Rosterman

Yep. How many will NOT come to the banquet this year!

The whole point of Simmons, known to be a weaker hitter, was defense, combining him with Donaldson at third, Polanco at second, and Buxton in centerfield. Donaldson gave us 91 games. We know how Buxton fared. Also, the Twins were probably hoping for much more from Dobnak (a ground ball pitcher) as well as Happ and Shoemaker needing sparkling defense behind them. If the Yankee rumors of wanting the defensive Simmons, I wonder why the Twins didn't pull the plug. Come 2022 the Twins need to focus on players playing their position. Who's on first? Is it Sano or Kirilloff. Or is Kirilloff in the outfield until Larnach plays his way back on the team. Is Garver the main catcher, or does he get bats as a DH (or 1B guy). If he is going to play elsewhere, then the Twins will need a "third catcher." Is Donaldson prepared to play all-the-time at third, or better suited to split time at DH. If so, then who plays third - Arraez, or Miranda? Right now the Twins have three potential guys who can DH when the time happens, or play a position on the field. Sadly, Cruz is strict DH. Although it would be nice to follow him on his remaining two-year run to reach 500 home runs, sadly the Twins can probably do without him - unless they decide to move any or Sano (replaced by Kirilloff), Donaldson (replaced by Miranda), and Garver. Heck, I say move all three and hope you get a closer and a strong candidate for the top of the rotation, and bring back Cruz. If the Twins do tank again, someone will take Nelson off your hands yet again for a couple of dynamite prospects. I was disappointed in the Twins bot getting Balazovic to the majors, and NOT having a looksee at Strotman. They allowed Barnes and Jax to flounder, so much so many of us naysayers wonder why they would hold a 40-man spot, then we go back and look at the numbers of names like Perkins, Hawkins, Eddie G, even Vila when they first came north to Twinsland. Even if the Twins wave a blank check in front of the top arms, I suspect none of them would come to Minnesota if they get massive offers elsewhere. So, the Twins have to explore a trade. Or maybe they will get lucky on a Rule 5 choice (sic).

SO, DID THE tWINS WANT LUIS GIL, OR AARON HICKS IN RETURN, WHILE THE YANKEES OFFERED RYAN lAMARRE...WHO WOULD PLAY THE OUTFIELD AND ALSO COME OUT OF THE BULLPEN? THEY ALSO WANTED ASTUDILLO AS A THROW-IN, TOO? RIGHT?!? WOULD HAVE BEEN DREW MAGGI'S DAY IN THE SUN!

Pineda will look at offers, I'm sure. What makes me see him not going elsewhere for too much is that no one kicked in the Twins door to grab him at the trade deadline. So the questions are: incentive with a decent base, or a multi-year contract offering some assurance of him finding a home. But I wouldn't be the first one to knock on the door, accepting that he will hopefully ask the Twins to counter any offer he does receive, unless he knows that they won't.

Figure out where guys are on the position chart and plan accordingly. If the Twins do not pursue a DH, like a return of Cruz, who fulfills that spot. Is it a split between Sano/Garver/Kirilloff. Does Garver also play 1B? Then you need Astudillo maybe as a catcher, although since Willians can also play 1st, who bother with Garver there. Same thing with Rooker. Is Kepler the starting right fielder. Does Kirilloff start in left, or are you giving Larnach a wide-open look. Is Rooker the starter in LF when Kirilloff plays first and Sano does the DH number? The days of having Gordon and Arraez playing the outfield should be slim or only in an emergency. Which brings up the mess of the infield. Do you sign shortstop or go with Arraez at second and Polanco at shortstop until you see what you have in Martin or Lewis, with Gordon as the chief backup. Is Donaldson fulltime at third, or also a designated hitter candidate. If Donaldson is only part-time at third, better to give full chance to Miranda (and keep him as a swing man rather than, say, Rooker or Astudillo). You can demote a guy of the 40-man and sign him for pretty much anything you want to keep him from going elsewhere, or getting claimed in the Rule 5 (as Tampa Bay did with Slegers). Ultimately, if a players IS going to accept a minor league contract, they kinda want assurances that they will be considered for major league play when the opportunity happens, depending on what they show during the minor league play. Usually a team adds one player fulltime and another bench from any of the rookie tryouts during the season. So fringe guys are let go and move on.

