CoasterProductions’s 2025 Payroll Blueprint: Twins make several trades to get back to the postseason

[CoasterProductions]

In my off-season blueprint I have decided to make several trades that may seem a little daring on paper but would end up improving the team significantly.

Twins and Marlins swap Infielders

The first I would make would send 24 year old IF Rubel Cespedes (#22) in exchange for Marlins UTIL Otto Lopez. Lopez would give the Twins a strong base runner and fielder that Can help back up Carlos Correa and Brooks Lee.

Twins acquire their starting First Baseman

The second trade I would make would send RHP Chris Paddack and INF Tanner Schobel (#18) to Orioles for 1B Ryan Mountcastle. Mountcastle would give the Twins their starting First Baseman not only for this season but also 2026 for less than any of the free agent options

Twins make 3 team blockbuster with Rays and Royals

The Twins would send C Christian Vasquez, OF Ricardo Olivar (#15) and RHP Josh Winder to the Rays for LHP Garrett Cleavinger and RHP Kevin Kelly. Along with sending OF Eduardo Beltre (#23) and OF Carson McCusker for C Freddy Fermin and RHP John Schreiber. This trade lands the Twins a cheap backup Catcher with great defense and 3 cheap bullpen arms. 
 

Twins swing blockbuster with Cardinals

This trade would send 1B Jose Miranda, OF Trevor Larnach, RHP Ronny Henriquez, and C Jair Camargo for UTIL Brendan Donovan and RHP Eric Fedde. This trade lands the Twins their replacement for Willi Castro (who would be non tendered in this scenario) and a depth piece for the rotation.

Twins make significant trade with top rivals

The final trade I would make would send RHP Marco Raya, OF Gabriel Gonzalez, and INF Payton Eeles for OF Lane Thomas. This trade gives the Twins a dynamic outfielder who can play all three positions but would play in RF most often occasionally filling in for Buxton or Wallner. He also adds a speed/power combo into the lineup

Free Agency

There are only 2 free agent signings I would make the first would be for LHP Matthew Boyd on a 2 year $26,000,000. This gives the Twins a left handed starter for less than the likes of Blake Snell and Sean Manaea. The other free agent signing I would make would be for OF Tommy Pham. This gives the Twins a solid platoon option for Matt Wallner while also having a solid high energy guy for the lineup.

Lineup v. RHP

2B Brooks Lee

SS Carlos Correa

3B Royce Lewis

CF Byron Buxton

RF Lane Thomas

C Ryan Jeffers

1B Ryan Mountcastle

LF Matt Wallner

DH Edouard Julien

Lineup v. LHP

2B Brooks Lee

SS Carlos Correa

3B Royce Lewis

C Ryan Jeffers

CF Byron Buxton

RF Lane Thomas

1B Ryan Mountcastle

LF Brendan Donovan

DH Tommy Pham

Overall I think that this Twins team could be significantly better than last years and even 2023.

 

 

 

 

• C: Ryan Jeffers ($4.70M)
• 1B: Ryan Mountcastle ($6M)
• 2B: Brooks Lee ($0.80M)
• 3B: Royce Lewis ($4M)
• SS: Carlos Correa ($36.00M)
• LF: Matt Wallner ($0.80M)
• CF: Byron Buxton ($15.00M)
• RF: Lane Thomas ($8.30M)
• DH: Edouard Julien ($0.80M)
• 4th OF: Tommy Pham ($3M)
• Utility: Brendan Donovan ($4M)
• Utility: Otto Lopez ($0.80M)
• Backup C: Freddy Fermin ($0.80M)
• NA: Dead Money Here ($0.00M)
• SP1: Pablo Lopez ($21.50M)
• SP2: Joe Ryan ($3.80M)
• SP3: Bailey Ober ($4.30M)
• SP4: Matthew Boyd ($13M)
• SP5: Eric Fedde ($7.50M)
• RP: Jhoan Duran ($3.70M)
• RP: Brock Stewart ($0.80M)
• RP: Griffin Jax ($2.60M)
• RP: Garrett Cleavinger ($1.40M)
• RP: Cole Sands ($0.80M)
• RP: Kevin Kelly ($0.80M)
• RP: John Schreiber ($1.80M)
• RP: Kody Funderburk ($0.80M)
• NA: Dead Money Here ($0.00M)

Payroll is 12.04% over budget