2024 Minnesota Twins Opening Day roster projection 2.0: How does Manuel Margot fit?
Now that it appears the Twins are done adding players, here's how the Opening Day roster might shape up.
We're less than a month away from Opening Day arriving, which means the next few weeks will be crucial for the Minnesota Twins putting the final roster together.
Most of the 26-man roster seems to be set, although there's still some potential for movement either due to injuries or someone making an undeniable case for themselves. For the most part, Minnesota will be running back the same lineup as last year with a few notable changes.
Carlos Santana and Manuel Margot are new additions to the field, as the veterans are expected to serve as meaningful depth pieces at key areas. There are also new faces all over the bullpen like Jay Jackson, Josh Staumont, Steven Okert, and Justin Topa -- all of whom figure to play a big role in what is already being called the best bullpen on paper in the league.
The Twins still have a few weeks of Spring Training action to sort out the finer details, but it's time to start looking at how things are shaping up as Opening Day approaches.
Minnesota Twins 2024 Opening Day roster projection 2.0
Twins Opening Day starting rotation
Pitcher | Throws |
|---|---|
Pablo Lopez | RHP |
Joe Ryan | RHP |
Bailey Ober | RHP |
Chris Paddack | RHP |
Anthony DeSclafani | RHP |
If there's one spot on the roster that is likely already locked in, it's the starting rotation.
Pablo López, Joe Ryan, and Bailey Ober will be the team's top three starters, while Chris Paddack settles into the No. 4 role as he continues to find his groove again. Anthony DeSclafani seems like a lock for the final spot in the rotation, with Louie Varland potentially giving him a run for his money over the last month of Spring Training.
The starting rotation seems to be set, though, and any changes that happen will likely occur after the season has started and be a result of someone getting injured. That might be DeSclafani, who comes to Minnesota with a ton of upside but a lot of potential health concerns. He missed most of the 2022 after undergoing right ankle surgery and only made it to the end of July last season before being shut down with a right elbow flexor strain.
He's already been delayed in getting going down in Fort Myers, although he still appears to be on track to be healthy on Opening Day. If he ends up on the IL for some reason, Varland looks to be the next-man-up with the Simeon Woods Richardson potentially being in the mix too.
On the bubble:
- Louie Varland
- Simeon Woods Richardson
- David Festa
- Matt Canterino
David Festa and Matt Canterino are two prospects to keep an eye on. Neither figures to leapfrog Varland or Woods Richardson for a roster spot early in the year, but they're candidates for mid-to-late season promotions.
Twins Opening Day bullpen
Pitcher | Throws |
|---|---|
Griffin Jax | RHP |
Caleb Thielbar | LHP |
Steven Okert | LHP |
Justin Topa | RHP |
Jorge Alcala | RHP |
Jay Jackson | RHP |
Brock Stewart | RHP |
Jhoan Duran | RHP |
Arguably the only real roster spot that's up for grabs is in the bullpen, and even that spot seems to be getting shored up. The eighth reliever spot is likely going to be revolving door option for the Twins as any number of guys could step up and fill it depending on how things are going.
Josh Staumont was the first official free agent signing Minnesota made this winter, and he's a classic injury caveated high-upside gamble. He was extremely solid in 2021 with the Royals, posting a 2.88 ERA in just 65.2 innings of work while striking out 72 of the batters he faced. Things went a little haywire on him last year and he ended up suffering a neck injury that ended his season early.
All signs point to him being healthy for Opening Day, but he's getting passed up by another high-upside guy the Twins are hoping can tap back into the 2021 version of himself. Jorge Alcalá was tendered and brought back this winter which means Minnesota is giving him another shot to try and prove himself as a useful piece in the bullpen. He looked to be developing into that three years ago when he finished the year with a 0.972 WHIP in just under 60 innings pitched.
Injuries derailed his ascension, though, and he's looked rough in both attempts to comeback. Minnesota is clearly banking on the third time being the charm and so far this spring Alcalà has been great.
