TwinsAce’s 2024 Payroll Blueprint

[TwinsAce]

In my third edition (after warming up to the idea of Gurriel), I have Polanco traded (along with prospects) for a pitcher.  The three I have listed all make $5 million and less from what I can tell.  If it wasn't a trade, I would look at signing a pitcher for $15-$20 million.  However, if the budget is $135 million, this would require a trade of Kepler.  Farmer is also gone due to the price tag.

My OF is feeling pretty great right now Kiermaier and Gurriel signed plus Castro/Martin helping cover as needed while also helping cover the IF.  (Martin could also end up Miranda, Severino, etc. but probably end up being a pre-arbitration player.)  I would push to have Julien and Gurriel ready at 1B as needed as well, but Severino would be a fallback option for depth.

Similar to other blueprints I've done, the bullpen seems inevitable to end up with a smaller signing in the $2-5 million range (Pagan?), 1-2 from the younger batch (Sands/Moran/Funderburk) and potentially 1 minor league deal.

While I would love a top pitcher in the $20-$25 million range, this was my version to focus on the bats a little more with Gurriel / Kiermaier and just a trade for SP.

• C: Christian Vazquez ($10.00M)
• 1B: Alex Kirilloff ($1.70M)
• 2B: Edouard Julien ($0.77M)
• 3B: Royce Lewis ($0.77M)
• SS: Carlos Correa ($33.33M)
• LF: Matt Wallner ($0.77M)
• CF: Kevin Kiermaier ($10.5M)
• RF: Max Kepler ($10.00M)
• DH: Byron Buxton ($15.00M)
• 4th OF: Willi Castro ($3.20M)
• Utility: Lourdes Gurriel Jr (1B / LF / DH) ($15.00M)
• Utility: Austin Martin ($.77M)
• Backup C: Ryan Jeffers ($2.30M)
• SP1: Pablo Lopez ($8.25M)
• SP2: Joe Ryan ($0.77M)
• SP3: Bailey Ober ($0.77M)
• SP4: Chris Paddack ($2.53M)
• SP5: Trade - Edward Cabrera?? Mitch Keller?? Freddy Peralta?? ($5.00M)
• RP: Jhoan Duran ($0.77M)
• RP: Brock Stewart ($0.77M)
• RP: Griffin Jax ($0.77M)
• RP: Jorge Alcala ($1.00M)
• RP: Caleb Thielbar ($3.00M)
• RP: XYZ Pitcher - Pagan ($3.00M)
• RP: Sands / Moran / Funderburk ($0.77M)
• RP: Minor League Deal ($1.00M)

Payroll is 1.84% under budget