Article: REPORT: Twins Finalizing Deal With Blake Parker

[bird]

 

"Some degree" is probably an incredibly small degree. It's just a reality that MLB player salaries dwarf these other expenditures. Average MLB team payroll is in the range of $130+ million annually. None of the expense items you list could likely equal even 1% of that in a single year.

 

An expense like Elizabethton is a drop in the bucket: $300k upfront, $50k per year for 10 years:

https://www.johnsoncitypress.com/Government/2018/10/09/Elizabethton-City-Council-may-reach-agreement-Thursday-with-the-Minnesota-Twins-on-Joe-O-Brien-stadium-upgrades

 

Coaching staff salaries are maybe $50k per year too? Depending on level?

 

And it seems doubtful that there are significant new Statcast costs in 2019 (Target Field was outfitted during the previous regime).

 

The Twins newest Dominican academy was reported as costing $18 mil, but that was 2 years ago (again, the previous regime) and split between the Twins and Phillies: https://www.mlb.com/news/twins-open-dominican-republic-baseball-academy/c-213683558

 

And it's not as if the average team is investing zero dollars in these things -- they are likely adding new Statcast equipment, new coaches, new facilities too. Even if the Twins are spending above average in these areas now, it's doubtful they are above that average enough to justify any meaningful drop from that $130+ mil average annual player payroll.

 

 

I think this is a helpful synopsis.

 

I'm not privy to what the entire Baseball Operations operating budget is of course. Many many years ago, Carl Pohlad finally gave in to the longstanding and persistent efforts of MacPhail, Billy Smith, and Jim Pohlad and approved an annual budget to build up the international presence. At the time, they were pretty much impotent in terms of relationships, influence and stature in the DR. Carl agreed to a long-range (10-year) plan and strategy to become competitive in the international scouting and player acquisition business, with a critical goal of being a player in the DR. That initial budget put them in the upper echelons of spending in the international category. The initial capital costs, land included, for the Dominican facility was $15M for the Twins. That was in the early stages of a commitment to shoulder higher overall operating costs, in the DR and elsewhere, than a vast majority of franchises. The international allotment decision reduced the value of this initiative, but it's been valuable nonetheless.

 

Knowing this history, it didn't shock me that Jim Pohlad went to his board and got the blessing to bolster the annual operating budget regarding all these development-related initiatives, although it took him too long because he lacked champions of such a move within the organization. I don't know what the numbers are, but I'd venture a guess that when it's all said and done, the Twins will have one of the higher budgets in this area as well.

 

But to your point, Spy, neither their above-average international fixed budget or this new fixed-cost domestic infrastructure is going to cost so much that it will be part of the calculus regarding the variable-cost MLB payroll. They're not even thought of in a similar context.

Edited January 8, 2019 by birdwatcher

[darin617]

Am I the only person shocked when I heard it's another 1 year deal?

[Mike Sixel]

Am I the only person shocked when I heard it's another 1 year deal?

Nope. They have zero contracts past then. Zero.

[Doomtints]

Twins season ticket packages are very inexpensive. I think the Twins could charge more for about half the seats in the stadium without affecting attendance that much. Target field tickets are close to what Metrodome tickets cost thirty years ago.

 

Wages are 100% tax deductible, don't forget. I think it would be difficult to spend a franchise into bankruptcy in spite of this being a narrative that gets thrown around. Sure it's happened, but few of us would make the same mistakes if given the chance.

[Mr. Brooks]

Am I the only person shocked when I heard it's another 1 year deal?

It's basically 1 year with a team option for a 2nd, as he'd still be under team control in 2020 via arbitration.

[Mike Sixel]

Twins season ticket packages are very inexpensive. I think the Twins could charge more for about half the seats in the stadium without affecting attendance that much. Target field tickets are close to what Metrodome tickets cost thirty years ago.

