A Look at the Twins 40-Man Roster Heading into a Key Offseason

[Trov]

With the rule 5 draft going to be on hold until after lockout, it calls into question, when will need to "protect" anyone.  There may not be a rule 5 draft this year, so why put anyone on to protect them.  I would have to imagine, that with the lockout, part of any agreement to have a rule 5 draft this year will give teams a chance to put who they want to protect on it.  

It does not look like they have much risk of filling up the 40 too quickly.  The big risk if there is a shorter season, is if the rule 5 is done, and you have less games, it could lead to some teams taking a waiver on a young guy that can ride end of bench more. You can stash pitchers at end of pen to eat up innings in non-high leverage situations, but it is harder to do that with hitters.  Sure, you can do put the 13th guy as a come off the bench late in games to run and defense, if they can offer that, but you really lose out on possible hitting development, so really want to have them play.

Most teams will not take a position player unless they are either very young, and the team will be bad and you just plan play through the ups and downs, hoping it will not affect long term growth, or older guys that it is now or never for them and you are willing to risk the cash. 

[MapleGroveTwinsFan]

52 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Go with the statcast data then, which is bright red except for exit velocity. He puts the bat on the ball, gets on base, but doesn’t have much power. He looks like a slightly below average player which is great for someone on the bench and outstanding for the 27th player on the roster stashed in AAA. He’s Trevor Larnach but $5M cheaper.

So you agree not an active roster player. But he isn't Larnach, Larnach is a legit major league players against right handed pitching, and Roden is a huge question mark. Larnach is an excellent option for a team looking for a platoon in a corner out fielder and DH (not something the Twins need right now), Roden is organizational depth. 

He is closer to Martin than Larnach.

[Danchat]

4 minutes ago, MapleGroveTwinsFan said:

So you agree not an active roster player. But he isn't Larnach, Larnach is a legit major league players against right handed pitching, and Roden is a huge question mark. Larnach is an excellent option for a team looking for a platoon in a corner out fielder and DH (not something the Twins need right now), Roden is organizational depth. 

He is closer to Martin than Larnach.

Roden is organizational depth because they choose to view him that way, they could have given him more chances to prove he's more than that, but with only 92 PAs there's only so much he can do.

[DJL44]

30 minutes ago, MapleGroveTwinsFan said:

So you agree not an active roster player. 

He is closer to Martin than Larnach.

No, I said he’s a good player to have on the bench. He may be closer to Martin than Larnach but I think they’re all below average MLB outfielders. Larnach has a little more bat, which makes him more useful in a DH role than Roden, but a platoon DH is very much a part-time or “bench” player.

[darin617]

12 hours ago, mrguy said:

I've had the opinion for a while that I imagine Larnach and one of the bubble/IL pitchers like Paredes or Festa or whoever will probably be packaged as a trade somewhere. I feel like the package deal could attract a decent enough return to justify. I don't feel like I'd want to 100% move on from those players, but if there's a worthwhile return you could get, either MLB or MiLB, I wouldn't say no.

Pretty sure they only kept Larnach last season was to try to trade him and they failed. Even if they package a minor league player with him or Ober the return isn't worth the risk of being stuck with them at 6m+ when there are players in organization to replace them. Then they could use that money for a legit closer.

[MapleGroveTwinsFan]

43 minutes ago, Danchat said:

Roden is organizational depth because they choose to view him that way, they could have given him more chances to prove he's more than that, but with only 92 PAs there's only so much he can do.

Since the trade he has played 48 games at St. Paul with OPS of .853 (not all that impressive for a 26 year old and lower than Jenkins, Erod, Rosario, Fedko, Kreidler, Wallner, Sabato, Morissette and barely above Culpepper) and 44 with for the Twins.

In 2025 he played 55 games in the majors with an OPS of .556, 

His first 39 at bats this year, .494 OPS, then went on to go 2 for 13. Sure his last 9 games of the year were good (but see my previous post on that two games that really helped that) 

And this is the type of player they should have given more of a chance? 

People love to talk about the Twins injuries, but he played a total of 87 games last year and 85 this year. The Twins have sucked the last three years and people are saying guys like him need more of a chance, it is guys like him playing that contribute to suck!

