Twins Designate Cody Laweryson For Assignment

The Twins announced that right-hander Cody Laweryson was designated for assignment.  The move opens up a 40-man roster spot for Garrett Acton, who has been activated from the 60-day injured list and optioned to Triple-A.  In other roster news, Minnesota has officially added newly-acquired reliever A.J. Minter to the active roster, and righty Zebby Matthews was optioned to Triple-A in the corresponding 26-man move.

After making his big league and posting a 1.17 ERA over 7 2/3 innings and five games for the Twins in 2025, Laweryson was claimed off waivers by the Angels in November but then released in February and subsequently re-signed by the Twins on a minors deal.  That contract was selected to the active roster before Opening Day but Laweryson hasn’t seen too much more work, as he has tossed 16 2/3 frames over 15 appearances.  A right forearm strain sidelined Laweryson for much of April and May, and after he was optioned to Triple-A in early July, Laweryson has been on the St. Paul injured list since July 19.

Because Laweryson hasn’t been outrighted in his career and he has less than a year of MLB service time, he won’t have the right to reject an outright assignment if he clears waivers.  Another team might have interest in picking up a reliever with some big league experience and all three minor league options remaining, but Laweryson’s health is also obviously a factor in this stint in DFA limbo.

The right-hander has a 4.86 ERA over his 16 2/3 innings for Minnesota this year, as well as a 23.1% strikeout rate and a 10.3% walk rate.  Laweryson isn’t a hard thrower but he did rack up more strikeouts earlier in his minor league career, and he relies on his fastball roughly two-thirds of the time.  His other two pitches are a changeup and a 84.2mph cutter, with the latter used slightly more often.

Matthews returns to the minors after posting a 5.22 ERA over 81 innings and 14 starts.  The resume included three earned runs allowed in five innings against the Mariners yesterday, with Matthews striking out 10 while allowing four hits and two walks.  With Dean Kremer now acquired from the Orioles and perhaps more pitching additions coming before the deadline, Matthews will get more time in Triple-A as rotation depth.