Who Could Still Make the 40 Man Roster?

[Cody Pirkl]

The Twins have completed several rounds of roster cuts this spring with another handful to go. Still, several non-roster invitees remain in camp and have a legitimate shot at making the Opening Day roster.

The Twins are down to just six non-roster players remaining on their spring roster. Several players were sent to minor-league camp so that they can head up to Minnesota this weekend. The Saints season starts on Tuesday in Louisville. 

The six non-roster players remaining in the big-league camp include left-handed pitchers Devin Smeltzer and Danny Coulombe, right-handed pitcher Jake Faria, infielder Daniel Robertson, and outfielders Kyle Garlick and Jake Cave. While there are certainly several good reasons to not add non-roster players to the 40-man roster knowing that the active roster will drop back to 26 players by May 1st. However, here are three players that I think do have a realistic opportunity to make the Twins Opening Day roster.

Jake Faria
Jake Faria had limited success in Tampa Bay’s rotation all the way back in 2017 when he posted a 3.43 ERA across just under 90 innings in his debut. After bouncing around for a while and not pitching in 2020, the right-hander finds himself as a realistic bullpen option for the Twins on Opening Day. With the lockout leading up to a short Spring Training ramp-up, the Twins are likely to employ some sort of “piggyback” method to start the season to allow the rotation to ramp up and remain healthy.

Faria has been used in a multi-inning role this spring which could be a hint that the Twins may be taking a look at him to fill such a piggybacking role. He’s allowed just one run in his five spring innings and his mix of a split-finger and breaking ball could make him more prepared to navigate the entirety of a lineup than a traditional right-handed pitcher with just a fastball and slider. While no sure thing, Faria is a name to watch in the waning days of Spring Training.

Kyle Garlick
Kyle Garlick could make the 2022 roster again in the same role as 2021 as the backup right-handed masher in the outfield. Ideally the Twins would give him all of Max Kepler’s at bats against left-handers, against whom Garlick posted an incredible .878 OPS in 2021 before being shut down with a core muscle injury. The counter argument is it would come at the expense of Brent Rooker’s roster spot, who is a home--grown talent and some feel still has a ceiling higher than a platoon bat such as Garlick. That said, Rooker hasn't played in a game for a week with a shoulder soreness, so an IL stint is possible. 

Since the two right-handers are fairly equal on defense, the Twins could easily see Garlick as the obvious option. In addition to his 2021, Garlick has absolutely punished southpaws during his entire career, posting an incredible .865 OPS against them thus far. It may take giving up on Brent Rooker, but the immediate payoff of Garlick being the matchup role player in the outfield seems like a sure bet to provide some value.

Jake Cave
The Twins just can’t seem to quit Jake Cave. Thus far he’s outlasted Trevor Larnach and Gilberto Celestino in camp with only a few more cuts to make. It’s hard to imagine the squad heading north with the 29-year-old Cave who owns a paltry .202/.263/.332 (.595) slash line since the start of 2020, especially since Nick Gordon’s ability to fill in at center field from the left side of the plate makes him redundant. That being said, the fact that he’s still with the team is worth wondering whether Cave may just stick around.

In Cave’s favor, he has logged 144 games in center field in his career, a resume that the Twins may value given Byron Buxton’s injury history. He’s also improved defensively over the years, performing around league average on defense in 2020 and 2021 at the position. Another left handed bat in the outfield may not make much sense on paper, especially one you would expect absolutely nothing from offensively. That being said, Cave’s ability to man center field may be seen as a worthy trade off compared to someone like Kyle Garlick who only fills a very specific role offensively and is confined to the corners.

The cuts are likely coming in short order with only a few decisions left to be made. Are there any other remaining non roster invitees that could sneak their way into Target Field on Opening Day? Let us know below!

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[stringer bell]

Garlick and Rooker are not equivalent in the field. I continue to maintain that Rooker has no place on the active roster of the 2022 Twins. 
 

Regarding the non-roster pitchers, it doesn’t make sense to risk losing a guy by removing them from the 40-man roster when the guy prompting the move would then be exposed barely three weeks later when the staff is reduced to 13. Unless the club is willing to cut bait with a Stashak or Cotton to keep Smeltzer or Coulombe, both of those guys should be sent to St. Paul. 

