Five Players on the 40-Man Roster Most Likely to be DFA'd If the Twins Need to Clear Space This Offseason

[DJL44]

6 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

I can see where you're coming from. But Canterino has been managed incorrectly his whole career,especially in college. IMO when managed correctly (limiting his innings) due to his arm problems he be a force. There is a lot of potential in Canterino, it's a shame he hasn't been able to showcase it.

You think they should limit his innings more? He's pitched 85 innings in 6 seasons as a professional. If he can't pitch 60 innings in a season, then he's worthless as a major league pitcher.

[DJL44]

The Twins are going to find it difficult to keep all of their relievers. Tonkin, Stewart and Henriquez are out of options. Castellano can't be optioned due to Rule 5. Jax and Duran aren't getting optioned. That's 6 of the 8 spots. For the remaining two spots they will have to pick from Alcala, Sands, Topa, Funderburk, Varland, Headrick, Canterino and Adams.

[NYCTK]

1 hour ago, LambchoP said:

If they won't sign Chafin or any other lefty for the pen, maybe they trade some combo of Paddack, Helman or Henriquez to acquire a LHRP. We really are going to need one, can't expect Funderburk to be our guy. I think we have enough backup outfielders with Keirsey, Martin and Rodriguez. Not to mention Castro. I'm more worried about first base and pitching. Miranda could be a decent bat, but I don't think he has the power we need at 1b, but it looks like we're stuck with some combo of him, Julien and Keaschal. As for the rotation, I think having Festa and Mathews start in AAA would be very beneficial. If we can dump Paddacks salary I think signing the lefty throwing SP Quintana to be our number 5 would greatly improve our rotation. He's predicted to sign for close to the same salary Paddack would get.

Having a Lefty reliever isn't really that valuable in today's game like it was 20 years ago. Sure, many players do have drastic splits, but you still gotta pitch to two other players.

Just get the best pitchers on the roster, arm be damned. 

[NYCTK]

24 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

The Twins are going to find it difficult to keep all of their relievers. Tonkin, Stewart and Henriquez are out of options. Castellano can't be optioned due to Rule 5. Jax and Duran aren't getting optioned. That's 6 of the 8 spots. For the remaining two spots they will have to pick from Alcala, Sands, Topa, Funderburk, Varland, Headrick, Canterino and Adams.

They can DFA Tonkin again. He loves it. 

[stringer bell]

10 hours ago, Seth Stohs said:

I think DFAing Camargo would be a mistake. He is the one catcher other than the two starters that is essentially ready to play. Cartaya is probably at least a half-season away, maybe a full year. Gasper's an emergency catcher probably only.  

Given the team's usage (or lack thereof) of Camargo last year, I think the Twins really don't think he's "ready to play". He'll have another chance to show the field staff in the spring and I expect he'll log a lot of innings in exhibition games and the team will decide who the third catcher is. 

I'll be interested to see how they handle Gasper as well. Does he show up early to catch the pitchers? Will he be used at catcher in exhibition games? His Triple A numbers say that he should be able to hold his own as a hitter, but if he's not considered a catcher, then he's trying to make the club as a first baseman/second baseman. 

[jmlease1]

Tonkin does seem like a DFA choice if they need a spot. is Headrick on the 40-man right now? I'd drop him before Canterino. Helman is definitely a guy that could slide through waivers. Gasper's already passed through Rule 5, so seems like a fit too.

feels like there's some room to work without too much trouble.

[thelanges5]

1 hour ago, NYCTK said:

Having a Lefty reliever isn't really that valuable in today's game like it was 20 years ago. Sure, many players do have drastic splits, but you still gotta pitch to two other players.

Just get the best pitchers on the roster, arm be damned. 

Agreed. LHPs are only worthwhile if they can also get righties out - otherwise you’re just another Okert. 

[stringer bell]

16 minutes ago, jmlease1 said:

Tonkin does seem like a DFA choice if they need a spot. is Headrick on the 40-man right now? I'd drop him before Canterino. Helman is definitely a guy that could slide through waivers. Gasper's already passed through Rule 5, so seems like a fit too.

feels like there's some room to work without too much trouble.

I don't think Gasper was passed through Rule V, at least not this year. I know the Red Sox claimed him from the Yankees, was that a Triple A Rule V claim?

[bean5302]

It's wild to see the Twins Daily hype machine turn MiLB roster filler guys like age 29 season Michael Helman into expected major contributors.

Nobody is going to claim Helman if he gets DFA'd. The guy was in A+ ball at age 25 after flopping hard in his initial exposure, and has 1,000 PA in AAA where he's been pretty pedestrian overall at ages 26-28. He's MiLB roster filler and emergency utility depth. Teams already have a Helman or they could have one on a MiLB contract any time they want one.

Some takes in here are way, way out there.

