5 Out-of-Options Players Playing for Their Twins Careers Down the Stretch

[Greggory Masterson]

Image courtesy of © Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

Obviously, every player is playing for their jobs. If you play poorly, you’re constantly at risk of seeing yourself pushed out of an organization. However, that pressure is amplified for young (let's just say under-30) players who have used up their minor-league options.

Major League Baseball has many convoluted rules, and no set of rules may be more confusing to fans than those related to minor-league options. In short, players on the 40-man roster can be on the active MLB roster or in the minor leagues. However, players on the 40-man roster cannot be kept in the minor leagues indefinitely. If a player spends more than 20 days in the minor leagues while on the 40-man roster, they use one of their minor-league option years. They have three such option years. If the player has already used their three options, they must stay on the active roster and can only be moved to the minors if they are waived (meaning any of the other 29 teams can claim them) and then removed from the 40-man.

Why does this matter in this discussion? Well, the Twins have a small handful of players who are out of options next season. That puts a bit of a target on their backs, because the organization needs to have some confidence that they’re big-league contributors. A player like, say, Mickey Gasper isn’t a guy a team has confidence will stick on an MLB roster, but because he has options, he can stick around as a depth option.

When a player transitions from a fungible depth option to a roster lock, the bar rises. And when that bar rises, the calculus on keeping him around changes. Over the offseason, that might mean some guys will be out of a job. As the season winds down over the next couple of weeks, the Twins have five such players who will force decisions that might not happen if they could be sent down.

(Ok, technically, there are eight, but three of those are Thomas Hatch, Michael Tonkin, and Génesis Cabrera, relievers here to soak up innings. I guess you could make an argument that fans should care if you have a favorite reliever in that bunch, but I’ll skip discussing them for reasons that should be obvious.)

Jose Miranda
Did you forget about Jose Miranda? Many have. This one appears to be the clearest case (no pun intended) among notable players out of options. Miranda was demoted in April, burning his final option, and has been one of the worst hitters in Triple-A this season, slashing .194/.271/.303. It’s probably the end of the line for his Twins career, and nothing he does down the stretch will change that.

Edouard Julien
Julien was a fixture in the Twins' 2023 lineup and slated to be a mainstay at the top of the lineup for years, but he’s sputtered in 2024 and 2025, burning his last two option years as he oscillated between Triple-A and MLB. He was called up after the trade deadline fire sale for what might be one final opportunity, and he’s played more often than not against righties either at first base or designated hitter. He’s been squeezed out of second base reps, with even Austin Martin getting time there over him.

And he hasn’t been good, slashing .188/.284/.299 in the majors this season, with a .548 OPS since his August 1 tryout began. Julien has theoretical upside as a hitter, but he hasn’t flashed that in two years. The Twins could be talked into chasing that dragon again in 2026, but with Julien being out of options, that’s a harder bridge to sell.

Kody Clemens
You could call Clemens Julien-adjacent, as there might be something of an internal battle over who the default lefty first baseman is going into next season. There might be room for one of them, but not both, and Clemens has hit better this year, played a better second and first base, and shown flexibility in the outfield.

If we were having this conversation a month ago, it’d be much more straightforward, but Clemens, the only player on this list currently out of options (which is why the Twins got him for cash considerations from Philadelphia), has struggled mightily down the stretch, slashing .154/.214/.282 as the Twins’ primary first baseman.

Given his great start and middle of the season and his flexibility, he’d probably be a no-brainer to at least be penciled into the plans next year, but his skid and lack of options muddy that. He probably has a better chance of hanging on the roster over the offseason than the first two on this list.

James Outman
The prized jewel from the Brock Stewart trade everyone loved and totally understood, Outman is a lefty outfielder for a team I’m pretty sure has no other left-handed outfielders. Outman has a very clear path to playing time, given that there are no other left-handed outfielders on the major-league roster or in the high minors, so I’m sure his being out of options won’t play a factor in any decision-making for him or adjacent players. Certainly, he won’t be given a spot due to the sunk cost fallacy and will instead get a lot of playing time because there’s a clear role for him on next year’s team. (Hang on, I'm being handed a note...)

At least he plays center field. And has a .642 OPS as a Twin. Who knows, honestly? I’m not mad; I’m still just confused.