[chpettit19]

Faria being out of options makes his path harder. Stashak, Jax, and Romero all have options left so he'd have to be seen as a long-term piece for the season as a whole and not just an extra long man for April. Unless the Twins are ready to lose one of the other 3 on waivers now plus Faria at the end of the month. Seems like poor asset management to me so I'd think he's a long shot.

I'd take Garlick over Rooker as well. At least Garlick can mash lefties and he's not good defensively, but not as embarrassing as Rooker out there. I just don't see the fit on the roster for a player like Rooker. I don't know that I'd even be all that scared that he'd be claimed on waivers. Somebody would have to see an elite bat in him and I just don't get how anyone sees that. But I've been wrong before. 

I'm not as animated about Cave as others, but I don't ever want to see him in a Twins jersey again. He doesn't bring anything that Gordon doesn't and I'd rather have Gordon's speed and ability to play the IF as well as OF. I'm clearly not a Rooker fan either, but I'd even be mad losing Rooker for Cave. There's no position players left to DFA to get Cave on the roster. His only hope should be a 60-day stint from multiple other OFers.

[stringer bell]

4 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

Faria being out of options makes his path harder. Stashak, Jax, and Romero all have options left so he'd have to be seen as a long-term piece for the season as a whole and not just an extra long man for April. Unless the Twins are ready to lose one of the other 3 on waivers now plus Faria at the end of the month. Seems like poor asset management to me so I'd think he's a long shot.

I’ve liked what I’ve seen of Faria, but not enough to add him to the roster at the expense of a DFA to another pitcher., especially when the staff will have to be reduced in three weeks. The obvious move is to bring Winder and/or Duran north. If they are deemed not ready, they can be optioned. 

[stringer bell]

26 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

I'd take Garlick over Rooker as well. At least Garlick can mash lefties and he's not good defensively, but not as embarrassing as Rooker out there. I just don't see the fit on the roster for a player like Rooker. I don't know that I'd even be all that scared that he'd be claimed on waivers. Somebody would have to see an elite bat in him and I just don't get how anyone sees that. But I've been wrong before. 

Word! And I don’t think you’re wrong. Probably the better move is to claim an outfielder who better fits the Twins needs……RH hitter, solid defense, CF capable, hits lefties better than righties and maybe good speed. In this era, defensive replacements are few and far between, but I could see times when replacing Sanó with this type of replacement would benefit the defense at first and left. 

[mikelink45]

Send them all to the minors - see how the season plays out and if we need to make changes.  If that means we lose one it is not a big loss.  But right now the question is not if these players should be on the roster, but who do we want to get rid of that is on that roster?

No more Jake Cave - please.  What is this love affair that the team or Rocco seems to have with him.  Celestino can cover CF much better and almost all the options can hit better than him.  Notice no team tried to claim him when we removed him from the 40 man. 

[stringer bell]

18 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

I'm not as animated about Cave as others, but I don't ever want to see him in a Twins jersey again. He doesn't bring anything that Gordon doesn't and I'd rather have Gordon's speed and ability to play the IF as well as OF. I'm clearly not a Rooker fan either, but I'd even be mad losing Rooker for Cave. There's no position players left to DFA to get Cave on the roster. His only hope should be a 60-day stint from multiple other OFers.

I also don’t hate on Jake Cave. He plays hard and has had some productive interludes. Last year was wrecked by injury. That said, Cave isn’t a good CF, not horrible, but not a great alternative. He hasn’t hit like a corner OF and the other corner OFs are lefties. He just doesn’t fit with the 2022 Twins. If Kirilloff, Kepler or Larnach were out long term, perhaps there is a spot for him for the duration of the injury. 

[Rosterman]

Two players will be added. The pain of minor league free agents, they can't usually be optioned out, not that with everyone else playing the game means you lose them.

 

The Twins have a legit need for a fourth outfielder. Celestino needs to play everyday. But there are too many right now on the St. Paul roster, especially if Larnach and Celestino are everyday guys.

