Coming soon - 28 man rosters

[thelanges5]

We are 15 days out from expanded rosters. Who’s coming up? Only rules- they have to be on the 40 and the roster can only have 14 pitchers. 

Pitcher - goes to SWR, Pablo. Whoever is most ready by then. I’m sick of these BP games so add a starter. End the season with 5 man rotation - Ryan, Ober, Matthews, SWR, Lopez. 

Batter - give McCusker another shot? I’d rather do something outside the box like see what Fedko can do. He’s a rule 5 guy and needs to be protected if they like him. 

Love to hear other names/ideas from y’all as well. 

[Major League Ready]

My guess is Fedko and Morris pitching out of the BP if he is healthy.  Of course, they need a spots for Pablo and Festa so there might not be room for Morris.  

[nicksaviking]

They're not running with Gasper as the only backup catcher (What? Not for real though right?!?) while also having him DH (NO, you LIE!!!!!!!). Jhonny Pereda will certainly get a spot. 

[lecroy24fan]

Vazquez is probably back by then.

I still want to see Sabato and Eeles get a shot. I don't think there will be room for a pitcher, although Abel and Bradley should already be up.

 

[DocBauer]

I don't see any logical reason for a team completely out of the running to carry a 3rd catcher. 

They don't need both Outman AND Keirsey on the roster. For that matter, they don't need both on the 40 man either.

With all due respect to McCusker...who I don't want to just dump...I don't know if he fits the primary roster for 2026 and beyond the way others do. And his best opportunity should have been earlier in the season. 

That leaves Eeles. Fedko, or Gonzalez. My criteria? Fedko is around 5yrs younger than Gonzalez, has as much or more steam right now, and in a SSS is performing better at AAA. It's time to bring him up. You need to see if he's got the potential to help the club in 2026. One month won't guarantee anything one way or the other, but it's a start.

After that?

Also, no disrespect to Fitzgerald, but is he really a possible utility/backup SS option for 2026? Don't they already have some idea what hencan do? It's not the same kind of priority as Fedko, but I'd strongly consider replacing with Eeles to have a month of up close observation.

As to the 14th arm? I have ZERO issue with guys like Hartch or Kriske hanging around and getting a look as potentisl BP options for 2026. But neither should start another game. The team has way too many SP options with Lopez, and SWR nearly back, and Abel and Bradley available.

START starters and work with the other arms that MIGHT bring pen arms out of the pen. IDK WHO they should bring up for sure Lopez, SWR, Abel, and Bradley are 3 ready or nearly ready options already. But I don't see where Urena, or Ramirez...34 and 35yo...offer anything other than moral support. Is that really needed at this point?

The 14 arms to finish out the season should be 14 arms that might be part of 2026.

[DocBauer]

15 hours ago, lecroy24fan said:

Vazquez is probably back by then.

I still want to see Sabato and Eeles get a shot. I don't think there will be room for a pitcher, although Abel and Bradley should already be up.

 

I have a lot of respect for Vazquez. And if he's healthy enough to come back, I can see him finishing out the season. But odds are against him being back. So are they better keeping Gasper or Perada, or Cardenas finishing out the season instead?

But I guess it depends on his health and rehab first. He might not even be ready to come back until the end of September. (I just wonder at getting strength back in that shoulder).

[nicksaviking]

4 hours ago, DocBauer said:

I have a lot of respect for Vazquez. And if he's healthy enough to come back, I can see him finishing out the season. But odds are against him being back. So are they better keeping Gasper or Perada, or Cardenas finishing out the season instead?

But I guess it depends on his health and rehab first. He might not even be ready to come back until the end of September. (I just wonder at getting strength back in that shoulder).

Yeah, with an emergency surgery and hospitalization, hopefully sound minds prevail and he sits out the rest of this lost season. 

[jorgenswest]

I would like to see Abel, Bradley, Festa, Lopez and Woods Richardson but we don’t need to wait until September to find a place for them when ready. I hope we see Abel in his next start. Some will have to pitch from the pen but that won’t prevent them from starting next year.

