MN Twins Infielders in Danger of Losing 40-Man Roster Spots

Following the conclusion of the Major League Baseball postseason, the Minnesota Twins will get to work on their offseason plans. They started roster shuffling already with a nonsensical waiver claim earlier this week.

Just because the 40-man roster has certain names on it right now doesn’t mean they will all make it through the crunch prior to Opening Day. After firing the manager, Derek Falvey will also need to shuffle some of the players on the roster. Some of those once thought to be pieces of the core could be looking for work elsewhere.

Jose Miranda and Edouard Julien may struggle to stay with Twins

No two players struggled to establish whatever hope there was left for them this season the Edouard Julien and Jose Miranda. Both looked to be future fixtures for the Minnesota Twins not long ago, and now both could be roster casualties. The Athletic’s Aaron Gleeman weighed in.

I’d consider Miranda a long shot to keep his 40-man roster spot until spring training. He was sent down to Triple-A St. Paul in April and never returned, hitting .195 in 90 games for the Saints, sending his stock plummeting.

Julien is perhaps more of a coin-flip situation, although it seems clear he’s no longer in the Twins’ long-term plans after following up a very promising 2023 rookie showing with back-to-back disappointing seasons.

Miranda and Julien are prime examples of the Twins’ inability to develop promising young hitters into quality veteran hitters. And both players will be out of minor-league options next season, meaning they can’t be sent to the minors without first being exposed to waivers.

The Athletic

After posting a 112 OPS+ in 2024, Jose Miranda played just 12 games for the Twins this season. He was awful, and then was equally putrid at Triple-A. Miranda has been given a path to playing time at both third and first base. Now though, it would be a shock if he isn’t outrighted. It’s possible he goes unclaimed, but the former second round pick probably needs a change of scenery.

While Miranda had a respectable 2024 season, Julien has stacked two bad years in a row. His 76 OPS+ was just two points higher than his 74 OPS+ in 2023. He has proven to struggle as a defender almost everywhere, and the bat isn’t worthy of being an every day first baseman.

It’s unfortunate that this looks like the reality Minnesota will face. Miranda is just one year removed from his impressive streak of hits in 12 consecutive at bats. Julien batted .263/.381/.459 in 109 games as a rookie and has cratered since.

These aren’t the trends a team needing to rely on internal development can afford to have happen. Trevor Larnach could be among the candidates to join them as staple names no longer on the roster next year as well.