ESPN: Twins Optimal Year Of Contention is 2016

[mnfanforlife]

Its safe to say we are going to be a whole lot better by 2015, or someone is getting fired

[ThePuck]

So ALL of our prospects are gonna come up and be what we hope they'll be RIGHT AWAY...making us contenders in 2016, while the other teams are doing, what?

[Highabove]

So all the added revenue from Target Field was never really needed.

[TheLeviathan]

You seriously think the Twins will have a 60 million payroll in 2015?.

 

Well, I seriously thought we'd have a 90M payroll next year...how'd that turn out? At this point negativity was what was served to us this offseason, not much baseless about it.

[drjim]

So all the added revenue from Target Field was never really needed.

 

It will be. Payrolls go down during rebuilds but will go up if some of the prospects reach their potential and need to get paid after they complete their arb years. Twins might not spend a whole lot in free agency but they have proven that they are willing to sign their own players as they approach free agency and this will be especially true with Target Field. One of the reasons the payroll is sluggish right now is that they haven't developed a good player that they needed to extend in several years. Hopefully with this wave coming that will change.

[Physics Guy]

So ALL of our prospects are gonna come up and be what we hope they'll be RIGHT AWAY...making us contenders in 2016, while the other teams are doing, what?

 

If ALL OF OUR PROSPECTS come up we will be trading some of them because we won't have enough spots for them. As for RIGHT AWAY, by 2016:

 

Parmelee 28 yrs old, 3+ yrs in MLB

Dozier 29, 3+

Plouffe 30, 4+

Arcia 25, 2/2+

Hicks 26, 2+/3

Benson, 2?

 

Add Mauer and anybody else they add to the team to fill holes and it's not exactly like we're playing a bunch of rookies. I'm obviously more optimistic than you, but I'd say Parmelee and Plouffe have a decent chance to be at least 1-2 WAR players. I did some minor league comparisons and Arcia compares favorably with Cuddyer and Kubel with Arcia slightly more advanced. Cuddy and Kubel both put up 20+HR and 100 RBI at 27. Hicks' minors numbers compare favorably with Hunter who by age 25 hit 27/92 and was an All-Star at 26. Hicks probably doesn't hit for quite as much power but has better plate discipline. Both cases are probably near their ceilings, but it's also reasonable to assume they are at least league average by 2016. There is a decent chance neither Dozier nor Benson work out, but they have other guys to fill in for them prior to 2016.

[Highabove]

It will be. Payrolls go down during rebuilds but will go up if some of the prospects reach their potential and need to get paid after they complete their arb years. Twins might not spend a whole lot in free agency but they have proven that they are willing to sign their own players as they approach free agency and this will be especially true with Target Field. One of the reasons the payroll is sluggish right now is that they haven't developed a good player that they needed to extend in several years. Hopefully with this wave coming that will change.

 

If Revenue is down, the payroll will not go up. The Pohlad's do not carryover unused cash.

[ThePuck]

I'm high on our prospects...Arcia, Hicks, Sano, Rosario...all of four of them...and Hicks is likely the only one who will sniff time this year...so, going into 2016, all but Hicks will have 2 or less years in the Majors. Then there's May and Meyer...2 or less years in the majors going into 2016 as well...Parmellee and Mauer will likely be the old timer position players in 2016.

 

The '87 team...took them 5 years. So, yeah, 2 years in basically right away...and we'd need to have almost all of them perform up to our high expectations by then to be maybe be contenders.

 

If you wanna believe 2016 is a realistic time to be division contenders go for it...but it's not. Not if we're counting on mostly guys still in the minors right now.

[TheLeviathan]

It will be. Payrolls go down during rebuilds but will go up if some of the prospects reach their potential and need to get paid after they complete their arb years. .

 

Sure, but we're talking about 2016....we won't be at that point.

[lightfoot789]

In reference to "what if" Sano doesn't pan out?

 

What if all the pitchers develop Tommy John injury? That should be another thread.

 

Arcia - Sano - Rosario - Hicks - Meyer - Mays - Berrios - All have high chance of being quality starters at MLB level. Some have star potential. If 3 of 7 become a future All Star - Lookout

[Physics Guy]

 

The '87 team...took them 5 years. So, yeah, 2 years in basically right away...and we'd need to have almost all of them perform up to our high expectations by then to be maybe be contenders.

 

They were also 81-81 in '84. Looking at the pitching staffs they sported prior to '86, I think we at least have the promise of performing better than those within two or three years. I'd be more encouraged if we could add one SP in the Jackson/Sanchez mold during that time. I understand your pessimism, but things can get better quickly as evidenced in '90 and '91. I realize we have sunk further than '90 at this point, but I don't think it has to take five years to turn this around. Anyways, I'm not sure why I'm wasting my breath, since I have no chance of changing your mind.