I don’t think it would be wise to add anyone to the 40 other than those that are certain to be protected from the rule 5 draft in the winter. It just gives them more flexibility to build the roster during the winter. Not playing in September doesn’t prohibit Eeles or Jenkins from making the roster next spring. I don’t know what to make of Fedko’s high BABIP and relatively low EV in AAA. I guess I would not trust the AAA slash stats to be very meaningful in this small sample with the extreme BABIP not supported by a high EV. I think the eyes of those seeing him play in person every day would be the better judge. I don’t think I would add Sabato to the 40 man in the winter. His lack of positional flexibility suggests that he is either a starter at 1B or DH or not on the 26 man roster. He isn’t very helpful on the bench. I would add Gonzalez because he has the upside of a 21 year old. I think he should continue in AAA though.

 

[lecroy24fan]

I want to see Sabato this year because they need to see if he can be the answer at 1B. They can decide after that if he's worth keeping on the 40 man.

[Trov]

10 hours ago, lecroy24fan said:

I want to see Sabato this year because they need to see if he can be the answer at 1B. They can decide after that if he's worth keeping on the 40 man.

Who are you taking off the 40 man to put him on it?  He is not on it now, so "keeping" him on it not a question but is he worth putting on it. We either need to 60 day IL someone or DFA someone to give him a shot. As great as his AA time was he did what he does and regressed at next level.  St. Paul is where he should have been crushing as much if not more.  He did not fall apart, but I was hoping he would run away with a possible 1st base job and have a few good years.

My guess Twins will leave him off 40 man and if a team wants to take him in rule 5 go for it.  He may actually be a minor league FA next year not sure. 

[lecroy24fan]

12 hours ago, Trov said:

Who are you taking off the 40 man to put him on it?  He is not on it now, so "keeping" him on it not a question but is he worth putting on it. We either need to 60 day IL someone or DFA someone to give him a shot. As great as his AA time was he did what he does and regressed at next level.  St. Paul is where he should have been crushing as much if not more.  He did not fall apart, but I was hoping he would run away with a possible 1st base job and have a few good years.

My guess Twins will leave him off 40 man and if a team wants to take him in rule 5 go for it.  He may actually be a minor league FA next year not sure. 

There is plenty of filler that can go. 

[stringer bell]

12 hours ago, Trov said:

Who are you taking off the 40 man to put him on it?  He is not on it now, so "keeping" him on it not a question but is he worth putting on it. We either need to 60 day IL someone or DFA someone to give him a shot. As great as his AA time was he did what he does and regressed at next level.  St. Paul is where he should have been crushing as much if not more.  He did not fall apart, but I was hoping he would run away with a possible 1st base job and have a few good years.

My guess Twins will leave him off 40 man and if a team wants to take him in rule 5 go for it.  He may actually be a minor league FA next year not sure. 

Agree with @lecroy24fan that there is plenty of filler that can come off the 40-man roster. Adding a third catcher back is the most common move made by teams and with utility guy Gasper currently functioning as the second catcher, it probably would make sense. However, it also isn't such a pressing issue because the team is out of the playoff race. 

In my estimation, Sabato has progressed a great deal from last year to this year, but also in my estimation, he would have to progress even more next year to be a functional 1B/DH. I just don't think either he or McCusker will ever develop into major leaguer, although he'll possibly get a cup of coffee.

Personally I'd rather see Fedko because they will need to make a decision on him and I do believe someone would take him in the Rule V draft. He also has made a real leap in production across multiple levels. I don't know Eeles status, but he might be another guy the Twins will have to make a decision on. I think Gonzalez is a lock to be added so they really don't need to see him in a Twins uniform on September first.

SWR is probably going to return before the first of September and Pablo would likely be the 14th arm added when the roster expand and a 40-man move will need to be made at that time. If Vásquez doesn't return, he would be a 60-day IL move to make space for one guy.

[Otto von Ballpark]

On 8/18/2025 at 8:40 AM, Trov said:

He may actually be a minor league FA next year not sure. 

I believe Sabato would be eligible for minor league free agency after next season (2026).

[jctwins]

This org would be well served to just tell us what they're doing. "We're going to tinker with 2026 lineups on even days, and scramble in guys with potential on odd days.

What a simple way to earn an inch with the fan base that the ineptitude continues to block.

[Doctor Wu]

I hope they bring up both Bradley and Abel to see what they learned/improved on in AAA. Fedko definitely deserves a look and McCusker also warrants more than a handful of  at-bats to see if he can perform on the big stage or not. Sabato? Hmm ... not sure about that one, but he's earned a look too. Other than that, two catchers is enough for the rest of the season. 

