Non-roster Players

[stringer bell]

I think that the Twins don't have a lot of room to make cuts from their 40-man roster, although they managed to outright Lewis Thorpe yesterday. That said, just about every year a non-roster player or two makes the team forcing another player or players off the 40-man roster. 

Even with the abbreviated schedule of games for this spring training, several non-roster players have seen a lot of action. I'll mention a few here and ask the faithful readers if they think there are others with a chance to go north with the team, or failing that, to get called up sometime during the season. 

Pitchers: Juan Minaya pitched very well for the club in 2021, but was non-tendered and then signed a minor-league contract after the lockout ended. Trevor Megill broke in with the Cubs last year and was unimpressive, but the big guy throws hard, so if he can find some command, he might get a look. Chi Chi Gonzalez has started two games this spring for the Twins after being signed. He last pitched (ineffectively) for the Rockies. It looks like throwing strikes is Gonzalez' bugaboo as well. Deven Smeltzer only pitched a few innings last year before being felled by injuries. He's not a hard thrower, but he's had a bit of success working as both a starter and multiple inning reliever. Not mentioned by anyone, but Jake Faria has looked pretty good in his appearances with the Twins this spring. He has thrown over 200 major league innings with the Rays, Brewers and D-Backs. Ian Hamilton was quite effective for St. Paul last year, but never got the call to join the Twins.

Infielders: Former #1 overall pick Tim Beckham has put up good numbers in the spring training exhibitions. You don't become an overall #1 pick without talent, but you don't bounce around like Beckham has without some issues. Daniel Robertson has logged almost a thousand plate appearances, mostly with the Rays. He plays second, short and third. Curtis Terry made the majors last year with Texas and has seen quite a bit of time at first base.

Outfielders: Jake Cave and Kyle Garlick both saw time with the Twins last year although both had their seasons curtailed by injury. Garlick bashed lefties and played acceptably in the field, but was felled by a sports hernia (IIRC) and Cave had chance for regular play, but was terrible at the plate and then injured, perhaps the injury affected his play. Lastly, Derek Fisher has played quite a bit of outfield this spring. He has experience with the Astros, Blue Jays and Brewers. 

I really don't think any of those I've mentioned will make the Opening Day roster, but I do think a couple might be recalled at some point in the season. All of the guys I've listed have at least a little big-league experience. Are there any others I've missed? Does anyone think that one or more of these players can break through and contribute?

[Otto von Ballpark]

With a 28-man roster for the first month, I could see 1-2 of these guys making it, especially pitchers.

[4twinsJA]

As mentioned by OP, the problem is who gets bumped off 40 man for a non roster player to make it. Gordon- not high on him but he is very versatile, can play anywhere in field but C, 1B, and P. Although Twins have plenty of infiedlers, Polanco and Urshela can back up SS. Maybe Rooker, poor defensively and hasn't hit very well. Possibly another pitcher, not sure how Romero has looked since joining team, Stashek? 

[Rosterman]

The players on the bubble? Not many. Rooker if you want Cave or Garlick.  Beckham was a possibility, but then the Twins signeed Correa. I consider Gordon and Arraez a better fit. But if you ruly need a left-fielder, why not Miranda? Looks like Kirilloff will be the opener, though.

 

Twins felt Romero was a better fit than, say, Garza. Stashak, Strotman, Jax. Add in Cotton. Any of those guys could be interchangable if you want to give a spot to Minaya or Smeltzer. But, no, not a lot of opportunities for short-term guys right now. 

 

[Musk21]

Is there anyone battling a minor injury right now that might possibly start the season on the IL and buy us another 2 weeks from having to make a final decision on another player?

[stringer bell]

29 minutes ago, Musk21 said:

Is there anyone battling a minor injury right now that might possibly start the season on the IL and buy us another 2 weeks from having to make a final decision on another player?

Rooker has been out for the better part of a week. 

[Rosterman]

27 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

Rooker has been out for the better part of a week. 

A player going on the disabled list doesn't free up a 40-man spot. Compounded is the fact that the Twins, like every other team, will probably have 15 pitchers amongst their 28, cutting two after the month of April, causing a chain-reaction backwards in the minors system. 

