Charlie Walters: Twins to Seek Free Agents "Within Budget"

[East Coast Twin]

http://www.twincities.com/twins/ci_21208869/shooter-now-minnesota-twins-seek-free-agents-owner

 

Shooter quotes Jim Pohlad:

 

Pohlad said the Twins . . . will be able to afford some free agents. The Twins' payroll this season is about $100 million.

 

"We're happy at the level (of payroll) we're at right now," the Twins CEO said.

 

 

Regarding Ron Gardenhire returning next year:

"I always reserve the right to change our mind, but I can't imagine that," Pohlad said. "I love him as our manager."

 

 

 

Regarding Terry Ryan returning as GM:

 

Ryan is technically the interim GM and has said it's too early to decide whether he will stay in the role. Pohlad said he would be "surprised" if Ryan doesn't remain.

[Highabove]

Well, if this is true, some good things can be done in the off season with the current financial commitment.

[DaveW]

If the payroll stays at 100 million, that gives them at least 25 mil to spend, trading Carroll (3.5 mil), cutting Casilla (2 mil), or trading Span (5 mil?) would free up even more.

 

That is plenty of money to "make a splash" in free agency. Hell, Ryan was able to take 10 million and sign Doumit and Willingham this off-season.

[TKGuy]

That's great to hear, but TR is not going to spend just to spend. We will have more coming off after 2013. I like what TR is doing, although I'm probably in the minority.

[Winston Smith]

They have 67m in contracts for next yr with Nishi and the Capps option. 8 players without those two guys so they'll need to fill out 17 players with the balance of 23-33m. We have no idea if the payroll will be 90 or 100, guessing the final cash flow will tell that. Not really a lot of room for 8-10m contracts with that many guys fitting into what's left.

[DaveW]

That's great to hear, but TR is not going to spend just to spend. We will have

more coming off after 2013. I like what TR is doing, although I'm probably in the minority.

'

 

Agreed, I don't think he should spend just to spend. But if you can find another Willingham type signing (for an SP) then give them a 2-3 year deal for a team friendly salary. If not, spend that money on 1 year deals. No such thing as a bad one year deal for the most part.

[jokin]

http://www.twincities.com/twins/ci_21208869/shooter-now-minnesota-twins-seek-free-agents-owner

 

Shooter quotes Jim Pohlad:

 

Pohlad said the Twins . . . will be able to afford some free agents. The Twins' payroll this season is about $100 million.

 

"We're happy at the level (of payroll) we're at right now," the Twins CEO said.

 

 

 

The payroll qualifier number is a bit deceiving, it never was "about $100 million", actually closer to $92-94M. As I posted previously, according to the current roster salary quotes on ESPN and assuming the DLers, Capps and Pavano are gone by season's end, Pohlad could mean he's happy "at the level of payroll we're at right now" - which (counting Nishioka) is NOT $100M, it is, in fact, $85M.

 

I wouldn't put it past this organization to come in around this number. It would still leave some room for FAs, but not enough for a top pitcher, they would still have to trade another big salary or two to "afford some (ie, more than one) free agents".

[jokin]

'

 

Agreed, I don't think he should spend just to spend. But if you can find another Willingham type signing (for an SP) then give them a 2-3 year deal for a team friendly salary. If not, spend that money on 1 year deals. No such thing as a bad one year deal for the most part.

Right. The Twins need low-risk, bridge-type deals. You put yourself in position to flip mid-season, tender or re-sign- Jackson, Maholm and Bedard were good examples this year. Off the top of my head, I can't think of any Willingham-type SPs out there, but it certainly is possible.

[DaveW]

Right. The Twins need low-risk, bridge-type deals. You put yourself in position to flip mid-season, tender or re-sign- Jackson, Maholm and Bedard were good examples this year. Off the top of my head, I can't think of any Willingham-type SPs out there, but it certainly is possible.

I'm sure someone will fall through the cracks like they usually do.

