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

[bird]

Highwater, I understand your case, I really do. But here's where I think you're being a tad bit harsh:

 

The Twins (Jim Pohlad) has publicly stated that the Twins will budget, ON AVERAGE, roughly 50-55% of revenues for payroll. I have heard this promise firsthand, by the way. This is the third year of Target Field. My opinion, and their stance, is that they went "over budget" in 2011 and went "under budget" in 2012, but the actual numbers aren't important to them. They are to fans and the media, and that's why your rested case is understandable. But they didn"t "slash" payroll. A question: if they won the division next year (pipe dream, I know), and then won a playoff round (funny, I know), would you care what they spent on payroll? Trust me, a bunch of our pals on here would, for whatever unhealthy reasons they might have.

 

I find it much more enjoyable to trust a person's promise. While I find positivity in some of the many good moves we've seen them make lately, the next guy views the list of those things as meaningless garble. Too bad for that guy. Now, if the Twins don't improve the rotation, I'll be critical again, like I was this year. I, like many others, viewed as a misguided gamble to start the year with Blackburn, Liriano, Pavano, Marquis, and Baker. Of course, jokin can't be charitable enough to even give them credit for thinking it through, insisting instead that they sang some sort of mindless hope an change chant.

 

 

So, in the case of your argument, I don't see it as terribly unfair, just not as balanced as it could be by looking at improvement (yes, i know the W-L record, and still will argue the team is much improved) in addition to spending over, say, a three year AVERAGE. Let's give them a chance to continue to fix things and see what the spending pattern looks like.

 

By the way, my wish list (my pal jokin's term) is this: A new #2-3 type starter via winter trade, a new #2-3 type starter via FA signing, and then some combination of Gibson, Hendriks, Diamond, Baker,Blackburn, Hermsen, Deduno, DeVries, Walters, Bromberg, and God knows who else filling the rotaion, with that rotation mustering an ERA in the top half, maybe even top third, of the American League. (My wish list for 2012 had been to have a bullpen with an ERA in the top 35-50%, and they might just fulfill my wish). With this,, at least one more reliable reliever, a lineup equally as productive, with maybe an improvemnt in MI depth, and continued improvement in the farm system, say a BA ranking in the top 1-12 to start 2013.

 

So, I'm really excited, because my colorful pal jokin has promised to sing from the rooftops if the Twins even attempt to pull off anything this close. What do you think? Can we trust jokin to keep his word. I do. I like to trust that people are going to keep their word. Glass half full, I guess.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

If my link worked down below, I would refer you to that website... but it doesn't, so I've pasted the page and reformatted it so hopefully it looks ago below. Salaries are rounded to the nearest $100. Amounts are pro-rated when necessary. Players that are currently in the major leagues are listed with a salary that would account for them being in the major leagues for the rest of the season. Obviously, it will change with every roster move, but you get the points.

 

[TABLE=width: 740]

Pos

Active Roster

[TD=align: right]2012[/TD]

[TD=align: right]2013[/TD]

[TD=align: right]2014[/TD]

[TD=align: right]2015[/TD]

[TD=align: right]2016[/TD]

[TD=align: right]2017[/TD]

[TD=align: right]2018[/TD]

C

Joe Mauer

[TD=align: right]$23,025,000[/TD]

[TD=align: right]$23,000,000[/TD]

[TD=align: right]$23,000,000[/TD]

[TD=align: right]$23,000,000[/TD]

[TD=align: right]$23,000,000[/TD]

[TD=align: right]$23,000,000[/TD]

[TD=align: right]$23,000,000[/TD]

1B

Justin Morneau

[TD=align: right]$14,000,000[/TD]

[TD=align: right]$14,000,000[/TD]

2B

Jamey Carroll

[TD=align: right]$2,750,000[/TD]

[TD=align: right]$3,750,000[/TD]

[TD=align: right]$250,000[/TD]

3B

Danny Valencia

[TD=align: right]$298,300[/TD]

SS

Brian Dozier

[TD=align: right]$398,700[/TD]

LF

Josh Willingham

[TD=align: right]$7,000,000[/TD]

[TD=align: right]$7,000,000[/TD]

[TD=align: right]$7,000,000[/TD]

CF

Denard Span

[TD=align: right]$3,000,000[/TD]

[TD=align: right]$4,750,000[/TD]

[TD=align: right]$6,500,000[/TD]

[TD=align: right]$500,000[/TD]

RF/CF

Ben Revere

[TD=align: right]$402,000[/TD]

SUPER 2?