Simeon Woods Richardson
Okay, joking about Outman aside, this is the big one. This is the case that got me thinking about the topic. Woods Richardson kept the Twins rotation afloat in 2024, providing much-needed depth, with a 4.17 ERA in 28 starts. He struggled early in 2025, necessitating a trip to the minors, which burned his final option year.

Woods Richardson has been a productive backend starter. Not sexy, but competent enough. However, the Twins have eight MLB starters (or seven, pending the health of David Festa), and the 2026 rotation is not yet apparent. Joe Ryan, Pablo López, and Bailey Ober seem to slot in ahead of him, and Zebby Matthews is likely ahead of him, as well. Taj Bradley has about the same amount of big-league action as Woods Richardson, and he’s viewed as a higher-upside youngster.

So what does that mean for Woods Richardson? He’d be a perfect next-man-up, but he can’t be stashed at Triple-A to open the season. There’s no clear path for him in a bullpen role either, given his pitch mix and stuff. There may be a trade of Ryan or López that clears this logjam up, but Woods Richardson seems like the odd man out, unless they demote Bradley or Matthews, and that says nothing about other prospects vying for depth innings like Mick Abel, Connor Prielipp, or Kendry Rojas.

He hasn't looked great over his past three starts since recovering from a stomach virus, running a 6.59 ERA across 13 2/3 innings in three starts.

Woods Richardson is a competent backend starter with four more years of team control, but that may have to come for another team. It’s difficult to map out a role for him going into next year, with the pitching corps as constructed and no ability to demote him to the minors. That will be the story for more than one of this quintet.

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[jorgenswest]

9 minutes ago, Greggory Masterson said:

There may be a trade of Ryan or López that clears this logjam up

This is not a logjam. They need more logs like Ryan and Lopez.

[Cory Engelhardt]

If they don't want to write in pen that SWR will be in the rotation to start the year, AND they don't think he will convert to a good bullpen option, I can VERY much see him being moved to a team for a player with similar control who could possibly be a catcher or 1B option. 

[jorgenswest]

Outman’s glove is going to need to be very good. The closest comp he can aspire to would have to be Michael A Taylor who has a career OPS of .668 and still has a major leagues innings job. 

[terrydactyls]

When must a decision be made on SWR?  If it can wait until spring training, then the decision shouldn't be too difficult.  By that time, trades will have been made, performances in spring training evaluated, and injuries can be factored in.  Then make a decision.  If the decision must be made by a set day in the off-season, then take your best guess and go with it.

[tony&rodney]

Woods Richardson is the only player I can see being rostered next April by the Twins. Perhaps a couple of these guys sign minor league deals but it would seem they would first try to get a similar contract with a different organization.

I could see Simeon being a part of a trade as well. He is a fair #5 starter. It is quite difficult to judge Twins pitchers who are in a gray area, like SWR, because the defense is so bad it doesn't reflect how a guy might look pitching for an above average or even average fielding team. Even Paul Skenes would have his numbers scarred and messed up by pitching for the Twins and the Pirates aren't very good.

[sweetmusicviola16]

I've never been a huge fan of Richardson. But he has proven himself a whole lot more than Matthews and Festa have.  Or Bradley. He's not going to be discarded.

[DocBauer]

SWR is a trade candidate possibility. I grant that. But there is so much right now that we simply don't know about payroll and the disposition of Lopez and Ryan. But neither of those two are moved...my preference...I would see Sim getting the 5th job no matter what. They won't be shy about sending a deserving rotation arm to St Paul to begin the season. 

Clemens is the only one of the rest I'm interested in. Granted he's finishing the season poorly, but he's fit in well and been a solid, productive role player since acquired. But he shouldn't be starting daily at any position. I'd see if he can start playing some 3B again to further increase his roster flexibility.

I wouldn't be upset if he was replaced by someone better, but I see a possible role for him in 2026.

[bigdave]

SWR is the only player on that list who belongs on a major league roster. Most of them should be AAA lifers. Clemens might find a job because he's shown some power. SWR still has potential, if this coaching staff can find it.

[Vanimal46]

Julien and Miranda are easy non-tenders. Good luck to them. 

Clemens and Outman I think will be kept as AAAA depth. 

SWR is gonna be on the MLB team in some capacity in 2026. 

[nicksaviking]

Including three injured players, there are 19 players on the current 40-man that I care to keep, SWR being one of them.

