Article: Twins Finalize Opening Day 25-Man Roster

[Cody Christie]

Opening Day is less than 48 hours away and Minnesota made their final roster moves of the spring on Tuesday. There were multiple questions still to be answered at the back of the 25-man roster with a couple of surprises mixed in. Either way, the Twins will head to Baltimore on Tuesday night with multiple new faces joining the squad.The first moves of the day finalized the final battle for position players.

With Granite heading to Rochester, it meant Ryan LaMarre would be joining the Twins outfield for the season’s beginning. LaMarre was crowned the 2018 Sire of Fort Myers. Earlier this week, Seth speculated that LaMarre could break camp with the club.

 

Kennys Vargas also saw his crazy week continue. It looked like he might be heading to the National League with the Reds but they figured out they don’t need a DH. Over the weekend, the Twins claimed him back from Cincinnati. Today, they were able to pass him through waivers and outright him to Triple-A Rochester. This move leaves the Twins with one open spot on the 40-man roster.

 

Phil Hughes also provided an interesting situation for the club. Hughes looked like an option for a long-relief role. During his last spring start, Hughes was pulled with a mild oblique strain. This means he will start the year on the DL. This seemed like a convenient solution to the Twins roster crunch.

With all of the moves above, here’s how the Twins 25-man roster will look on Opening Day.

 

C: Jason Castro, Mitch Garver

1B: Joe Mauer, Logan Morrison

2B: Brian Dozier

SS: Eduardo Escobar, Ehire Adrianza

3B: Miguel Sano

OF: Byron Buxton, Max Kepler, Eddie Rosario, Ryan LaMarre, Robbie Grossman

SP: Jose Berrios, Kyle Gibson, Jake Odorizzi, Lance Lynn

RP: Fernando Rodney, Addison Reed, Zach Duke, Ryan Pressly, Trevor Hildenberger, Taylor Rogers, Gabriel Moya, Tyler Kinley

DL: Ervin Santana, Phil Hughes

 

With a four man starting rotation, the Twins won’t need a fifth starter until April 11^th. Last week, I thought that spot start might be filled by Hughes. His injury puts that start into question. Tyler Kinley’s impressive winter in the Dominican and his electric fastball made it easier to keep him around.

 

How do you feel about the final 25-man roster? Obviously, there will be plenty of other players who impact the roster this season. Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.

 

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[BJames]

Good news for LaMarre.  LaMarre, Hughes, Kinley, Moya, and some others will have to prove themselves to stay in the Bigs.  We have about 8 guys plus Vargas in the Minors ready to step in.  I'm looking for a great season.  Win Twins!!!

[yarnivek1972]

Think you mean Addison Reed.

[Rosterman]

I'm thinking the relief corps will be on a short two-week leash. Moya and Hildenberger have to prove that they don't need to work on things in the minors. Kinley needs to NOT fail, or he could be cut loose easily (freeing up a 40-man rotating spot for relief pitchers. Taylor Rogers has to pitch better than he has the second part of last season and in spring training. And Fernando Rodney can't such as a closer. He's making a decent salary, but if he blows games for a club that wants to win, they shant keep him in the pen.

 

LaMarre is getting his chance, otherwise his becomes a rotating roster spot. Robbie Grossman has to be on notice, too.

 

Baseball begins Thursday. The Twins need to get off to a dynamite start, create fan enthusiasm, get tickets sold, make people forget basketball, the Super Bowl, the Vikings, and love again the wonderful game of baseball.

 

[jkcarew]

One body available to back up 3 positions (3B, SS, 2B). If you were to DH Sano you have zero bodies available...without losing the DH. Rosario in an emergency? Does this seem sustainable?

 

The Granite move makes sense. His bat has zero value on the bench. We’ll see him play plenty if one of the big three goes on the DL.

[AlwaysinModeration]

Damn, I had Ryan Lamarre in the pool, but foiled by Jake Reed.

