Richard’s 2023 Payroll Blueprint

[Richard]

Big Trade Alert: This is with a trade I proposed in a forum about improving 3B, which you can find here.  I proposed a trade for Rafael Devers that sent Luis Arraez and Max Kepler plus a player to be named later back to the Red Sox. 

As for Carlos Correa, I made a super outlandish and unrealistic proposal for a 3 year, $90mil deal similar to the one he signed with the Twins prior to the 2022 season.  With his injury concerns, I figure that high average, short contracts are in the future for Correa.  Joey Gallo replaces Max Kepler in RF, although he could also slide into LF easily. 

I added veterans Michael Fulmer and Will Smith to fill in the back end of the bullpen and I believe Ronny Henriquez has the stuff to win the long relief role. We are a little bit over budget, but that's well worth getting to the playoffs and making Twins fans happy.

 

• C: Christian Vazquez ($10.00M)
• 1B: Jose Miranda ($.70M)
• 2B: Jorge Polanco ($7.50M)
• 3B: Rafael Devers ($18.8M)
• SS: Carlos Correa ($33.00M)
• LF: Alex Kirilloff ($0.70M)
• CF: Byron Buxton ($15.00M)
• RF: Joey Gallo ($11.0M)
• DH: Matt Wallner ($0.70M)
• 4th OF: Kyle Garlick ($0.70M)
• Utility: Nick Gordon ($0.70M)
• Utility: Gilberto Celestino ($0.70M)
• Backup C: Ryan Jeffers ($0.70M)
• SP1: Sonny Gray ($12.00M)
• SP2: Tyler Mahle ($8.00M)
• SP3: Kenta Maeda ($9.00M)
• 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: Ronny Henriquez ($0.70M)
• RP: Michael Fulmer ($2.30M)
• RP: Will Smith ($7.30M)

Payroll is 5.60% over budget

[Richie the Rally Goat]

1 hour ago, Richard said:

Big Trade Alert: This is with a trade I proposed in a forum about improving 3B, which you can find here.  I proposed a trade for Rafael Devers that sent Luis Arraez and Max Kepler plus a player to be named later back to the Red Sox. 

As for Carlos Correa, I made a super outlandish and unrealistic proposal for a 3 year, $90mil deal similar to the one he signed with the Twins prior to the 2022 season.  With his injury concerns, I figure that high average, short contracts are in the future for Correa.  Joey Gallo replaces Max Kepler in RF, although he could also slide into LF easily. 

I added veterans Michael Fulmer and Will Smith to fill in the back end of the bullpen and I believe Ronny Henriquez has the stuff to win the long relief role. We are a little bit over budget, but that's well worth getting to the playoffs and making Twins fans happy.

 

• C: Christian Vazquez ($10.00M)
• 1B: Jose Miranda ($.70M)
• 2B: Jorge Polanco ($7.50M)
• 3B: Rafael Devers ($18.8M)
• SS: Carlos Correa ($33.00M)
• LF: Alex Kirilloff ($0.70M)
• CF: Byron Buxton ($15.00M)
• RF: Joey Gallo ($11.0M)
• DH: Matt Wallner ($0.70M)
• 4th OF: Kyle Garlick ($0.70M)
• Utility: Nick Gordon ($0.70M)
• Utility: Gilberto Celestino ($0.70M)
• Backup C: Ryan Jeffers ($0.70M)
• SP1: Sonny Gray ($12.00M)
• SP2: Tyler Mahle ($8.00M)
• SP3: Kenta Maeda ($9.00M)
• 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: Ronny Henriquez ($0.70M)
• RP: Michael Fulmer ($2.30M)
• RP: Will Smith ($7.30M)

Payroll is 5.60% over budget

I don’t think Arraez and Kepler plus PTNBL gets you Devers, and I wonder why Boston would want Kepler. The Correa idea might be what happens w/ the Mets, but it seems the train has sailed w/ the Twins.

I like your thought process though

[Mike Sixel]

Three or four years of Arraez, plus Kepler and a prospect for one of Devers? To what end? They won't pay him for an extension. 

[Richard]

55 minutes ago, Richie the Rally Goat said:

I don’t think Arraez and Kepler plus PTNBL gets you Devers, and I wonder why Boston would want Kepler. The Correa idea might be what happens w/ the Mets, but it seems the train has sailed w/ the Twins.

I like your thought process though

The Red Sox only really have Verdugo and Hendrequez in the outfield.  Their right fielder at the moment is Rob Refsnyder.  Kepler's defense would be valuable in Fenway's spacious right field, and the AL east is pretty Lh hitter friendly.  The Twins might want to throw in a guy by the likes of Varland or Balazovic.  

[Richard]

13 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Three or four years of Arraez, plus Kepler and a prospect for one of Devers? To what end? They won't pay him for an extension. 

I was thinking that a 25-30mil average contract might make more sense with Devers as he won't block some of the up and coming short stop prospects.  Devers will also be 27 around the time of a deal.

[Mike Sixel]

31 minutes ago, Richard said:

I was thinking that a 25-30mil average contract might make more sense with Devers as he won't block some of the up and coming short stop prospects.  Devers will also be 27 around the time of a deal.

What makes you think the Twins will pay that? And, it blocks Miranda and Lee.

[Richard]

1 hour ago, Mike Sixel said:

What makes you think the Twins will pay that? And, it blocks Miranda and Lee.

If I made this deal, I would move Miranda to first, and see how lee performs at short.  Despite what some people are saying, Lee is not going to be with the Twins until 2024 at the earliest.  Wander Franco made his debut when he was 20, after 2 and a half seasons in the minors.  The Twins also gave Josh Donaldson a 4 year, 92 million dollar deal when he was 34, coming off of an injury ridden year where he didn't play even close to his prime.  I don't think that a 7-9 year deal worth 23-27 million a year would be too outlandish.

[lecroy24fan]

BOS has no room for Kepler. Turner at DH, Verdugo, Hernandez, and Yoshida in the OF.

[Heistyman]

From what I read Story's shoulder is bad enough that he can no longer play on the left side of the infield.  Hernandez is currently the best SS option unless the rush Mayer to the bigs.  Devers will need to be a 1B man in the not-too-distant future.  So, if the Red Sox want to move forward with Kepler and Arraez then Arraez would need to man third and Verdugo or Kepler in Center with Hernandez/Mayer at SS.  If I'm the Red Sox, I'm not likely to see this is a good solution short or long term.