Now that the World Series is over, the MLB offseason has officially begun. Left-hander Anthony Banda, infielder Tristan Gray and first baseman Aaron Sabato have cleared waivers, according to The Athletic's Dan Hayes. They are set to be outrighted off the Minnesota Twins' 40-man roster and become free agents.
The removal of Gray and Sabato from the 40-man roster makes perfect sense. Gray is a 30-year-old journeyman who struggled significantly at the plate and defensively for Minnesota this season. There is no reason to keep him on the roster heading into the offseason, and many argue he should've been designated for assignment during the season.
Sabato, the Twins' 2020 first-round pick, finally made his MLB debut in September after a strong season at Triple-A St. Paul. While Sabato never got a chance to be a full-time big leaguer with Minnesota, it was time for the team to move on from the slugger; he is in his late 20s, took a long time to develop as a minor league hitter, and strikes out at an alarming rate. The Twins don't really have room for Sabato on their big-league roster going forward, so letting him become a free agent is probably best for the UNC product's career.
Twins' decision to outright Banda is a bit surprising
Meanwhile, it's a bit surprising that the Twins are outrighting Banda off the 40-man roster. Sure, he underwent season-ending surgery in July, but he said he expects to be ready for spring training. Either his rehab isn't going well, or the Twins plan to make big bullpen moves this offseason that would have forced him off the roster.
The Twins acquired Banda from the Los Angeles Dodgers last offseason for international bonus pool space. Banda initially struggled with Minnesota, posting an 8.27 ERA through May 8. However, he turned his season around, allowing just two earned runs with 19 strikeouts in 18 innings from May 10 through June 28, when he made his final appearance of the season.
Banda is eligible for arbitration in 2027. The southpaw made $1.625 million in 2026.
Banda has 10 years of MLB experience. He made his MLB debut with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2017. He pitched for the Tampa Bay Rays from 2018-20. The southpaw then pitched for the New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates and Washington Nationals before joining the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2024. He won two World Series rings with the Dodgers.
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