Twins 2024 Opening Day roster projection 1.0: An early look at how things might shake out
Spring Training is officially underway, which means it's time to start assessing what the Minnesota Twins roster might look like in a month when the season starts.
We still have plenty of time before the Twins pack up and head to Kansas City for Opening Day, but in the time between then some big questions need to be answered. Minnesota failed to make any top-line additions this winter, instead losing guys like Sonny Gray and Jorge Polanco.
That doesn't mean the team took a step back from contention, rather the pieces already in place have more pressure to carry the load than before. Not all of that will be on the veterans returning to try and run things back, as the Twins have a slew of exciting young players vying for a roster spot as part of the next wave in the youth movement.
Over the next month things will start to fall into place, and we'll increasingly have a better idea of what the Opening Day roster might look like.
Minnesota Twins 2024 Opening Day roster projection 1.0
Twins Opening Day starting rotation
Pitcher | Throws |
|---|---|
Pablo Lopez | RHP |
Joe Ryan | RHP |
Bailey Ober | RHP |
Chris Paddack | RHP |
Anthony DeSclafani | RHP |
The only real question is what happens at the back of the rotation and who wins the No. 5 starter role. Right now Anthony DeSclafani is in the driver's seat, as the Twins acquired him for a reason and will likely want to see how he fits in before making any other moves.
If other moves were to happen, they'd be internal and not via free agency or a trade. Louie Varland is the next closest candidate who could earn that last spot in the rotation, which he could do with a strong spring.
It just feels like the Twins will slide DeSclafani into the No. 5 slot to see what happens, though. He has high upside and the job is likely his to lose.
Twins Opening Day bullpen
Pitcher | Throws |
|---|---|
Griffin Jax | RHP |
Caleb Thielbar | LHP |
Steven Okert | LHP |
Justin Topa | RHP |
Josh Staumont | RHP |
Jay Jackson | RHP |
Brock Stewart | RHP |
Jhoan Duran | RHP |
The Twins have the league's best bullpen on paper, according to FanGraphs, but it's going to be a unit with a lot of new faces when Opening Day rolls around.
Jhoan Duran is still the closer and guys like Griffin Jax and Caleb Thielbar are familiar names but there was a lot more of an overhaul than it felt. Justin Topa is the shiniest new toy in Rocco Baldelli's chest, as he ended up being the most intriguing piece that came back to Minnesota in the Jorge Polanco trade.
Last year with Seattle Topa posted a 2.61 ERA, 2.93 xERA, 3.15 FIP, and 3.55 xFIP over 69 innings pitched. He very well could develop into the next-best reliever this side of Duran and is expected to eat up a ton of middle inning work this season. He's also throws sidearm, which isn't quantitative but is just a cool thing that adds to reasons he'll likely catch on as a fan favorite.
Steven Okert is a wild card, as he came over from the Miami Marlins in a one-for-one swap for Nick Gordon. He's out of options, like Gordon was, and didn't fit with Miami's bullpen plans but could add some value in Minnesota. He has a pretty solid sinker/slider combo and has a 3.70 ERA and 220 strikeouts in 194 career MLB innings. It's nothing special, but Okert likely starts the season on the 26-man roster and gets DFA'd if things don't work out.
Other new faces include Josh Staumont, a hard-throwing reliever from the Royals, and veteran journeyman Jay Jackson.
Twins Opening Day infield
Player | Position |
|---|---|
Carlos Santana | 1B/DH |
Alex Kirilloff | 1B/DH |
Edouard Julien | 2B/DH |
Carlos Correa | SS |
Royce Lewis | 3B |
Ryan Jeffers | C |
Christian Vazquez | C |
Kyle Farmer | INF |
Here's where things start to get really interesting -- and tricky.
The most popular name at the start of Spring Training has been Brooks Lee. The highly touted No. 2 prospect in the Twins farm system has exceeded expectations at every turn and has a legit shot at making the Opening Day roster depending on what happens over the next month.
Lee is the second-in-line, though, when it comes to prospects getting called up. Austin Martin is expected to be in Minnesota's plans which could mean two spots needing to open up for them both to make the roster.
That's just the tip of the iceberg, as the Twins have Jose Miranda on the fringe of the roster as well. Miranda had a pretty bad season last year, slumping offensively before injuries took him out of the equation. He managed to start rebuilding himself at Triple-A, but he's down to his final option which means Minnesota needs to be careful about calling him back up.
Miranda helps add depth at first base, where Carlos Santana and Alex Kirilloff are expected to platoon. Edouard Julien's bat needs to be in the lineup, which can happen with him either playing second or sliding over to be a part of that first base group. All three players add value as DH, which means Miranda's best shot might be as depth behind Royce Lewis at third.
Kyle Farmer might be someone who boxes Miranda out of a roster spot, though, as he was brought back effectively as a free agent signing (thanks to his pricey arbitration settlement) and can play all over the infield.
Twins Opening Day outfield
Player | Position |
|---|---|
Byron Buxton | CF |
Matt Wallner | LF |
Max Kepler | RF |
Austin Martin | INF/OF |
Willi Castro | INF/OF |
Someone is going to get left off the 26-man roster this year, and the likeliest reason is to make room for Austin Martin.
Martin fits the Twins immediate plans more than Lee does, as he adds much-needed depth behind Byron Buxton in center and scratches the team's right-handed hitting outfielder itch. He was added to the 40-man roster last fall to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft but it also felt like a good excuse to bump him into the on-deck circle for getting called up to the majors.
If Martin does get called up, that could mean Willi Castro is on the roster bubble. It'll come down to whether the Twins value depth on the corners of the infield or outfield, which might be Castro's saving grace. Where the Twins have reasonable depth in the infield, the same can't be said for who is playing behind Max Kepler and Matt Wallner.
Trevor Larnach is a wild card to keep an eye on. He's firmly in the same territory as Jose Miranda where Minnesota needs to figure out how he fits into the future, and that could be as corner outfield depth. Again, Castro has the slight edge because of his ability to be a utility infielder in addition to roaming the outfield -- something that also bodes well for Martin getting onto the Opening Day roster.
Notable Twins starting the season in the minors leagues
- Jose Miranda, 1B/3B
- Louie Varland, P
- Brooks Lee, 2B
- Trevor Larnach, OF
- Brent Headrick, P
- Simeon Woods Richardson, P
If we're using a March Madness bracketology analogy then Miranda, Larnach, and Varland would be the first three players on the outside of the roster bubble looking in. Brent Headrick is a dark horse candidate to be in the bullpen but Varland is probably getting that spot before him.
The same goes for Simeon Woods Richardson, who might get called up if someone in the rotation gets injured but he'll have to wait in line behind Varland for that. Brooks Lee can still earn a spot on the Opening Day roster but it's far more likely that he makes his debut the same way Eddy Julien did last year after a veteran infielder goes on the IL.
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