 

Wages are 100% tax deductible, don't forget. I think it would be difficult to spend a franchise into bankruptcy in spite of this being a narrative that gets thrown around. Sure it's happened, but few of us would make the same mistakes if given the chance.

Given that every team is growing in value, and that in the last three decades no one has lost money on a sale, or had a hard time selling, and made huge proofs, the owners have plenty of money. Team values are rising faster than revenues or salaries..... No owner is going broke.

[jokin]

 

So who do we DFA?

 

I dunno, take the bottom 6 names, a dart, a dartboard and a blindfold?

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Nope. They have zero contracts past then. Zero.

 

This is somewhat misleading. They have arbitration rights that they will most certainly exercise to a number of contracts past that date. 

[SomeGuy]

 

This is an interesting writeup from November on what the Angel's pitching coach Scott Radinsky had to say about Blake Parker (and the rest of his pen).  

Scroll down a bit.

That pitching coach has been let go since then. 

[USAFChief]

No actual signing as of yet, right?

 

Edit: I guess not...four days, seems odd no official confirmation.

[yarnivek1972]

There has been a lot of talk on this site how the Twins are sitting on piles of money, or at least how could spend at a much higher rate. While I suspect that is likely true, nobody seems to factor in the fact that this FO is spending a lot more money in areas that the previous FO did not.

 

Beyond beefing up the analytics department, they have also beefed up the FO in general. They have added more coaches throughout the minor league system than the previous FO had. They have a couple more major league coaches. Though other adds are more difficult to track, they seem to have added to both the scouting department, the fitness department, and maybe even people who deal with mental health.

 

Some of this was started by the previous FO, but money has been spent on facilities in Fort Myers and the Dominican Republic, Statcast and other tracking toys, as well upgrading the Elizabethan facilities.

 

I expect I may be missing other "upgrades" but the money for these things comes from the same sources even if it doesn't fit under the same category as major league player salaries. Now, I believe income for the Twins is trending up, even if attendance isn't. While I think the various upgrades undertaken the last few years were largely necessary, it is likely that this spending could very well impact, at least to some degree, the money available for free agents.

Minimum MLB salary is about $500 K. Typical free agents command anywhere from $5 to $20 mil. Just a hunch that mid level baseball operations personnel make in the neighborhood of $100 K. Maybe $150 K if they have an impressive resume. They could add 50 such people for the cost of one low rated free agent. It’s simply not a significant enough of a cost to substantially impact player payroll budget.

[USAFChief]

There has been no official statement regarding this signing from the Twins, nor has the 40 man roster at MLB.com changed to reflect it.

 

Just FYI...Blake Parker is not yet a MN Twin.

[Doctor Wu]

At this point I am just weary of the Twins signing cast-offs from other teams and   other no-name players who will probably spend most of the season in AAA. Sure, there is always the chance we can sign someone worthwhile like Astudillo who exceeds expectations, but for the most part these are underwhelming moves. Wake me when it's over.

Edited January 14, 2019 by Doctor Wu

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

At this point I am just weary of the Twins signing cast-offs from other teams and   other no-name players who will probably spend most of the season in AAA. Sure, there is always the chance we can sign someone worthwhile like Astudillo who exceeds expectations, but for the most part these are underwhelming moves. Wake me when it's over.

I'm perfectly content back-filling a roster with cast-offs but consider me less impressed when that is the majority of moves.

I'm fine with a Parker deal as the second or third bullpen acquisition this offseason... but I want at least one legitimately good arm in front of him, too.

[Twins33]

Still not officially announced by the Twins, but more details:

 

[rdehring]

 

Still not officially announced by the Twins, but more details:

So if he makes it to Labor Day or a few days more he gets $3.2mm.  Interesting way of adding incentives.  I don't recall seeing this type of bonus structure.  Does anyone recall seeing this with the Twins? 

 

Now the question is who will be departing.  Will it be another reliever?  Or Granite/Reed?