 

And, yes, there is a possibility of two pitcehrs coming from the non-roster invitee field, as well as possibly one hitter. But if any of those players are minor-league free agents, you may lose them when you send them back to the minors, too. Not that EVERY team will also be in the same boat. So, look for a lot of changing of teams with fringe players come May 1. 

 

Of course, the Twins may choose to keep, say, people like Winder and Duran or Moran who would just be getting stretched out, as well as Miranda, who would jsut be optioned out. Are they better served playing in St. Paul? In the case of a crowded pitching arena, maybe a couple of the 40-man guys would be better served at Target Field while a couple of AAA guys have a month to play themselves off the team (or AA guys).

[DocBauer]

I've caught a few of the ST games so I've seen everyone here, I believe, except for Gonzalez and Faria. Even though it's obviously SSS, Minaya has looked solid and Smeltzer has looked quite good to me. I've been sort of impressed by Megill. He seems to crank it up to 97-98 easily and his breaking ball seems to have good carry before breaking/hopping late. But I dont know that any of them gets added at this time as they seem blocked right now by guys on the 40 like Moran, Cotton, and Romero, etc, who have looked pretty good when I've seen them. 

Position player wise, not sure anyone has really shown anything to warrant a spot at this time. I think Beckham is a depth piece with no room and haven't seen Garlick do much in the games I've seen. Been a little surprised by how much Fisher has played. Do they like him or is it just because he's got ML experience? I've been surprised that he seems to have played a lot more than Kerrigan or Contreras, who are slightly younger and coming off solid years. 

On topic but slightly off point, I've been disappointed by Rooker. This is the PERFECT time/opportunity for him to grab a job as a RH corner OF to spell Kepler and Kirilloff, and maybe let AK play a little more 1B. And maybe he's showing them something that we're not seeing in drills, workouts, minor games, etc. I had really hoped the Twins would spend a couple $M on an actual, competent corner RH OF for 2022. I think there is a real need there. But it didn't happen, and NOBODY has stepped forward to grab that 4th OF spot yet, and my gut just tells me Larach will begin the year in St Paul, though I admit I could end up being wrong about that.

I can't shake this feeling that the Twins might claim a waiver wire OF on cut down day to be that 4th OF to begin the year, buying a little time, if nothing else.

St Paul should have a hell of a team this year, and some of these non-roster players could be major contributors. My goodness, the OF alone could be 7 deep if Larnach DOES start his season there. Catching could be an issue, however. And it's very possible a couple of these non-roster names make their way up to the Twins to help at some point. But right now, I say nobody breaks camp. And barring major injuries at the ML level, I think the pen is where you will see the most "help" for the Twins.

**BTW, I think we could include Thorpe here as well, as I believe he went unclaimed? The 2 out HR he allowed the other day doesn't look good. And the couple of times I've seen him pitch, his FB has been around 87-89mph. But his breaking stuff looked pretty good to me. But right now, I think he's behind both Moran AND Smeltzer.

[Rosterman]

I expect to see some minor league free agents leave the ship because there won't be playing time for them at AAA or AA ball, and they will test waters elsewhere (or jsut be cut by the Twins). 

 

Last year there were too many AAAA guys at St. Paul, and still quite a few at AA Wichita. 

 

Martin, Roy Morales and Palacios could all be playing at AAA this year. Cabbage would've but signed elsewhere. Ernie di la Tribidad was released. Spencer Steer is on the cusp.

There's some pitchers that may get lost in the mix. Sammons, Mason deserve to advance, as does Schulter. But could step back. Cano and Moran need to stay in St. Paul. Balazovic and Sands need to start in St. Paul. Jordan Gore also needs to advance.

 

[stringer bell]

After today's transactions, seven non-roster guys remain: pitchers Danny Coulombe (who I forgot to mention), Faria and Smeltzer, infielders Beckham and Robertson and outfielders Garlick and Cave. Do any stand a chance of making the Opening Day roster? 

If there were space on the 40-man, I would think so, but for every addition made, someone would have to be DFAed and potentially lost to the organization. The three pitchers would be candidates to be multi-inning relievers, Beckham and Robertson's chances don't look very good unless the club was willing to designate Nick Gordon. I guess there would be a chance for Cave, if he's considered a legitimate center fielder and Garlick was in a similar situation last year (but on the 40-man) and was chosen over Brent Rooker.