weitz41’s 2023 Payroll Blueprint

[weitz41]

I made another list earlier this week but made some changes after seeing other lists. I went with Kirilloff as my starter in left. Could switch for Larnach depending on health. I'm hoping Kirilloff regains his swing.

Luis Arreaz and Josh Winder plus a lottery ticket for Woodfuff - Like the Hader trade payroll makes the Brewers make this move. Let's face it the Twins have way too many 2nd basemen. Something has to give and Arreaz is at the top of his trade value.

I want Meada as a starter, But I don't think that is realistic coming off of TJ

I went with Jose Iglesias at short expecting the FO to learn from the mistake of playing Lewis in center. 5 Mil was his pay in 2022. So went with that.

Willson Contreras 4x 20 or 5x 20. There's just nobody on the horizon as a catcher. So, I spent a bit here.

Michael Fulmer 2@4.75 or 3 @4.5 the 3rd being a club option. This FO doesn't spend on risk without some protections.

Andrew McCutchen (LF/DH) - I live in Brewers country...NOW.. I heard plenty from my co-workers about him last season. Plays left field, can fill in in center and hits lefties. Sounds like Garlic but a bit to maybe a lot better..been healthy the last few seasons.  2@15 3 @20 club option. Same as Fulmer

Emilio Pagan I believe the FO is convinced they're smarter then everyone else on this guy. So just deal with it..until the trade deadline 2023 he's a Twin. Maybe they're right, but the last few years for results point another direction.

Just to clean it up..If they did actually get Woodfuff I'd want to do a contract extension. Something in the 5 @ 115 range. I'd also extend Mahle shoulder issues or not. Something in the 15-18 mil range per season for Mahle. They've both been pitching in extremely friendly hitters ballparks their whole career and have been good to great. Definitely some risk there on both but good probability of hitting a jackpot also.

So that's my hopefully realistic Wishlist.

Just to throw in something unexpected. Austin Martin wins Al ROY for 2023 for his play at SS to start the season and LF the rest of the way.

• C: Willson Contreras ($20.00M)
• 1B: Jose Miranda ($.70M)
• 2B: Jorge Polanco ($7.50M)
• 3B: Gio Urshela ($9.00M)
• SS: Jose Iglesias ($5.00M)
• LF: Alex Kirilloff ($0.70M)
• CF: Byron Buxton ($15.00M)
• RF: Max Kepler ($8.50M)
• DH: Jose Miranda ($0.70M)
• 4th OF: Andrew McCuthen ($7.50M)
• Utility: Nick Gordon ($0.70M)
• Utility: Gilberto Celestino ($0.70M)
• Backup C: Ryan Jeffers ($0.70M)
• SP1: Brandon Woodruff ($12.00M)
• SP2: Sonny Gray ($12M)
• SP3: Tyler Mahle ($8.00M)
• SP4: Joe Ryan ($0.70M)
• SP5: Bailey Ober ($0.70M)
• RP: Jhoan Duran ($0.70M)
• RP: Jorge Lopez ($3.00M)
• RP: Griffin Jax ($0.70M)
• RP: Jorge Alcala ($1.00M)
• RP: Caleb Thielbar ($2.00M)
• RP: Kenta Maeda ($3.00M)
• RP: Michael Fulmer ($4.75M)
• RP: Emilio Pagan, ($3.00M)

Payroll is 8.39% under budget