[/TD]

DH/C

Ryan Doumit

[TD=align: right]$3,000,000

[TD=align: right]$3,500,000[/TD]

[TD=align: right]$3,500,000[/TD]

2B/SS

Alexi Casilla

[TD=align: right]$1,382,500[/TD]

ARB 3

C

Drew Butera

[TD=align: right]$414,300[/TD]

SUPER 2?

ARB1

OF

Darin Mastroianni

[TD=align: right]$390,800[/TD]

LSP

Scott Diamond

[TD=align: right]$398,700[/TD]

SP

Sam Deduno

[TD=align: right]$241,300[/TD]

LP

Brian Duensing

[TD=align: right]$515,000[/TD]

ARB1

ARB2

SP

Cole De Vries

[TD=align: right]$291,100[/TD]

SP

Nick Blackburn

[TD=align: right]$4,750,000[/TD]

[TD=align: right]$5,500,000[/TD]

$ -

LRP

Glen Perkins

[TD=align: right]$1,550,000[/TD]

[TD=align: right]$2,500,000[/TD]

[TD=align: right]$3,750,000[/TD]

[TD=align: right]$3,750,000[/TD]

[TD=align: right]$300,000[/TD]

RP

Jared Burton

[TD=align: right]$750,000[/TD]

ARB3

RP

Alex Burnett

[TD=align: right]$490,000[/TD]

ARB1

ARB2

P

Jeff Manship

[TD=align: right]$262,300[/TD]

RP

Jeff Gray

[TD=align: right]$485,000[/TD]

ARB1

LRP

Tyler Robertson

[TD=align: right]$270,200[/TD]

RP

Casey Fien

[TD=align: right]$246,600[/TD]

P

Luis Perdomo

[TD=align: right]$186,200[/TD]

Pos

15-day DL

3B

Trevor Plouffe

[TD=align: right]$485,000[/TD]

SUPER 2?

RP

Anthony Swarzak

[TD=align: right]$487,500[/TD]

ARB1

RP

Matt Capps

[TD=align: right]$4,500,000[/TD]

[TD=align: right]$250,000[/TD]

Pos

60-day DL

SP

Scott Baker

[TD=align: right]$6,500,000[/TD]

$ -

SP

Carl Pavano

[TD=align: right]$8,500,000[/TD]

SP

P.J. Walters

[TD=align: right]$390,800[/TD]

Pos

Other obligations

LSP

Francisco Liriano

[TD=align: right]$3,426,200[/TD]

P

Jason Marquis

[TD=align: right]$2,659,000[/TD]

P

Joel Zumaya

[TD=align: right]$850,000[/TD]

2B/SS

Tsuyoshi Nishioka

[TD=align: right]$3,000,000[/TD]

[TD=align: right]$3,000,000[/TD]

[TD=align: right]$250,000[/TD]

1B

Chris Parmelee

[TD=align: right]$186,200[/TD]

RP

Kyle Waldrop

[TD=align: right]$183,600[/TD]

SP

Liam Hendriks

[TD=align: right]$125,900[/TD]

LP

Matt Maloney

[TD=align: right]$94,900[/TD]

1B/3B

Sean Burroughs

[TD=align: right]$83,200[/TD]

CF

Clete Thomas

[TD=align: right]$78,700[/TD]

RP

Lester Oliveros

[TD=align: right]$5,200[/TD]

[TD=colspan: 2]TOTAL[/TD]

$98,054,200

$67,250,000

$44,250,000

$27,250,000

$23,300,000

$23,000,000

$23,000,000

[/TABLE]

[Nick Nelson]

Nice job with the table Jeremy. Very good resource.

[Brock Beauchamp]

The mere idea that Butera has a shot at Super 2 status makes me want to throw up.

[snepp]

The mere idea that Butera has a shot at Super 2 status makes me want to throw up.

How much whispering can $800 thousand buy?

[DJSim22]

Although I would really like to see a new GM, what the Twins really need is a new owner. The Polads are the worst owners in town by far, and are far more concerned with their budget numbers than W's and L's. They could easily afford to go over their budget numbers in years they need to sign quality free agents like this off season or next. I think anyone who lives in the real world, knows they won't. At some point maybe they will realize it takes money to make money, but I'm not holding my breath.