 

[Mike Sixel]

4 hours ago, MapleGroveTwinsFan said:

He played in 32 games last year with 94 PA, I think it is pretty hard to say look how well the 26 year old played when going into the his last 5 games (against LAA, SFG, Tex) his slash line was .254/.333./.313/.647, and had zero stolen bases and 1 homer for the year) and his homer was off Peralta who pitched 1 2/3 innings gave up 5 runs and had an ERA of 6.20 last year. Two of his five doubles came off of Cam Sanders (who?, a guy traded for cash considerations from a team that finished over .500)

You take away those two games and his slash line moves to .239/.333/.281/.615. Now I realize you can't take those away, but it I am not sure how you look at those numbers and say hey look how well he played. last year. I am not saying cut him with options remaining, but a serious team doesn't have plan for him on their active roster to start the season, 

Too many players have a good or better end to the season doing it against terrible teams and their minor league players, and people say looks how good this guy is. Alcalata and Wallner to some extent are examples of this. They get exposed when they actually play against major league talent. 

 

And yet, people are ready to DFA him because? We don't know..... That's kind of the point. 

[Mike Sixel]

1 hour ago, darin617 said:

Pretty sure they only kept Larnach last season was to try to trade him and they failed. Even if they package a minor league player with him or Ober the return isn't worth the risk of being stuck with them at 6m+ when there are players in organization to replace them. Then they could use that money for a legit closer.

A million times, this. 

[Danchat]

1 hour ago, MapleGroveTwinsFan said:

People love to talk about the Twins injuries, but he played a total of 87 games last year

How many games did he spend on the bench while not being injured? I don't have the time to go through BBref right now, but I imagine he was healthy enough to play in around 100 games this year.

1 hour ago, MapleGroveTwinsFan said:

His first 39 at bats this year, .494 OPS, then went on to go 2 for 13. Sure his last 9 games of the year were good (but see my previous post on that two games that really helped that) 

The fact that he got hot at the end is precisely why he should have gotten more chances. Yes, he was bad to start out, but maybe with more experience vs MLB pitching he might improve over time. He didn't look hopeless at the plate like Fedko/Ross/Sabato did.

1 hour ago, MapleGroveTwinsFan said:

And this is the type of player they should have given more of a chance? 

Yes! He's at the exact same age and almost the same amount of PAs in the majors as Brent Rooker did when he was traded away. Yep, only 13 PAs apart at this point. Both had rough careers to this point but turned it around, I'd be willing to gamble some 2027 PAs on him in the majors. I don't think he'll do that much damage to the roster, given he was a slightly above replacement level player last year.

[Woof Bronzer]

22 hours ago, Linus said:

A huge factor in all these decisions is are the Twins really trying to win?  Several roster decisions will be different if you are going to try and make the playoffs next year compared to build for 27/28. 

Tom has publicly said that not only is it the goal, but the "expectation" that the Twins make the playoffs in 27.  

[Linus]

1 hour ago, Woof Bronzer said:

Tom has publicly said that not only is it the goal, but the "expectation" that the Twins make the playoffs in 27.  

yep, I know what he says to the fans. Don’t necessarily believe it’s what he is telling Zoll. 

[D.C Twins]

2 hours ago, Woof Bronzer said:

Tom has publicly said that not only is it the goal, but the "expectation" that the Twins make the playoffs in 27.  

It is season ticket sales season!

[Richie the Rally Goat]

On 10/18/2026 at 9:53 AM, Jeff K said:

I would retain both Ober and Lewis, but try like heck to trade both.  For now, I would keep Banda and let Sands go.  Plenty of easy choices to part ways with the player.

If they aren’t traded by the arb tender deadline, they won’t be traded after. There’s a lockout two weeks later that best case ends shortly before opening day. Trade or non-tender

[Vanimal46]

8 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

And yet, people are ready to DFA him because? We don't know..... That's kind of the point. 

My question about Roden is what would change for him to get an extended opportunity here? Walker Jenkins and Emma Rodriguez both getting injured or performing like 2026 Matt Wallner?

