Four Non-Tender Candidates for the Minnesota Twins Ahead of Friday's Deadline

[Cody Christie]

Many MLB teams have tough decisions before Friday’s cutoff for clubs to tender contracts to arbitration-eligible players. Here are four names the Twins might consider non-tendering.

Image courtesy of © Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Twins face critical decisions ahead of Friday’s non-tender deadline. With an eye on maintaining flexibility while maximizing roster value, the front office must determine whether several borderline contributors warrant another season on the payroll. Let’s break down four potential non-tender candidates: Brent Headrick, Ronny Henriquez, Michael Tonkin, and Justin Topa.  

Brent Headrick, RP
MLBTR Projected Contract: Not Arbitration Eligible
Pros: Headrick flashed potential as a versatile left-hander capable of handling multi-inning relief or spot starts. His ability to miss bats with a slider-heavy repertoire makes him intriguing, particularly in a bullpen seeking reliability against left-handed hitters. Additionally, with controllable years remaining, Headrick could develop into a more prominent contributor if he refines his command.  

Cons: Headrick missed most of the 2024 season with a left forearm strain, so it’s hard to read too much into his numbers. He struggled with consistency at Triple-A in 2023, particularly with walks (3.1 BB/9) and keeping the ball in the yard (1.3 HR/9). With a WHIP hovering near 1.30 and a subpar strand rate, the Twins might view him as a replaceable option, especially if his pitch mix doesn’t evolve further. Given the Twins’ pitching depth, they may feel his role could be filled internally or via a minor-league signing.  

Why Keep Him?
Left-handed relievers with strikeout upside don’t grow on trees. Headrick has shown enough to warrant a more extended look, particularly if the Twins believe in their development system’s ability to iron out his control issues.  

Why Pass?
if Headrick can’t stick in a bullpen role and doesn’t show starter viability, his roster spot may be better allocated to someone with a more straightforward path to impact.  

Ronny Henriquez, RP
MLBTR Projected Contract: Not Arbitration Eligible
Pros:  Henriquez offers intriguing upside as a young, high-velocity arm. He remains an interesting project at just 24 years old, particularly given his ability to work in both long relief and as a one-inning option. Last season, he posted a 130 ERA+ with a 1.29 WHIP in 19 1/3 innings with the Twins. He posted a 9.7 K/9 at Triple-A, so there have been signs of his strikeout potential.

Cons: Henriquez has struggled with command issues, which continued to limit his effectiveness in 2024. His career 4.02 FIP is significantly higher than his 2.90 ERA, pointing to possible regression in the future. His 7.0 K/9 at the big-league level is too low to be a consistent threat out of the bullpen. He’s out of minor league options, which makes it impossible to move him up and down from Triple-A. With more polished arms in the pipeline, Henriquez could be squeezed out of future plans.  

Why Keep Him?  
The Twins invested in Henriquez as part of the Mitch Garver trade, and his raw tools remain tantalizing. Moving on could result in another organization reaping the benefits of his potential breakout.

Why Pass?  
His inability to control the strike zone and the lack of sustained success at the MLB level could make him a non-tender candidate, particularly if the Twins prioritize immediate contributors.  

Michael Tonkin, RP
MLBTR Projected Contract: $1.5 million
Pros: The 34-year-old Tonkin made a remarkable return to MLB in 2023 with a 4.28 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP in 80 innings for the Braves. He proved he could still contribute in a middle-relief role. Tonkin’s splitter remains an effective weapon (26.6 Whiff%). His veteran presence and ability to eat innings helped stabilize the bullpen in stretches where others faltered. 

Cons: At this stage of his career, Tonkin’s ceiling is limited, with him hitting the waiver wire multiple times in 2024. His inability to handle high-leverage situations or consistently generate strikeouts puts him firmly in the replacement-level category. Additionally, his declining velocity makes him expendable. The Twins front office also doesn’t spend much on the bullpen, and his price tag might be out of the team’s budget.

Why Keep Him?  
Dependable veterans are valuable in a bullpen, and Tonkin’s leadership and willingness to fill any role make him a reliable depth piece.  

Why Pass?
With younger, higher-upside relievers pushing for opportunities, the Twins may opt to allocate his roster spot to someone with more significant long-term potential. His projected contract is high for a waiver claim from last season. 

Justin Topa, RP
MLBTR Projected Contract: $1.3 million
Pros: Topa came to the Twins in the Jorge Polanco trade with the Twins hoping he could fill a high-leverage relief role. In 2023, he posted a 2.61 ERA with a 1.15 WHIP and a 61-to-18 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Minnesota needs more late-inning options, and Topa can provide veteran experience that was missing in 2024. 

Cons: Injuries have dogged Topa throughout his career, and his durability remains a question mark heading into 2025. He missed nearly the entire 2024 season with a knee injury. With arbitration raising his cost, the Twins may view him as a luxury they can’t afford amid other roster needs.  

Why Keep Him?  
Topa has proven he can succeed in high-leverage situations, and his ground-ball profile complements the Twins’ infield defense. If he stays healthy, he could be a valuable bridge to the late innings.  