It should also be pointed out that if they trade a guy like Span they could bring back a legit SP that still has 3+ years of team control (basically no real cost to the team in 2013)

 

 

Perhaps we could be on the other end of a Garza/Young swap this time. (Not saying we will get someone with as high of an upside as Garza) but getting a solid young pitcher back for Span shouldn't be out of the question. I sorta wonder if the Rangers will be desperate for OF after this season once they inevitably lose Hamilton.

[johnnydakota]

we have seen to many on the cheap signings for washed up pitchers...go big or stay home ..if we arnt all in trade off everyone including no trade claus joe mauer....

[YourHouseIsMyHouse]

Please get rid of TR. Gardy is an icon so I don't mind him . I'd like to have a younger GM who has new school ways. The Twins should dig through the Rays and Pirates organizations for some different management. The Twins NEED fresh faces going forward.

[one_eyed_jack]

Interesting, but you can't read too much into soundbites.

 

Terry Ryan has a tough row to hoe in figuring out a starting rotation for 2013. He'll have some money to spend, nobody know exactly how much yet, but I expect a free agent or two. Since he needs quantity at least as much as quality, I expect he'll wait until the biggest names are gone, then go sorting through the bargain bin again. Hopefully with better results than Jason Marquis.

 

The wildcard in this whole thing is Morneau. Does he get traded for pitching, or to free up money to sign a starting pitcher?

[DaveW]

we have seen to many on the cheap signings for washed up pitchers...go big or stay home ..if we arnt all in trade off everyone including no trade claus joe mauer....

D

Do you speak english?

[CDog]

"at the level of payroll we're at right now" - which (counting Nishioka) is NOT $100M, it is, in fact, $85M.

Could you show your work there? I suppose I could look some stuff up, but I don't think I've seen anyone use that number even though there is a little bit of variation based on "who counts."

[ashbury]

I expect he'll wait until the biggest names are gone, then go sorting through the bargain bin again. Hopefully with better results than Jason Marquis.

I'm no master negotiator, but I would think that an early and time-limited competitive offer (on the low side) to a second tier free agent would be more likely to work well than having to operate under scarcity later on when other options have signed elsewhere.

[jokin]

Could you show your work there? I suppose I could look some stuff up, but I don't think I've seen anyone use that number even though there is a little bit of variation based on "who counts."

Get out your calculator. Add Nishi, subtract their overestimation of Morneau ($15M).

 

http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/roster/_/name/min/minnesota-twins

[jokin]

Please get rid of TR. Gardy is an icon so I don't mind him . I'd like to have a younger GM who has new school ways. The Twins should dig through the Rays and Pirates organizations for some different management. The Twins NEED fresh faces going forward.

I proposed just this earlier this spring. The Rays Matt Arnold would be a great young hire, highly educated with a demonstrated level of success finding talent, just add in a couple of seasoned vets to lend him a hand and the Twins could head in a fresh, new direction.

[CDog]

Get out your calculator. Add Nishi, subtract their overestimation of Morneau ($15M).

 

http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/roster/_/name/min/minnesota-twins

No Baker on there (6.5) nor 2/3 of Liriano (3.7). Without the several "N/A" which are almost/all minimums on that list (but there are nine of them on the major league team now...not all have been there all year, but then Parmalee and some others aren't on there now), those two included get over $91M. Marquis gets it over $94M. I guess you could make the case Baker and Marquis don't belong on there, but Liriano almost certainly does. Some others that may "count" to some folks I think, too, that aren't on that list like Zumaya. Muddled point I know, but the shorter more concise version is "there's stuff not included in that $85 that should be."

[DaveW]

The payroll qualifier number is a bit deceiving, it never was "about $100 million", actually closer to $92-94M. As I posted previously, according to the current roster salary quotes on ESPN and assuming the DLers, Capps and Pavano are gone by season's end, Pohlad could mean he's happy "at the level of payroll we're at right now" - which (counting Nishioka) is NOT $100M, it is, in fact, $85M.

 

 

Yeah.... you are completely wrong:

As per Cot's, which has a lot more credibility then a random message board poster here ya go:

http://i46.tinypic.com/wyz5.png

100 mil for 2012.