[DJL44]

20 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

Walker Jenkins and Emma Rodriguez both getting injured 

That could happen before they leave Fort Myers

[darin617]

1 hour ago, Vanimal46 said:

My question about Roden is what would change for him to get an extended opportunity here? Walker Jenkins and Emma Rodriguez both getting injured or performing like 2026 Matt Wallner?

He should be begging them to move him to playing first base.

[stringer bell]

9 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

My question about Roden is what would change for him to get an extended opportunity here? Walker Jenkins and Emma Rodriguez both getting injured or performing like 2026 Matt Wallner?

If Larnach is non-tendered or traded, I think Roden slots in his role, which would be DH, fourth OF. Also, I don't think it is totally far-fetched to see him try to get playing time at first base, particularly if Lewis is traded or non-tendered and a replacement isn't added. If one of Jenkins or Rodriguez flames out, Roden would be the logical candidate to get that playing time. 

In the off-season speculation and analysis, I've been torn on Roden. He just doesn't have great tools--power, speed, arm--but his batting metrics are promising. Brooks Lee thrived last year with less than elite tools, but speed and athleticism wins the day, just look at the two World Series teams. 

[Riverbrian]

14 hours ago, Linus said:

yep, I know what he says to the fans. Don’t necessarily believe it’s what he is telling Zoll. 

As he speaks publicly.

He should be careful in regards to how much paint is being applied to the room and where the escape routes are. 

 

 

[MapleGroveTwinsFan]

18 hours ago, Danchat said:

Yes! He's at the exact same age and almost the same amount of PAs in the majors as Brent Rooker did when he was traded away. Yep, only 13 PAs apart at this point. Both had rough careers to this point but turned it around, I'd be willing to gamble some 2027 PAs on him in the majors. I don't think he'll do that much damage to the roster, given he was a slightly above replacement level player last year.

Except he is nothing like Rooker, Rooker was given chances because of his power (and on a terrible team). I absoletly believe he will get plate appearances in 2027 (I have never said cut him) because it is unlikely that guys don't get hurt. My point has always been he is the perfect type of guy for organizational depth, cheap, has options, and has experience, not the type of player that you hand a starting job to and say lets see how this goes. (which looks like what you are saying as well)

[Woof Bronzer]

15 hours ago, Linus said:

yep, I know what he says to the fans. Don’t necessarily believe it’s what he is telling Zoll. 

Maybe.  What causes you to think this way?  Last year he said similar things publicly, and it sure appears he was saying the same thing to Falvey in private because Falvey quit,

 

[Linus]

15 minutes ago, Woof Bronzer said:

Maybe.  What causes you to think this way?  Last year he said similar things publicly, and it sure appears he was saying the same thing to Falvey in private because Falvey quit,

 

So if you were really trying to compete last year would you have entered the season with that bullpen?  I don’t think so. The AL was so bad his bluff got called. Maybe it’s just me being cynical of whatever comes out of a Pohlad mouth. You can decide - I don’t care. 

[Linus]

11 hours ago, DJL44 said:

That could happen before they leave Fort Myers

While I don’t want this to happen, there is a 50% chance EmRod can’t hit in the bigs. 

[Woof Bronzer]

11 minutes ago, Linus said:

So if you were really trying to compete last year would you have entered the season with that bullpen?  I don’t think so. The AL was so bad his bluff got called. Maybe it’s just me being cynical of whatever comes out of a Pohlad mouth. You can decide - I don’t care. 

I fully agree that you shouldn't trust anything that comes out of a Pohlad's mouth.  But if they were really secretly rebuilding last year why did they buy at the deadline? 

[Vanimal46]

2 hours ago, stringer bell said:

If Larnach is non-tendered or traded, I think Roden slots in his role, which would be DH, fourth OF. Also, I don't think it is totally far-fetched to see him try to get playing time at first base, particularly if Lewis is traded or non-tendered and a replacement isn't added. If one of Jenkins or Rodriguez flames out, Roden would be the logical candidate to get that playing time. 

