Minnesota Twins Outright Five Players from 40-Man Roster, Including Some Surprising Names

[Eric Blonigen]

Starting Dec. 8, MLB team executives will meet in Dallas to kickoff the Winter Meetings. A key part of these meetings is conducting the Rule 5 draft. Today, the Twins made their first set of roster moves to get ready to protect this year’s crop of prospects. As a result, they have removed five players from their 40-man roster, including a couple of surprises.

Image courtesy of © Michael McLoone-Imagn Images

Today, the Twins announced that the following players have been outrighted off the 40-man roster and assigned to Triple-A St. Paul: Randy Dobnak, Josh Winder, Scott Blewett, Yunior Severino, and Daniel Duarte.

A couple of these, Scott Blewett and Daniel Duarte, are sort of no-brainers. Duarte was a waiver claim from the Rangers this past offseason. He blew out his arm almost immediately and underwent Tommy John surgery. Despite being a league-minimum pitcher who won’t be eligible for arbitration until 2026 and who looked promising for just a moment in the soring, he’s a fringy guy, and the Twins chose not to rely on him coming off surgery. Scott Blewett is also fringy and underwhelmed during his time with both St. Paul and the Twins. Despite a solid ERA across 20 innings with the Twins this season, his peripherals tell a different tale, with a low strikeout rate and an xFIP over 4—not what you want to see from a reliever. As players who have previously been outrighted, both will likely elect free agency over the coming days and will try to catch on elsewhere.

Then, there’s Randy Dobnak. Due to his contract and the fact that he has not found sustainable success since 2020 due to multiple finger injuries and middling stuff, this move is almost certainly a formality. He has pitched to an ERA higher than 7.00 and an xFIP higher than 4.50 over the past two seasons. The Twins would likely love to be out from under his $3-million contract for 2025 (and his $1-million buyout for 2026), but he will return to St. Paul to begin the 2025 season. While Dobnak is and has been a fun human-interest story, with the Twins’ pitching depth, it’s somewhat unlikely he finds his way back to the Twins. Only the fact that he has to stick around to keep getting that money and the fact that the Twins owe him such a sizable chunk will keep him a part of the organization for another year.

Severino is, perhaps, the biggest surprise. Part of the 2016 international signing class, he struck a deal with the Atlanta Braves. In late 2017, the Commissioner’s office stripped the Braves of a number of prospects due to repeatedly intentionally skirting international signing rules. The Twins signed him for $2.5 million as a free agent, when he was a switch-hitting second baseman. He grew and slid down the defensive spectrum, to the point of being a middling corner bat or DH type. Unfortunately, he hasn’t put up quite the offensive profile you would hope to see from one of those positions, with a .775 OPS this past season. He’s still technically a prospect, making it to Triple-A as a 24-year-old. At this point, it’s evident the Twins don’t see him as part of their plans, even at the depleted first base.

Finally, we have Josh Winder. Winder is another in a long line of Twins players whose career stalled due to injuries. He has pitched in just 38 games dating back to 2022. Winder debuted as a starting pitching prospect, produced middling results, then converted to the bullpen in 2023. As a reliever, he has pitched to an xFIP of almost 5.00. Given some health and an extended leash, Winder may have the ability to be at least a middle reliever. However, that will likely be with another team as well, as he will be able to declare free agency similar to Severino as players who have been outrighted after being in the organization for at least six years.

While some of these moves will disappoint fans, hopefully players more likely to positively impact the 2025 team will replace them. Best of luck to Winder, Severino, Blewett, and Duarte as they continue the next legs of their baseball journeys.

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[dberthia]

And nothing of value was lost. That Dobby contract was a real head-scratcher from the beginning. Seemed to be more pity pay than anything.

[tony&rodney]

Yes, I posted this same stuff nearly four hours ago. I guess TD deleted it.

I don't think there are any real surprises in this group.