 

The St. Paul bonus is that there will be a number of pitchers ready to get the call, even if it is a starter coming up to throw out of the pen, just for the experience (Strotman, Balazovic, Sands, Winder). The Twins have a little slack, depending on what they want to do with Stashak. Thielbar and Jax can be on the bubble, but will start the season in the majors. 

 

Rooker, if injured, is not really a benefit unless you can 60-day him. Otherwise he holds that 40-man spot until uninjured and gets play...or walking papers.

 

I still wish, to be competitive, the Twins ahd a real lights-out closer. 

[2wins87]

On the other side of the coin, the list of candidates to be removed from the 40-man roster is pretty thin.

I think maybe Stashak would be the most likely.  His stuff has always been fringy relying on good command; it's been a while since we seen him be effective, and I don't think his command has been that great this spring. They could decide they have better options, he does still have two option years though so he just needs to be valuable enough to stash.

The two bubble guys without options left are Nick Gordon and Jharel Cotton.  Seems like Gordon's defensive utility would still be enough for him to keep his job, and they liked Cotton enough to add him to the roster during the offseason, so I don't see them giving up on him before they've seen him for a few months in regular games.

[2wins87]

1 minute ago, 2wins87 said:

On the other side of the coin, the list of candidates to be removed from the 40-man roster is pretty thin.

I think maybe Stashak would be the most likely.  His stuff has always been fringy relying on good command; it's been a while since we seen him be effective, and I don't think his command has been that great this spring. They could decide they have better options, he does still have two option years though so he just needs to be valuable enough to stash.

The two bubble guys without options left are Nick Gordon and Jharel Cotton.  Seems like Gordon's defensive utility would still be enough for him to keep his job, and they liked Cotton enough to add him to the roster during the offseason, so I don't see them giving up on him before they've seen him for a few months in regular games.

Oh, and the other move could be moving Enlow to the 60-day IL, but since they haven't already done that we can presume that he's expected back sooner than that and it wouldn't make sense to mess with his development.

[jmlease1]

1 hour ago, chpettit19 said:

Faria being out of options makes his path harder. Stashak, Jax, and Romero all have options left so he'd have to be seen as a long-term piece for the season as a whole and not just an extra long man for April. Unless the Twins are ready to lose one of the other 3 on waivers now plus Faria at the end of the month. Seems like poor asset management to me so I'd think he's a long shot.

I'd take Garlick over Rooker as well. At least Garlick can mash lefties and he's not good defensively, but not as embarrassing as Rooker out there. I just don't see the fit on the roster for a player like Rooker. I don't know that I'd even be all that scared that he'd be claimed on waivers. Somebody would have to see an elite bat in him and I just don't get how anyone sees that. But I've been wrong before. 

I'm not as animated about Cave as others, but I don't ever want to see him in a Twins jersey again. He doesn't bring anything that Gordon doesn't and I'd rather have Gordon's speed and ability to play the IF as well as OF. I'm clearly not a Rooker fan either, but I'd even be mad losing Rooker for Cave. There's no position players left to DFA to get Cave on the roster. His only hope should be a 60-day stint from multiple other OFers.

This. I'm fine with Cave being a "break glass" option stashed in AAA for if Buxton is on the 60-day IL, Celestino is struggling, Gordon is looking rough, and Martin isn't ready. But he doesn't belong on the opening day roster or the 40-man. I'd probably go Garlick over Rooker at this point too, because this team can win now and carrying a guy like Rooker and hoping he'll start making contact and not chasing any half-decent slider isn't a bet to be made. I have no illusions about who Garlick is, but he can mash up on lefties and would make a fine platoon partner for Kepler or could be used to protect Kirilloff on occasion.

Not sure there's any need to add any of these pitchers to the 40-man; hard to say they're clear upgrades (I'd bring Duran north for sure over any of them) and if you need another lefty in the bullpen there's Moran sitting right there with his evil changeup.