 

 

So, we are expected to win on the cheap building within and with a GM who isn't exactly known for quality drafts.

[DJSim22]

Highwater, I understand your case, I really do. But here's where I think you're being a tad bit harsh:

 

The Twins (Jim Pohlad) has publicly stated that the Twins will budget, ON AVERAGE, roughly 50-55% of revenues for payroll. I have heard this promise firsthand, by the way. This is the third year of Target Field. My opinion, and their stance, is that they went "over budget" in 2011 and went "under budget" in 2012, but the actual numbers aren't important to them.

Will you ask them firsthand to sell the team? I've heard via interview firsthand plenty of times the Polad's and TR have used the budget as an excuse. This team won division titles despit the ownership, and never could get past the first round because ownership never helped them get over that hump. There's a reason why they were under dogs in each series.

 

Unfortunately for me, I love baseball, so they occasionally get my money though they don't deserve it.

[Craig Arko]

Although I would really like to see a new GM, what the Twins really need is a new owner. The Polads are the worst owners in town by far, and are far more concerned with their budget numbers than W's and L's. They could easily afford to go over their budget numbers in years they need to sign quality free agents like this off season or next. I think anyone who lives in the real world, knows they won't. At some point maybe they will realize it takes money to make money, but I'm not holding my breath.

 

 

So, we are expected to win on the cheap building within and with a GM who isn't exactly known for quality drafts.

Do you remember Calvin Griffith?

[Jeremy Nygaard]

Nice job with the table Jeremy. Very good resource.

Thanks. If Rocketpig could give me a "Turning my HTML into a Blog Post for Dummies" Tutorial, I'd like to house it there and update as changes happen. The table doesn't capture the true essence of the entire page.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

The mere idea that Butera has a shot at Super 2 status makes me want to throw up.

I think he'll qualify for it. Had he spent the whole year up (or less than 11 days in the minors) he would have gotten a full service year and qualified anyway. Basically, sending him down to start the season gave the Twins another year of team control. (I bet you like that even more!)

[Brock Beauchamp]

I think he'll qualify for it. Had he spent the whole year up (or less than 11 days in the minors) he would have gotten a full service year and qualified anyway. Basically, sending him down to start the season gave the Twins another year of team control. (I bet you like that even more!)

*bangs face on desk*

[pipers44]

The first problem with your statement is that the Twins dug their own "budget confines". The second problem is the Twins didn't choose to "gamble a bit" with the rotation, they were all-in on hope and change with Pavano and Baker already walking red flags in showing major treadware on their arms in 2011, and to say that Blackie and Liriano "underperformed" is being kind to a fault. Together with Marquis, they were the worst 3 SPs in all of baseball, and it wasn't close. The reality is, they were stuck with 4 dead-weight, apparently unmovable contracts (although they certainly could have tried harder on Blackburn, and especially Liriano), so it was a gamble, but a major gamble, perhaps reasonable under the circumstances. Willingham was a good signing, but he didn't add to club needs, he replaced half of what they lost to FA in the OF and is a worse OFer than his already-mediocre-to-bad-defensively predecessors.

 

The other fixes were the "easy ones" and well-done on TR's part, deserving of a congratulatory hand clap rather than a back slap- lest you forget, the Twins are worse than last year with all those fixes- they currently have a .423 winning percentage, a year ago to the day their percentage was .459. The glaring need at SP could have been easily shored up in outbidding and overpaying the signing of one-year deals to a couple of the many SP FAs (Maholm, etc.) with nary a raise in payroll from 2011 and most likely a huge decrease if they could have moved Liriano and/or Blackburn in the offseason- and that all goes back to the Twins and the digging of their own budget confines.

How do you know "they certainly could have tried harder on Blackburn, and especially Liriano?" Do you sit in their offseason meetings? Hind sight is always 20-20. It was not unreasonable to think that Pavano would pitch his 200 plus innings with a 4 something ERA. It was not unreasonable to think Baker would pitch most of a season at his career numbers. It was a realistic gamble to hope Blackburn would bounce back and pitch to the level of success he had shown in the past. Same thing with Liriano. If you want to rip them for being locked into contracts with Pavano and Blackburn and Baker, then fine, but to rip them for not signing other starting pitchers when they were already locked in with three pitchers who had shown success is unrealistic. They made a great signing with Willingham in spite of his poor defense, but they were not going to be able to afford him, Doumit, Carrol, and a couple of the many SP FAs. Now, if they do not do something this offseason to address the rotation, I will be the first to rip them.

