stringer bell’s 2025 Payroll Blueprint: stringer bell's overdue payroll blueprint

[stringer bell]

Late in the game, I will put this payroll blueprint together. I've updated the salaries with the arb settlements. This is a very little changed roster--adding only first baseman/outfielder Connor Joe and choosing Gasper to win a utility spot over Edouard Julien. The principal center field backups would be Martin and Castro. Shortstop backup would be Castro or Lee.

• C: Ryan Jeffers ($4.55M)
• 1B: Jose Miranda ($0.80M)
• 2B: Brooks Lee ($0.80M)
• 3B: Royce Lewis ($1.63M)
• SS: Carlos Correa ($36.00M)
• LF: Trevor Larnach ($2.10M)
• CF: Byron Buxton ($15.00M)
• RF: Matt Wallner ($0.80M)
• DH: Mickey Gasper ($0.80M)
• 4th OF: Austin Martin ($0.80M)
• Utility: Willi Castro ($6.40M)
• Utility: Connor Joe ($2.50M)
• Backup C: Christian Vazquez ($10.00M)
• NA: Dead Money Here ($0.00M)
• SP1: Pablo Lopez ($21.50M)
• SP2: Joe Ryan ($3.00M)
• SP3: Bailey Ober ($3.55M)
• SP4: Chris Paddack ($7.50M)
• SP5: Simeon Woods Richardson ($0.80M)
• RP: Jhoan Duran ($4.12M)
• RP: Brock Stewart ($0.87M)
• RP: Griffin Jax ($2.33M)
• RP: Jorge Alcala ($1.50M)
• RP: Cole Sands ($0.80M)
• RP: Justin Topa ($1.22M)
• RP: Louie Varland ($0.80M)
• RP: Kody Funderburk ($0.80M)
• NA: Dead Money Here ($3.00M)

Payroll is 2.96% over budget

[tony&rodney]

Good. Little late to the show though, don't ya think?

84 wins?

[stringer bell]

15 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

Good. Little late to the show though, don't ya think?

84 wins?

84 is in the neighborhood. It's going to depend on injuries, of course. The Twins are counting on a lot of unproven players, which is why they shouldn't be favored to win the division.

[thelanges5]

Be nice to do more than sign Joe or a Joe-type but that is the state we’re in. 
 

Unless Zoll has a trick up his sleeve?

[tony&rodney]

Goodbye Joe, hello Bader. Win projection 85?

[tony&rodney]

On 2/3/2025 at 6:33 PM, stringer bell said:

Late in the game, I will put this payroll blueprint together. I've updated the salaries with the arb settlements. This is a very little changed roster--adding only first baseman/outfielder Connor Joe and choosing Gasper to win a utility spot over Edouard Julien. The principal center field backups would be Martin and Castro. Shortstop backup would be Castro or Lee.

• C: Ryan Jeffers ($4.55M)
• 1B: Jose Miranda ($0.80M)
• 2B: Brooks Lee ($0.80M)
• 3B: Royce Lewis ($1.63M)
• SS: Carlos Correa ($36.00M)
• LF: Trevor Larnach ($2.10M)
• CF: Byron Buxton ($15.00M)
• RF: Matt Wallner ($0.80M)
• DH: Mickey Gasper ($0.80M)
• 4th OF: Austin Martin ($0.80M)
• Utility: Willi Castro ($6.40M)
• Utility: Connor Joe ($2.50M)
• Backup C: Christian Vazquez ($10.00M)
• NA: Dead Money Here ($0.00M)
• SP1: Pablo Lopez ($21.50M)
• SP2: Joe Ryan ($3.00M)
• SP3: Bailey Ober ($3.55M)
• SP4: Chris Paddack ($7.50M)
• SP5: Simeon Woods Richardson ($0.80M)
• RP: Jhoan Duran ($4.12M)
• RP: Brock Stewart ($0.87M)
• RP: Griffin Jax ($2.33M)
• RP: Jorge Alcala ($1.50M)
• RP: Cole Sands ($0.80M)
• RP: Justin Topa ($1.22M)
• RP: Louie Varland ($0.80M)
• RP: Kody Funderburk ($0.80M)
• NA: Dead Money Here ($3.00M)

Payroll is 2.96% over budget

You should go back to October 31 and build your team with a $150 million 26 person payroll.

[ashbury]

13 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

You should go back to October 31 and build your team with a $150 million 26 person payroll.

I declined to even try, given my understanding of the payroll constraints the FO was under.  This higher limit would at least have been some fun to work with.