[Trov]

The only move that I think would make any sense would be Garlick for Rooker, unless they are hoping a pitcher can sneak through, or does not care.  I am not sold on Rooker having any future.  He is DH only, or should be, and does not do that well either.  At least Garlick will not be a complete statute in the OF and has shown he can hit lefties so he can take at bats from Kepler for until the starter is taken out then let Kepler hit later in game and play defense.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

1 hour ago, chpettit19 said:

I'm not as animated about Cave as others, but I don't ever want to see him in a Twins jersey again. He doesn't bring anything that Gordon doesn't and I'd rather have Gordon's speed and ability to play the IF as well as OF. I'm clearly not a Rooker fan either, but I'd even be mad losing Rooker for Cave. There's no position players left to DFA to get Cave on the roster. His only hope should be a 60-day stint from multiple other OFers.

Like this?

[stringer bell]

42 minutes ago, Trov said:

The only move that I think would make any sense would be Garlick for Rooker, unless they are hoping a pitcher can sneak through, or does not care.  I am not sold on Rooker having any future.  He is DH only, or should be, and does not do that well either.  At least Garlick will not be a complete statute in the OF and has shown he can hit lefties so he can take at bats from Kepler for until the starter is taken out then let Kepler hit later in game and play defense.

Rooker isn’t in the lineup again today. Really hard to justify him making the squad with so little time this spring on top of his underwhelming performance last season. 

[jmlease1]

11 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

Rooker isn’t in the lineup again today. Really hard to justify him making the squad with so little time this spring on top of his underwhelming performance last season. 

Rooker is an example for why you can't get too excited about a guy after 7 games. Why you have to be careful about taking late season results as evidence for future performance. He might be a bit better than the guy we saw last year...but he's 27 and the odds of him having a sudden breakout seem small. He's a bad defender in the OF, doesn't really play 1B (although he could probably learn) and his ceiling is a poor man's Adam Dunn. I rooted for him, and when he connected those moonshots were super fun to watch...but he's a AAAA player, I think. If they waive him, he's got decent odds of passing through unclaimed.

[Doctor Gast]

I'd like to trade a couple of guys off the 40 man and get a for real CF back up. The only person that IMO should have a chance off the 40 man IMO is Smeltzer. He pitched pretty well thru ST. He can pitch long relief until he can't then put him on waivers. He's pass thru waivers before, he should again.

These non 40 man roster guys has had 2 extra weeks of getting stretched out and coaching, they should have a leg up on everybody else.

[DJL44]

RH hitting Outfielders in other orgs without a spot

Lewis Brinson

Michael Hermosillo

Aristides Aquino

 

[DJL44]

I think the only question with Rooker is whether he goes on the injured list or gets optioned.

[miller761]

Can we DL Rooker until after the rosters cut down to 26 and try to sneak him through waivers?

[stringer bell]

4 minutes ago, miller761 said:

Can we DL Rooker until after the rosters cut down to 26 and try to sneak him through waivers?

Rooker has two options left. Putting him on the IL doesn’t do much to solve the left field/backup outfielder problem. He can’t be DFAed or optioned while on the IL and adding Cave or Garlick to the active roster (and 40-man) would require someone to be removed from the 40-man roster. If he is deemed healthy, he could be optioned. 

[rv78]

The correct move would have been to move Kirolloff to 1B, Sano to DH and keep Larnach up here for LF. Gordon has proven to be an effective backup in the Outfield, even center field, as well as the Infield. Garlick can be a righty option to platoon with Kepler. There is NO reason why they need to keep Cave at the major league level or even in the minors. He doesn't bring anything to the team that they don't already have covered. Please get rid of the guy. He must have some dirt on Rocco that keeps him around.

[LastOnePicked]

All of my hard-earned optimism about this team will be dissolved if Jake Cave sneaks his way back on to the roster. He has no business being on the 40-man at this point. It's not his fault that his inclusion lost us several key prospects over the years, bit he's simply not a good MLB ballplayer at all and merely serves as a reminder of FO mistakes in the past. No, please, no.

[RpR]

He did not lose us anything; they did not make it on their own.

[High heat]

We all keep assuming we will have 3 catchers and Sanchez will be used as the DH.  What if Sanchez is actually gonig to be used more as the traditional back up catcher. Godoy gets DFA on the final day of ST (much better chance he gets though) 

That gives you an extra spot on the 40 for likely a pitcher liek Faria or Smeltzer to play the piggyback role in April. 