[PseudoSABR]

Well, I seriously thought we'd have a 90M payroll next year...how'd that turn out? At this point negativity was what was served to us this offseason, not much baseless about it.

Meh. Draw what reckless conclusions you will. But not spending 90 million in what obviously the team considers a rebuilding year is hardly reason to think that the payroll will be 60 million in 2015/16. It's totally baseless negativity, no matter how many naysayers line up in this thread.

[LastOnePicked]

I just wonder who will be leading the team in 2016. Mauer may end being worth his contract, but he clearly has no interest in a leadership role in the clubhouse. And it seems to me that this team is a bit quick to equate a little "fire" with too much "attitude" when it comes to young players. Maybe I'm wrong, but I can't imagine that any Gardenhire-led team is capable of bringing home the league pennant or WS trophy, even if the players you all reference turn out to be the '27 Yankees. I still love the Twins, but I can share none of the optimism here -- at least until team chemstry or culture changes.

[Highabove]

Meh. Draw what reckless conclusions you will. But not spending 90 million in what obviously the team considers a rebuilding year is hardly reason to think that the payroll will be 60 million in 2015/16. It's totally baseless negativity, no matter how many naysayers line up in this thread.

 

The Twins could easily have a 60 million dollar payroll as soon as next year. Twenty one million comes off the Books with Morneau, Pelfrey and Carroll's contracts. If Willingham is traded, that would put the payroll into the 50's.

[ThePuck]

The Twins could easily have a 60 million dollar payroll as soon as next year. Twenty one million comes off the Books with Morneau, Pelfrey and Carroll's contracts. If Willingham is traded, that would put the payroll into the 50's.

 

And Blackburn's contract as well

[TheLeviathan]

Meh. Draw what reckless conclusions you will. But not spending 90 million in what obviously the team considers a rebuilding year is hardly reason to think that the payroll will be 60 million in 2015/16. It's totally baseless negativity, no matter how many naysayers line up in this thread.

 

The only baseless thing is your need to diminish opinions by slapping a "negative" label on them. Truth is Ryan has never made big contract splashes during his tenure. That is just the truth. We have 20 some million reasons to be justifiably wary of celebrating available payroll. Until it is actually spent (and spent wisely - looking at you Corriea) there is plenty to base that on. So definitionally your entire point here is just smug nonsense.

[johnnydakota]

It will be. Payrolls go down during rebuilds but will go up if some of the prospects reach their potential and need to get paid after they complete their arb years. Twins might not spend a whole lot in free agency but they have proven that they are willing to sign their own players as they approach free agency and this will be especially true with Target Field. One of the reasons the payroll is sluggish right now is that they haven't developed a good player that they needed to extend in several years. Hopefully with this wave coming that will change.

 

Yup just ask kubel,cuddy and nathan ....

[johnnydakota]

Meh. Draw what reckless conclusions you will. But not spending 90 million in what obviously the team considers a rebuilding year is hardly reason to think that the payroll will be 60 million in 2015/16. It's totally baseless negativity, no matter how many naysayers line up in this thread.

 

I believe you are correct sir.

I also believe players salarys

will increase 25% over the next 3 years

so im sure it will be closer to 75 million in 2016

[ThePuck]

Anyways, I'm not sure why I'm wasting my breath, since I have no chance of changing your mind.

 

That's not the case with me at all...when presented with a strong counterargument based on actual trends or stats or something close to pretty strong evidence, I'll change my opinion...or at least be open to the fact I could be wrong. Truth is, for me, it's about getting to the truth. If I'm wrong and I'm shown to be wrong, I'll happily admit it..especially in a case like this where it'd mean we were much better than I think we'll be.

 

Unfortunately you haven't presented that.

[drjim]

Yup just ask kubel,cuddy and nathan ....

 

That wasnt from a lack of offer. And the team spent the unused money on replacements.

[ThePuck]

That wasnt from a lack of offer. And the team spent the unused money on replacements.

 

But payroll dropped by 18M....those three got a combined 27M in 2011.

[drjim]

When talking about future payroll why is it a foregone conclusion Morneau won't be on it?

 

If he is healthy next year there is a decentw chance be signs a midyear extension instead of getting traded. I would welcome that if the price is right.