Maeda eats a roster spot during the off-season. You can't drop Rule 5 eligible players if added to the roster until spring training. You can trade them. You need to have a few players that can be bumped if you do sign a free agent. You can go after guys like, say, Billy Hamilton and sign him to a minor league contract. Same with most of the Twins current bullpen arms. The only issue comes as spring training winds down and if you want to add them to the 40-man. Of course, injury lists help then. If the Twin are truly going to be a competitive team, I doubt they grab anyone in the major league potion of the Rule 5. They have enough of their own guys to worry about. The pain is that so many of the guys they worry about fill the same bill as Colina...will they be ready to play or contribute in 2022. When. Not an issue if in rebuild and you can bring them up to learn on the job. But the following all fall into that category: Lewis, Miranda, Balazovic, Duran, Enlow, Sands, Gore, Fundeburk, Moran. Add in names like Gordon, Jax, Barnes, Rortvedt and Celestino who didn't really make you want to write their names in ink on the 40-man. When you start looking at names like I just mentioned, you have to ask "who in this group is the future of the Twins." Once you add them, you will always run the risk of losing them to someone else. I want to hear the Twins deal with their field players as real position players, not..."he can also play centerfield, or be moved around the infield, or play first in a pinch." We seemed to have a team of multi-positional players who just weren't cutting it at the plate or in the field in 2021. There is a reason someone is a "back-up infielder" or a 4th outfielder.

The Twins could definitely package players, including Rule 5 eligible guys. Especially if a proven arm comes back in the process.

Where the only positive is, it frees up an off-season 40-man roster space. The possible reality is that he will remain inactive for a good portion of 2022, using up another 40-man seasons. He would definitely need time in the minors. Even if he gets a cup of coffee, he might not be fully available until 2023. By then, you have carried him for yet, another season, on the 40-man. And if you take him off, he would be a free agent. The same might be said for players like Thorpe, Smeltzer, Stashak. How much of a gamble would any team take on keeping hem on a 40-man. Every team will have prospects to remove. The Rangers actually had to drop a player to add the injured Colina to their own 40-man, so they did take a hit there. How many players can a team protect, especially if those players won't be a major apt of the team in 2022. That is always the question. And rebuilding teams are sitting there on the sidelines looking for such a player to grab! But I would've waited until later, closer to November when all teams are finalizing their rosters.

Interesting that Sisk is on there. Twins definitely want to see if they got something more than Gant in the Happ trade. All of these guys do have potential to play with the Twins, probably more on the fringe than starting. Wallner lost a season and a half. Bechtold is one of those potential versatile guys, Funderburk is a bullpen prospect to watch.

Depending on the timeline for Colina to pitch, he was still a considerable talent that had trade possibilities. Yes, don't quite get this, unless the chances are that he will start (and stay on) the injured list for a good portion of next season. In that case, the Twins had to take the chance of running him thru waivers, although I'm not sure why they didn't make that decision closer to when all teams are setting their 40-man rosters and the chances for a wildcat claim like this would lessen. Chances are Texas will also try and run him thru waivers at some point, to plant him on a minor league roster. Dobnak should just be run thru and assigned to the minors. The Twins need to put Maeda, Rogers, Kirilloff - probably removing Gibault and Maggi for sure. And Garlick won't be kept. What to do with Smeltzer, Thorpe and Stashak. Do they reaalce three current names, or wander into waiver wire land.

Also mentioned was talk of an additional pitching coach (the Twins have collegiate pitching coaches Maki and Johnson running the staff/bullpen now). It seems like there is no limit to the amount of coaches a team can carry anymore. Be interesting to see who comes on board!

