In this study, an improvement method for double-fed asynchronous motor-generators (DFAMG) design with open slots is proposed to reduce the capacity demand of rotor converter for the first time. The proposed method is achieved by decreasing the air-gap length (AGL) and applying conductive and magnetic rotor slot wedges. The design method of magnetic slot wedges and AGL in large DFAMG is presented. The mechanical analysis of a large DFAMG prototype reveals the necessity of using metal rotor wedges. To precisely investigate the influence of magnetic wedges in DFAMG, a two-dimensional field-circuit coupled model is proposed to consider the effects of rotor converter. Several wedge configurations of commercially available products are designed and analysed. The relationships between the electromagnetic properties of rotor wedges and prototype performance are investigated. The feasibility and advantage of the proposed method in DFAMG design are verified. A guidance for applying the proposed method in design improvement of large DFAMG is developed.