[old nurse]

The only baseless thing is your need to diminish opinions by slapping a "negative" label on them. Truth is Ryan has never made big contract splashes during his tenure. That is just the truth. We have 20 some million reasons to be justifiably wary of celebrating available payroll. Until it is actually spent (and spent wisely - looking at you Corriea) there is plenty to base that on. So definitionally your entire point here is just smug nonsense.

Pot meet kettle

[drjim]

But payroll dropped by 18M....those three got a combined 27M in 2011.

 

The team also lost 99 games and I always heard the 2011 payroll was a stretch. Nathan wanted a contender, Kubel wanted out of Target Field and Cuddyer wanted out. Barring a huge overpay they were gone.

 

When the Twins were good and players wanted to sign they stayed. The exception is the second contracts of Hunter and Santana. Those are what Target Field can fund.

[old nurse]

When talking about future payroll why is it a foregone conclusion Morneau won't be on it?

 

If he is healthy next year there is a decentw chance be signs a midyear extension instead of getting traded. I would welcome that if the price is right.

Any player on the roster could be extended. That would include Pelfrey, Willingham and Blackburn along with Morneau . Those that are on the payroll is dropping to nothing bandwagon will not think it is possible because that is their view. Doumit was extended. Hermann could have taken over that role.

[Mike Sixel]

If you were Morneau, would you sign here, knowing that they are likely not to be serious contenders until 2015/6? If the money was the same, would you rather be here or Toronto or Texas or elsewhere? Many of you state they cannot sign players because people do not want to play here, Does that apply to Morneau? Right field is a killer here, after all.

[nicksaviking]

Meh. Draw what reckless conclusions you will. But not spending 90 million in what obviously the team considers a rebuilding year is hardly reason to think that the payroll will be 60 million in 2015/16. It's totally baseless negativity, no matter how many naysayers line up in this thread.

 

Ryan and the front office have time and time again said they will not over pay for free agents. You think they are really going to start "overpaying" for guys? That's their singular excuse when it comes to lowballing free agents. The Twins only had the +100 million payroll because they got the new stadium and had to take care of their own guys, the Mauers, Morneaus, Cuddyers and Nathans. They didn't get that large payroll by signing expensive free agents. They never value free agents nearly as gererously as they do thier own guys. Payroll won't go up until they have to start giving new contracts to the new crop of guys and that won't be for over a half decade.

[ThePuck]

The team also lost 99 games and I always heard the 2011 payroll was a stretch. Nathan wanted a contender, Kubel wanted out of Target Field and Cuddyer wanted out. Barring a huge overpay they were gone.

 

When the Twins were good and players wanted to sign they stayed. The exception is the second contracts of Hunter and Santana. Those are what Target Field can fund.

 

Yeah, but you said they spent the money on other FAs. Some of it, yes, but not event he majority of it. (Oh, and those three were offered contracts much lower than those players knew they could get elsewhere...probably why they didn't want to re-sign...at least a good part)

 

In any event, the 2011 payroll was because of raises due to players we already had...mostly Mauer. Even though payroll was over 100M, they didn't go sign any high priced FAs to go for it or to put the 2010 over the hump. In fact, they jettisoned their MI and gutted the bullpen

[ThePuck]

The team also lost 99 games and I always heard the 2011 payroll was a stretch. Nathan wanted a contender, Kubel wanted out of Target Field and Cuddyer wanted out. Barring a huge overpay they were gone.

 

Yeah, but you said the Twins spent the money on other FAs. Some of it, but not even the majority of it. (and the offers to those three were well below what they knew they could get elsewhere.)

 

In any event, when the Twins were good and players wanted to sign they stayed. The exception is the second contracts of Hunter and Santana. Those are what Target Field can fund.

 

The 2011 payroll was due to raises to players we already had...mostly Mauer. Even though payroll was over 100M, they didn't go sign any high priced FAs to go for it or to put the 2010 over the hump. In fact, they jettisoned their MI and gutted the bullpen

[nicksaviking]

Any player on the roster could be extended. That would include Pelfrey, Willingham and Blackburn along with Morneau . Those that are on the payroll is dropping to nothing bandwagon will not think it is possible because that is their view. Doumit was extended. Hermann could have taken over that role.

 

Come on, really?

 

Only Morneau and Willingham could command any extension of any significance and the farm would have to completely implode for there to be room for both of them. Regardless, the Twins always have overvalued the current players while undervalued available free agents. They can extend existing Twins all they want but we all know the problem is, and always has been, that they need top of the rotation arms. There is no one like that on this club to extend, they need to look externally for those arms. So increasing payroll on extensions likely doesn't get this club over the hump even if they do manage to blow another $14 million on Blackburn.