But I don't know how you go about filling the other 21 spots though. I doubt it's in free agency.

[Cory Engelhardt]

19 minutes ago, sweetmusicviola16 said:

I've never been a huge fan of Richardson. But he has proven himself a whole lot more than Matthews and Festa have.  Or Bradley. He's not going to be discarded.

Bradley certainly has had more success in his career so far overall.

And I'll absolutely take Zebby over SWR.

If Festa is able to pitch in 2026, I do think he has a better chance at being a good reliever than SWR would. I have trouble seeing SWR move to the bullpen and succeeding. But I am fairly certain that SWR can be a good backend starter. 

And yeah, I'd listen on SWR. But if he is here in 2026, then I'd imagine it is because other pitchers are also traded.

[USAFChief]

30 minutes ago, terrydactyls said:

When must a decision be made on SWR?  If it can wait until spring training, then the decision shouldn't be too difficult.  By that time, trades will have been made, performances in spring training evaluated, and injuries can be factored in.  Then make a decision.  If the decision must be made by a set day in the off-season, then take your best guess and go with it.

MLB 40 man rosters are finalized in November each year. Rule 5 draft is December and 40 man must be done prior to that.

I can't find it right now, but I remember reading somewhere this year's 40 man date is November 18th.

Also remember there is no Injured List in the offseason. Anyone on a 60 day IL doesn't count against the 40 man during the season, but once the season is over, that's not the case.

[USAFChief]

As for the OP, SWR is a no-brainer. Hed make the opening day rotation ahead of any of the younger options. That's just the way Falvey operates. Established vet = MLB, younger guys in AAA as depth.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Clemens and Outman make the 40-man. Not that they should, mind you. But again, it's the Twins. Falvey won’t give up on Outman so soon after trading for him. And what 1st base options are there? It wouldn't shock me to see Julien make it, either. 

Miranda, no chance of course. He'll find a AAA job somewhere, at least for 2026.

[TwinsDr2021]

20 minutes ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

Bradley certainly has had more success in his career so far overall.

And I'll absolutely take Zebby over SWR.

If Festa is able to pitch in 2026, I do think he has a better chance at being a good reliever than SWR would. I have trouble seeing SWR move to the bullpen and succeeding. But I am fairly certain that SWR can be a good backend starter. 

And yeah, I'd listen on SWR. But if he is here in 2026, then I'd imagine it is because other pitchers are also traded.

Bradley's career WAR is .9, highest WAR in any year is 1.7, 162 game average is .4

SWR's career WAR is 3.0, with a 2.0 and 1.2, and 162 game average is 2.0

Should we use ERA? Bradley does have 100 more innings, but I find it hard to say he has had more success. 

[Trov]

SWR is the only one on that list that I keep on 40 man over the offseason, unless there are other moves that get made.  Miranda has fallen way off depth, Julien has fallen off and not shown any growth, Outman is just a no.  Clemons showed a flash, but outside of that he is a no.  He is the only one worth maybe keeping. 

[TwinsDr2021]

The only one of these players that should be on the Twins is SWR. Unless of course they think they are going to lose 90+ games next year, than Clemens is a great fit. 

Somebody mentioned that Taylor has a job, but lets not forget that job is on the team with the worst record in the league. (exactly the type of team that signs a player like Clemens)

[Cory Engelhardt]

10 minutes ago, TwinsDr2021 said:

Bradley's career WAR is .9, highest WAR in any year is 1.7, 162 game average is .4

SWR's career WAR is 3.0, with a 2.0 and 1.2, and 162 game average is 2.0

Should we use ERA? Bradley does have 100 more innings, but I find it hard to say he has had more success. 

I went off fangraphs, which is much higher than baseball reference. Should have looked at both.