Its the rules of arbitration. Unless you can work a team friendly longterm deal, the player has an advantage going into arbitration. Would the Twins have loved to resign Eddie Rosario for what the Indians signed him for? Of course, probably. Remember that ALL teams but the Red Sox passed on Ortiz, and the Red Sox got him for less than the Twins would've been able to sign him for. That alone, that he passed thru waivers with other teams, speaks of his value at the time. Arbitration doesn't allow you to cut a player's salary, especially because of lost games due to injury. It always gives a raise of sorts. If you wish to compare Buxton to the Oritz situation in any way, it is that one has a tough time looking at Buxton's track record and saying you want to throw an enormous amount of money his way. Yet there seems little need for Buxton to sign for little or nothing in the grand scheme of things. And the potential to play elsewhere, on a winning and competitive team, is always in the minds of players and their agents. Ortiz as NOT an everyday player, even at DH, and the Twins felt the need to move on. Ortiz was thrown into play where a team suddenly ahs control...take this salary offer or leave it, return to the minors, rebuild from there. That he found a home in Red Sox land and continued to play, largely on decent one-year contracts, and thrive is GOOD for David. Again, back to Rosario. The Twins didn't see him as a $10 million dollar outfielder. They thought he could be replaced. He wasn't. But they couldn't sign him for less.

The joy of the Pressly deal was that he was a Rule 6 pickup, so the Twins had no draft money or player development time in the guy, and got two decent prospects who fit into the current system. Could Alcala return to the rotation? Injuries aside in 2021, I do wish the Twins had given him a looksee. I think the Twins, other signing besides, might be looking at him as a potential closer material. Just has to watch that consistent home run ball. Celestino may develop into more than a fourth outfielder. But after St. Paul shows he really worked on his game. Pressly was a loss. Like Jesse Crain. Maybe Trevor May. Guys who might've had a great career as a forever Twin. But few players of that caliber become forever players in the game of contracts and free agency and replacement by an almost competent cheaper player. Player management is a tough deal. Looking at who the Twins need to supposedly protect in 2022 and not be raided again by rebuilding teams, plus looking at overall salary towards the future, and expected play of the current veteran field, we realize that figuring out player rosters is an art. I just wish dealing of players wasn't so much like...dealing people.

The biggest pain for minor league players, and it used to be that way for major league players, is that you do have "off" unpaid months. Roughly four months a year. In my day you heard stories about players taking off-season jobs as bartender, meat-packing, car sales, whatever, to supplement their wages in a job that doesn't offer longterm job security. That is the pain of minor league ball. Say you only have to show to the ballpark by 4pm for an evening game and work until say 11pm. If you come earlier, is that on your own time? If the game runs long? Often you used to play seven games a week. You get a free meal in the deal? The toughest part is housing and the cost. Is housing for a Saint Paul Saint the same as a player in Las Vegas, New Orleans, Wichita, Portland, Nashville? You live every other week in the housing. Some towns you live with families, others not. You still have to furnish living quarters and many a player is happy with internet, a beanbag chair and a mattress. If the ballpark is nice, you spend your time there like you are at a gym. Nutrition should be job one of minor league organizations, too. I red stories about the training camps that the Twins, for one, have in the Domincian Republic. Players get instructions and decent food. Basically treating it like school. But food and lodging should be the part of any minor league position, plus a salary for the season. You are, after all, working and entertaining for a local team that is a franchise of a bigger team. Without you, they don't have product to put on the field. Players should also be housed and fed, as well as have a per diem for spring training as well as any instructional ball. If they wish to live beyond what the team provides, that is their decision. Again, I would think it would work in the interest for all spring training facilities to at least have dorm situations. Heck, the Vikings used to camp at Mankato State, living in the dorms (for students) there. You are, afterall, there to play baseball...not party, veg in your rooms, whatever. Now, let's talk about paying collegiate athletes!

