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

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.

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

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

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 

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.

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?

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.

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

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)

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.

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.

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.

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 

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. 

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. 

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.

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.