Will Pohlad Family Cut Minnesota Twins Payroll Another $30 Million in 2026? Dan Hayes Thinks So

[Matthew Trueblood]

Image courtesy of © Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

In the wake of the team's aggressive moves at the trade deadline and the subsequent announcement that the Pohlad family will retain control of the franchise, Twins fans have spent much of the last three weeks wondering whether the team will enjoy more investment from ownership over the next few years. On the contrary, when he appeared on the YouTube show "Foul Territory" on August 14, The Athletic beat writer Dan Hayes speculated that payroll will shrink in 2026—perhaps by $30 million or more.

It's too early to assume this is an accurate projection; that's why Hayes himself has yet to write a story around that forecast. It will be at least mid-October before the team settles on its budget for 2026, and even then, we saw more money shake loose for the team late last offseason. Teams don't make final decisions about how to allocate resources for the coming offseason in August; Hayes's reporting is strictly based on background chatter and his own assessment of the team's payroll as it projects right now.

We can already begin to do that assessment ourselves, though, and it's not terribly hard to see what Hayes is seeing—especially if one assumes, as is always wise, that he's plugged in as well as is possible to the team's thinking at this early stage of turning toward next year. Let's take a look at the current payroll picture, to understand what it means when Hayes speculates such a slashing of spending this winter.

Locked-in Money
It makes sense to start with the player who isn't going anywhere, and the monetary obligation that can't be traded. The former is Byron Buxton, who continues to profess his love of playing for the Twins and who has a no-trade clause. The $15 million he'll make in 2026 is a non-negotiable cornerstone of the payroll, just as he's the cornerstone of the team.

The other cornerstone was supposed to be Carlos Correa, of course, but he went to Houston via trade on July 31. In the process, the Twins agreed to pay the Astros $10 million per year from 2026 through 2028. (In case you're wondering, trading obligations like those in other, later deals is not allowed.) That brings us quickly to $25 million, and there are still 25 Opening Day roster spots to fill. Let's talk, then, about the guys who will soak up the majority of the remaining money—unless they're sent packing.

Big But Movable
Unlike Buxton, Pablo López doesn't have a no-trade clause in the extension he signed with the team in 2023. He's set to make $21.5 million in 2026, but it's not at all clear that the Twins will be the ones paying that. López is a great pitcher and an even better presence in the clubhouse, but for those very reasons, he'll also have terrific trade value this winter. For the moment, stack him with Buxton and the ghost of Correa and we're up to $46.5 million, but it wouldn't be surprising at all if he's dealt.

Two players are in line to receive smaller but substantial salaries via the arbitration process this winter, too. Ryan Jeffers will be arbitration-eligible for the final time before becoming a free agent at the end of the 2026 season, and is already making $4.55 million this year. Expect that number to be around $7.5 million next year. Joe Ryan could make just as much, despite only being in his second year of arbitration eligibility; being one year further from free agency; and making just $3 million this year. His All-Star season and career-best run of health and reliability will send that number skyward.

Both Ryan and Jeffers are good candidates for contract extensions, but at this moment, it's hard to guess whether the Twins see themselves as being in position to offer them those deals. Certainly, the deadline fire sale did little to engender any interest in such a commitment from the players' side. Right now, let's call this group $36.5 million in projected salary—but write it in pencil, instead of pen.

Stalled-Out Players in Arbitration Phase
Ryan and Jeffers have had strong years, and Jeffers is at a stage of the arbitration cycle where players get more earning power almost by default. Thus, they're likely to get the hefty raises we just described. On the other hand, Bailey Ober ($3.55 million), Trevor Larnach ($2.1 million) and Royce Lewis ($1.625 million) are all having inconsistent, even discouraging seasons after their first trips through arbitration. None of them will get to what Jeffers and Ryan will make next year.

Ober has been the best of that set and has the highest platform salary, so it's possible he'll make $7 million. Some of that, like everything else we're talking about here, depends on how the final six weeks of the season go. Larnach could be in line to make as much as $5 million, but if the Twins project him to earn that much, he's likely to be non-tendered. A better estimate might be $4.5 million. Lewis should get to the north side of $3 million, but his season has been a disaster and he has less earning power than Larnach right now.

We'll use that same pencil, again, to write in $15.5 million for these three. Along with the bundles above, we're up to $77 million already. But now, we get to the part where the team racks up some savings.

