CoasterProductions’s 2025 Payroll Blueprint: Twins trade their way back into playoff contention

[CoasterProductions]

My off season blueprint has the Twins making a flurry of trades in hopes of improving the team and keeping payroll around the same.

My first move of the off-season is to trade RHP Chris Paddack and OF Yasser Mercedes (Twins #15) to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for Ryan Mountcastle. The Twins are getting a cost effective First Baseman and Baltimore is getting some much needed pitching depth in the potential absence of Corbin Burnes and Kyle Bradish.

My second trade woukd send C Christian Vázquez and INF Rayne Doncon (Twins #18) for RHP’s Hobie Harris and Quinn Priester. This is simply a salary dump for emergency AAA pitching depth. This however allows for more significant moves later.

The third Trade I would make sends LHP Connor Priellip (Twins #21), 3B/1B Rubel Cespedes (Twins #23), and RHP Adrian Bohorquez (Twins #29) for RHP Kevin Kelly and LHP Garrett Cleavinger. The Twins are getting two solid relief options for the bullpen at a bargain price and the Rays are getting 3 prospects including an intriguing one in Connor Priellip who would be perfect for the Rays pitching development.

The fourth trade I would make sends RHP Cory Lewis (Twins #14), OF Gabriel Gonzales (Twins #7) and RHP Louie Varland for OF Taylor Ward. The Angels have expressed significant interest in adding pitching having already added Yusei Kikuchi. Acquiring near MLB ready Cory Lewis and already experienced Louie Varland helps boost the Angels rotation. The Twins are getting the perfect outfielder to replace Max Kepler at a lower price than signing Anthony Santander.

The fifth trade I would make is a deal sending UTIL Willi Castro to the Royals for C Freddy Fermin and RHP Blake Wolters (KC #4). This deal has the Royals getting another dynamic bat that can play multiple positions including filling their outfield need. The Twins are getting a cheap Christian Vasquez replacement and an intriguing pitching prospect that would slot well in our farm system.

The last trade would send RHP Jorge Alcala, RHP Eiberson Castellano (Twins #15), and C/OF Ricardo Olivar (Twins #16) for UTIL Brendan Donovan. The Twins get their Willi Castro replacement in Brendan Donovan who is arguably better and is cheaper. St. Louis receives two cheap pitchers and an OF/C prospect in Olivar.

There are only two free agent signings that I would make the first being for Walker Buehler on a 5 year $95,000,000 contract. The deal will also have a no trade clause and an opt-out after year two, however two extra years would be added on if certain requirements are met in the first two years unless he opts out again.

The other free agent signing I would make would be for Tommy Pham for one year $2,000,000. I would also sign RHP Brad Keller to a minor league deal.

Overall these signings will benefit the Twins while still being within their budget constraints.

• C: Ryan Jeffers ($4.70M)
• 1B: Ryan Mountcastle ($6.60M)
• 2B: Brooks Lee ($0.80M)
• 3B: Royce Lewis ($3M)
• SS: Carlos Correa ($36.00M)
• LF: Matt Wallner ($.80M)
• CF: Byron Buxton ($15.00M)
• RF: Taylor Ward ($8.75M)
• DH: Edouard Julien ($0.80M)
• 4th OF: Tommy Pham ($2M)
• Utility: Brendan Donovan ($4.0M)
• Utility: Austin Martin ($0.80M)
• Backup C: Freddy Fermin ($0.8M)
• NA: Brad Keller ($0.80M)
• SP1: Pablo Lopez ($21.50M)
• SP2: Joe Ryan ($3M)
• SP3: Bailey Ober ($4M)
• SP4: Walker Buehler ($10M)
• SP5: David Festa ($0.80M)
• 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: Justin Topa ($1.30M)
• RP: Michael Tonkin ($1.00M)
• RP: Kevin Kelly ($0.80M)
• NA: Hobie Harris ($0.80M)

Payroll is 5.35% over budget

[Mike Sixel]

A+ for creativity. Not sure I'd do all that, but creative!

