Twins 26/40-man Roster Moves/Transactions Thread - 2023

[Danchat]

I think it's time to boot up the annual roster moves and transactions thread with the regular season so close. I'll post some moves from yesterday:

Quote

 

Twins optioned OF Matt Wallner to Triple-A St. Paul.

Twins optioned RHP Louie Varland to Triple-A St. Paul.

Twins optioned RHP Trevor Megill to Triple-A St. Paul.

 

Feel free to post updates here.

(For minor league transactions see the equivalent thread in the Minor League forum.)

[lecroy24fan]

Brooks Lee was reassigned to minor league camp today.

[stringer bell]

With Varland and Megill optioned, the Twins have 14 healthy pitchers on the 40-man roster in camp. That would include six starters (including Ober) and eight relievers (not counting Henriquez and Winder), Cole Sands hasn't been that impressive and Hoffman threw two scoreless innings today. 

[AceWrigley]

I think Jeff Hoffman will make the cut.

Post Ejection Edit:  Or maybe not.

[lecroy24fan]

I do too. There was a reason they made the Santana move to open a 40 man spot.

[Danchat]

Quote

After the game, the Twins trimmed their major league roster to 45 by reassigning infielder Andrew Bechtold, catcher Jair Camargo, outfielder Mark Contreras, righthander Randy Dobnak and righthander Brock Stewart to the minor league camp.

 

[Vanimal46]

On 3/19/2023 at 3:56 PM, AceWrigley said:

I think Jeff Hoffman will make the cut.

Definitely looks like it with each passing day. 

[Rosterman]

Pretty much everyone in campo NOT on the 40-man are alredy part of the minor league system. Always amazed how many players thry promote up to play games above and beyond those "officially invited to major league camp." 

 

Announced on MLB Trade Rumors that Kirilloff and Polancho shall start the season on the IL list. Now have to wait and hear about Hernriquez and Winder. I'm sure the Twins would rather not give service time to Celestino on the 60-day IL list. But they currently have just one open spot. Who will be the extra guy on the field (Castro) or in the bullpen (Hoffman). Of maybe this means Sands has the upper hand.

[FlyingFinn]

On 3/19/2023 at 3:57 PM, lecroy24fan said:

There was a reason they made the Santana move to open a 40 man spot.

Really looking like that spot will be needed for Garlick or Castro with Polanco and Kirilloff on the IL.

[GKuehl]

I've been on the Coulombe hype train, but it seems like Hoffman has the inside track on the final bullpen spot. This makes sense considering their respective contract situations, with Hoffman able to opt out of his Twins contract if he isn't on the major league roster. Coulombe can start the year in AAA and serve as the next man up in the bullpen when injury strikes (which would require a corresponding move -- i.e. moving Henriquez to the 60-day IL). 

[TaterTot]

I don’t see why Hoffman wouldn’t make the cut-he had a respectable 3.83 era last season.

[stringer bell]

They will make a space if they have to--I think the space will be provided by Henriquez--and Hoffman does have the inside track with his opt-out.

[Squirrel]

FYI - there is an equivalent thread in the minor league forum for posting minor league transactions

[whosafraidofluigirussolo]

Hoffman reassigned to minor-league camp, apparently, along with De León:

The MLBTR post about Hoffman's signing mentions that the first opt-out is March 28. It'll be interesting to see whether he's on the move again in a few days.

[Doctor Wu]

Very surprised that Hoffmann was sent down. Looked like he was going to be included in the pen. I would think that Coulombe deserves a shot, based on a stellar spring, but then again Moran could be the one that makes the cut.  

[Fat Calvin]

I hope it's Coulombe.

[stringer bell]

It appears that Coulombe is the only NRI remaining among the pitchers. If they consider Ober only as a starter, then it would be between Coulombe and Sands for the last spot in the bullpen. 

[lecroy24fan]

Ober was optioned this morning.

[stringer bell]

14 minutes ago, lecroy24fan said:

Ober was optioned this morning.

He deserves a spot, but I would say the over/under for minor league starts for Ober is 5.1. 

[lecroy24fan]

6 hours ago, stringer bell said:

It appears that Coulombe is the only NRI remaining among the pitchers. If they consider Ober only as a starter, then it would be between Coulombe and Sands for the last spot in the bullpen. 

Coloumbe reassigned today, along with Aaron Sanchez and Kyle Garlick.

[Rosterman]

Coulombe had an opt-out with the Twins if another team puts him on their 40-man. Became an Oriole today.

[mikelink45]

I really appreciate this thread, I am constantly trying to find the moves and this is really informative.

[lecroy24fan]

1 hour ago, mikelink45 said:

I really appreciate this thread, I am constantly trying to find the moves and this is really informative.

Between MLB dot com and ESPN they have massively dropped the ball on transaction listings this year. Between this thread and Fangraphs at least I can see these moves.

[LA VIkes Fan]

3 hours ago, Rosterman said:

Coulombe had an opt-out with the Twins if another team puts him on their 40-man. Became an Oriole today.

That's too bad. Would have been nice to keep him. Sands as the last man in the bullpen?

[Fat Calvin]

4 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

I really appreciate this thread, I am constantly trying to find the moves and this is really informative.

Me too!!

[Fat Calvin]

It doesn't make sense losing Coloumbe to keep Sands. 

[stringer bell]

1 hour ago, Fat Calvin said:

It doesn't make sense losing Coloumbe to keep Sands. 

Danny Coulombe is a 33-year old relief pitcher, who hasn't gotten a major league contract since before the pandemic. He has been effective in low-leverage situations. If the Twins were to select his contract, they would have needed to clear a spot on the 40-man roster. I thought the Twins could clear a space for him by putting someone on the 60-day IL, but the Twins haven't done that so far. Coulombe couldn't be sent down if his contract was selected. 

Sands has value because he's on the 40-man roster and has an option remaining. Any modern bullpen needs pieces that can be moved back and forth to Triple A. He also  is one of the few bullpen pieces who can go longer than 30-40 pitches. I know there is value in that, but personally I just don't think he can be effective enough to stick around.

Apparently the Twins value the flexibility that Sands provides. As for Coulombe, it seems his minor league contract includes the newest thing, not an opt-out as such, but a chance to find "greener pastures" if someone is willing to sign him on another teams 40-man roster, they either get promoted or move on to the new team. It wouldn't surprise me that many of the other veteran minor league contracts have similar provisions.

[CRF]

Just saw they released Jeff Hoffman. Kind of a surprise. 

[Squirrel]

Castro added. He made the 26-man roster

 

[Doctor Wu]

I always appreciate these updates, but let's hope this thread isn't quite as "active" as last year's flurry of roster moves. Of course there will always be some injuries, but a bit of stability would be very nice!