[TheLeviathan]

Boy, that infield looks thin.  I hope they're still in the market for someone.

[big dog]

Holy crap am I excited for this season to start.  Go Twins!

[Kevin]

 

Think you mean Addison Reed.
 

Fixed--ed.

 

 

[stringer bell]

Congratulations to longshots Moya, Kinley and LaMarre. I doubt all three make it to May 1, but all three seized opportunities. I would agree that middle infield is short. Who comes up in the event of an injury, Gordon?

[howeda7]

Is Yunel Escobar still a free agent? He would seem more useful than a 5th OF'er. 

[joemama]

Agreed ... Adrianza and maybe even LoMo can play corner OF, but I don't think either LeMarre or Grossman can play any infield.

[Post-Concussive Blues]

LaMarre until we claim Trayce Thompson.

[Penthang]

I’m curious how that open 40 man spot will be used…I’m guessing Falvey has a couple names he has an eye on to be waived as team come out of camp?

[Doctor Wu]

Yeah, with that extra spot open on the 40-man roster, if would make sense to find another infielder. As theLeviathan noted, with the current situation things do indeed look thin, especially after Aybar was released.

[twinsfansd]

 

Yeah, with that extra spot open on the 40-man roster, if would make sense to find another infielder. As theLeviathan noted, with the current situation things do indeed look thin, especially after Aybar was released.

The extra 40-man spot is going to LaMarre.

 

[mikelink45]

The extra roster spot if it really exists is flexibility to call anyone up from the minors that they want.  We have no really need to go outside the organization again at this point.

[twinstalker]

There's no way I would have sent LaMarre down. If he's at all for real, or even if he's on a hot streak, you have to ride it out. The downside of adding LaMarre now could be having to cut him from the 40, depending on whether the Twins need the spot, so his fate might ride on whether he starts out hot. Had he gone to AAA and shown that he's truly turned a corner, he might have ended up with a better opportunity, especially if Grossman regresses more. Now, if he starts out cold, he might be searching for work, though I'm sure the Twins would love him back at AAA.

 

But from the Twins point of view, ride the hot hand. I hope they give him time and opportunity.

[yarnivek1972]

There's no way I would have sent LaMarre down. If he's at all for real, or even if he's on a hot streak, you have to ride it out. The downside of adding LaMarre now could be having to cut him from the 40, depending on whether the Twins need the spot, so his fate might ride on whether he starts out hot. Had he gone to AAA and shown that he's truly turned a corner, he might have ended up with a better opportunity, especially if Grossman regresses more. Now, if he starts out cold, he might be searching for work, though I'm sure the Twins would love him back at AAA.

 

But from the Twins point of view, ride the hot hand. I hope they give him time and opportunity.

If Vargas cleared waivers, it’s pretty likely LaMarre will especially if he starts poorly (which would be why he would be sent down anyway).

[Seth Stohs]

 

Yeah, with that extra spot open on the 40-man roster, if would make sense to find another infielder. As theLeviathan noted, with the current situation things do indeed look thin, especially after Aybar was released.

 

I mean, Aybar was deemed not able to play SS because he's lost a step. Taylor Featherston and Gregorio Petit were the last two guys sent to minor league camp. They both CAN play shortstop. So while they don't have Aybar's track record, they're probably better for the role. 

[Seth Stohs]

It's just a 10-day DL,, so Phil Hughes could come off of it April 11th and still make that start.. In the meanwhile, he can stay back in Ft. Myers and work every fifth day to get to the 90-100 pitch count and building his strength and such. That may make more sense than having him be a long-reliever who pitches rarely, can't throw too big of bullpens in case he's needed and then isn''t ready to start on the 11th. 

[Squirrel]

If Vargas cleared waivers, it’s pretty likely LaMarre will especially if he starts poorly (which would be why he would be sent down anyway).

He did clear waivers,yesterday, and was assigned to Rochester, so that 40-Man spot did go to LaMarre.