Why Pass?
Health concerns and escalating arbitration costs make Topa a risky bet, particularly if the Twins need payroll space for more pressing needs.  

The Twins’ decisions on these four players will hinge on their evaluation of upside versus immediate value. While keeping depth is essential, the front office must also balance budgetary constraints and developmental opportunities. 

Which of these players do you think should stay in a Twins uniform? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.

 

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[stringer bell]

It's about upside IMHO. Keep Henriquez, Topa and Headrick, drop Tonkin.

[chpettit19]

How much do they need the pennies? How much do they need the roster spots? I don't have a good feel for their plans this offseason so I don't have a good guess on what they'll do or what I'd do in their place based on what their plans are big picture.

Are they going to make a whole bunch of trades and reshape the roster around Buxton, Correa, Lewis, Lopez, Ryan, Ober, Duran, and Jax? Are they going to basically run it back? I don't know. If they're basically running it back then tender them all because the extra money saved would just go into the Pohlads pockets or be spent on clones of these guys anyways and I don't care for either of those situations. If they're going to make a bunch of changes then the tender/don't tender decision comes down to whether or not you think they can be included in any trades. Tender if you think you can trade them. Don't if you don't.

[jmlease1]

they don't need the roster spots so badly that there's a real reason to non-tender Headrick or Henriquez. I mean, we weren't exactly short of space for the Rule 5.

I honestly have no idea whether Tonkin can handle higher leverage roles at all, so my inclination is to non-tender him because a) I doubt he'll get more on the open market, so he'd still be an option to re-sign if you want, and b) it's really hard to know just how impactful he can be. He looks like just a guy, might be useful to pitch 1-2 innings of middle relief, but limited upside. he was pretty good for the Yankees, and they cut him. He was bad for the Mets and smoke & mirrors for the Twins (ERA was ok, but that WHIP?) but both are very small sample sizes. 2023 he was...ok. $1.5M shouldn't be an issue but on this team, with this payroll, and these owners...it is.

Topa has one excellent season and a lot of injuries. But he was excellent in 2023, and looked good in the tiny sample we have for 2024. Higher ceiling, lower floor. I would tender him, but we'll know what the Twins (who know more than me) think of his health based on their decision. If they non-tender Topa it'll be because they think he has little to no chance of being health in 2025. If they keep him, their assessment of his medicals says he'll pitch.

[Cory Engelhardt]

It’ll be interesting to see if any of them agree to slightly underslot deals, compared to what their expected arbitration numbers are, today or tomorrow. Otherwise, non tendering any of them just means more 40 man openings. Should make for an interesting offseason 

[gman]

I'd non-tender all 4. Leave the space four possible trade or other signings. Could circle back in the spring if the player and roster spots are still available.

[Fire Dan Gladden]

Teams need guys like Tonkin.  Relatively inexpensive, experienced, not a train-wreck, inning-eater.  He will get that $1-2m contract from someone.

I am not sure the Twins yet know what they have with Topa, but they may feel they need to recoup something from that trade.

Both of these guys are known by the Twins.  I am not sure they can find better at this price-point.  If they non-tender both, it tells me they will not spend a dime on the BP this offseason

[old nurse]

The hypothetical values of Tonkin and Topa are hypothetical. For a signed contact and journeyman status I would think Tonkin would sign for a slight raise. It is more money than a minor league contract The front office traded for Topa. He is not going anywhere. Regardless, all of them signed and later DFAd because they din’t have options would likely be picked up. It wouldn’t cost them money

[old nurse]

16 minutes ago, Fire Dan Gladden said:

Teams need guys like Tonkin.  Relatively inexpensive, experienced, not a train-wreck, inning-eater.  He will get that $1-2m contract from someone.

I am not sure the Twins yet know what they have with Topa, but they may feel they need to recoup something from that trade.

Both of these guys are known by the Twins.  I am not sure they can find better at this price-point.  If they non-tender both, it tells me they will not spend a dime on the BP this offseason

Trivino, Dakota Hudson, Cimber and Gott all signed last year for 1.5 million. You are very correct they could do worse at that price point. These guys are your proof. Jorge Lopez at 2 million was a train wreck. Floro imploded when traded to a team fighting for the playoffs at 2.25 million. I am sure if I kept looking there would be a winner somewhere in the bargain bin.  I am not too worried. Somebody will come up with a name other than Tonkin 

[FlyingFinn]

Tonkin stays healthy and is a rubber armed innings eater. I'm keeping him at this price. Also, since I believe the Twins are going to be very quiet on the transaction front this winter, I'm tendering all of these guys.

[MMMordabito]

1 hour ago, jmlease1 said:

they don't need the roster spots so badly that there's a real reason to non-tender Headrick or Henriquez. I mean, we weren't exactly short of space for the Rule 5.

I didn't understand how they fit into this conversation either.  Now, I'm confused about the rule.  Do pre-arb players have a different deadline?

[tony&rodney]

1 hour ago, gman said:

I'd non-tender all 4. Leave the space four possible trade or other signings. Could circle back in the spring if the player and roster spots are still available.