Locked in at the League Minimum
Several players whom the team seems almost certain to retain won't be eligible for arbitration even next year. Each of them represents a roster spot for which the club will only pay roughly $800,000 over the full season. In rough order of clear utility and security as parts of the team's future, those guys are:

• Luke Keaschall
• Brooks Lee
• Zebby Matthews
• Simeon Woods Richardson
• Matt Wallner
• David Festa

That's a vital sextet for the team, and it'll cost only $4.8 million. Though their places are not quite as established or secure, another handful of players in the same bracket can also be penciled in, averaging that same $800,000 per person.

• Alan Roden
• Mick Abel
• Taj Bradley
• James Outman
• Austin Martin
• Edouard Julien
• Kody Funderburk

This is half a roster (although not a very good one) making a total of just $10.4 million. If we discount the possibility of non-tendering Larnach or trading any of the López-Jeffers-Ryan class, for now, we're at 20 roster spots accounted for and $87.4 million. There are just a few more cases to consider, before we start imagining all of this in a more concrete way.

Low-Dollar Arb Dudes
We're putting them last, but almost no one has a safer roster spot for next year than this small group of guys who have almost no earning power and have played major roles on the 2025 team. Kody Clemens is almost a lock to get over the line and be eligible for arbitration as a Super Two guy. Cole Sands will have more than three years of service time, so he's automatically eligible, and Justin Topa will be eligible for the final time before becoming a free agent. Even before the fire sale, these guys had roles on the big-league team, but Clemens has been the starting first baseman for weeks now and Topa and Sands are the aces of this war-torn bullpen.

Multiple Twins have pointed to Clemens as one of the best teammates in the whole clubhouse. Though he's not an elite slugger, he's more than worth the paltry $1.3 million he might make next year. Ditto for Sands and Topa. As a group, these three might get to $5 million, or they might not even make it that far. It would be a mild shock to see the team non-tender any of them, although they'll probably draw a hard line with each and keep them only if they can get a deal done before arbitration figures need to be exchanged.

What's Left to Do, and What's Left to Do It With
We're over $92 million now, and the team we're sketching is not a good one. There are just a few roster spots left to fill, but trades or non-tenders could create another four or five such spots. It sure seems like, even if the Twins have only $100 million or $110 million to spend on 2026, they have money to spend in free agency. The question is how much—and whether those free agents will be tasked with replacing more outgoing guys, or with filling the gaps left by last month's trades (bullpen depth, the back end of the rotation, the outfield) and by expected free-agent departures (backup catcher).

Twins fans are right to demand real upgrades, rather than such patches. The team has several great prospects in the upper levels of the minors who should make their debuts next year, but they also have several players penciled into major roles who were great prospects a few years ago and now look like parts of the problem, rather than the solution. If Hayes is correct in his speculation, though, no such influx of high-end talent is forthcoming. The Twins can run a payroll around $30 million lower than this year's even if they keep López, Ryan and Jeffers, but in that case, they're likely to be back in the same place next July, and perhaps those three would be traded then. For the club to move forward and have a more successful 2026, it seems as though they'll need to either match (or increase) spending or make savvy trades of at least one of that high-earning trio. Since Hayes's ballpark figure makes the former feel unlikely, the latter possibility will continue to be a hot topic as the offseason comes into view on the horizon.

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[Mahoning]

One thing we know we WON’T get from the Twins is candor.

[Glorybound]

On the radio broadcast yesterday the Diamond Player of the game was a five year old that caught a foul ball. Maybe Falvey can get his phone number. He probably would play for just some candy. Well maybe throw in a hot dog and beer for his mom and dad. Likely would be more entertaining than this group of wanderers.

[Cory Engelhardt]

You mean to tell me that when the Pohlads say they want to win that they may not mean exactly that? Ugh

[thelanges5]

Might be hard to attract free agents into this mess if there is any money. I’m still holding on to a tiny shred of hope that the limited partners are good and that they will help guide this ship. 

[Nshore]

What would Mr. Potter in "It's a Wonderful Life" do?

[tarheeltwinsfan]

This is a discouraging article because it makes sense, given the Twins history the past  5-10 years.  Far be it from me to tell other people how to spend their money. However, if I were the owner of the Twins and lived in Minnesota, I would be tired of my friends and acquaintances  complaining to me about the Twins. I would either spend the money necessary  to be successful, or sell the team. But that's just me. I care what other people think about me. I like to be around happy people, rather than hear constant complaints. I would spend the money to build a winning team, just for the joy and pride it would bring to my community. To put a spin on a famous baseball quote from the movie, "Field of Dreams", 'If you build it, they ( the pride and joy, plus the money) will come". I hate half-assed efforts in any endeavor. 

[CRF]

Yeah, sure...they're committed to building a competitive winning team here. 

