Cleaning Up The 40 Man

The Minnesota Twins, and really baseball as a whole, is just a matter of weeks away from making a flurry of transactions. With the World Series already underway, the rest of the baseball world will again be joined by the Astros and Dodgers in the offseason. For Minnesota, an anticipated break from baseball includes plenty of potential roster moves. First and foremost however, they need to make room.

Currently, the Twins have a full 40 man roster, with 45 players occupying some sort of a role. 40 players fill the roster, while an additional five find themselves in limbo on the 60 day disabled list. As the date to solidify the 40 man roster looms, Minnesota will have more than a few decisions to make. Way back in early August, I looked at the likely names Derek Falvey and Thad Levine need to find places for internally. Knowing some additional moves will come from outside of the organization, cleaning up spots is going to be a process.

Let's see how many we can free up with the exercise below.

Matt Belisle- RP

Belisle was signed to a one-year deal with the Twins, making him a free agent at season's end. He'll be 38 in 2018, and while he was strong down the stretch, Minnesota can likely look to improve the pen by bringing in a bit better option. Whether or not he's brought back remains to be seen, but his spot is open for now.

Buddy Boshers- RP

A former indy ball guy, Boshers has been a nice story for the Twins. The level of success hasn't been great, but he's been serviceable. Against lefties, he's fared just fine, and if kept, it would be for that reason. Like Belisle, Boshers is a spot the Twins could advance their pen by seeking a bit more.

Bartolo Colon- SP

It seems Colon is pretty determined to pitch next year, fulfilling a comment to his mother. That being said, it's almost certainly not going to be in a Twins uniform. He was a nice, steadying presence down the stretch, and despite some tough outings, was a needed arm in the rotation. He should have a nice farewell tour, and baseball will definitely smile upon him from afar.

Glen Perkins- RP

Minnesota has already informed Perkins they'll be declining his 2018 option. As a free agent, he could come back on what would likely be a minor league deal, or he could choose to hang em up. With the tonality surrounding the end of his 2017 season, it would appear his storied career will be laid to rest. In retirement, Perkins will go down as one of the best Twins relievers in history.

Michael Tonkin-

Recalled in September, Tonkin has largely failed to replicate his minor league numbers at the highest level. He throws relatively hard, and has a long lanky frame, but success hasn't followed him to Minnesota. Exposed and unclaimed previously, the Twins are probably not worried about passing him through again, regardless of the result.

Hector Santiago- SP

Coming over in exchange for Ricky Nolasco, Santiago was largely unhelpful. After finishing the 2017 season on the DL, and with the numbers he put up while healthy, there's next to no way Minnesota will have interest in a reunion tour. The organization has better starting options, and Santiago will look to continue his career elsewhere.

Kennys Vargas- 1B/DH

Out of options, Vargas no longer has protection from the organization. At 27 years old, he's never established himself as a big league hitter, and despite the big power beliefs, the production hasn't followed suit. A step back in 2017 didn't help his chances, and the inability to field at 1B at even an average level exposes his hitting prowess even further. He could be a useful bench bat for someone, but it doesn't look likely in Minnesota.

With just seven spots opened up, the Twins would have little wiggle room. The players above seem like near locks however, with the ones that follow providing a bit more uncertainty.

Nik Turley- SP/RP

In sporadic action for Minnesota this season, Turley turned in some mixed results. He had huge strikeout numbers down on the farm, and then was up and down at the highest level. There's better organizational starting options for 2018, but I think Turley can be useful in relief. The Twins could aim higher though, and that would likely make the lefty expendable.

Chris Gimenez- C

I'd imagine that Derek Falvey and Thad Levine intend to tender a new contract to the veteran backstop. Gimenez is a great clubhouse guy, and that's a notable part of a winning culture. It does seem time for Mitch Garver to step in on the big league roster however, which would make a light hitting, and an average-at-best defender like Gimenez, someone that Minnesota could move on from.

Dillon Gee- RP

There might not have been a more important arm for Minnesota down the stretch. After being held down at Triple-A for a bit too long. Gee provided value out of both the rotation and the bullpen. Going forward, he's an arm I like in a long relief role, but it will come down to preference. The Twins pen needs to be better, and having multiple mop up types isn't a recipe for success. There's a few guys vying for one spot, and Gee could be the odd man out.

