By the end of today, playoff rosters need to be set. Of course, with so many players on the Disabled List, the actual composition of the 25 man playoff roster will be full of options. However, no player added from another organization in September can play in the playoffs for the Twins. I don't anticipate the Twins adding anyone from outside the organization today.

On Wednesday, rosters can expand and anyone on the 40 man roster can be on the active roster. Of course, no one adds 15 players to its roster, but most teams add somewhere between four and eight players. The Twins will do the same. I would anticipate that the Twins would add two or three players on Wednesday and then add another two or three players next week, after the minor league seasons are complete (last regular season games are on Labor Day).

Let's take a look at some of the players who could potentially be brought up to the Twins:

PITCHERS

  • Glen Perkins - Since he was just sent down this past weekend when Brian Fuentes was acquired, Perkins appears to be an obvious call up. The left-hander can be used in long relief situations when the team is behind by a lot.
  • Anthony Slama - He was called up for the second time just last week and was sent back down about 48 hours later. The strikeout pitcher appears to be another guy who is an easy choice for a call up. Right-handed batters have hit .123 against him at Rochester this year while left-handers have hit .253 against him. He has 71 strikeouts in 60.2 innings this year, but he has also walked 29.
  • Pat Neshek - I like to think that Neshek would be an obvious choice for promotion. He is healthy and he's throwing well. The velocity continues to increase. He is 2-1 with a 1.56 ERA in 15 games since the All Star break, although he has just nine strikeouts in 17.1 innings over that time.
  • Rob Delaney - A quick look at Delaney's 2010 number and it is not awe-inspiring. He is 7-9 with a 4.63 ERA. However, in 79.2 innings, he has just 22 walks to go with 91 strikeouts. Since the All Star break, his ERA is 2.77, and in 26 innings, he has five walks and 32 strikeouts. Because of his terrific control, Delaney is a possibility and does likely have a future with the Twins.
  • Alex Burnett - The 23 year old righty began the season with the Twins and stayed with the team until being sent to Rochester in July. He has struggled since his demotion, going 0-2 with a 5.49 ERA. In 19.2 innings, he has allowed 26 hits and walked eight. He has also struck out 18 batters. Burnett will be a big part of the future of the Twins bullpen, but I think they will let him go home after the Rochester season is complete.
  • Kyle Waldrop - Waldrop's season has been terrific. In 56 games and 82 innings out of the Red Wings bullpen, he has gone 5-1 with a 2.23 ERA. His April ERA was 2.20. In May, his ERA was 0.84. In 12 June appearances, his ERA was 0.00. It's been a struggle since then with ERAs of 5.23 and 5.98 in July and August. Unlike the previous guys on this list, Waldrop is not on the 40 man roster, so he would need to be added.
  • David Bromberg - He has quietly put together another very strong season. After going 5-5 with a 3.65 ERA in 18 starts for New Britain, he has gone 1-3 with a 3.45 ERA in eight starts with the Red Wings. The big (6-5, 240) right-hander will turn 23 in September. He needs to be added to the 40 man roster after the season, so it is not out of the realm of possibility that he could be brought up.
  • Kyle Gibson - His "ankle injury" that put him on the Disabled List last week is "good, feeling better already." However, he will not be called up as he has already surpassed 150 innings on the season and will not pitch again until next spring.

HITTERS

  • Jose Morales - he will likely be promoted on Wednesday, giving the Twins a third catcher. I'm sure it's been a frustrating season for Morales. Had he been healthy, he may have been the team's backup this year, but his wrist injury cost him the early part of the season. While Drew Butera has done a nice job behind the plate this year, Morales has struggled defensively and has hit .264/.350/.380 in in 73 games with Rochester. He may not catch at all, but he would be insurance behind the plate and a pinch-hitting option.
  • Trevor Plouffe - In his last ten games, Plouffe has gone 3-35 (.086) to drop his season AAA numbers to .244/.300/.430. He has been up with the Twins three times previously so it is likely he would be promoted following the Red Wings season. His 22 doubles, four triples and 15 home runs make him an intriguing prospect still.
  • Brendan Harris - Harris is arguably the most intriguing decision to watch as it relates to the 40 man roster. He was not good with the Twins early in the year, and after clearing waivers, he struggled early with the Red Wings. Since the AAA All Star game, he has hit .287/.343/.420. Another utility infield option, and a right-handed bat, he is a possibility. The fact that the Twins owe him another $1.8 million for 2011 make him more likely. If he's not promoted, it speaks volumes. However, he is off the 40 man roster, so it isn't a certainty.
  • Jacque Jones - Jones was a big part of the resurgence of the Twins organization a decade ago, and because of it, he is an intriguing September option. However, the best reason for him to be promoted is for the ovation he would again receive at Target Field (as he did in the two exhibition games). He has hit .279/.321/.381 with 23 doubles and three home run in 89 games at Rochester. His defense is not what it once was. He is not on the 40 man roster. It would be a great story if Jones were promoted, but he would likely have no impact for the Twins.
  • Brock Peterson - Speaking of a great story, if the Twins promoted 1B Brock Peterson to the big leagues, it would be a great story. The Twins 49th round pick in 2002 out of high school, Peterson has had another decent year with the Red Wings. He has hit .241/.323/.433 with 21 doubles and 18 home runs. The batting average is low and his defense is not good, but Peterson could actually provide the Twins with a right-handed bat off the bench with some power, something they really do not have most games. He is not on the 40 man roster.
  • Brandon Roberts - There are occasionally surprise promotions in September, and Roberts has a chance to be that guy this year. Roberts is still 25 years old and over the last three seasons, he has spent a lot of time on the Disabled List. He spent a lot of time early in this season on the DL. He rehabbed in Ft. Myers, then he went back to AA New Britain for 35 games, and now he has played 31 games in Rochester. In that time, he has hit .328/.388/.418 with seven extra base hits in 122 at bats. But the Twins have in the past been willing to call up a speed guy for a playoff run (Alexi Casilla in 2006, Jarvis Brown in 1991, to name a couple). Combined this year, Roberts has 21 stolen bases and has been caught just three times. He is a speedy guy that would also provide the Twins with another decent outfield glove. He is not on the Twins 40 man roster.

Again, it is likely that when the AAA season ends, the Twins will have promoted five or six players to their roster. In my mind, the givens are Jose Morales, Glen Perkins and Anthony Slama. I would guess that there is a higher likelihood that Trevor Plouffe, Brendan Harris and Pat Neshek would be promoted. If those six are promoted, that might be all. However, guys like Rob Delaney, Brock Peterson and Brandon Roberts could provide the Twins with something. They would have a role down the stretch. And if they can help the Twins win a few more games in September, they will be considered.

So who do you think will be promoted and who should be?

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More from TwinsCentric:

  • John will be on The Power Trip morning show on KFAN and KFAN.com at about 7:20 this morning. Last night he wrote about Manny. Should the Twins and their fans worry about what Ramirez could do for the White Sox and to the AL Central race?
  • Seth hosted the SethSpeaks.net Weekly Minnesota Twins Podcast last night. Twins catching prospect Dan Rohlfing called in to the show and discussed his very interesting season. Later JJ Stankevitz, the White Sox writer for Examiner.com, joined us to talk about White Sox topics for the final month.
  • Nick writes that the Twins need to "keep their eye on the ball."
  • Parker wrote about how Nick Blackburn has changed things up over his past starts.