[DocBauer]

Really like the team overall, though it looks better with Santana on that roster.

 

Completely understand Martte and Grossman both on the roster. This will hopefully be Grossman's best overall season, or he could be moving on. Because of his RH bat I can get riding Martte and his hit spring, but I doubt he's here long term. If he keeps it up, he will earn his spot.

 

But I'm going to echo other comments I'm concerned about the lack of a second reserve infielder. Seem to have too many OF and guys who can fill in if push comes to shove. Hard to put an OF in the infield late in a game.

[Number3]

To me, this is a classic "lot of potential" team but also a lot of uncertainty. This team could definitely go up from last year but also could go the other way. I think Molitor's ability to keep the team fired up will be key and , so far, he hasn't been that type of manager. Tomorrow I will be looking for their attitude and determination as much as whether or not they win the game. I want to see some fire out of Molitor and I want to see some fire out of #7.  This team has to start with a winning attitude and keep it for 162, and hopefully more, games. The 60-60-42 rule always works and its the team that plays every game like it is one of the 42 is the one that goes far.

Go Twins.

[Platoon]

It would be another change for the Twins. After years of putting IF in the OF, we now could see OF in the IF. But taking my tongue out of my cheek, it's really not that big a deal with the ability to get someone here in a half day. None of the players discussed are actually a big bat. They are all fairly mediocre with the stick. And since it seems the Jim Thome style PH is no longer in vogue, it's not a huge difference. I will say this. If I am keeping both LaMarre and Grossman, then it begs the question why isn't one of those two, likely RG, replaced by a big RH bat? RG and RL are fairly redundant. RG in the lineup may have value as an OB guy, but you don't send up a PH to work a walk as a rule.

[Steve Lein]

 

Congratulations to longshots Moya, Kinley and LaMarre. I doubt all three make it to May 1, but all three seized opportunities. I would agree that middle infield is short. Who comes up in the event of an injury, Gordon?

 

There's not another infielder on the 40-man who didn't break camp with the team, so I'd say those odds are pretty high.

[Rosterman]

 

To me, this is a classic "lot of potential" team but also a lot of uncertainty. This team could definitely go up from last year but also could go the other way. I think Molitor's ability to keep the team fired up will be key and , so far, he hasn't been that type of manager. Tomorrow I will be looking for their attitude and determination as much as whether or not they win the game. I want to see some fire out of Molitor and I want to see some fire out of #7.  This team has to start with a winning attitude and keep it for 162, and hopefully more, games. The 60-60-42 rule always works and its the team that plays every game like it is one of the 42 is the one that goes far.

Go Twins.

Regarding uncertainity...there are a few players who will be playing like it is their last chance to score a big payday. Right away we have starters Lynn and Gibson (and Santana when he comes back). Joe Mauer and Brian Dozier can both walk at the end of the year. Morrison might want the option. As for the "youngsters" - this will be a tell on how much they can extend their life with the Twins, or see a quick trip out the door to be replaced, if not next year, by younger talent.

 

The bullpen is interesting. Six of the guys weren't here at this time last season.

 

And, yes, LaMarre and Grossman are redundant. One or the other, but not both.

[Puckett34]

 

I want to see some fire out of #7.

If we haven't seen any fire outta Joe yet, I don't think we will.    There's more than one way to be a leader.    Joe just isn't a rah-rah guy.    He is what he is in that department.    And that's fine.

[ashbury]

If we haven't seen any fire outta Joe yet, I don't think we will.    There's more than one way to be a leader.    Joe just isn't a rah-rah guy.    He is what he is in that department.    And that's fine.

I want Joe to make a clubhouse speech that includes "was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?... who's with me??? Let's go, come on! Ahhhhh!" That would surely accomplish something fantastic.

[Puckett34]

 

I want Joe to make a clubhouse speech that includes "was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?... who's with me??? Let's go, come on! Ahhhhh!" That would surely accomplish something fantastic.

He should plan ahead and sell tickets to that.