Robbie Grossman- OF/DH

Another great, and often relatively unnoticed acquisition, Grossman provided Minnesota with plenty of value at the plate. There's a little pop in his bat, but plenty to be said about his plate discipline. A walk machine, and grinder at the dish, he made opposing pitchers work nearly every at bat. If the organization looks to beef up the lineup for 2018, a better right-handed bat could replace Robbie, so that makes his future somewhat up in the air.

From that August piece, there are still six players I estimate as needing 40 man spots, protecting them from Rule 5 draft selection. We've cleared up at least seven here, with the possibility to have as many as 11. Minnesota will also look to improve on the open market as well, so having roster flexibility is a must. It will be interesting to see how this all shakes out, and we should begin to find out soon.

A Deep Dive Into The Twins 40 Man

With the 2017 Major League Baseball trade deadline now behind us, and the end of the season not that far off in the distance, it seems a good time to take a look at the Minnesota Twins 40 man roster. While it's the 25 man collection that draws the most focus, it's the 40 man that represents where answers will come from in any given season. As the club looks to revitalize the 40 man, Derek Falvey and Thad Levine will soon be faced with some tough decisions.

Recently at Twins Daily, prospect guru Seth Stohs wrote up a comprehensive piece looking at who needs to be added to the 40 man roster in November. He outlined the stipulations for 40 man additions, and broke down the situations regarding more than a handful of key names. Looking at his work, the question now becomes, who makes the cut.

Despite being a few months early, here's a stab at where I see Minnesota needing to allocate roster openings to:

Stephen Gonsalves- This is a no-brainer, and he should probably be added before the end of 2017, with the idea that he makes a September big league debut. He's been dominant at Double-A, and should factor into the Twins rotation next season.

Jake Reed- Another guy that should have a very real shot at an August or September debut, Reed profiles well out of the Twins pen. He is a hard thrower, and the hope would be that he continue to blossom into a high leverage option for Minnesota.

Zack Littell- Recently acquired from the New York Yankees in exchange for Jaime Garcia, Rob Antony all but suggested Littell was a lock in a recent interview with Darren Wolfson. Antony noted Littell was the name Minnesota targeted from New York, and sees him as an impact starter for them as early as next year.

John Curtiss- Like Gonsalves and Reed before him, Curtiss is another guy that should be up with Minnesota before the end of 2017. He's been dominant as a closer this year for both Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Rochester. With the Twins needing a pen overhaul, it'll be some internal options that are likely called upon first.

Lewin Diaz- I haven't been nearly as high on him as other outlets, failing to rank him among the top 15 Twins prospects. Diaz is just 20 though, and has continued to show power (10 HR) at Cedar Rapids this year, after a .928 OPS in the Appy League a year ago. There's too much upside to let him go unprotected, though I think it'd be a massive ask for a team to roster him at the MLB level all year in 2018.

Kohl Stewart- The former 4th overall pick in 2013 hasn't fared nearly as well as the Twins would've hoped. He continues to post low ERA's, but really hasn't struck anyone out. That being said, he's been good at Double-A Chattanooga since coming back from the DL this year, and I don't think there's any way he'd go unclaimed.

Lewis Thorpe- Having missed essentially two years due to Tommy John surgery and his recovery, Thorpe is still at High-A Fort Myers. He's looked good there though, and is probably more advanced than his current level would suggest. I'd imagine he'd be a stash option for a team, and the Twins will want to protect him.

By my count, the Twins have seven names they'll need to figure out how to protect. I could see Aaron Slegers being added to the 40 man in 2017 for a debut, but am not sure he would need to stick. Recently acquired reliever (from the John Ryan Murphy trade) Gabriel Moya is an intriguing name, and Luke Bard is another guy that appears to be knocking on the big league door. Given that he passed through waivers unclaimed this year, I can't see the Twins making Mason Melotakis a priority, and Nick Burdi shouldn't be an option as he'll be recovering from Tommy John surgery.

As things stand right now, Minnesota has 37 players on their 40 man roster. Glen Perkins will need a spot coming off the 60 day DL if he does pitch this season, but I'm not sure what's left there. Going into 2018, Minnesota will be hoping Phil Hughes can be useful as well, though that seems uncertain as well. If you're having to create room, here's a few guys that could be battling for their spots:

Matt Belisle- Signed a one year deal, and while he's been better after a dismal start, I can't imagine the Twins will bring him back for a second tour.

