The Twins are seeing how Ryan Mason plays at AAA. Anyone love Cabbage? Hopefully others will just resign for another year as the Twins promise to move them up in the system.

Most of the Rule 5 guys are in the lower minors so unless someone wants to advance someone quickly (like the Baddoo), they should be pretty safe. Chris Villamont, Royce Lewis, Cole Sands are the major concerns. Sands, like Blake Enlow, is still in Wichita and will probably stay there if the Twins are thinking of sneaking him thru. Jimmy Kerrigan and Mark Contreras are both eligible, but probably are safe with the influx of outfielders and neither are considered more than safe depth.

 

Other names in Rule 5 play are Adam Phillips, Tyler Featherstone, Jordan Gore, Derek Molina, Bryan Sammons, Chris Williams. Luis Rijo is available, as is Ernie de la Trinidad, Jonathan Cheshire, Austin Schulfer, Evan Sisk, Melvi Acosta and Jair Carmago, not to mention the new guy the Twins got for Robles.

 

What I do truly find amazing, when a minor league team was cut, and you did keep all your minor league guys on payroll for a year, that the Twins went out and signed, what I believe, to be a record 33+ players to fill their upper minor league rosters (they also signed a good dozen from the college league and indy ball who will probably be around for another season).

 

[Danchat]

Here is my update:

There is a lot of chaff to be separated from the wheat here. Here is a mock-up of how I might proceed:

Spots #1-23: Locks

#24: Gant - Looks good so far and has one year left of control. Probably a middle reliever at best.

#25: Stashak - I'm not ready to give up on him. He had strong 2019 and 2020 seasons and he will rebound somewhere else if we DFA him.

#26: Refsnyder - He's hitting too well to release, and we need a RH OF bat. Goodbye Cave!

#27: Jax - He's looked better and could be shuttled between the Twins Cities when needed.

#28-35: The Rule 5 locks plus Moran and Palacios. I'm not as high on Vallimont as most others, Javier just doesn't have a bat worth protecting, and the rest are longshots.

That leaves 5 spots for FAs and trades, though we have plenty of trade candidates on the roster.

In the end, I am DFA'ing: Minaya, Law, Vincent, Farrell, Garlick, Rooker, Cave, Astudillo, Smelzter, Thorpe, Gordon, Burrows, Barnes, and Garza. Wow, that's quite the list!

Let me know what you would do differently!

 

[Rosterman]

12 minutes ago, Danchat said:

Here is my update:

There is a lot of chaff to be separated from the wheat here. Here is a mock-up of how I might proceed:

Spots #1-23: Locks

#24: Gant - Looks good so far and has one year left of control. Probably a middle reliever at best.

#25: Stashak - I'm not ready to give up on him. He had strong 2019 and 2020 seasons and he will rebound somewhere else if we DFA him.

#26: Refsnyder - He's hitting too well to release, and we need a RH OF bat. Goodbye Cave!

#27: Jax - He's looked better and could be shuttled between the Twins Cities when needed.

#28-35: The Rule 5 locks plus Moran and Palacios. I'm not as high on Vallimont as most others, Javier just doesn't have a bat worth protecting, and the rest are longshots.

That leaves 5 spots for FAs and trades, though we have plenty of trade candidates on the roster.

In the end, I am DFA'ing: Minaya, Law, Vincent, Farrell, Garlick, Rooker, Cave, Astudillo, Smelzter, Thorpe, Gordon, Burrows, Barnes, and Garza. Wow, that's quite the list!

Let me know what you would do differently!

 

For trade and free-agent replacement spots, you keep guys that may then get thru waivers and you try and resign, like perhaps Thorpe and Garza, for example. The pain of releasing a guy from the 40-man is that any team can claim him (in their respective order). So you lose them most likely, IF they are worthy of a 40-man spot elsewhere. Plus you gotta be careful as you can't waiver a guy who was a Rule 5 add from your own system until spring training. You can trade 'em, but can't waiver them.