The good news is that while it's unclear who fills the eight reliever spot on Opening Day, the Twins have no shortage of good pitchers who can spend valuable time on the MLB roster this year. Brent Headrick is a solid middle relief guy, as is Cole Sands, and Kody Funderburk looked good when he spent time with the team late last season.
Minnesota's bullpen is deep, and figuring out how everyone fits is a good problem to have.
On the bubble:
- Josh Staumont
- Josh Winder
- Cole Sands
- Kody Funderburk
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 |
It was once looking like Brooks Lee might edge his way into a roster spot, but that now seems like a long shot that will only happen if an injury opens something up. After signing Carlos Santana, the Twins infield looks pretty much set and there's not a ton of mystery or wiggle room at any position.
The only questions that really remain here are where players already on the 26-man roster will end up playing, as that could shift around a bit as we approach Opening Day. Alex Kirilloff is a wild card as a lot depends on his health heading into the season. He's expected to be ready to go, but the Twins will likely still want to be careful with how much is put on him to start the year, which might mean Edouard Julien sliding over and spending some time at first.
This scenario is why it made some sense to have Austin Martin on the Opening Day roster but that no longer seems to be in the cards. Instead, Kyle Farmer can play second while Julien is at first and Santana serves as DH -- a combo we might see even see a version of with Kirilloff in the lineup.
Minnesota needs Julien's bat in the lineup, and Farmer getting $6 million in arbitration means the team plans on using him regularly this season in a utility role. That could result in Julien serving as DH more often than not while Farmer's glove is at second, with Lee potentially getting called up at some point early on in the year once someone hits the IL.
On the bubble:
- Brooks Lee, 2B
- Jose Miranda, 3B
- Yunior Severino, 1B/2B
Jose Miranda is someone to keep an eye on for a number of reasons. He's been boxed out of an everyday role on the corners of the infield but could bounce back and serve as useful depth there this season. He doesn't figure to make the Opening Day roster but if he puts together a solid spring don't be surprised to see him hit the Majors over Lee.
Twins Opening Day outfield
Player | Position |
|---|---|
Byron Buxton | CF |
Matt Wallner | LF |
Max Kepler | RF |
Manuel Margot | OF |
Willi Castro | INF/OF |
The latest, and likely final, addition to the Twins roster is Manuel Margot and his arrival has a major impact on the projected Opening Day roster.
Before Minnesota traded for Margot it looked like Austin Martin might in line to get a roster spot but that no longer seems to be the case. Margot checks every box that Martin did and the fact that the Twins absorbed part finagled a way to get his deal mostly paid for shows that they plan on using him to platoon with Byron Buxton out in centerfield.
Derek Falvey has also stated that Margot could be used as depth behind Matt Wallner and Max Kepler, which further pushes Martin's timeline for hitting the Majors back. He'll almost certainly get called up at some point this year but it won't be as soon as it initially seemed.
As for the guys who are going to be on the 26-man roster, everything hinges on whether Buxton can bounce back the way he's teased. From his emphatic statements at TwinsFest to seeing him back in the field for the first time since 2022, things seem to be lining up for a bounce-back season. Both Buxton and the Twins need it to happen, as he's one of the biggest hits on a tight payroll and is an MVP-caliber player when fully healthy.
Having Buxton back makes everyone's life easier, and but the Twins have backup plans in Margot, Martin, and possibly even Emmanuel Rodriguez if things go off the rails again this season.
On the bubble:
- Austin Martin, CF/2B
- Trevor Larnach, LF
- Emmanuel Rodriguez, OF
Trevor Larnach is sort of in a Jose Miranda spot where he's been boxed out of the starting left field role but could see himself called up as depth at some point this seaosn. E-Rod is a long shot, but he's right there alongside Brooks Lee as one of the team's most exciting young prospects that everyone will keep an eye on possibly making his debut this year.
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