You lay out the problems the Twins have going into the off-season. With Alcala, Barnes, Duffey, Maeda, Minaya, Ober, Rogers, Ryan guaranteed roster spots, as well as Jeffers, Garver, Sano, Arraez, Polanco, Gordon, Donaldson, Buxton, Kepler, Kirilloff, That leaves you two rotation arms, four bullpen arms, and three bench bats short. Maeda starts on the 60-man IL. We have Colina and Enlow...where do they start. Balazovic, Duran WInder, Sands, Strotman - not a one looks ready to break camp for the team. Which is WHY is might've been important to give some major league innings to Strotman , or at least a game to Balazovic in what ended up a horrid losing season. Give them that taste, something to experience and works towards entering spring camp strong. But right now Strotman would be the only arm you MIGHT trust to call up early with a staff injury. All of the others need minor league innings. Amazing that there are only two relievers I see the Twins adding to the above. Moran, who will need a powerful spring, or will go back to the minors to work on his pitches. Of course, he could also throw in the winter league. I also picture the Twins adding Judson Gore to the possible roster, as well as Ryan Mason. But, again, if you are putting a competitive team on the field, neither look to break camp with the team. So that is one helluva a lot of pitchers. And, remember, 40-man adds in the Fall can't be waived until spring training. They can be traded, though. Happily players on the field show a bit more promise. Celestino shined in AAA. He could have a rung up on Rooker because HE can play centerfield. Rooker is still a possibility in the whole mix, because he could be a DH bat. We hope Royce Lewis will be able to start at AAA St. Paul. Rortvedt is the back up catcher in the minor league wings for now. The power gams on this guy...we should expect him to hit better than the Butera-line. Don't anyone give up on Larnach. He made the jump from AA to the majors and he hit better than most of the guys on the team, and didn't strikeout as bad as a couple. Miranda, again....why didn't they promote this guy and get some looks of him as a major league hitter. Especially when you had Josh Donaldson as the designated hitter. Sure, Saint Paul was hoping to finish the season strong and above .500. But you could've also elevated Trey Cabbage to St. Paul and got a better look at him...another name you have to think about adding to the 40-man. He can walk to another organization. (Boy, that missed 2020 season is looking bad, except that EVERY organization faces the same situation). We are looking at a helluva a lot of roster spots of guys who SHOULD start in the minors coming into 2022. If the Twins were a rebuilding team, instead of a competitive icon as the "front office" says in recent press releases, then we have to ask out of all of these names WHO can we afford to lose because of the Rule 5 draft, minor league free agency, or what. This is where you suddenly look at your organizational charts and figure out a way to deal some of these guys for needs (which you can still do to get a decent top of the rotation arm, possible shortstop, or even a quality bench bat...rather than just pay outrageous free agent monies that make you drop one of these guys from the roster anyways). Some of the guys that seem out are Stashak (what IS his injury situation). Jax and Dobnak. All three could start on the 40-man but be jettisoned if you replace them with someone from outside the organization. Dobnak WILL NOT be claimed because of his contract and would not be a free agent if waived. That's not saying much for all the others not mentioned above: Colome, Pineda and SImmons are free agents. There is NO need for the Twins to leap into the fire and sign them early. Coulombe, Barraclough, Farrell, Gant, Gibaut, Smeltzer, Garza, Law, Thielbar, Thorpe, Vincent, Hamilton, Albers...and add in Cave, Garlick, Refsnyder, Astudillo, Maggi (or Riddle or Lin), even Telis. Sadly you have to look at the future of a team, not just guys that get you by. In some ways, looking at all the names that DID get service time with the Twins in a losing season, I wonder where the prospects were, and why didn't the few that did make it to AAA ball NOT get a chance to struggle or shine at the majors. Kudos to letting Jax, Barnes, Ober and Ryan pitch, Rortvedt to swing and miss, Celestino to be challenged, Larnach to learn on the job. But the Twins could've recalled Moran earlier and sent him back and forth, and same with Miranda, and Strotman (if they care about the guy). A helluva a lot of minor league guys, and everyone could be like Colina, Duran and Balazovic were for 2021...three pitchers that you hoped would make their debut, but none of them did. And looking at them for 2022, you wonder if/when they would do so.