[Doctor Gast]

19 hours ago, DJL44 said:

You think they should limit his innings more? He's pitched 85 innings in 6 seasons as a professional. If he can't pitch 60 innings in a season, then he's worthless as a major league pitcher.

That's what happens when you're pitched too much, too fast you end up on the IL. When you are limited innings, you actually pitch more quality innings through the season because you don't head directly to the IL in the beginning of the season. Raya is evaluated as an injury risk, they limit his innings & he has put in many more quality innings than Canterino. If Canterino is managed properly & placed in the pen, he can pitch many more than 60 quality innings for the Twins (yet 60 quality innings isn't bad for a RP). But if we push his arm as far as we can as a starter, we shouldn't be surprised when his arm falls off. It's like that old oil change commercial when the mechanic removes the oil plug & no oil comes out & the owner scratches his head, like "How did that happen?"

[DJL44]

1 hour ago, bean5302 said:

It's wild to see the Twins Daily hype machine turn MiLB roster filler guys like age 29 season Michael Helman into expected major contributors.

I've been hoping they find someone better than Helman and DFA him off the roster all winter.

[TwinsDr2021]

2 hours ago, bean5302 said:

It's wild to see the Twins Daily hype machine turn MiLB roster filler guys like age 29 season Michael Helman into expected major contributors.

Nobody is going to claim Helman if he gets DFA'd. The guy was in A+ ball at age 25 after flopping hard in his initial exposure, and has 1,000 PA in AAA where he's been pretty pedestrian overall at ages 26-28. He's MiLB roster filler and emergency utility depth. Teams already have a Helman or they could have one on a MiLB contract any time they want one.

Some takes in here are way, way out there.

100% this, Probably the same people that thought Sam Darnold was the solution to the Vikings.

[DJL44]

13 hours ago, Seth Stohs said:

I think trading Willi Castro is something that could happen. Helman can hit just as well as Castro, probably run as well and defend as well... but for $740K rather than $6.4M. I can certainly see Helman being a DFA option, but that would be unfortunate. 

I think you are both underrating Willi Castro and overrating Michael Helman. There is a big difference between MLB and AAA.

[Shaitan]

Canterino isn't a person?

I get what you were trying to write, but that's an offensive word choice.

[tony&rodney]

If the Twins like what they see from Castellano in March expect a trade with Philly. My hope is that the Twins can recognize the guys who have the best talent and do not resort to sending down a reliever just because of options when that person may be among the top 6 relief pitchers. I understand that Tonkin has been moved often but he has also been pretty effective in his role (5th, 6th, 7th innings). What do the Twins have in Henriquez might be important. Topa has an option and the last guy in the pen might need to be someone else.

As far as position players, it is unlikely to be a problem once the Twins complete a 2-1 or 3-1 trade and clearing 40 person roster spots.

[Blyleven2011]

20 hours ago, Seth Stohs said:

I think trading Willi Castro is something that could happen. Helman can hit just as well as Castro, probably run as well and defend as well... but for $740K rather than $6.4M. I can certainly see Helman being a DFA option, but that would be unfortunate. 

Trading castro with value and a 6 million salary  makes the most sense to me and bring back value   , he's played well on the team but we have in homegrown players to really fill all of his position  , he is kinda a luxury  ...

If the twins were contenders I would consider an extension for Castro , I liked what Castro does for the twins , maybe they have or are trying to trade him but falvey placed to high of a value the trading partners shied away from acquiring him ...

[TwinsDr2021]

On 1/13/2025 at 11:27 PM, Seth Stohs said:

I think trading Willi Castro is something that could happen. Helman can hit just as well as Castro, probably run as well and defend as well... but for $740K rather than $6.4M. I can certainly see Helman being a DFA option, but that would be unfortunate. 

If Helman can hit just as well as Castro why is he a 28 year old with 10 major league at bats and Castro has been in majors since he was 22 was 4th in the ROY voting and has played in an all star game?

Is it you are wrong or is it the Twins FO is too dumb to realize this?

[gman]

I think spring training is a month away. Most or all of these guys will be in camp, unless placed on the injured list. There will be openings in other teams camps and probably we can expect a trade or two. Other teams may release players towards the end of camp that will look better on on roster and we can then release someone off the end of the roster. We may wind up resigning them and stash at 3A.

[stringer bell]

10 hours ago, TwinsDr2021 said:

If Helman can hit just as well as Castro why is he a 28 year old with 10 major league at bats and Castro has been in majors since he was 22 was 4th in the ROY voting and has played in an all star game?

Is it you are wrong or is it the Twins FO is too dumb to realize this?

While I doubt Helman can be a big a contributor as Castro, he has had promotions slowed by injuries and he was delayed by the COVID year when minor leaguers didn't play. He's done well at the upper levels of the minors and he is versatile.

Also, Castro was non-tendered two years ago and signed by the Twins to a minor league contract, so he wasn't very highly valued at that point.