[stringer bell]

3 hours ago, Doctor Wu said:

I hope they bring up both Bradley and Abel to see what they learned/improved on in AAA. Fedko definitely deserves a look and McCusker also warrants more than a handful of  at-bats to see if he can perform on the big stage or not. Sabato? Hmm ... not sure about that one, but he's earned a look too. Other than that, two catchers is enough for the rest of the season. 

Have you seen McCusker’s numbers lately? He hits an occasional extra base hit, but the BA is under .250. I believe the OPS is in the low .800s. Not a ringing endorsement for another look. 

[lecroy24fan]

15 hours ago, Doctor Wu said:

I hope they bring up both Bradley and Abel to see what they learned/improved on in AAA. Fedko definitely deserves a look and McCusker also warrants more than a handful of  at-bats to see if he can perform on the big stage or not. Sabato? Hmm ... not sure about that one, but he's earned a look too. Other than that, two catchers is enough for the rest of the season. 

My theory on Sabato is being a former first round pick and the Twins having a hole the size of the Grand Canyon at 1B lets get a look.

[Doctor Wu]

19 hours ago, stringer bell said:

Have you seen McCusker’s numbers lately? He hits an occasional extra base hit, but the BA is under .250. I believe the OPS is in the low .800s. Not a ringing endorsement for another look. 

Wow, no I had not checked his numbers lately. Ugh. You are correct. Not an encouraging performance at all. 

[stringer bell]

Any rumors about who the Twins will be adding? I'd really like to see Fedko and I expect the pitching spot will be taken by a pitcher returned to health (López).

[lecroy24fan]

I'm guessing Pablo and Kiersey.

[jorgenswest]

They have three spots after optioning Abel.

[FlyingFinn]

Kiersey, Davis and Adams up. Davis is probably up for 4 days until Pablo replaces him.

[stringer bell]

37 minutes ago, FlyingFinn said:

Kiersey, Davis and Adams up. Davis is probably up for 4 days until Pablo replaces him.

Yuck.

[thelanges5]

10 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

Yuck.

This is about as underwhelming as it could possibly be. No Fedko, no Morris, no guys to get excited about. 

[jorgenswest]

50 minutes ago, FlyingFinn said:

Kiersey, Davis and Adams up. Davis is probably up for 4 days until Pablo replaces him.

Disappointed but not surprised. The Twins didn’t need to wait until today. They only had three open spots today. On August first they had about 10 and filled some of them with waiver wire claims.

I don't think bringing them would have better for a player’s development or given us any true insight about their readiness for next year. The sample is too small. It just would have been more entertaining to me. I like seeing a player’s first game in the majors. It is fun when they can offer a glimmer of a hope for the future. This is an entertainment business.

Edited September 1, 2025 by jorgenswest
Comment reposted from minor league forum

[SteveLV]

A month of MLB AB's is nothing to sneeze at.  We were pretty excited to see Keashal in that time frame.

I would like to see ANY of the AAA OF's besides Keirsey.  We already know he can't hit.  They must intend not to play any OF's called up and want them to get steady playing time in AAA.  Keirsey will be strictly a bench piece.

Disappointing, as usual.

[RpR]

2 hours ago, SteveLV said:

A month of MLB AB's is nothing to sneeze at.  We were pretty excited to see Keashal in that time frame.

I would like to see ANY of the AAA OF's besides Keirsey.  We already know he can't hit.  They must intend not to play any OF's called up and want them to get steady playing time in AAA.  Keirsey will be strictly a bench piece.

Disappointing, as usual.

A month to come up and be embarrassed by Major league pitchers and hitters.

Good way to ruin a rookie.

[Danchat]

I saw Noah Davis pitch in AAA a couple weeks ago... he has no idea where the ball is going when he throws it. I don't get what the fascination with him is.

[RpR]

11 minutes ago, Danchat said:

I saw Noah Davis pitch in AAA a couple weeks ago... he has no idea where the ball is going when he throws it. I don't get what the fascination with him is.

Wild Thing, he makes their heart sing.

[nicksaviking]

24 minutes ago, RpR said:

A month to come up and be embarrassed by Major league pitchers and hitters.

Good way to ruin a rookie.

They will ALWAYS be a rookie, no matter when they are called up. At which point you’ll throw a temper tantrum because you hate rookies.