What scares me is that the Twins could into spring training with Maeda, Balazovic, Colina, Duran, Enlow open the 40-man roster, and be hard-pressed that any of them will be up with the team for even 50% of the season. Throw in names like Winder, Gore...and will Moran rally step forward and break camp with the Twins...that's seven pitchers that you want to keep in the organization, one other go on the 60-day IL. None you would jettison for a minor league free agent signing. Throw in Ryan Mason as another consideration for a 40-man spot. Do you really see any of Barraclough, Hamilton, Farrell, Garza, Gant, Jax, Stashak, Thielbar, Smeltzer, Thorpe, Gibaut, Albers, Vincent, even Coulombe being grabbed by ANY team and given a 40-man roster spot? Sure, most of them will sign as minor league depth somewhere, and probably all of them would get a callup to the majors next season with someone, somewhere. But I'm sure the Twins can find similar names that other teams jettison to fill replacement value ranks on any or all of these guys. But back to the first paragraphs...alot of young arms the Twins need to protect who DO have a chance to pitch for them in the future with better than average results. Would you rather see Enlow or Barnes or Strotman end up on another team, or any of the fringe min or league free agent signings that the Twins now have as roster placesetters?

Yep, itching is going to be the killer. We currently have three guys - Colina, Balazovic and Duran - who were supposed to get a shot in 2021 and now we hope they get a shot sometime in 2022. We have Enlow who MAY need to be protected but is still a good year away from major elague action. Those are keeps, all. And then we have names like Smeltzer, Thorpe, Stashak who are all disabled in many ways, and throw in Dobnak who we can eliminate from the 40-man, but still keep, because no one is going to grab his contract, or if they do...some might turn cartwheels. But this will all be repeated in another few days when we digest the many names needed to be pitchers for the Twins.

Observations .He still is one of the current better arms (remember when he was a starter waaaay back in 2015 and actually looked good in 10 games before sucking in 2016, switching to the pen and really sucking in 2017 and 2018, before finding himself). How long can that happen? No one seemed to be kicking down the door at the trade deadline. He will still be cheap in 2022. I would've been trying him in the closer role rather than Colome the past month, unless the Twins are really thinking they want Colome back. Pitchers get old...sometimes fast. Because it takes a lot of work to constantly spot your stuff, mix-it-up, and be prepared for action any and every day.

A player on a 40-man roster, when removed, either becomes a free agent, is claimed on waivers, or clears waivers and you can send them to the minors if you wish and they are under contract. The Twins have 20 position players currently on the 40-man. Two are on the 60-day IL. Expect Rortvedt, Jeffers, Garver to stay, as well as Sano, Kirilloff, Polanco, Arraez, Donaldson, Gordon as infielders. Larnach, Buxton, Celestino, Kepler as outfielders. That's a magic 13, with two doomed to go to the minors. Cave will be arbitration bound. Rooker is younger and can play 1B, the corners, and DH. The Twins have no set DH for the moment. The importance right now of Garlick and Refsynder depends on the stock you put in Kerrigan or Contreras as possible outfielders. Both can be grabbed in the Rule 5, but doubt that they will be. The Twins need to add Royce Lewis and Jose Miranda. They also need to make a decision on Trey Cabbage. I believe Jermaine Palacios and Wander Javier could walk if they wish. The Twins will no doubt be on the hunt for experienced catchers to play at AAA, be interesting to see who they go after. Jair Camargo has lots of play for his young years and can leave the organization after next season. Caleb Hamilton is also on the bubble. You have to ask the necessity of Willians Astudillo to stay on the 40-man. Will some team grab him? Part of his value is that he can be catcher. The trick is knowing you have some guys like Kerrigan, Contreras in the minors. That you can sign Drew Maggi to another minor league contract, as well as B.J. Boyd, and quite possibly Refsnyder or Garlick. Again, you do keep a couple of fringe names on the 40-man, players you can jettison if you need to add a free agent (and hopefully not Brandon Waddell). I expect 18 names of the above being kept, with three being minor league adds. Last year the Twins signed some 33 people to play at AA/AAA minor league ball. Let's see how active they are this year, or can they at least get more prospects in St. Paul.