[jmlease1]

SWR is the only one who has earned a spot. I'm not judging him based on the return from the parasite problem; we've seen it before when a player drops a bunch of weight during an illness that it takes a while to rebuild strength and they may not get it all back during a season. My fear on trading him is that the value is low because of the injury, but it has to be considered. But he at least has value. SWR is worth keeping

If Miranda, Julien, or Outman want to stay in the organization on a minor league deal...ok, I guess? But under no circumstances should their lack of options be a consideration. It's really disappointing on Miranda and Julien after Miranda's 2024 and Julien's 2023, but betting a roster spot on either is foolish. I'd drop them all, and I was a big supporter on Miranda and Julien. But they've been passed by others, and baseball is a hard game. Outman hasn't looked good enough in CF for me to be very interested in keeping him. Don't throw value after him (a roster spot has real value) just to try and chase a bad trade. Sunk cost fallacy at work here, IMHO

Clemens really shouldn't be kept either. He's far too inconsistent and even when he's selling out and ripping a homer he makes too many outs. He wouldn't be the worst 26th man, but we're better off moving on with younger players with options, especially with the Twins relative unwillingness to part with veteran players (and Clemens qualifies at this point) who are underperforming long past the point of them being playable. Whatever utility is gained by his ability to play multiple positions is cut by the fact that he's utterly unplayable against LHP. He is who he is, and the ceiling isn't high enough and the floor too low to carry him.

[RpR]

13 minutes ago, TwinsDr2021 said:

Bradley's career WAR is .9, highest WAR in any year is 1.7, 162 game average is .4

SWR's career WAR is 3.0, with a 2.0 and 1.2, and 162 game average is 2.0

Should we use ERA? Bradley does have 100 more innings, but I find it hard to say he has had more success. 

War, huh, yeah
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing, uhh
War, huh, yeah
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Say it again, y'all
War, huh (good God)
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing, 

[nicksaviking]

31 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

As for the OP, SWR is a no-brainer. Hed make the opening day rotation ahead of any of the younger options. That's just the way Falvey operates. Established vet = MLB, younger guys in AAA as depth.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Clemens and Outman make the 40-man. Not that they should, mind you. But again, it's the Twins. Falvey won’t give up on Outman so soon after trading for him. And what 1st base options are there? It wouldn't shock me to see Julien make it, either. 

Miranda, no chance of course. He'll find a AAA job somewhere, at least for 2026.

Yeah, I have no interest in keeping those guys, but what else are they going to put on the roster? It's laughably untalented, and they're still going to have to fill it somehow.

I mean, it's going to be the Twins' Outman, Clemens and Julien or another team's version of players just like them.

[Doctor Gast]

I have no idea how high SWR's ceiling is at but he has established himself as a SP, that doesn't mean that every outing will be great. He'll go through times of adjusting, all pitchers do but he'll adjust to every situation & cement himself to the rotation more so than Matthew or Festa. 

In house- Julien's defense has always been a liability. Only Correa & Santana covering for him, could somehow make him look passable to some, But after Correa & Santana left, they could no longer deceive even Julien's staunchest supporter. After the league had the book on Julien, him adjusted his hitting, & even him learning 1B at the MLB level (because they refuse to surrender hope that he could play 2B while at AAA), he doesn't have any justified hope to make the 40 man.

Once a promising young pure hitter, Miranda is broken due to mismanagement. IDK if he can ever be fixed (at least with the Twins, what a shame). Keirsey has been mismanaged & doubt he'll ever get a chance (again a shame). 

Out house- I like Clemens, but IDK how much he can maintain to become a contributing asset, but I'm willing to give him a chance to be at least a bench player. Right now, he's our best 1Bman. Outman, I don't care how many HRs he hits in low-leverage situations; his SOs are inexcusable. Twins need to flip him as soon as possible while he's worth something (I know, Falvey will never do that but they should)

[LA Vikes Fan]

1 hour ago, sweetmusicviola16 said:

I've never been a huge fan of Richardson. But he has proven himself a whole lot more than Matthews and Festa have.  Or Bradley. He's not going to be discarded.

Two thoughts. First, I agree with this. I think it i more likely that Matthews would get optioned out of ST than SWR. Not because SWR is better or has a higher upside, Matthews does, but simply because Matthews has options. We will want to keep both and that's the way to do that. Bradley has much more upside than either of them and is more competent now than Matthews so he will be in pen, not in pencil, for next year's rotation. That may be the one trade from the deadline that we actually win. 

Second, why not one of those 3 in the bullpen. I know SWR isn't the classic hard thrower who survives in the bullpen but there have been a lot of guys who provide real value as the 6th starter/long man. That could be a good role for him. Alternatively, how about Matthews as a late inning or closer type? I think it's too soon to give up on him as a starter but I could see him in that role.   

The rest of them? Probably gone or in AAA on MiLB contracts. I could see Clemens or Outman as a bench guy but I hope we can do better. I'd frankly rather give those PAs to Fedko, Gonzalez, Emma, Jenkins, Eeles, or any number of other guys.  