[Whitey333]

No big deal on any of them.  I hope they all do well wherever they end up.  I've never been impressed with the current regimes handling and development of their prospects.  No surprise here.

[Vanimal46]

I’m looking for “some surprise names” and don’t see any. 

[RCCola]

Glad we were able to keep Duarte and Blewett, you can never have enough RP depth at AAA

[Rod Carews Birthday]

No huge surprises.  I was hoping Severino could put it together and become a power hitter, but it looks like that’s not going to happen.  

[DocBauer]

For the most part, as expected.

I am mildly surprised by Severino though. While he certainly didn't replicate his 2023 results at AA...36 games at AAA...he's still only recently turned 25yo. While his quad slash line in his first full season wasn't great....254/ .342/ .434/ .775...it certainly wasn't bad. He also produced 21 Dbls 2 Trips and 21 HR with 79 RBI. Again, not bad.

I was 50-50 the Twins might remove him to make room for another addition to the 40 man. He's young ENOUGH as a 25yo switch hitter with power to want to keep around if he could take another step forward. I'm hoping he decides to re-sign with the Twins on a MILB deal. If he could make a little better contact, he MIGHT have a path to the Twins at 1B/DH in 2025. But other organizations might offer a better opportunity? I'd like to have him back just in case.

Winder might also move on. There was hope that his new sinker, combined with his slider, might make him a viable pen option as his previous FB was just too straight despite good velocity. But his shoulder has been giving him problems for 2 years now. If healthy, I could see him coming back on a MILB deal.

Duarte looked like a steal when he was signed. Right time and place to take the next step in his career. Suddenly, his elbow blows out. Is he worth considering on a MILB deal based on what they saw last year. Maybe. You're always looking for depth in your system. He probably won't have a ton of offers. Maybe coming back for AAA depth makes some sense?

Nothing earth shattering here, just a couple interesting re-sign possibilities to consider.

 

[Parfigliano]

Teach Dobnak the knuckler

[Fatbat]

I’m surprised there wasn’t another name or two on the list.  We just became a better team and we haven’t even replaced them yet. 

[RpR]

45 minutes ago, Fatbat said:

I’m surprised there wasn’t another name or two on the list.  We just became a better team and we haven’t even replaced them yet. 

Yep, if Camargo and Julien were on the list things would be better.

[Fatbat]

10 minutes ago, RpR said:

Yep, if Camargo and Julien were on the list things would be better.

Can’t argue with that.

[Mike Sixel]

Hahahaha. Someone wants to cut Julien? And their third catcher? Unreal. Truly.

[djm24]

3 hours ago, Fatbat said:

I’m surprised there wasn’t another name or two on the list.  We just became a better team and we haven’t even replaced them yet. 

A better team? The frugal FO will replace these players when they start their annual dumpster diving. It's unrealistic to think the so-called "prospects" will be any better.

[djm24]

9 hours ago, dberthia said:

And nothing of value was lost. That Dobby contract was a real head-scratcher from the beginning. Seemed to be more pity pay than anything.

There are other "head scratcher" contracts that are and were worse than Dobnak 's. And there is not as much mention about those contracts like there is about Dobnak's on this board. Think Joey Gallo. And the two current players who are earning mega bucks and spending a lot of time on the IL. You know who they are!!

Huge Dobnak fan here! And I, for one, will be glad when he no longer has to "stick around" to earn his money, as the author of this article has insulted and Randy can thankfully leave  the Twins organization to either continue his career with another team or a career outside of baseball. 

When that happens there will be many Dobnak naysayers doing more ",head scratching" as they attempt to find another "punching bag" to attack.

 

 

 

[djm24]

Some clarification to my above comments..

When I said "Randy can thankfully leave the Twins organization", I was implying that HE would be glad to leave the organization and hopefully  get a "fresh start" with another team.  I',m sure there are some naysayers reading my original comments who would not hesitate to respond that they,, too, , would be "thankful " to see Dobnak leave the Twins. Can't expect anything different from those people.