The life of a minor league player is one to three years for many. Some advance to stay in an organization for 4-5-6 years and then can sell their services as minor league free agents, hopefully making a bit more for the six/seven months that they need to be playing in the summer. Players get paid more if on the 40-man roster. I'm not saying they are underpaid. Yes, they are...and you have to keep an apartment (shared) that you only use half the time. I keep thinking of the Twins Ft. Myers complex. I believe they have a substantial dorm facility where players share rooms (or some have private rooms), and there is food service, and the facilities as a whole have workout centers. It still exists in some minor league cities where families house players for a modest fee, but in all likelihood players mass 3-5 in a room. They need a place to basically sleep, spending the rest of their time at the stadium. And AT LEAST MAJOR LEAGUE BALL IS PUSHING FOR AA/AAA FACILITIES TO BE TOP NOTCH. I believe players get a meal now at the high level parks, more than just a sandwich spread. I always wondered why the sponsoring major league team doesn't just buy or rent out a motel or the floor of a decent hotel to house staff. 20 rooms or so. Again, if facilities at the stadium are workable, players need a place to sleep, and live at the stadium, working out, having a food service at the facility, working out, playing ball. They get money for road trips, but, yes...they should get decent pay for the time involved in their daily training and play. Someone mentioned actors. I spent a summer in a no pay, and we rehearsed up to 12 hours a day mounting ten shows in ten weeks. I have worked in summer settings where got a certain level of pay, but it also included lodging and food. I still need money to send home, pay for the car, whatever. But it was especially nice to get union touring wages as well as room and board. You are working all the time, so you rally don't spend money, as you develop your craft in search of a dream that many never reach. I also think of what a team like The Saints were in indy ball. Talk about really get paid little. And, again, the need to find temporary housing that you aren't using every other week. Sure, you can find an apartment, but you also have to furnish it. I always wondered how it works when guys jump around a system. You notice that only a small percentage of players do actually play at two levels in a season. Before Ft. Myers got re-developed into a super complex, how many players crashed the Mauer Family townhome with the pool table in the dining room during the minor league season?

The Saints had 37 position players pass thru their dugout. Of course, that includes rehab assignments. What is more remarkable, 42 pitchers took the mound, 23 names that played with the Twins.

Shows how fleeting and rough the life of a baseball player can be. He had a great opportunity last season and got injured. Then, bam, he had to prove he could play again in sprint training, and besides fighting against prospects like Larnach and Kirilloff, he was up against some minor league free agent signings in the likes of Refsynder, Garlick and Broxton, all who outplayed him in spring training. Then a miserable minor league start and suddenly is is looking at being overtaken in the outfield pecking order by a horde of others. He couldn't just DH this year as the Twins resigned Cruz. Sano is still the go-to for first base, as Kirilloff will have to prove he is ready for full return in 2022. Which still makes Rooker a more valuable keeper battling Cave or Refsynder for a 40-man spot. Is his spot more valuable for him, as a potential backup to anyone in 2022 with an option left, or do the Twins see if he can be a viable free agent and find a new home. He, sadly, just seems the be the 27th guy on the roster at the moment. He does hold value if anything happens to a corner outfielder, first baseman or DH roster guy. But he doesn't outshine anyone else that could also fulfill those positions.

How long does this camp last? Are players housed on site?

