Any player who is on the major league’s active roster must be on that team’s 40-man roster. So when call-ups are made during a season, it is advantageous to be 40 men.
Of course, it’s not just about 40-man perspectives, but everyday players, starting pitchers, and oft-used relievers as well.
Each team makes a handful of 40-man moves each offseason, whether it’s adding minor league prospects, signing free agents, or acquiring players through trades or waivers.
Minnesota didn’t make many moves this offseason, but it did add nine new players to its 40-man roster (not counting players returning from the 60-day injured list or re-signed free agents, like Carlos Correa) .
With spring training underway, here’s a rundown of the players added to the Twins’ 40-man roster in recent months.
Minnesota’s 2019 second-round pick has struggled with health in his young professional career, and last season was no different. Canterino had Tommy John surgery in August, which likely means we won’t see him on the field in 2023. Why did the Twins put him on the 40-man roster? To make sure he wasn’t picked in the Rule 5 draft, where a team could select the right, place him on the injured list, have him rehabilitated for them, and then be on its roster in 2024. In 37 2/3 innings in the double As of last season, Canterino had a 1.95 ERA and an opposing batting average of . 154, while striking out 54.
The Twins selected the utility player in a trade with Cincinnati. Last season with the Reds, Farmer slashed .255 / .315 / .387 with 14 home runs while playing primarily as a shortstop, although he also saw a fair number of games at third base. Farmer also has MLB experience at second base, first base and even catcher (19 games with nine starts). The six-year veteran didn’t make a starter until 2021, his first season with more than 200 starts, when he hit .263 / .316 / .416 with 16 homers.
Signed as a free agent, the two-time Gold Glove winner has struggled at the plate in recent years — he hasn’t hit .200 since 2019. But Gallo could be due to increased production with a roster ban. Gallo has faced a change in 95% of his bats in 2022, the highest percentage in the majors. He still hit 19 home runs in 410 plate appearances, but batted only .160 / .280 / .357. Obviously, a shift affects strikeouts, and Gallo does this a lot, such as 213 times in 2021 and 163 times last season. It will be an interesting case study in 2023.
A ninth-round pick in 2019, Headrick was one of the minor leaguers added to Minnesota’s 40-man roster this offseason. The lefty made 25 appearances with 23 starts between High-A Cedar Rapids and Double-A Wichita last season. He had a 2.34 ERA, 0.888 WHIP and 10.6K/9 in 15 starts with the Kernels. In 43 innings for Wind Surge, Headrick owned a 4.81 ERA, 1,372 WHIP and 12.3 K/9.
A southpaw hitter and Auburn’s 18th-round pick in 2019, Julien was a grounding machine in his two years as a pro, owning a .437 on-base percentage while playing at three levels. In 2022, he hit .300 / .441 / .490 with 17 home runs and 19 stolen bases in 113 games at Double-A Wichita. Julien also played in the Arizona Fall League, where all he did was slash .400 / .563 / .686 in 96 plate appearances, knocking down five homers and stealing six bases (without getting caught).
Another 2019 draft pick — Legumina went to the eighth round — the right-hander spent most of last season with Wichita, posting a 4.93 ERA, 1,507 WHIP and 9.4 K/9 over 73 innings. In 2021 at Fort Myers, Legumina posted a 3.02 ERA, 1.007 WHIP and 11.3 K/9 over 44 2/3 innings.
Minnesota made a splash in late January by sending Luis Arraez to Miami as their starting pitcher. Lopez was one of the best and most consistent starters in the game over the past three seasons, posting a 3.52 ERA (and 119 ERA+), 1.156 WHIP and 9.2 K/9 in that span. In 2022 with the Marlins, Lopez had a 3.75 ERA, 1.167 WHIP and 8.7 K/9 while throwing in 32 starts (180 innings).
Perhaps a surprising addition, achieved in a trade with Kansas City on January 24, Taylor gives Minnesota another Gold Glove winner in the outfield. Interestingly, the nine-year veteran played mostly in midfield throughout his career (692 appearances compared to 53 on the left and 33 on the right). Taylor has some pop in his club and good speed. Career slash line is .241 / .296 / .381 with Washington and KC of him Last year with the Royals he hit .254 / .313 / .357 with nine homers in 456 plate appearances.
Vazquez signed as a free agent this offseason for $30 million over three years. Vazquez spent his entire career with Boston before being traded to Houston at this year’s deadline. With the Red Sox and Astros he combined to hit .274 / .315 / .399 with nine home runs. Vazquez has just 15 homers in the past two full seasons, but has blasted 23 in 2019 (and seven in 43 games in 2020). He also has a lot of postseason experience, having won the World Series with Boston in 2018 and Houston last year, as well as making it to the ALCS in 2021 with the Sox. Vazquez regularly threw more base steal attempts than the average MLB catcher, with a career hit percentage of 34% (compared to the league average of 26%).