[Dennesey55347]

The past decade has been the beginning of the end of quality Twins baseball. It's also the end of the difference-making, offensive free agent era, unless we overpay. Every talented position player brought up from the minors turns out to be another underdeveloped, expendable guy the Twins hold onto for too long. The current tank might net us yet another solid player, but I already know his fate based on the dozens before him. Fully detached, personally, but glance at stats here and there after checking on the quality org's players first. So, so many exciting studs out there.

On a positive note, trimming payroll increases the chances of having a row of seats all to myself should I ever purchase a ticket. 

 

 

[Doug Y]

If they trade Pablo Lopez and Joe Ryan, it’s a 3-4 year rebuild. The Pohlad’s are terrible owners, but don’t you think it’s about time for a salary floor and salary cap?

[hitterscount]

I'll save the Pohlands 8 million. Dump Rocco and I will manage the team for 2 mil....1 million if you keep Lopez, Ryan and bring up Abel next year. That's the offer, waiting by the phone.

[Jack207]

I really don't understand how people are going to games. 

[JD-TWINS]

I got lost in the $$ spent:

Buxton $15M ……. Lopez $21.5M…….Ryan & Jeffers at $7.5M each = $51.5M

Lewis - Ober - Larnach at $15M max. = $66.5M

Topa - Sands -Clemens at $5M total

16other guys at $800K is a total of $12.8M = $85M.

Maybe I’m missing something - a guy? Maybe you too have the same total - I didn’t see how to get there? 

My hope is they spend up to $125M and the team is filled out with a couple PEN helpers and a couple hitters, one being a Catcher…….maybe 2 Catchers if Jeffers can play 1B and be 3rd Catcher(optimal to me).

Do we think new partners threw in $400M to be bad and not generate positive ROI?…….$125M ……maybe as low as $115M. They spent $154M in ‘23.

[Doctor Wu]

53 minutes ago, thelanges5 said:

Might be hard to attract free agents into this mess if there is any money.

That's the catch. IF by any slim chance they want or are able to spend money on free agents, based on the recent Twins history, I can't see us as an attractive team to play for. 

[AlGoreRythm]

28 minutes ago, hitterscount said:

I'll save the Pohlands 8 million. Dump Rocco and I will manage the team for 2 mil....1 million if you keep Lopez, Ryan and bring up Abel next year. That's the offer, waiting by the phone.

You think Rocco is making 10M/yr to manage this team? I think that's a gross overestimate. Did you see that number somewhere? Where's it coming from?

I can't imagine he makes any more than 2-3M, but probably more likely between 1-2M.

Most managers don't make anywhere near 10M.

From a Bob Nightengale USA Today article in 2023:

There are only six managers in the game who are scheduled to earn at least $3 million in 2024, led by Padres manager Bob Melvin’s $4 million salaries, according to USA TODAY’s research: Bochy, Melvin, Buck Showalter (fired), Dave Martinez, Roberts and Alex Cora. 

[Patzky]

29 minutes ago, hitterscount said:

I'll save the Pohlands 8 million. Dump Rocco and I will manage the team for 2 mil....1 million if you keep Lopez, Ryan and bring up Abel next year. That's the offer, waiting by the phone.

Tell them you'll continue using the contact play and you're in.

[AlGoreRythm]

22 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

I got lost in the $$ spent:

Buxton $15M ……. Lopez $21.5M…….Ryan & Jeffers at $7.5M each = $51.5M

Lewis - Ober - Larnach at $15M max. = $66.5M

Topa - Sands -Clemens at $5M total

16other guys at $800K is a total of $12.8M = $85M.

Maybe I’m missing something - a guy? Maybe you too have the same total - I didn’t see how to get there? 

My hope is they spend up to $125M and the team is filled out with a couple PEN helpers and a couple hitters, one being a Catcher…….maybe 2 Catchers if Jeffers can play 1B and be 3rd Catcher(optimal to me).

Do we think new partners threw in $400M to be bad and not generate positive ROI?…….$125M ……maybe as low as $115M. They spent $154M in ‘23.

You missed the 10M/yr they have to send the Astros for taking back Correa.

Also they're going to make back their money being bad easier than if they were good. It's harder to make money by spending the money required to provide a good product or service. Easier to just squeeze everyone involved including customers and employees. Look at how most large businesses operate now a days. Making things worse often leads to more money for those making the decisions, even if it hurts every other person down the line.