In the off-season speculation and analysis, I've been torn on Roden. He just doesn't have great tools--power, speed, arm--but his batting metrics are promising. Brooks Lee thrived last year with less than elite tools, but speed and athleticism wins the day, just look at the two World Series teams. 

Where does that leave Austin Martin, the 5th OF or off the team? Roden and Martin are in the same tier for me as potentially useful bench bats, but not guys you'd want in the every day lineup. 

[Linus]

53 minutes ago, Woof Bronzer said:

I fully agree that you shouldn't trust anything that comes out of a Pohlad's mouth.  But if they were really secretly rebuilding last year why did they buy at the deadline? 

Because the AL was so bad they were actually in the race, unexpectedly, and had to follow through with “the promise”. I could be wrong in which case they epically inept trying to”to win” with that bullpen going into the season. Again, I have no control over what they do or don’t do  or say so I don’t care and done discussing 

[Woof Bronzer]

42 minutes ago, Linus said:

. Again, I have no control over what they do or don’t do  or say so I don’t care and done discussing 

You've made over 7000 comments here.  I'd say you do care and you love to discuss!  It's ok, that's what fan blogs are all about!

[Linus]

39 minutes ago, Woof Bronzer said:

You've made over 7000 comments here.  I'd say you do care and you love to discuss!  It's ok, that's what fan blogs are all about!

Have I really?  Wow. I do care, been a fan for almost 60 years. What I really mean is that we don’t even know what TP means when he says they are trying to win so there isn’t some final answer that anyone is going to be able to come up with. I am comfortable guessing that his definition is different than mine and probably yours

[Woof Bronzer]

1 hour ago, Linus said:

Have I really?  Wow. I do care, been a fan for almost 60 years. What I really mean is that we don’t even know what TP means when he says they are trying to win so there isn’t some final answer that anyone is going to be able to come up with. I am comfortable guessing that his definition is different than mine and probably yours

We can agree on that!  All in good fun my friend.  Go Twins.  

[Cris E]

There are two questions here: managing the 40 man immediately and then what you want to do heading into the CBA negotiations.

The day after the World Series ends you lose the four free agents, you DFA Grey and one of Acton, Anderson or Sabato, and then you keep the six names on the 60 day.  You can always cut guys later if you trade for new faces or sign a big free agent, God knows there are easy places to upgrade, but there's no reason to do it all now. 

The harder question is how many guys you can move around by Dec 1 when everything shuts down. What do you want to be carrying into the break? 

The period before the winter meetings are usually pretty dead. This year might be different though, since other teams will be in the same spot as the Twins, wanting to shuffle some names before a lockout that's almost certainly going to only leave a short window afterwards to set the 2027 lineup.  They may want to get a lot of little changes made now rather than packing even more into the couple weeks between a new CBA and the first games. 

So I'd find a way to move Larnach, Lewis, Wallner and Ober for just about anything. Honestly I'd move any name on that bubble list, but those are the only ones that may have value. If you haven't had a bite on them by Thanksgiving, then drop Wallner and offer below arb contracts to the others. They either sign at a discount or they're free agents. My guess is that Lewis and Ober would sign and Larnach would leave.

And I'd be on the lookout for a real 1B and a backup C, or any arms. Caratini is not an inspiring choice right now.  I think big free agent signings are going to be rare in November given how weak the class is and how the rules may change.  

That said, Jeffers gets a three year offer if there's any expectation in the front office that the spending is going to have to rise a bunch in the next few years. 

[Jacksson]

 46 = Players on the 40 Man Roster AND 60 Day IL

(4) = Free Agents - Jeffers, Bell, Rogers, Minter

  4 = From 60 Day IL - Abel, Festa, Lopez, Paredes

(2) = Release/DFA from 60 Day IL - Sands, Banda

(6) = Trade/Release/DFA Position Players - Gray, Sabato, Wallner, Larnach, Lewis, Martin

(2) = Trade/Release/DFA Pitchers - Nance, Orze

36 = Subtotal

(7) = Listen to offers/ Make available - Buxton, Gonzalez, Caratini, Keaschall, Ryan, Ober, Adams

29 = Players on the 40 man roster