Edited January 14, 2019 by rdehring

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Seems like a lot of work to actually sit down on a call and pound out minor incentives like that. I'd say, nah thanks. But maybe the FO let an intern do it, for the experience.  

[PseudoSABR]

Much more favorable team deal than first reported.   If he doesn't work out at some point, we can cut him at lower cost.

[howieramone2]

 

Am I the only person shocked when I heard it's another 1 year deal?

I hope I'm not the only member who is pleased.

[bird]

 

Much more favorable team deal than first reported.   If he doesn't work out at some point, we can cut him at lower cost.

 

 

Or maybe flip him at the deadline if a couple of guys are lighting it up in AAA?

[Battle ur tail off]

 

So if he makes it to Labor Day or a few days more he gets $3.2mm.  Interesting way of adding incentives.  I don't recall seeing this type of bonus structure.  Does anyone recall seeing this with the Twins? 

 

Now the question is who will be departing.  Will it be another reliever?  Or Granite/Reed?

 

If we cut Addison Reed, the GM should be fired on the spot. 

 

 

Edited January 14, 2019 by Battle ur tail off

[Mike Sixel]

Much more favorable team deal than first reported. If he doesn't work out at some point, we can cut him at lower cost.

I don't care about value. I want great players. They can cut anyone they want, as one year deals are the definition of sunk costs. Does anyone other than one poster think this is a difference maker?

[Ben Noble]

 

If we cut Addison Reed, the GM should be fired on the spot. 

 

Michael Reed, OF claimed off waivers early in the offseason.

[PseudoSABR]

 

I don't care about value. I want great players. They can cut anyone they want, as one year deals are the definition of sunk costs. Does anyone other than one poster think this is a difference maker?

You should care about value, too.  Parker is a better player than you're willing to acknowledge; the bullpen is better with him.  Given his low cost, he should not come at the exclusion of that "great player" you seek.

[Mr. Brooks]

You should care about value, too. Parker is a better player than you're willing to acknowledge; the bullpen is better with him. Given his low cost, he should not come at the exclusion of that "great player" you seek.

He might be, but we don't know that.

I'm hesitant about a guy that the Angels decided wasn't even good enough to keep around.

Edited January 15, 2019 by Mr. Brooks

[Mike Sixel]

You should care about value, too. Parker is a better player than you're willing to acknowledge; the bullpen is better with him. Given his low cost, he should not come at the exclusion of that "great player" you seek.

Still waiting for them to sign a great pitcher.....

[PseudoSABR]

 

He might be, but we don't know that.
I'm hesitant about a guy that the Angels decided wasn't even good enough to keep around.

We'll be paying him half of what he stood to make in arbitration.  As has been demonstrated elsewhere on this board, spending big on RPers has not worked out for the team spending.   We tend to disvalue quantity over quality, and often rightly so, but RPer FA market might be one place where it's better to sign a few guys, than go all in on one guy.  

[PseudoSABR]

 

Still waiting for them to sign a great pitcher.....

Me too.  Again, Parker does not preclude them from signing such a pitcher.  No need to rag on this signing, when your issue is actually elsewhere. 

[Mr. Brooks]

We'll be paying him half of what he stood to make in arbitration. As has been demonstrated elsewhere on this board, spending big on RPers has not worked out for the team spending. We tend to disvalue quantity over quality, and often rightly so, but RPer FA market might be one place where it's better to sign a few guys, than go all in on one guy.

We're only paying him half if he's terrible enough to be cut, in which case no amount of money is a good value.

He was projected to make 3.1 in arbitration, we're paying him 3.2 if he's on the roster all year.

 

I hope he's good, and I defer to the FO, they are professionals, I'm an amateur.

But still, I can't help but wonder why the Angels wouldn't keep him around for that price if he can still be valuable. They know him better than anyone.

[rdehring]

 

If we cut Addison Reed, the GM should be fired on the spot. 

Was talking about the other Reed, the outfielder.