[Major League Ready]

I guess I have a different idea of what should happen during a rebuild phase or perhaps some fans don't want to accept they are in a rebuild phase.  Detroit and KC did not add meaningful free agents during their rebuild and that is the norm with any rebuilding team.   The entire premise of a rebuild is to replace mediocre aging / expensive players with younger higher upside players.  Once that core is set, fill in missing pieces from free agency.  What would be the point in adding any veterans with the exception of the BP next year?  All that would do is block prospects that could be part of the solution.

It seems like a fair number of people are in denial that they are rebuilding.  If Pablo is healthy (tradeable) there is a very good chance he is traded, and the payroll will be $75-80M even if they add a couple RPs.  The plan should not be devised to win 75 games instead of 70.  It should be to build a new core and eventual contender.

 

[rv78]

They can get plenty of Free Agents to come here. There will always be guys that no one else wants, you know, the leftovers that they wait for every year after other teams take the cream off the top. With the same Owners and Front Office in charge, their strategy won't change.

[Major League Ready]

Here is a projected payroll for next year.  Of course, we have to make some assumptions.  I come up with around $77M if they trade Pable and Ryan which I suspect they will.  Larnach is traded as well.  This also includes adding two RPs at a salary of $5M each.  Correa's $10M is included.

There are a couple other assumptions here that don't mean much in terms of payroll.  Culpepper eventually takes over for Lee at SS moving Lee to a utility IF role.  The year starts with Fitzgerald in that utility role but it could be Eeles or they could sign a Wili Castro equivalent for a bench role.  Of course, the return for Ryan/Lopez has a good chance of containing pieces that fit in at some point in 2026.

1	Bailey Ober	7,000,000
2	Zebby Matthews	820,000
3	Taj Bradley	820,000
4	David Festa	820,000
5	SWR	820,000
	Relief Pitchers
6	Cole Sands	820,000
7	LH Free Agent	5,000,000
8	RH Free Agent	5,000,000
9	Michael Tonkin	1,750,000
10	Justin Topa	1,750,000
11	Travis Adams	820,000
12	Andrew Morris	820,000
13	Funderburk	820,000
	Catchers
14	Ryan Jeffers	6,500,000
15	Cardenas  /  Trade  /  FA	6,000,000
	Infielders
1B	Fedko / Julien / Sabato	820,000
2B	Luke Keaschall	820,000
3B	Royce Lewis	3,000,000
SS	Brooks Lee  >>> Kaelen Culpepper	820,000
	Utility Players
20	Kody Clemens	820,000
21	Fitzgerald  >>>  Brooks Lee	820,000
22	Kyler Fedko	820,000
23	Wallner  >>> Gonzalez / Rosario	2,200,000
	Outfielders
24	Wallner  >>> Jenkins	820,000
25	Byron Buxton  CF	15,142,857
26	Roden  >>> Gonzalez or Erod	820,000
	Carlos Correa	10,000,000
	TOTAL PAYROLL	76,462,857

[Woof Bronzer]

I'd be more interested in an argument for why the Pohlads WON'T be running lean payrolls.  Does anyone seriously think they did what they did at the deadline for baseball reasons?  What in the Pohlads history for the past 3 decades would lead anyone to believe they are going to suddenly care about winning?  

It's a lot easier to understand the Pohlads when you understand that everything they do is related to money.  They do not care about the baseball at all.    

They brought on a couple investors to pay off their debt (billionaire rule #1: never ever spend your own money if you can spend someone else's instead), so the goal for the next few years will be paying back the investors.  They'll drive costs down as far as they can.  From a baseball perspective the goal will be to field A Team.  Not a good team, not a serious team, not a well-constructed team, but just a list of cheap players that fill out a roster.  (For a preview, look at their current roster.)  They'll sign a bunch of 34-year old washups on 1 year deals and keep young guys in the minors as long as they can save a few arb nickels in 2032.  Just a collection of guys they can trot out at Target Field 81 times a year for that sweet, sweet gate.  

They're not reloading, they're not rebuilding, they're just recalibrating the operating budget downward.  

[In My La Z boy]

29 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

I guess I have a different idea of what should happen during a rebuild phase or perhaps some fans don't want to accept they are in a rebuild phase.  Detroit and KC did not add meaningful free agents during their rebuild and that is the norm with any rebuilding team.   The entire premise of a rebuild is to replace mediocre aging / expensive players with younger higher upside players.  Once that core is set, fill in missing pieces from free agency.  What would be the point in adding any veterans with the exception of the BP next year?  All that would do is block prospects that could be part of the solution.

It seems like a fair number of people are in denial that they are rebuilding.  If Pablo is healthy (tradeable) there is a very good chance he is traded, and the payroll will be $75-80M even if they add a couple RPs.  The plan should not be devised to win 75 games instead of 70.  It should be to build a new core and eventual contender.