[sweetmusicviola16]

14 minutes ago, Doctor Gast said:

I have no idea how high SWR's ceiling is at but he has established himself as a SP, that doesn't mean that every outing will be great. He'll go through times of adjusting, all pitchers do but he'll adjust to every situation & cement himself to the rotation more so than Matthew or Festa. 

In house- Julien's defense has always been a liability. Only Correa & Santana covering for him, could somehow make him look passable to some, But after Correa & Santana left, they could no longer deceive even Julien's staunchest supporter. After the league had the book on Julien, him adjusted his hitting, & even him learning 1B at the MLB level (because they refuse to surrender hope that he could play 2B while at AAA), he doesn't have any justified hope to make the 40 man.

Once a promising young pure hitter, Miranda is broken due to mismanagement. IDK if he can ever be fixed (at least with the Twins, what a shame). Keirsey has been mismanaged & doubt he'll ever get a chance (again a shame). 

Out house- I like Clemens, but IDK how much he can maintain to become a contributing asset, but I'm willing to give him a chance to be at least a bench player. Right now, he's our best 1Bman. Outman, I don't care how many HRs he hits in low-leverage situations; his SOs are inexcusable. Twins need to flip him as soon as possible while he's worth something (I know, Falvey will never do that but they should)

Everyone says Keirsey is no good. I still don't know if he is or not. But getting 15-20 PA's a month no one is going to thrive with that. But I also suspect his chance is now gone. Clemens, I would love if he is a bench backup player. But I would hope that someone would be developed that would put him in this bench role. Mismanagement seems to be the mo of this organization under Falvey regime. As long as he continues to head the FO a WS is something we will have no hope of attaining.

[Nashvilletwin]

SWR stays.  We will need him after we move Lopez and Ryan (sad, but true).

Julien can’t wait to leave.  He’s begging to be outrighted to go somewhere else to have new start.

Clemens will get a shot here and likely break camp with the team until some of the younger talent gestates a bit more. Besides, who’s going to play first? Sabato?  Please….and we aren’t bringing in any FAs worth a plugged nickel. 

Outman - please, God, no.  If ERod can’t beat him out next spring, heaven help us. (As an aside, I have the under on ERod ever being a productive major leaguer). 

Miranda - no chance. 

[terrydactyls]

32 minutes ago, RpR said:

War, huh, yeah
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing, uhh
War, huh, yeah
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Say it again, y'all
War, huh (good God)
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing, 

Very well done.

[DannySD]

I think SWR will start 2026 as the long man or 5th starter, and Outman will be the backup CF. 

And Clemens... I'll say he sticks on the 40 over the offseason but gets cut in spring training. 

[cjm0926]

If there is some way the Twins do not move either Lopez or Ryan, I'd think about moving SWR. He is still very young, and will be only 25 years old for almost all of the 2026 season. He has MLB experience with solid results in each of the past 4 seasons, but still has 5 years of team control left. I'd propose something along the lines of SWR and Kala'i Rosario for Edgar Quero from Chicago. The Twins would get a young catcher who has had some MLB success for the next 6 years, and the White Sox would get a young SP for the next 5 years that could theoretically be the best SP in their rotation to start 2026. The reason the White Sox may do this is because they have 3 young MLB catchers in Teel, Quero and Lee. This theoretical trade leaves the Twins with a rotation of Ryan, Lopez, Ober, Matthews, Bradley with depth of Festa (health-depending), Abel, Morris, Prielipp, Rojas, etc. And gives the Twins a young backup catcher in 2026 who could take over if/when Jeffers leaves.

[twinstalker]

2 hours ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

And I'll absolutely take Zebby over SWR.

Zebby is coveted by every major league team. 

[jorgenswest]

5 hours ago, Greggory Masterson said:

There’s no clear path for him in a bullpen role either, given his pitch mix and stuff.

I have wondered about his fit in the pen also. I don’t think I would have seen Seth Lugo as a fit in the pen after his two seasons as a starter with the Mets. I think of relievers as pitchers that miss bats. I looked at the top 20 relievers by innings pitched only 4 of them have double digit K/9. Woods Richardson would be in the middle at 8.01 and I think that will tick up in relief. He might help the teams in relief.