Buddy Boshers- Boshers has been solid, but isn't posting the per nines he tallied a season ago, and his FIP is ugly. This is a spot you can upgrade with a much higher ceiling player.

Bartolo Colon- A fun story the rest of the way, Colon may retire at season's end. Even if he doesn't, the rotation shouldn't have him in it, and likely won't.

Dillon Gee- This seems somewhat of a tossup, and I've been harsh in regards to Gee. He has never been anything above average, but if the Twins have room to keep him, you could do a whole lot worse as a spot starter.

Kyle Gibson- Far from a certainty, but the Twins will need to offer Gibson an arbitration deal this winter, and they could definitely choose not to. I'd imagine that's unlikely, but the possibility exists.

Nik Turley- Having had a few turns in the rotation, Turley doesn't look like a big league starter. I think his stuff can play out of the pen in shorter bursts, but if he's not given an opportunity they, you can move on.

Chris Gimenez- On a one-year deal with the Twins, Mitch Garver should have taken over his position by now. Regardless, there's not much need to bring Giemenz back in 2018 when the goal will be moreso finding a lower tier depth option.

Ehire Adrianza- This should sort itself out in the coming months, but the reality is that there isn't room on the 25 man for Eduardo Escobar, Ehire Adrianza, and Jorge Polanco. The former two are utility men with somewhat competing skillsets, while Polanco should be the starter of the bunch but has struggled. Adrianza seems the easiest to squeeze out in hopes of better utilizing a bench position.

How Do The Twins Trim The 40 Man

Major League Baseball is quickly pushing towards September 1st; a day in which big league rosters are allowed to expand from 25 to 40 players. For many teams, this involves some roster reconfiguration. The Minnesota Twins are not an exception, and will need to re-evaluate who they view worthy of holding down an ever important spot.

For the Twins, this season represents something a bit different, as they are in the midst of a playoff race. While they are likely going to be on the outside looking in, maximizing roster potential in September is a must. Terry Ryan and crew will need to make some difficult decisions in the coming week however. Let's take a look at some of the candidates on the chopping block.

Pitchers:

A.J. Achter-RHP

Achter was a 46th round pick by the Twins in 2010. He has appeared in just 13 big league games, and has pitched 18.1 innings to the tune of a 4.91 ERA. Much better in the minors, Achter owns a 2.90 ERA in 366.1 IP. This seasons for Triple-A Rochester, Achter has compiled a 2.74 ERA in 46.0 innings. At this point, Achter has done everything asked of him, but his stuff profiles more like an AAAA type. He may pass through waivers unclaimed, but he's probably not the type to right your bullpen.

Logan Darnell-LHP

The Twins haven't called upon Darnell in 2015 after he pitched 24 big league innings with a 7.13 ERA last season. He's had a solid 2015 for Triple-A Rochester, and he recently took a perfect game into the 6th inning in his last start (he's being stretched out of late). His 3.05 ERA and 7.6 K/9 are some of the best marks of his MiLB career. Darnell is either going to be given a shot to prove it, or needs to cede way to someone else though.

Brian Duensing-LHP

Including Duensing on this list is less about September than it is about this offseason. Minnesota took Duensing to arbitration over the winter and settled on a one-year, $2.7 million deal. They would be best served to cut ties after 2015. The longtime Twin has been better of late, but his 4.25 FIP (fielding independent pitching) is in line with his 4.01 career mark, and his 4.5 K/9 is ugly out of the pen. There are better options out there (and on the farm), who are also much cheaper.

Casey Fien-RHP

This is somewhat or a mixed-emotions add for me. My trust in Fien as a late inning reliever has waned in recent seasons, but he has also remained relatively consistent. Fien is arbitration eligible in 2016, and remains under team control until 2019. On that alone, I'm not sure I'm sold on removing him. However, his declining strikeout rates (10.6 K/9 in 2013, 7.2 in 14, and 5.2 in 15) are a problem, and his FIP has steadily increased each of the past three years (3.16 in 13, 3.43 in 14, 3.62 in 15). If there's a better option, I wouldn't be opposed to exploring it.

