Minnesota Twins Remove Three Players From 40-Man Roster

The Minnesota Twins have cleared Anthony Banda, Aaron Sabato, and Tristan Gray from their 40-man roster after they passed through waivers.

Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Baseball

Minnesota Twins Remove Three Players From 40-Man Roster

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The Minnesota Twins have removed three players from their 40-man roster after all three successfully cleared waivers. The organization moved to remove these players to manage roster capacity and financial obligations heading into the offseason.

Why it matters

The team aimed to avoid paying a guaranteed salary to Anthony Banda, who is currently recovering from midseason lat muscle surgery. This move provides the club with more flexibility as they reshape their roster during the winter months.

Anthony Banda posted a 4.46 ERA over 34 1/3 innings, while Aaron Sabato hit 25 home runs in Triple-A with a .273/.349/.528 slash line. Tristan Gray recorded 188 plate appearances with the Twins in 2026, finishing with a 31.9% strikeout rate.

The players

Minnesota Twins

This Major League Baseball franchise is based in Minneapolis and competes in the American League Central division.

Anthony Banda

He is a veteran pitcher who has accrued more than five years of big league service time.

Aaron Sabato

He is a 27-year-old position player who was the 27th overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft.

Tristan Gray

He is a player who recorded 188 plate appearances with the Minnesota Twins during the 2026 season.

The details

The decision follows a challenging season for Banda, who remains sidelined following his surgery and is not expected to return until well into next year. For Sabato and Gray, the move reflects the team's ongoing assessment of their depth options after their recent performance metrics.

2020: Aaron Sabato was selected in the first round of the MLB draft.
2026: The Minnesota Twins removed the three players from the 40-man roster.
2027: The original club control period for Anthony Banda is set to end.

Season Trajectory

The Minnesota Twins' recent roster moves align with the constraints and strategic flexibility provided by the MLB 40-man roster regulation. This move follows the standard pattern of teams using the waiver process to clear roster spots as permitted by the MLB 40-man roster regulation.

Removing these players from the 40-man roster provides the Minnesota Twins with increased flexibility to pursue new signings during the winter. Fans should monitor whether the club successfully re-signs Anthony Banda to a minor league contract following his recovery.

The takeaway

Roster management is a constant process that balances immediate health realities with long-term financial strategy. Players removed from the 40-man roster often move to the open market or sign minor league deals to continue their development elsewhere.