The Los Angeles Angels have officially added Cody Laweryson to their roster, claiming him off waivers from the Minnesota Twins. This move increases the Angels' 40-man roster to 34 players, while the Twins' roster decreases to 38. But here's where it gets interesting—Laweryson, a right-handed reliever, is a relatively recent addition to the major leagues, and his journey offers a glimpse into how teams are constantly reshuffling their bullpen options.
At just 28 years old next May, Laweryson was selected by Minnesota in the 14th round of the 2019 MLB Draft. He made his debut in Major League Baseball this past season, pitching a total of 7 2/3 innings late in the year. During that brief stint, he impressively allowed only one run, struck out seven of the 26 batters he faced, and notably didn’t walk a single hitter. His fastball averaged a solid 93.2 mph, and he complemented it with a cutter and a changeup, giving him a versatile three-pitch arsenal.
This season marked a strong all-around showing for Laweryson, a native of Maine. After his time in the majors, he split the rest of his season between Double-A and Triple-A levels, where he posted a combined earned run average (ERA) of 2.86. His strikeout rate was a healthy 24.6%, accompanied by a walk rate of just 7.7%, and he induced ground balls at a rate of 46.3% over 44 innings of relief work in the minors.
His addition to Minnesota’s 40-man roster came after the Twins made a significant move at the trade deadline—trading away five relievers in exchange for prospects and young controllable players, which thinned out their bullpen. As the offseason progresses, it’s likely Minnesota will continue trimming their roster, especially considering that much of their bullpen in the final months was comprised of journeymen who were brought in temporarily to get through the end of the season.
And this is the part most people miss—roster moves like these highlight how teams are constantly balancing development, immediate needs, and long-term planning. The Angels’ claim of Laweryson exemplifies how organizations are always searching for hidden gems that might fit into their future plans. Do you think Laweryson has the potential to develop into a reliable bullpen piece, or is he more of a temporary stopgap? Feel free to share your thoughts—these roster shuffles always spark lively debate.