 

Here is the specific breakdown for this year, (Zumaya was cut off FWIW)

 

http://i45.tinypic.com/34e4yv9.png

[old nurse]

'

 

Agreed, I don't think he should spend just to spend. But if you can find another Willingham type signing (for an SP) then give them a 2-3 year deal for a team friendly salary. If not, spend that money on 1 year deals. No such thing as a bad one year deal for the most part.

Marquis, Ponson, Livan Hernandez, Mike Lamb? Who else did they sign for a year?

Good one year deal for the Twins? Morris.

Orlando Hudson was neither good nor bad.

Zumaya was a gamble that they lost on. I think is was worth the shot even though they lost. Jeff Gray I think was only intended to be filler for a year, thus not bad.

[DaveW]

Marquis, Ponson, Livan Hernandez, Mike Lamb? Who else did they sign for a year?

Good one year deal for the Twins? Morris.

Recent history: Doumit

[jokin]

Yeah.... you are completely wrong:

As per Cot's, which has a lot more credibility then a random message board poster here ya go:

http://i46.tinypic.com/wyz5.png

100 mil for 2012.

 

Here is the specific breakdown for this year, (Zumaya was cut off FWIW)

 

http://i45.tinypic.com/34e4yv9.png

Talk about jumping the gun with apples and oranges and outdated information, Marquis and Liriano are also cut off from your declarative statement. If you would have bothered to take the time to check the current ACTIVE PLAYER ESPN roster, not including the DLers, this is what I was referring to, and I am surmising that might be a number that would be appealing to Pohlad in 2013, who according to his quote, appeared to be talking in the "present tense" with who is actually on the field. You can add the cost of the current 25-man active roster and what they currently are earning and extrapolate who will be gone this year or at season's end, it's not that difficult.

 

Regardless, if you check it, your printed Cot's list totals up to a current payroll of $90.0725M. Add $2M for the unlisted salaries of the bottom five, and that puts you at $92.0725M. Liriano gone (already tallied), Marquis gone (already tallied), Pavano, DL and gone, Baker, DL and gone, Capps DL and gone. This brings the payroll down to $72.825M with the Capps 2013 buyout included. Are the scheduled contract raises much more than $5M? I don't think so. That puts the projected payroll for a stand-pat team at ~$77.5M. Obviously, they will attempt to replace the pitching losses via trade or Free Agency. I don't see how they get there without another big salary dump trade or two.

[DaveW]

Talk about jumping the gun with apples and oranges and outdated information, Marquis and Liriano are also cut off from your declarative statement. If you would have bothered to take the time to check the current ACTIVE PLAYER ESPN roster, not including the DLers, this is what I was referring to, and I am surmising that might be a number that would be appealing to Pohlad in 2013, who according to his quote, appeared to be talking in the "present tense" with who is actually on the field. You can add the cost of the current 25-man active roster and what they currently are earning and extrapolate who will be gone this year or at season's end, it's not that difficult.

 

Regardless, if you check it, your printed Cot's list totals up to a current payroll of $90.0725M. Add $2M for the unlisted salaries of the bottom five, and that puts you at $92.0725M. Liriano gone (already tallied), Marquis gone (already tallied), Pavano, DL and gone, Baker, DL and gone, Capps DL and gone. This brings the payroll down to $72.825M with the Capps 2013 buyout included. Are the scheduled contract raises much more than $5M? I don't think so. That puts the projected payroll for a stand-pat team at ~$77.5M. Obviously, they will attempt to replace the pitching losses via trade or Free Agency. I don't see how they get there without another big salary dump trade or two.

As per the first image:

2012 Salary: 100 million you dolt. They save approx 2 million with the Liriano trade. Nothing else was saved to this point. Christ, I feel bad for even spending the 2 minutes it took to respond to your iditoic post at this point. Hopefully now other posters can realize you spew nothing but bull****.

[jokin]

Muddled point I know, but the shorter more concise version is "there's stuff not included in that $85 that should be."

