Who Should the Twins Add to their 40-Man?

Each year at this time, major league teams need to add players to their 40-man roster in order to protect them from being selected in the Rule 5 draft at the winter meetings in early December. A year ago, the Twins added Kennys Vargas, Max Kepler, Jorge Polanco and Logan Darnell.

Who is eligible to be selected in the Rule 5 draft this year? Players who signed when they were less than 19-years-old in 2010 and players who were 19 or older when they signed in 2011. Of course, if they’re on the 40-man roster, they can’t be picked.

The Givens

As mentioned in the header, Miguel Sano, Eddie Rosario and Alex Meyer will all be added. Unless something completely unexpected happens in the next couple of days, their odds of being added to the 40-man roster are 100%

Miguel Sano was actually signed in 2009, but since he signed in October, after the season ended, he was not eligible a year ago. He’s an elite prospect. There is no question. He will be protected.

Eddie Rosario had a difficult 2014 season, much of his own doing. Even if he had not had a spectacular Arizona Fall League, he would have been a given to add.

Finally, Alex Meyer may wind up being a bullpen arm, but the fact that he could become an ace if all goes well means that he also is going to be added to the roster.

The Possibles

There are several other options to be added. We went into much more detail in the Twins Daily Offseason Handbook, but here are some of the names that could be considered.

Sean Gilmartin – I would put the odds quite high, maybe 75%, that he is added to the 40-man roster this week. Acquired from the Braves organization in the Ryan Doumit trade, the lefty put up solid numbers between New Britain and Rochester. The former first-round draft pick could be a back-of-the-rotation starter or a lefty reliever.

Levi Michael – The Twins top pick in the 2011 draft has been hurt pretty much his whole career. In 2014, he returned to Ft. Myers where he played well for six weeks before fouling a ball off his foot and missing almost two months. He returned and hit very well in 15 games in New Britain. Maybe his ceiling is that of a utility infielder. Those are the types that get selected in the Rule 5. I’ll put his odds at about 50/50.

Jason Wheeler – Another lefty, this 23-year-old was the Twins eighth round pick in 2011 out of Loyola Marymount. At 6-8 and about 250 pounds, Wheeler does not throw real hard, though he can hit 94 at times. However, he’s got good control of three pitches. He made starts at three different levels in 2014, including a start in Rochester. I’d put his odds at about 45%

Jason Adam – The right-hander came to the Twins in the Josh Willingham deal in August. The Twins didn’t have much time to see him in the regular season so they sent him to the Arizona Fall League. He pitched to mixed results. The Twins want him to start, and he did reach AAA with the Royals as a 23-year-old. Might be worth a spot. I’ll put his odds at about 33%

Niko Goodrum – Twins second round pick in 2010 has terrific tools. He was moved to third base this year after being a very good shortstop in the lowest levels. He hasn’t been able to put up the numbers, and he will soon be 23, but there is no denying the athleticism and the tools I don’t think he would be selected though because I don’t think he has a skill set that would stick in the majors. I’d put his odds at about 25%

(Other first-year Rule 5 eligibles: Jose Abreu, Madison Boer, Tyler Grimes, Steven Gruver, David Hurlbut, Cole Johnson, Tyler Jones, Matt Koch, Brett Lee, Chris Mazza, Aderlin Mejia, Josue Montanez, Jeremias Pineda, Randy Rosario, Tim Shibuya, Jhon Silva, Matt Summers, Matt Tomshaw, Stephen Wickens, Corey Williams, JD Williams, Reyson Zoquiel.)

Second/Third Year Eligibles

There are several cases of players who go through the Rule 5 draft one year, make strides and then get added to the roster a year or two later. The following players have been eligible to be selected previously and could be again this year.

(Pat Dean, Dallas Gallant, Jonatan Hinojosa, DJ Johnson, Kyle Knudson, Mike Kvasnicka, Ryan O’Rourke, Michael Quesada, Alex Wimmers)

Of that list, the player who may have the best chance of being selected could be lefty Ryan O’Rourke. If you look at his overall numbers, they won’t stand out. However, when you look at what he did against left-handed hitters, it’s remarkable. In 2014, lefties hit just .103 off of him. He also had a 41:4 strikeout to walk rate against same-siders. He struggles against right-handers, but he could pitch in the big leagues now as a LOOGY.

Signed Minor League Free Agents

Since the World Series, the Minnesota Twins have signed many of their own six-year minor league free agents. If they sign others, those players also could be eligible for the Rule 5 draft.

Two years ago, the Twins signed catcher Josmil Pinto instead of allowing him to become a six-year minor league free agent. Then in November they added him to the 40-man roster so he wasn’t exposed to the Rule 5.

A few years further back, the Twins signed a pitcher to a six-year minor league free agent contract who had just started throwing a knuckleball a year or so earlier. That player was RA Dickey who was selected in the Rule 5 draft by the Mariners just weeks later.

(James Beresford, Mike Gonzales, Mark Hamburger, Nate Hanson, BJ Hermsen, Danny Ortiz, Jairo Rodriguez, Reynaldo Rodriguez, Adrian Salcedo, Tony Thomas)

On this list, there are a couple of intriguing names. Mark Hamburger had big league time with the Rangers, served a suspension, returned to the Twins and pitched well in a variety of roles with New Britain and Rochester in 2014. That versatility could be of value to a big league club looking for arms.

James Beresford just signed on to stay in the Twins organization. He has now succeeded at every level of the minor leagues. Though he played almost exclusively at second base in 2014, he can play three infield positions. A team interested in a utility infielder might be draft him.

SUMMARY

The Twins have 36 men on their 40-man roster right now. In other words, they can only add four more players unless they remove others from the roster. They could just add the three Givens and still make a Rule 5 pick.

What do you think? Which of these players would you want to add to the 40-man roster, and at the expense of who?