 

Personally i am a big Garlick fan, I like a guy whgo can do one thing at an elite level and that is mash LHP!  Perfect for days off to Kepler and pinch hit late in games.  I think he will get sent to ST paul tho

[PatPfund]

There is zero reason to keep a non-roster pitcher; the 40-man is chock full of viable arms. You can argue the non-roster people might be marginally better in a couple cases, but you aren't cutting someone over the difference. The non-roster pitchers go to St Paul as depth in case of injuries, antiques that blow up, or to be added after a prospect trade.

However, there is one or two non-roster bats to be added (only 13 rostered hitters remain in camp; one is Godoy, another is Rooker). There is no reason to need for 3 catchers on the game roster, but you do need to have the third on the MLB roster in case they are needed immediately, so I don't think Godoy is DFA'd, though I see him in St Paul. Rooker seems more likely to start the year on the DL than in the majors. I'd add Garlick as the most viable bat, and Robertson as the next most viable. (And DFA Stashak and Thielbar.) If Godoy is up and Rooker healthy, you probably just go with the rostered peeps until somebody plays themselves off the team (or gets hurt, in which case the best alternative is probably a rostered player in the minors).

[High heat]

57 minutes ago, PatPfund said:

There is zero reason to keep a non-roster pitcher; the 40-man is chock full of viable arms. You can argue the non-roster people might be marginally better in a couple cases, but you aren't cutting someone over the difference. The non-roster pitchers go to St Paul as depth in case of injuries, antiques that blow up, or to be added after a prospect trade.

However, there is one or two non-roster bats to be added (only 13 rostered hitters remain in camp; one is Godoy, another is Rooker). There is no reason to need for 3 catchers on the game roster, but you do need to have the third on the MLB roster in case they are needed immediately, so I don't think Godoy is DFA'd, though I see him in St Paul. Rooker seems more likely to start the year on the DL than in the majors. I'd add Garlick as the most viable bat, and Robertson as the next most viable. (And DFA Stashak and Thielbar.) If Godoy is up and Rooker healthy, you probably just go with the rostered peeps until somebody plays themselves off the team (or gets hurt, in which case the best alternative is probably a rostered player in the minors).

I think we all forgot about Thorpe on the 40 and out of options.  If he doesnt make the 28 man he is outrighted and off the 40 opening a spot.  

Also there is a reason to keep a non roster pitcher on the 40.  If you think a guy like Winder or Duran are going to be good or great starters down the road, starting them in MLB on opening day loses you a year of team control.  Especially if you are just going to use them in limited roles early on.  

On May 1 when every team has to cut down 2 players there will be tons of players DFAed that day.  Likely any fringe guy you have used and DFA will pass through waivers.  

[stringer bell]

35 minutes ago, High heat said:

I think we all forgot about Thorpe on the 40 and out of options.  If he doesnt make the 28 man he is outrighted and off the 40 opening a spot.  

??? There were plenty of us that knew about Thorpe having no minor league options. I believe most believed he had an inside track on making the team because he was out of options. Thorpe’s 40-man was already taken by Archer. 

[stringer bell]

40 minutes ago, High heat said:

Also there is a reason to keep a non roster pitcher on the 40.  If you think a guy like Winder or Duran are going to be good or great starters down the road, starting them in MLB on opening day loses you a year of team control.  Especially if you are just going to use them in limited roles early on.  

Again, not really sure what you are saying. Yes, if Winder and/or Duran make the team on Opening Day and stay on the major league club all season then they are credited with a full year of service time. If either of both are ineffective in the three plus weeks of a 28-man roster, they would have six additional years of team control. 

[stringer bell]

52 minutes ago, High heat said:

On May 1 when every team has to cut down 2 players there will be tons of players DFAed that day.  Likely any fringe guy you have used and DFA will pass through waivers.  

I don’t think there will be that many. First of all, it will probably be 95% pitchers. Some injuries will develop at a convenient time, many will have options remaining. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

Keep in mind, Thorpe had already quietly cleared waivers before we signed Archer — we just didn’t outright him until then.

Once secured, waivers are in effect for 7 days at this time of year. So it’s possible that someone like Stashak has already been waived and cleared, in anticipation of possibly being outrighted before opening day, and we just don’t know about it.