Muddled indeed. And with an operator like Pohlad who makes a living creating wiggle-room in every single word he utters, you have to take the worst case scenario- which is he likes the "payroll" as it currently stands with the active players on the field.

[jokin]

As per the first image:

2012 Salary: 100 million you dolt.

As always, the guy calling names is the loser in any discussion. You don't even try to come down from your swinging-obtusivity-chair to try to have a civil discussion- all for the glory in your own mind of "winning" a meaningless argument.

[Nick Nelson]

Muddled indeed. And with an operator like Pohlad who makes a living creating wiggle-room in every single word he utters, you have to take the worst case scenario- which is he likes the "payroll" as it currently stands with the active players on the field.

You're being ridiculous. There's no way you can actually believe the things you're writing. You're ruining this thread with absurdity – just cut it out. You don't have to jump to the most negative conclusion possible in every single situation.

[jokin]

As per the first image:

2012 Salary: 100 million you dolt. They save approx 2 million with the Liriano trade. Nothing else was saved to this point. Christ, I feel bad for even spending the 2 minutes it took to respond to your iditoic post at this point. Hopefully now other posters can realize you spew nothing but bull****.

Caught up with you and your edit. More of the same perjorative attack. You don't even have a scintilla of understanding of the original point I was making. I'll try one more time, Pohlad likes the payroll the way it is- right now- today- the rate at what the players currently on the roster are making. In Pohlad-speak, that might be the amount he would feel comfortable with going forward...

[jokin]

You're being ridiculous. There's no way you can actually believe the things you're writing. You're ruining this thread with absurdity – just cut it out. You don't have to jump to the most negative conclusion possible in every single situation.

Sorry to rain on the parade, this isn't an absurd conjecture at all. It is undeniable that there is already talk on background out there that the payroll might be cut further. The team itself has said they are committed to a set payroll based on a percentage of revenues. With the 20% or so drop in attendance this season (a trend that could easily grow worse after Labor Day), I believe that Twins managment could easily fulfill their own level of payroll commitment quite easily in that scenario- coupled with a likely drop in season ticket sales next year.

[Nick Nelson]

Here are the two things we know from reading this article:

 

1) Pohlad said he is comfortable with where payroll is at now.

 

2) Walters wrote in the article, right next to that particular quote, that payroll for this year stands at around $100 million.

 

Now I would guess that as a veteran reporter, Walters had the sense to run this number by Pohlad while he was talking to him. And if Pohlad's response was some ridiculous nonsense about how the "current payroll" is actually the current amount they're currently paying to players currently on the 25-man roster extrapolated across a full season – well, Walters would have written that in the story.

 

Any conclusions you draw beyond the two items mentioned above are nothing but absurd conjecture.

[jokin]

Here are the two things we know from reading this article:

 

1) Pohlad said he is comfortable with where payroll is at now.

 

2) Walters wrote in the article, right next to that particular quote, that payroll for this year stands at around $100 million.

 

Now I would guess that as a veteran reporter, Walters had the sense to run this number by Pohlad while he was talking to him. And if Pohlad's response was some ridiculous nonsense about how the "current payroll" is actually the current amount they're currently paying to players currently on the 25-man roster extrapolated across a full season – well, Walters would have written that in the story.

 

Any conclusions you draw beyond the two items mentioned above are nothing but absurd conjecture.

Charlie Walters is a veteran Twins baseballer first and reporter second. Charlie wrote the number next to the quote, why didn't he attempt to pin Pohlad down on a specific amount???--- or at least a ballpark figure. A good reporter doesn't leave all this wiggle room w/o trying to get more specifics on the "plan", in terms of dollars, going forward- that is the point of the story and the amount wasn't anywhere near nailed down. I am admittedly taking the worst-case scenario and I think I have evidence to at least anticipate the worst, so I won't be as disappointed when we end up with a AAA starting pitching lineup next year. (I noticed you haven't responded to the evidence I listed in my previous post, I'd love to hear your take on that.)