Ryan O'Rourke-LHP

Back in 2010, the Twins selected O'Rourke out of a small town college in Massachusetts. He's now 27, and made his big league debut this season. Despite being a LOOGY (lefty one out guy), he's been hit around to an ERA north of 5.00 for the Twins. His career 4.15 MiLB ERA isn't inspiring either. O'Rourke is allowing lefties to hit just .156/.250/.250 while striking out 16 in 32 at bats. He's walked one-fourth of the righties he's faced though, and isn't a real answer to a shaky pen.

Aaron Thompson-LHP

Thompson was an early season surpise for the Twins. The former first round pick owned a 2.11 ERA and a .181/.235/.278 slash line against in his first 21.1 IP. Then the wheels fell off. Over his final 24 games for the Twins, Thompson pitched to the tune of a 10.64 ERA and allowed opposing hitters to slash .388/.444/.490 off of him. Since being demoted back to Triple-A Rochester, Thompson owns a 4.76 ERA and has just a 7/4 K/BB ratio in 11.1 IP. It's probably best for the Twins to move on from the reclamation project whether he's claimed or not.

Jason Wheeler-LHP

A former 8th round pick in 2011, Wheeler has had quite an eventful 2015. He's been demoted to Double-A Chattanooga twice, while being promoted to Triple-A Rochester once after starting the season there. In total, he owns a 5.73 ERA and a measly 5.7 K/9. His Double-A numbers are better (4.34 ERA 7.6 K/9), but still show little reason to be hopeful. With pitching as an asset throughout the farm, the 40 man roster spot could go to better use.

Position Players:

Chris Herrmann-C

Much like Duensing, Herrmann isn't an immediate DFA option for the Twins. He's on the 25 man roster as the backup catcher, and with Josmil Pinto (who's not catching) as the only other 40 man option, this isn't happening now. Regardless, Herrmann isn't a big leaguer, and the Twins have some serious issues behind the dish. Over the winter, addressing their backstop situation is a must. Herrmann is slashing .159/.225/.305, which is bad (and even worse by the standards of a guy with a career .187/.254/.289 slash line). Minnesota needs some catching depth, and Herrmann doesn't qualify as that.

Eduardo Nunez-Util

Smoke and mirrors was what Eduardo Nunez put up for a good portion of 2015. Now the owner of a .268 average, Nunez owned a .302/.333/.508 slash line up until the All Star Break. The catch was that he played in just 22 games and had just 66 plate appearances. He's been worth 0.6 fWAR on the season, which is at least a positive. Nunez however was someone I thought could have been DFA'd prior to the 2015 season starting. Better utility options are generally out there, and as an arbitration guy this upcoming season, he's not going to be worth the expense.

Shane Robinson-OF

If anyone assumed their role better than Shane Robinson in 2015, I'm not aware of it. Brought in to be a 4th outfielder, he was exactly that. It was Jordan Schafer that was kept out of spring training at the detriment of Aaron Hicks, not Robinson. In his first season away from the Cardinals, Robinson has slashed .255/.306/.331. His five steals tie a career high, and his 0.5 fWAR is on pace to be a career best. His defense was a boost to a Twins outfield in flux, and he gave the club everything asked of him. Now with the outfield in a more stable situation, Robinson can be thanked for his contributions and be made expendable.

Oswaldo Arcia-OF

Easily the highest profile name on this list, Arcia puts the Twins in a tough spot. He has played just 19 games in the big leagues this season, and is not deserving of a September callup. Despite a career best .276/.338/.379 slash line at the MLB level, he compiled 15 strikeouts and just four walks. Despite being a power guy (34 HR the last two seasons), he swings and misses far too often. At Triple-A Rochester, Arcia owns a .206/.265/.385 slash line with 11 home runs 75 strikeouts and just 17 walks. He has hit just .108/.202/.176 since July 21, and his attitude combined with effort have been in question most of his career. Out of options going forward, Minnesota dealing him this offseason seems like a good avenue to explore.

With a farm system ready to overflow with prospects, and some worthy September call ups not being on the 40 man roster, Minnesota will need to begin some turnover. Abover are a few of the names to keep eyes on. As the Twins look to get back into a yearly playoff picture, Minnesota will need to fill the 40 man with more quality than quantity types.