Seems like any trades would send more Twins away than come back in return. This means there is plenty of space on the 40 person roster. None of these guys are so expensive that a DFA will hurt the Twins. Tender all of them.

[bean5302]

None of these guys have high upside IMHO. They'll all probably fall into that -0.3 to + 0.7 WAR middle relief bullpen arm, but pitchers who can eat up a few innings are needed by teams like the Twins. Certainly not all of them are going to be tendered, but 1-2 probably will. 

I can't see Headrick getting a better offer than a MiLB contract so there's no real reason for the Twins to tender him right now, even if they want to keep him.

Tonkin will get an MLB contract, just like he did last year so the Twins can either tender him or watch him walk. Topa is probably going to get an MLB offer as well. Less likely than Tonkin, but probably getting one like Okert and Staumont got from the Twins. 

Henriquez seems to be trusted enough as middle relief by the Twins. Eats some innings, known quantity, doesn't cost more than league minimum. I think the Twins will probably tender him.

[rdehring]

Good news is that we will know tomorrow.  I'm sure not going to lose any sleep tonight.

[jmlease1]

45 minutes ago, MMMordabito said:

I didn't understand how they fit into this conversation either.  Now, I'm confused about the rule.  Do pre-arb players have a different deadline?

Headrick and Henriquez are already on the 40-man roster and were not subject to the Rule 5 Draft. They are pre-arb, so we could non-tender them a contract and waive them at no cost. If they sign a new contract for 2025 and we later waive them, we're still on the hook for their salaries if no one else picks them up. (I think)

[DJL44]

You cannot find players cheaper than Headrick or Henriquez. If they find someone better, they can release them at that moment without costing the team a dime. If Headrick spends the season in the minors the Twins pay him around $115,000.

The only reason to cut any of these guys is you have someone else you like better for the roster spot. The Twins have open roster spots at the moment.

[DJL44]

I thought this article was going to be about 4 players on other teams who could be non-tendered today but might help the Twins. That would be a much more interesting article.

[Greglw3]

2 hours ago, gman said:

I'd non-tender all 4. Leave the space four possible trade or other signings. Could circle back in the spring if the player and roster spots are still available.

I would do the same.

[Rod Carews Birthday]

To me, non-tendering a player depends on two things, money and roster space.  None of these guys cost much at all so even replacing them with minor leaguers doesn’t amount to anything.  We are sitting at 37 on the roster going into the Rule 5, so creating space there doesn’t seem like a motivator either.  Headrick is a lefty and breathing and might get healthy enough to improve, Topa might be that guy from 2023, Tonkin has some history of an innings eater in the bullpen, and Henriquez has shown a little and would seem to have room to get a little better out of the bullpen.  I say tender them all until you need a roster spot.  Then one of them can disappear.    

[Danchat]

I'd non-tender Tonkin, he's the type of guy I'd rather have on a minor league deal. Decent chance he'll be available later in the season on waivers anyways.

[old nurse]

8 hours ago, DJL44 said:

I thought this article was going to be about 4 players on other teams who could be non-tendered today but might help the Twins. That would be a much more interesting article.

The non-tender deadline is tomorrow evening. Teams need to decide whether they want to offer contracts to their arbitration-eligible (and pre-arbitration) players. Those who are not tendered contracts
See More at MLBTradeRumors

i think it inspired the Baha Men’s song from a few years ago that TD won’t let me link. Woof woof list 

[Werbellik]

Drop Tonkin. Definitely keep Headrick and Henriquez. I don't know, Topa could go either way. I don't like his injury history,  we have enough of that type. On second thought, let him go too. Youth should prevail.

[Doctor Wu]

18 hours ago, chpettit19 said:

I don't have a good feel for their plans this offseason so I don't have a good guess on what they'll do or what I'd do in their place based on what their plans are big picture.

I think many of us are thinking same  way.  What is the plan? This off-season feels like we are walking through a dark forest with no moonlight to guide us. 

[Doctor Gast]

IMO all these guys are replaceable. Topa will definitely be tendered. He's a valuable trade chip & I'd trade him because I have my doubts that he's beyond his injuries, that they are chronic. Beyond that they may want to stick with what they know & pay a little more instead of going with a cheaper option that they aren't certain. They have to be confident in their evaluations. 

[LambchoP]

I think we need all the bullpen depth we can get and should keep all of them. If we did non tender any of these guys, we'd just have to replace them with free agents, and I doubt we could do any better than 1 to 1.5 million per arm. I say we tender all four, sign a legit late inning lefty and call the bullpen good. If Canterino, Prelipp or Headrick can win a spot in spring training, then all the better. I'd love a pen like this...

Duran Jax Sands

Alcala Stewart Topa 

Varland Henriquez Tonkin 

Free agent lefty, competition for second lefty between Moran, Headrick and Prelipp. Also give a chance to Canterino, Raya or any other live arm looking to make the jump.

[Otaknam]

After the DiSclifani fiasco, cutting Topa would add insult to injury. His salary isn’t much by major league standards, but this ownership is determined to cut salary at the expense of competing.