 

Also, comparing last years record to this years at this point means absolutely nothing. They were coming off a stretch right before the deadline last year that boosted their record and then bombed the rest of the way. Lets see how the rest of the year plays out and then we can compare the two. I am willing to bet that they will finish significantly better then last year.

[Guest USAFChief]

Highwater, I understand your case, I really do. But here's where I think you're being a tad bit harsh:

 

The Twins (Jim Pohlad) has publicly stated that the Twins will budget, ON AVERAGE, roughly 50-55% of revenues for payroll. I have heard this promise firsthand, by the way. This is the third year of Target Field. My opinion, and their stance, is that they went "over budget" in 2011 and went "under budget" in 2012, but the actual numbers aren't important to them. They are to fans and the media, and that's why your rested case is understandable. But they didn"t "slash" payroll.

Next time you hear this promise "firsthand," please ask:

 

1. How were they "over budget" in 2011? Forbes estimated Twins revenues at $213M in 2011 http://www.forbes.com/lists/2011/33/baseball-valuations-11_land.html . 55% of 213 is 117. Sounds to me like they weren't "over budget" in 2011 at all.

 

2. If "on average" they will spend 50-55% of revenues on payroll, then they are clearly going to need to bump up payroll in the near future to get to that average. Forbes estimates they will have $213m in revenue in 2012, as well http://www.forbes.com/mlb-valuations/list/ . They are spending something like $100m this year, or 47%. They spent less than $100m on payroll in 2010, and while I can't find estimates for 2010 revenue, one would have to assume it was at least as high as last year or this year, since TF was jam packed the entire 2010 season (highest attendance to date, but a smaller TV deal). So they were almost surely under 50% in 2010, likely less than 45%.

Please ask when we can expect payroll to "average 50-55%," since they've only been in that range once in the first three years of TF.

 

3. While you're at it, please ask why the 50-55% number needs to stay the same in TF as it was in the dome. For example, if we believe what the Twins have themselves said (50% to payroll) the Twins could afford a $65m payroll on $130m in revenue in the dome, leaving $65m to pay for all other expenses. Right? Why would they need significantly more now in TF to pay for all those other expenses? Why, in the space of one year, would you suddenly need more than $100m on top of major league salaries? ($213M in revenue, minus major league salary of $100m, leaves $113M "left over.") Please ask why "other expenses" nearly doubled when the Twins moved to TF.

 

Thanks in advance.

[Highabove]

Here is something which may surprise a few of you

 

In their last year at the Dome in 2009, the Twins pretax earnings were almost as large as they were at Target Field in 2010.

Forbes Magazine reported that the Twins had 162 million dollars in revenue and realized pretax earnings of 25million. The 9th highest in Baseball. This is at the Dome!!

The opening day payroll was 65,299,267. The Twins were way below the 50% of Revenue that the Twins sell us. This probably accounts for their large 2009 earnings.

 

In their first year at Target Field, Forbes reported revenue of 213million with pretax earnings of 26.5 million.

Starting day payroll was 97500 which again falls below 50% of revenue.

 

Here is two years of under paying the Payroll based on 50% of Revenue. We will only be reminded of the payroll over payment of 2011. Don't ever expect the Media and the Phil Mackey's of the World, to ever bring up the years that the Twins under paid their payroll.

 

The Business Of Baseball - Forbes.com

 

The Business Of Baseball, 2011

[old nurse]

Next time you hear this promise "firsthand," please ask:

 

 

2. If "on average" they will spend 50-55% of revenues on payroll, then they are clearly going to need to bump up payroll in the near future to get to that average. Forbes estimates they will have $213m in revenue in 2012, as well http://www.forbes.com/mlb-valuations/list/ . They are spending something like $100m this year, or 47%. They spent less than $100m on payroll in 2010, and while I can't find estimates for 2010 revenue, one would have to assume it was at least as high as last year or this year, since TF was jam packed the entire 2010 season (highest attendance to date, but a smaller TV deal). So they were almost surely under 50% in 2010, likely less than 45%.

Please ask when we can expect payroll to "average 50-55%," since they've only been in that range once in the first three years of TF.