 

 

[Doctor Wu]

6 hours ago, DocBauer said:

For the most part, as expected.

I am mildly surprised by Severino though.

That sums it up for me too. Nothing of real value was lost, but Severino had been such a highly touted prospect for the past few years, that it's still a bit of a jolt that he's off the 40-man roster. Then again as noted by others, he doesn't have a clear path to the big club and there are doubts about how he would do. But heck, maybe some team will pick him in the Rule 5 draft. 

[Fatbat]

2 hours ago, djm24 said:

A better team? The frugal FO will replace these players when they start their annual dumpster diving. It's unrealistic to think the so-called "prospects" will be any better.

There are better prospects than Severino.  Do you really want Dobnak and Duarte et al on the 40 man? I don’t. 

[Parfigliano]

7 hours ago, RpR said:

Yep, if Camargo and Julien were on the list things would be better.

'25 AKA Julien rebound year.

[JD-TWINS]

7 hours ago, RpR said:

Yep, if Camargo and Julien were on the list things would be better.

Do not disagree in principle…….. I know you know they gotta “give these guys another chance” ……..hopefully, to be able to trade them!

[arby58]

3 hours ago, djm24 said:

Huge Dobnak fan here! And I, for one, will be glad when he no longer has to "stick around" to earn his money, as the author of this article has insulted and Randy can thankfully leave  the Twins organization to either continue his career with another team or a career outside of baseball. 

Newsflash: Dobnak can leave now - and he could have left last year. Why does he stick around? There are three million reasons, and he's not getting that contract elsewhere.

[Parfigliano]

3 minutes ago, arby58 said:

Newsflash: Dobnak can leave now - and he could have left last year. Why does he stick around? There are three million reasons, and he's not getting that contract elsewhere.

Anyone here who wouldn't stick around for those 3 million reasons?

[Squirrel]

13 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

Yes, I posted this same stuff nearly four hours ago. I guess TD deleted it.

I don't think there are any real surprises in this group.

TD did not delete it. Your post was started in the rumors forum and is still there. The rumors forum probably isn’t the best place for actual transactions. Might have been better in the minors or Twins talk forum.

 

[TFRazor]

53 minutes ago, Parfigliano said:

Anyone here who wouldn't stick around for those 3 million reasons?

I'd be the first one in the door everyday for that

[LambchoP]

A bit surprised about Severino. While he hasn't blown away minor league pitching he's been successful. 35 homers in 2023. This year he hit what 25 and hit .250? He's also still young just turning 25 and is a switch hitter. We all know the twins need a first baseman so this is a bit of a head scratcher unless they have a plan in place. Even if Severino wasn't part of our plans, I've got to believe he'd have some trade value as part of a package...

[Blyleven2011]

9 hours ago, RpR said:

Yep, if Camargo and Julien were on the list things would be better.

They're next , by way of a trade though ( they should have some sort of value ) ...

[Blyleven2011]

1 minute ago, LambchoP said:

A bit surprised about Severino. While he hasn't blown away minor league pitching he's been successful. 35 homers in 2023. This year he hit what 25 and hit .250? He's also still young just turning 25 and is a switch hitter. We all know the twins need a first baseman so this is a bit of a head scratcher unless they have a plan in place. Even if Severino wasn't part of our plans, I've got to believe he'd have some trade value as part of a package...

Your FO will a always keep you scratching your head , yes he could have been packaged with a trade , ( kinda of got the feeling we might not have any trades coming this off season ) ...

[DJL44]

I was surprised they didn't outright Canterino.

4 hours ago, Doctor Wu said:

But heck, maybe some team will pick him in the Rule 5 draft. 

Not happening. If a team wanted any of these players, they would have taken them when they didn't have to keep the player on the roster all season.

[tony&rodney]

Thank you. I will try to put it elsewhere next time.

[twinzcynic]

Ah yes, I remember when people around here were excited by Winder. Yet another pipeline "success".