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

23 hours ago, CoasterProductions said:

My off season blueprint has the Twins making a flurry of trades in hopes of improving the team and keeping payroll around the same.

My first move of the off-season is to trade RHP Chris Paddack and OF Yasser Mercedes (Twins #15) to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for Ryan Mountcastle. The Twins are getting a cost effective First Baseman and Baltimore is getting some much needed pitching depth in the potential absence of Corbin Burnes and Kyle Bradish.

My second trade woukd send C Christian Vázquez and INF Rayne Doncon (Twins #18) for RHP’s Hobie Harris and Quinn Priester. This is simply a salary dump for emergency AAA pitching depth. This however allows for more significant moves later.

The third Trade I would make sends LHP Connor Priellip (Twins #21), 3B/1B Rubel Cespedes (Twins #23), and RHP Adrian Bohorquez (Twins #29) for RHP Kevin Kelly and LHP Garrett Cleavinger. The Twins are getting two solid relief options for the bullpen at a bargain price and the Rays are getting 3 prospects including an intriguing one in Connor Priellip who would be perfect for the Rays pitching development.

The fourth trade I would make sends RHP Cory Lewis (Twins #14), OF Gabriel Gonzales (Twins #7) and RHP Louie Varland for OF Taylor Ward. The Angels have expressed significant interest in adding pitching having already added Yusei Kikuchi. Acquiring near MLB ready Cory Lewis and already experienced Louie Varland helps boost the Angels rotation. The Twins are getting the perfect outfielder to replace Max Kepler at a lower price than signing Anthony Santander.

The fifth trade I would make is a deal sending UTIL Willi Castro to the Royals for C Freddy Fermin and RHP Blake Wolters (KC #4). This deal has the Royals getting another dynamic bat that can play multiple positions including filling their outfield need. The Twins are getting a cheap Christian Vasquez replacement and an intriguing pitching prospect that would slot well in our farm system.

The last trade would send RHP Jorge Alcala, RHP Eiberson Castellano (Twins #15), and C/OF Ricardo Olivar (Twins #16) for UTIL Brendan Donovan. The Twins get their Willi Castro replacement in Brendan Donovan who is arguably better and is cheaper. St. Louis receives two cheap pitchers and an OF/C prospect in Olivar.

There are only two free agent signings that I would make the first being for Walker Buehler on a 5 year $95,000,000 contract. The deal will also have a no trade clause and an opt-out after year two, however two extra years would be added on if certain requirements are met in the first two years unless he opts out again.

The other free agent signing I would make would be for Tommy Pham for one year $2,000,000. I would also sign RHP Brad Keller to a minor league deal.

Overall these signings will benefit the Twins while still being within their budget constraints.

• C: Ryan Jeffers ($4.70M)
• 1B: Ryan Mountcastle ($6.60M)
• 2B: Brooks Lee ($0.80M)
• 3B: Royce Lewis ($3M)
• SS: Carlos Correa ($36.00M)
• LF: Matt Wallner ($.80M)
• CF: Byron Buxton ($15.00M)
• RF: Taylor Ward ($8.75M)
• DH: Edouard Julien ($0.80M)
• 4th OF: Tommy Pham ($2M)
• Utility: Brendan Donovan ($4.0M)
• Utility: Austin Martin ($0.80M)
• Backup C: Freddy Fermin ($0.8M)
• NA: Brad Keller ($0.80M)
• SP1: Pablo Lopez ($21.50M)
• SP2: Joe Ryan ($3M)
• SP3: Bailey Ober ($4M)
• SP4: Walker Buehler ($10M)
• SP5: David Festa ($0.80M)
• 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: Justin Topa ($1.30M)
• RP: Michael Tonkin ($1.00M)
• RP: Kevin Kelly ($0.80M)
• NA: Hobie Harris ($0.80M)

Payroll is 5.35% over budget

Nicely done. Hopefully this is the last off-season where the Twins have to worry about payroll constraints!