 

 

Thanks in advance.

I read somewhere and can not find that sales tax revenues from the Target field was down 1 million this year. As the newness wears off the fans were not spending as much on food. The Forbes estimate could be a bit high. No doubt the Twins still have a profit, but not as much as a Joe Mauer contract.

[JB_Iowa]

3. While you're at it, please ask why the 50-55% number needs to stay the same in TF as it was in the dome. For example, if we believe what the Twins have themselves said (50% to payroll) the Twins could afford a $65m payroll on $130m in revenue in the dome, leaving $65m to pay for all other expenses. Right? Why would they need significantly more now in TF to pay for all those other expenses? Why, in the space of one year, would you suddenly need more than $100m on top of major league salaries? ($213M in revenue, minus major league salary of $100m, leaves $113M "left over.") Please ask why "other expenses" nearly doubled when the Twins moved to TF.

 

I have asked myself that question as well but I do think its hard to compare expenses at TF to the Dome. Are the deals the same in terms of who provides operating personnel, maintenance, etc.? Did the Twins add personnel to provide a better "fan experience" (per Mr. St. Peter's characterization)? Even such things as power, water, etc. -- how does payment compare? Oh, and then we have the whole debt service question (regardless of how you feel about it) -- how much is allocated to paying off the Twins "contribution" to TF?

 

Then there's the whole revenue sharing question (paying in rather than getting a payout). There is just so much secrecy regarding baseball finances. The Forbes estimates are just that - an estimate. They are the best we have -- and I trust them more than what the Twins say -- but they are still just estimating.

[John Bonnes]

Do you remember Calvin Griffith?

Touche.

[SweetOne69]

2. If "on average" they will spend 50-55% of revenues on payroll, then they are clearly going to need to bump up payroll in the near future to get to that average. Forbes estimates they will have $213m in revenue in 2012, as well http://www.forbes.com/mlb-valuations/list/ . They are spending something like $100m this year, or 47%. They spent less than $100m on payroll in 2010, and while I can't find estimates for 2010 revenue, one would have to assume it was at least as high as last year or this year, since TF was jam packed the entire 2010 season (highest attendance to date, but a smaller TV deal). So they were almost surely under 50% in 2010, likely less than 45%.

Please ask when we can expect payroll to "average 50-55%," since they've only been in that range once in the first three years of TF.

 

Forbes doesn't estimate future revenues. That $213M number is the revenue for 2011 which was the same as 2010. With attendance down 10% and people spending less I expect the 2012 revenue to drop to $200M.

[jokin]

Forbes doesn't estimate future revenues. That $213M number is the revenue for 2011 which was the same as 2010. With attendance down 10% and people spending less I expect the 2012 revenue to drop to $200M.

Forbes may not estimate future revenues but the Twins surely do. Using the numbers given and the fact that attendance is actually currently down 11% with the looming prospect of larger drop off heading into September, with presumably commensurate fall offs in other revenue streams, an 11% drop off yields estimated revenues of $189.5M. If the trend continues with falling season ticket renewals for 2013, the revenue estimates could cascade ever lower.

[jokin]

No monitoring being done, Mr. colorful, although I will not deny the powers-taht be moniker.

 

You said what you said. You simply "identified" a businessman. Right.

 

And look up two words. Hyperbole. Perhaps you can, given your incredibly colorful imagination, learn to use it correctly. And hypocrite. As in one guy being guilty of "perjorative namecalling and another more "colorful" guy simply "identifying" someone. Right.

Following your suggestion:

 

Hyperbole- Excessive, Exaggeration, A deliberate exaggeration used for effect, From the Greek: an "over"/"throw".

 

I think all of your characterizations qualify under these definitions, I "colorfully" pointed out that as a self-proclaimed birdwatcher you might also be prone to writing about your yellow-bellied sapsucker bird-viewing exploits when in fact all you saw was a common woodpecker from your sycamore, so yes, I am familiar with the usage of the word, hyperbole. I still don't understand how correctly identifying someone in a political position who is used to not letting himself being pinned down on specifics makes one a hypocrite. I fail to detect even a smattering of verisimilitude between your personal attacks on me with wildly overblown characterizations such as, "cowardly" or "smearing" or "disparagement at its lowest" or "hypocritical"--- and identifying a businessman for doing what businessmen do and using the descriptive phrase "wiggle room" in the process.

