Twins Designate Anthony Banda, Aaron Sabato, and Tristan Gray for Waivers

The Minnesota Twins made roster changes on Thursday by designating three players for waivers: left-handed pitcher Anthony Banda, first baseman Aaron Sabato, and infielder Tristan Gray.

Anthony Banda, who joined the Twins from the Dodgers, had a solid performance in the bullpen before suffering a torn lat muscle that required surgery. His injury is expected to keep him sidelined for an extended period, prompting the Twins to remove him from the 40-man roster rather than pay his projected $2.3 million salary for the upcoming season. Banda recorded a 4.46 ERA over 34 1/3 innings this season, with a notable 1.33 ERA in his last 20 1/3 innings before the injury.

Aaron Sabato, a former first-round draft pick in 2020, struggled to meet expectations as a power hitter, posting a 25.3% strikeout rate in Triple-A this year. Despite hitting 25 home runs and achieving a .273 batting average, he did not secure a hit in his brief stint in the majors. Tristan Gray, a versatile infielder, also faced challenges, finishing the season with a .225 batting average and a high strikeout rate. All three players are now eligible for minor league free agency.