CoasterProductions’s 2025 Payroll Blueprint: My Off-season plan for the Minnesota Twins

[CoasterProductions]

Here is my Off-season plan for the Minnesota Twins. I decided to take a more realistic approach to how the off-season happens by making more trades than free agent signings with the only big free agent signing being for LHP Sean Manaea on a 4 year $75,000,000 contract and Tommy Pham on a 1 year $3,000,000 contract. Both of these moves would give the Twins much needed depth as well as veteran leadership. Pham could also be shipped off at the deadline as part of a package for other needs. The first trade I would make would be a trade with the Orioles sending RHP Chris Paddack and 2B/3B Tanner Schobel (#19 MLB Pipeline) for 1B Ryan Mountcastle. This trade ends up being a win for both sides as the Orioles are getting some help on the back of their rotation in the potential absence of Corbin Burnes and Kyle Bradish and the Twins are getting a capable First Baseman without breaking the bank. The second trade I would make would be sending C Christian Vasquez, OF Ricardo Olivar (#15 MLB Pipeline), and 3B Billy Amick (#11 MLB Pipeline) for LHP Garrett Cleavinger and RHP Kevin Kelly. This trade gives the Rays their starting Catcher along with two prospects and the Twins receive two incredibly underrated relievers in Garrett Cleavinger and Kevin Kelly the latter being a fantastic addition to the pen. Kelly has posted a 2.88 ERA over the course of 138IP over the past two seasons and is only making 800K. The last trade I would make would be with a division rival in the Royals which would be a need for need swap. The Twins would send RHP Justin Topa for C Freddy Fermin. While Fermin is not necessary an improvement over Vasquez he is 1/10 of the cost and gives us one of the stronger defensive catchers in the MLB. Justin Topa would give the Royals a solid Middle/Long relief pitcher for cheaper than most of the Free Agents. The last thing I would do would be to sign Royce Lewis to a multi year extension at 8 years $132,000,000 starting at $4,000,000 this year and increasing throughout the deal.

 

• C: Ryan Jeffers ($4.70M)
• 1B: Ryan Mountcastle ($6.6M)
• 2B: Brooks Lee ($0.80M)
• 3B: Royce Lewis ($4M)
• SS: Carlos Correa ($36.00M)
• LF: Emmanuel Rodriguez ($.8M)
• CF: Byron Buxton ($15.00M)
• RF: Matt Wallner ($0.80M)
• DH: Edouard Julien ($0.80M)
• 4th OF: Tommy Pham ($3M)
• Utility: Willi Castro ($6.20M)
• Utility: Jose Miranda ($0.80M)
• Backup C: Freddy Fermin ($.8M)
• NA: Dead Money Here ($0.00M)
• SP1: Pablo Lopez ($21.50M)
• SP2: Joe Ryan ($3.80M)
• SP3: Bailey Ober ($4.30M)
• SP4: Sean Manaea ($15M)
• SP5: David Festa ($0.80M)
• RP: Jhoan Duran ($3.70M)
• RP: Brock Stewart ($0.80M)
• RP: Griffin Jax ($2.60M)
• RP: Jorge Alcala ($1.5M)
• RP: Cole Sands ($0.80M)
• RP: Kevin Kelly ($.8M)
• RP: Garrett Cleavinger ($1.4M)
• RP: Kody Funderburk ($0.80M)
• NA: Dead Money Here ($0.00M)

Payroll is 5.87% over budget

[Brock Beauchamp]

This all makes sense but damn, I cannot see the Twins spending that much on a single player. It would be nice to be wrong about that but it's the vibe I'm getting.

[CoasterProductions]

Quote

This all makes sense but damn, I cannot see the Twins spending that much on a single player. It would be nice to be wrong about that but it's the vibe I'm getting

I am assuming that this is about the Mountcastle trade. The proposal that I saw (Between Baltimore and Houston). Had them sending JP France and AJ Blubaugh (#9 on MLB Pipeline). I really don’t know how much of an overpay the trade with Houston would be but it seems to have a very similar base (back of rotation starter plus prospect). I did contemplate trading one of our pitching prospects but I feel that they would be more of an overpay than sending them an infielder who is probably blocked by other prospects and veterans.