 

This all comes down to the point that you, Nick and others aren't realistically addressing. You glossed over and then denied the fact that the Twins cut ("slashed") the payroll after a record-setting financially successful season. At the time this news became public, there were also reports that further payroll cuts might be necessary and seriously considered in successive years. You correctly identified the Pohlad commitment to the percentage of revenues that will be dedicated to the payroll- and there is a scenario underway where ownership can keep their alleged "promise" that you hold in high regard. There is a strong possibility that final ticket revenues might come in as much as 20% lower than last year (they're currently down 11% and slackening demand is evidenced in stubhub ticket prices at giveaway level). To further JPs need for wiggle room, season ticket renewals this fall may also suffer a significant decline. If this holds true and other revenue sources decline at similar rates, and, the Twins project a similar year next year, those 20% revenue haircuts in back-to-back years to your business bottom-line hurt you where you live, even in Jim's humble abode. So, I ask again, if these circumstances fall into place, as they likely can, will the 2013 payroll increase, decrease or stay the same? 20% from $98M is $78.4M. Even with a potential payroll at $85-$90M, there is little room to get a #2-potential SP level FA pitcher in your wish list scenario, they start at close to $15M, and, you have to overpay in the process of convincing them that the Twins will be competitive. I also find it extremely problematic that there is a trading partner with someone willing to part with a #2-potential starter for someone on the current Twins roster, short of giving away the "farm", as well (goodbye Sano and maybe more). I'm guessing that Terry Ryan is instead looking for some more Rule 5 lightning to strike twice. We are actually in agreement that it was a "misguided gamble" to enter into the 2012 season with a SP staff with that many question marks, short of another off-loading of fixed 2013 salary cost, the reality of the financial numbers and continued question marks concerning the pitchers themselves suggests that the Twins will be forced to similarly gamble again in 2013.

[bulldogguy]

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 love how people gravitate to the Rays and Pirates like they have some new secret sauce for identifying and developing players. NEWS FLASH...when you are as bad as they have been for the last 10+ years...you draft really high every year and eventually you are going to hit on some players. For the first 6/7 years they missed and missed badly. Now they are finally hitting on some things. I think this has more to do with the law of averages than being a master judge of talent.

[bulldogguy]

BTW...this is the worst thread I have read since the inception of this site...I can't believe I acutally spent the time going through this. There goes my lunch hour...

 

Can we just agree to disagree...can't we all just get along...don't worry be happy...

 

Sorry...its friday.

[DJSim22]

Do you remember Calvin Griffith?

So you are going to use Mr Scrooge to justify the Polad's?

[DJSim22]

Next time you hear this promise "firsthand," please ask:

 

1. How were they "over budget" in 2011? Forbes estimated Twins revenues at $213M in 2011 http://www.forbes.com/lists/2011/33/baseball-valuations-11_land.html . 55% of 213 is 117. Sounds to me like they weren't "over budget" in 2011 at all.

 

2. If "on average" they will spend 50-55% of revenues on payroll, then they are clearly going to need to bump up payroll in the near future to get to that average. Forbes estimates they will have $213m in revenue in 2012, as well http://www.forbes.com/mlb-valuations/list/ . They are spending something like $100m this year, or 47%. They spent less than $100m on payroll in 2010, and while I can't find estimates for 2010 revenue, one would have to assume it was at least as high as last year or this year, since TF was jam packed the entire 2010 season (highest attendance to date, but a smaller TV deal). So they were almost surely under 50% in 2010, likely less than 45%.

Please ask when we can expect payroll to "average 50-55%," since they've only been in that range once in the first three years of TF.

 

3. While you're at it, please ask why the 50-55% number needs to stay the same in TF as it was in the dome. For example, if we believe what the Twins have themselves said (50% to payroll) the Twins could afford a $65m payroll on $130m in revenue in the dome, leaving $65m to pay for all other expenses. Right? Why would they need significantly more now in TF to pay for all those other expenses? Why, in the space of one year, would you suddenly need more than $100m on top of major league salaries? ($213M in revenue, minus major league salary of $100m, leaves $113M "left over.") Please ask why "other expenses" nearly doubled when the Twins moved to TF.

 

Thanks in advance.

I can't wait to hear the answers! I suspect they will argue Forbes numbers, but we can hope for some accountability.