With the beginning of free agency now upon us, teams will need to sort out their 40-man roster situation. There is plenty of fat for the Twins to trim, and they decided that Cody Laweryson was among the moves to be made.

Cody Laweryson claimed by Los Angeles Angels

A former 14th round pick, Cody Laweryson made his major league debut for the Minnesota Twins this season. He was added to the 40-man roster in September and pitched in five games. Rather than option him to Triple-A, Minnesota decided to remove him from the 40-man and a team swooped in.

The #Angels have claimed RHP Cody Laweryson off waivers from the Minnesota Twins

— Angels PR (@LAAngelsPR) November 6, 2025

Laweryson gets added to the Los Angeles Angels 40-man roster, and still carries three minor league options. Across 7 2/3 innings for Minnesota last season, Laweryson owned a 1.17 ERA with a 7/0 K/BB. In 44 innings at Double and Triple-A in 2025, he posted a 2.86 ERA with a 9.2 K/9.

Despite being an older prospect at 27 years old, those are all strong numbers. Laweryson doesn’t throw particularly hard with a 93.2 mph average on his fastball. He had just a 10.8% whiff rate in his brief time with the Twins, but he generated a 32.4% chase rate.

Jose Miranda highlights 40-man releases

While Laweryson was claimed while sent through waivers, the Minnesota Twins also cleared multiple 40-man spots by simply releasing players. Among them, Jose Miranda is the most notable.

In addition to losing Cody Laweryson on waivers, the Twins released Jose Miranda, Michael Tonkin, Thomas Hatch, Génesis Cabrera and Anthony Misiewicz off their 40-man roster.

Their 40-man roster currently stands at 33 players.

— Bobby Nightengale (@nightengalejr) November 6, 2025

After posting a 114 OPS+ as a rookie back in 2022, things have gone downhill. Miranda played just 12 games for the Twins this season, and had just a .195/.272/.296 at Triple-A. He also suffered an injury while handling water at Target.

No other names on this list should be a surprise. Michael Tonkin, Thomas Hatch, Gensis Cabrera, and Anthony Misiewicz all vacate spots that can be used to retool the bullpen. The 40-man roster has seven open spots.

Minnesota will continue to make tweaks to the 40-man roster in the coming days. Multiple players will need to be added in order to protect them from Rule 5 Draft eligibility as well.

The Twins kick off their 2026 Spring Training schedule on February 20, 2026. Opening Day falls on March 26 in Baltimore with the home opener taking place April 3 against Tampa Bay.

The roster has to remain intact through the finish line, though. After trading away nearly 40% of it at the deadline, new faces have been cycling through Rocco Baldelli’s clubhouse like it’s the Tour de France. Another pitching injury has forced yet another new arm to be promoted. And this time, it will result in a big league debut.

Cody Laweryson headed to Minnesota Twins

Since Derek Falvey gutted the major league roster at the trade deadline, the bullpen has basically become a training ground. Justin Topa has been put in high-leverage spots to differing levels of success. Now though, he’s dealing with an oblique injury, and Cody Laweryson is headed to the big leagues.

We have made the following roster moves: pic.twitter.com/ZYpN4fPb4u

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) September 12, 2025

At points this season we saw glimpses of the reliever that Minnesota traded Jorge Polanco to acquire. He has been operating in high-leverage spots since the departure of Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax. Now, his season comes to an end as he’ll finish with a 3.90 ERA (3.04 FIP) in 60 innings of work.

Laweryson with a 14th round pick by Minnesota during the 2019 MLB Draft out of Maine. He reached Triple-A St. Paul in 2023, but struggled with a 4.80 ERA and went back to Double-A Wichita last season. In 44 innings this season, split between both levels, Laweryson owns a 2.86 ERA with 45 strikeouts and 14 walks.

The 27-year-old right hander is unlikely to work into high-leverage opportunities, but he’s getting an early chance to audition for a 2026 Twins bullpen that is wide open. When he gets into a game, assuming that happens before he’s optioned, he will be making his major league debt. He will be the sixth Twins player to do so this year.

Related: Expect Less Payroll for Crumbling MN Twins in 2026

There has been a considerable jump in his velocity from 2023. When he first reached Triple-A he sat 89.7 mph with his fastball and is now at 93.6 mph. Primarily Laweryson throws his fastball and a cutter, but he does have a changeup to mix in as well.

Minnesota starts a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night before welcoming the New York Yankees to town on Monday.