Gotta figure who stays on the 40-man roster. Going down the roster: Smeltzer - is he injury free? Can you get him back on a minor league contract or where he go elsewhere. Thorpe - out of options and really didn't get a chance to prove himself as a starter or bullpen arm. Perhaps he becomes the next Hendricks, because he is out of options and the Twins will move on. Perhaps not. Would you open the season with him or Barnes or Smeltzer as a lefty starter (or possible pen arm). Griffin Jax - Totally on the bubble. The Twins tried him briefly out of the pen in the beginning and have given him every opportunity to shine as a starter. Are there teams salivating to sign the guy, probably to a minor league pact? Jorge Alcala - showing great potential as he finishes the seson. WIll be back. Closer prospect? Taylor Rogers - Left-handed setup guy who can also close, but let's get a real closer. He stays, Tyler Duffey - Another good setup arm. I remember when he was a top starter prospect back in 2016. He stays. Cody Stashak - may have injured himself out of a roster spot. Would have to pas thru waivers. Of course, another team may not gamble. Or he would be the next Zach Littrell. Picture the Twins removing him. Caleb Thielbar - Age may be working against him for one of the beloved roster spots. That no one grabbed him from the Twins at the trade deadline means something (cheap and dependable). You can never have too many left-handed arms, but the Twins have two - Jovani Moran, who will stay, and Danny Coulombe, who is a tad younger and has shown his worth. He could be on the bubble if roster spots become precious. Luke Farrell - this year's Matt Wisler, but cheaper because he missed so much time. Like Thielbar, he could be a keeper as you need a couple of names to move about if you sign a free agent. Excited about him? Not in the least. Alex Colome - seems the team is giving him so many opportunities to up his value, but to whom - not to the Twins unless they pick up the option. Will Alex see a demand for his services? DO we want to see him back as a closer? Is he a decent setup man? Like many, would rather see the team move on. Juan Minaya - the guy ahs been a sweet surprise and has worked himself into an off-season job. He can pitch multiple innings. Nothing exciting, and will have to prove himself all over again in spring training, but is a solid bullpen keeper for now. Ian Gibaut - The Twins gave him a shot in 2021. Maybe enough to get him to come abck on a minor league contract for depth in St. Paul. Nick Vincent - Hasn't been given a lot of chances. Age works against him for the "new" Twins, but that doesn't mean he won't resign if offered a minor league contract. Edgar Garcia - along with Jason Garcia and Alex Schreff are outside organization pickups, None in dire need of a 40-man spot, but names to keep in the organization as depth. Kyle Barraclough - The Twins are giving this unsigned draftee who shined for a few seasons elsewhere some opportunities as the season winds down. His 4-5 appearances in the final days will be a deciding factor if he is kept on the 40-man, or will become a minor league free agent. He is working himself into a temporary keeper spot right now. Ralph Garza Jr. - The guy has shined, in a middle of the bullpen way. He is young, a good strikeout arm, and seems to be a fine pickup. I picture the Twins keeping him on board for now. Beau Burrows - Another guy that may stay with the Twins for minor elague depth because they gave him a shot, and St. Paul used him as a starter. We'll see. John Gant - Is a bit safer than he was in Cardinal-land, who didn't want to go to arbitration with him. I would love to see him stay in the bullpen, but he is an option to start. Edwar Colina will stay on the 40-man as there is too much promise there...the question is can he be major league ready for some innings before mid-season 2022. It is hard to keep 40-man spots full of injured players (we already have Madea filling one for 2022). Jordon Gore is an interesting case. Seems the Twins are keeping the converted infielder at AA with the hopes of maybe sneaking him thru the Rule 5 and having him workout at AAA ball in 2022 before making a roster decision. Might be another guy that gets away to another team. Ryan Mason is one of those middle-inning multi-inning arms that is not spectacular but seems to get the job done and could be lost to the Twins if not protected. He may not be ready out of spring training, but could play into the bullpen, or becomes one of those journeymen that ends up shining elsewhere (Chargois, Curtiss, Guerra, maybe Hildenberger, whatever).

Who would go from the Twins AAA? And it won't be anyone who is tentatively a minor league free agent.