tony&rodney’s 2025 Payroll Blueprint: tony&rodney 2025 Twins roster

[tony&rodney]

This iteration of the roster makes the team more defensively oriented with speed and a  youth focus. I really wish that Royce Lewis could play 3B or 2B, but I haven't seen any evidence of that yet. Perhaps I reconsider and retrench with another guess that uses Lewis elsewhere. I put Eeles at 2B as a hope because I'm not sold on the other options but trade #4b gives me a defender there. Although most are skittish about whether EmRod is ready, he is a now or never talent; play him or trade him. I also am thinking that Luke Keaschall is close to ready despite his short time as a pro.

The payroll is nearly $20 million higher than my first roster, which can essentially be accomplished by subbing in trade #4b for #4a. Potentially, the Twins could trade either Vazquez or Jeffers to reduce payroll costs.

Trades:                                                                 #1 Brooks Lee to Milwaukee for catcher Jeferson Quero (should help both teams);        #2 Jose Miranda, Charlee Soto, Chris Paddack, Billy Amick, and Gabriel Gonzalez to Miami for starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara (Marlins get players to play now and for future);                    #3 Jhoan Duran, Justin Topa, and Kyle DeFarge to Arizona for Jordan Lawler (a gamble);            #4a Simeon Woods Richardson and Willi Castro to Boston for catcher Kyle Teel;   or          #4b Pablo Lopez and Willi Castro to Boston for Kyle Teel and Ceddanne Rafaela. (Boston should like trade #4a because they still can sign another SP. Perhaps Vazquez goes too plus $5M).

People who are afraid of too many rookies will dislike this roster, but the Twins have a pile of near rookies (less than 600 PA) already and the new guys above are better defensively. SS, CF, catching future, and starting pitching are covered. 

The challenge we face is in guessing whether another team will accept a trade. I really like some ideas that have been promoted but many seemed too much in favor of the Twins. 

I'm trying to fit Royce Lewis at 2B or 3B, in a different grouping.

 

• C: Ryan Jeffers ($4.70M)
• 1B: Royce Lewis ($2.30M)
• 2B: Payton Eeles ($0.76M)
• 3B: Jordan Lawler ($0.76M)
• SS: Carlos Correa ($37.33M)
• LF: Emmanuel Rodriguez ($0.76M)
• CF: Byron Buxton ($15.15M)
• RF: Matt Wallner ($0.78M)
• DH: Trevor Larnach ($2.10M)
• 4th OF: DaShawn Keirsey Jr. ($0.76M)
• Utility: Edouard Julien ($0.78M)
• Utility: Austin Martin ($0.76M)
• Backup C: Christian Vazquez ($10.00M)
• NA: Kyle Farmer buyout ($0.25M)
• SP1: Pablo Lopez ($21.75M)
• SP2: Joe Ryan ($3.80M)
• SP3: Bailey Ober ($4.30M)
• SP4: Sandy Alcantara ($17.25M)
• SP5: David Festa ($0.77M)
• RP: Griffin Jax ($2.60M)
• RP: Jorge Alcala ($1.50M)
• RP: Cole Sands ($0.78M)
• RP: Brock Stewart ($0.80M)
• RP: Louie Varland ($0.78M)
• RP: Ronnie Henriquez ($0.76M)
• RP: Brent Headrick ($0.76M)
• RP: Kody Funderburk ($0.76M)
• NA: Jay Jackson buyout ($0.20M)

Payroll is 2.99% over budget