The Twins 2013 Payroll Crunch

John - According to mlbtraderumors.com, Alex Burnett is on pace to be arbitration eligible after this year as a "super two."

Unless Baker wants to stay here, this isn't going to be a case where we can just renegotiate with him... He has no incentive to do so. We will have to decline that option and fight for him in FA, but I could see a lot of teams going after him strong. With 21 M to spend, we don't have enough. We need more than 2 decent pitchers. We need 3. I'd be OK with one of them being a 1 year "prove it" deal for something like what Bedard got this year, but we need something more stable too. 21M isn't going to get you two very good FA pitchers. It will get one 1 and a value type pitcher.

Originally Posted by diehardtwinsfan

Unless Baker wants to stay here, this isn't going to be a case where we can just renegotiate with him... He has no incentive to do so. We will have to decline that option and fight for him in FA, but I could see a lot of teams going after him strong.

If teams haven't been going strong after guys like Dan Haren and Roy Oswalt in recent years, there is no way they go hard after Scott Baker.

The Twins should have gotten some insurance coverage on Baker's deal(if they had it covered) so that's a couple of dollars to re-invest in something.
Discouraging. As posted elsewhere, other franchises are making the moves to draw fans and get better. Because WINNING still is the best draw for a team.
It just seems like the Twins don't get that.

Originally Posted by Seth Stohs

I'd absolutely bring back Scott Baker on a low-base, high-incentive contract that would include a second year option.

+1. I believe that Scott and Mr. Ryan will work out something beneficial to both sides. Seth, there was language in the old CBA that restricted the amount a player could be cut, etc. Are you aware of any limitations in the new CBA that could make working something reasonable out with Baker impossible?

Blackburn??... Blackburn??!!!
Hendricks should be able to take that #5 spot

So under this back-of-the-napkin analysis, Mauer is taking up almost 1/3 of payroll?

First, I don't think the Twins would put themselves in that kind of situation. Also, if I'm Mauer, and Terry Ryan slashes payroll even further than he's already done, I might request a trade to a team that might win a championship in the next 6 years.

Would you package Liriano with Morneau to get a team to eat all of Morneau's owed money?

That feels like a hefty price to pay to just shed payroll, but if it frees up that much extra money to go after players that are part of the long-term solution, I think it needs to be considered.

Now, I think we could probably get a couple mid-grade prospects as well, but the question is, would you do it for nothing (in terms of prospects)

Originally Posted by rocketpig

If teams haven't been going strong after guys like Dan Haren and Roy Oswalt in recent years, there is no way they go hard after Scott Baker.

and what incentive does Baker have to working it out now as opposed to waiting till FA?

Originally Posted by diehardtwinsfan

and what incentive does Baker have to working it out now as opposed to waiting till FA?

None. I was only commenting that I think he'll be a rather easy signing should the Twins want him this offseason. Right now, there is no reason for either side to do anything except wait until he's further along in his recovery.

Originally Posted by roger

+1. I believe that Scott and Mr. Ryan will work out something beneficial to both sides. Seth, there was language in the old CBA that restricted the amount a player could be cut, etc. Are you aware of any limitations in the new CBA that could make working something reasonable out with Baker impossible?

That clause remains in the current CBA (page 12 at http://bizofbaseball.com/docs/2012-16CBA.pdf). The clause though is limited to players that are "under reserve." I assume Baker is no longer "under reserve" once the Twins decline the option year.

Originally Posted by Seth Stohs

I'd absolutely bring back Scott Baker on a low-base, high-incentive contract that would include a second year option.

Amen, Baker is going to have to make some concessions on that option, every other team is going to be just as leery about him as the Twins and be hesitant to make a big commitment. I think an incentive laden contract with a larger base on a second year option is worth it for both sides. I'd like to see him back next year.

I feel the Poland's should take a page out of the Wild's book. You have to spend money to make money. They will have to sign at least one decent FA pitcher (probably from the second tier(if not two)). The lineup is solid and maybe you can make a trade in spring training out of the excess outfielders. I would trade Span this year if the offer was right. They will not get enough for Morneau to make moving him worthwhile.

1. Perkins is RH?

2. For the sake of argument, let's say you could package Liriano and Morneau and not be on the hook for any of Morneau's salary next year. Also, let's say the payroll remains at 100mil (which is where it really is right now with the Nishi, Marquis, and Zumaya money).

So.... Now our committed payroll next year is 62.45 million with 37.55 left to spend on probably 2 SP and a 1B/DH type (which could be Parmelee, but then his "C IF" spot would open up). The rest gets filled in with Minor league promotions and maybe a couple 1-2mil flier contract to fill out the Bullpen and/or utility IF role. So, let's knock it down to 34 mil to spend.

With that kind of money to spend I want to get AT LEAST 1 (probably 2) guys that I know will be part of the 2014-6 solution.

And there is nothing "un-doable" about any of that. The important part is getting Morneau's 14.0 off the books next year.

I think the Twins FO outta stand behind their commitments to MN and MN Twins fans and spend the money to make this team competitive. If you have a good team on the field, the fans will come. It was through their mistakes (along with some bad luck) that this team arrived at its current state so they should spend the money to get a good product back on the field. It is unbelievable to me that this team would consider cutting payroll considering the decade-plus long battle they went through to get this new stadium built. Time to suck it up Pohlads, and put some money into this team.

I, too, believe that this year's payroll is higher than the USA Today numbers indicate (I posted a thread on this a while back and we went through all the numbers).

I don't know what will happen with payroll for 2013. I'm personally of the opinion that rebuilding needs to occur and that in the long run, the Twins need to somehow acquire a #1 and #2 starter. And I recognize that it might be necessary to "harbor" money from the next year or two to do that. And I'd be okay with that.

I'm more interested in seeing whether this team has a plan to become competitive with the rest of the league (and not just with the Central). But then, I've been waiting for that for a long time.

I'm also truly concerned about the growing gap in local TV revenues. The Twins may have TF but presumably their TV revenues are nothing like those in expanding markets.

If they totally gut the team, I'd expect that to have a very negative impact on the attendance.
Seems like they need to find a way to compete without spending much tho.

Originally Posted by DPJ

The last thing this team should be doing is spending big for the Hamels or Grienkes on the free agent market. Besides the fact that they'd have to overspend to get them here I don't think adding one of those guys is gonna turn this abomination around.

Wouldnt Hamels and/or Grienke still be around when the current minor leaguers everyone is counting on finally get to the big leagues?

Originally Posted by USAFChief

Wouldnt Hamels and/or Grienke still be around when the current minor leaguers everyone is counting on finally get to the big leagues?

Let's say we sign one of them for 5/90. I think most of us would agree that a lot of what we have in the minor league projects to be at the big leagues by 2015.

That still leaves 3 years of that 5 year contract.