 

🎯
Classic Twins lack of forthright communication. We've been in denial about a rebuild because no one has told us we're rebuilding. We have to come to our own conclusions because this front office won't tell us where we're going. No question orders were given to tear it down IF we trade Pablo & Joe - and IF we trade them, no doubt we trade Ober's $7M. Why keep him for $7M when we could keep Joe for $7.5M? I fear NOT trading Pablo and trying to split the difference once again between a partial rebuild and staying competitive, which doesn't work. At this point we MUST trade Pablo's salary, but trading Joe isn't necessary. If we stink by next July, we still receive a haul for him.

[hitterscount]

42 minutes ago, AlGoreRythm said:

You think Rocco is making 10M/yr to manage this team? I think that's a gross overestimate. Did you see that number somewhere? Where's it coming from?

I can't imagine he makes any more than 2-3M, but probably more likely between 1-2M.

Most managers don't make anywhere near 10M.

From a Bob Nightengale USA Today article in 2023:

There are only six managers in the game who are scheduled to earn at least $3 million in 2024, led by Padres manager Bob Melvin’s $4 million salaries, according to USA TODAY’s research: Bochy, Melvin, Buck Showalter (fired), Dave Martinez, Roberts and Alex Cora. 

I googled what he's making, it said he signed a 3/30 million $ contract in 2022.  It didn't mention a option , but if there was I'm guessing it wouldn't be a paycut.

 

43 minutes ago, AlGoreRythm said:

You think Rocco is making 10M/yr to manage this team? I think that's a gross overestimate. Did you see that number somewhere? Where's it coming from?

I can't imagine he makes any more than 2-3M, but probably more likely between 1-2M.

Most managers don't make anywhere near 10M.

From a Bob Nightengale USA Today article in 2023:

There are only six managers in the game who are scheduled to earn at least $3 million in 2024, led by Padres manager Bob Melvin’s $4 million salaries, according to USA TODAY’s research: Bochy, Melvin, Buck Showalter (fired), Dave Martinez, Roberts and Alex Cora. 

 

[jmlease1]

I'm feeling quite confident the Cheap Pohlads will cut payroll to $100M or less. They're already putting word out that they were losing $40M this season on a payroll in the $140M range. They've burned down the team out of competition for 2026 without real investment (which no one should expect), so why would they lose money on a losing team? (this is all presuming you believe anything the Pohlads say about money, which no one should without audited financials in front of you).

$95M feels like the ceiling, and $75M feels like the floor. It sucks. Sick of this ownership.

 

[terrydactyls]

37 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

Here is a projected payroll for next year.  Of course, we have to make some assumptions.  I come up with around $77M if they trade Pable and Ryan which I suspect they will.  Larnach is traded as well.  This also includes adding two RPs at a salary of $5M each.  Correa's $10M is included.

There are a couple other assumptions here that don't mean much in terms of payroll.  Culpepper eventually takes over for Lee at SS moving Lee to a utility IF role.  The year starts with Fitzgerald in that utility role but it could be Eeles or they could sign a Wili Castro equivalent for a bench role.  Of course, the return for Ryan/Lopez has a good chance of containing pieces that fit in at some point in 2026.

1	Bailey Ober	7,000,000
2	Zebby Matthews	820,000
3	Taj Bradley	820,000
4	David Festa	820,000
5	SWR	820,000
	Relief Pitchers
6	Cole Sands	820,000
7	LH Free Agent	5,000,000
8	RH Free Agent	5,000,000
9	Michael Tonkin	1,750,000
10	Justin Topa	1,750,000
11	Travis Adams	820,000
12	Andrew Morris	820,000
13	Funderburk	820,000
	Catchers
14	Ryan Jeffers	6,500,000
15	Cardenas  /  Trade  /  FA	6,000,000
	Infielders
1B	Fedko / Julien / Sabato	820,000
2B	Luke Keaschall	820,000
3B	Royce Lewis	3,000,000
SS	Brooks Lee  >>> Kaelen Culpepper	820,000
	Utility Players
20	Kody Clemens	820,000
21	Fitzgerald  >>>  Brooks Lee	820,000
22	Kyler Fedko	820,000
23	Wallner  >>> Gonzalez / Rosario	2,200,000
	Outfielders
24	Wallner  >>> Jenkins	820,000
25	Byron Buxton  CF	15,142,857
26	Roden  >>> Gonzalez or Erod	820,000
	Carlos Correa	10,000,000
	TOTAL PAYROLL	76,462,857

A question about position #23.  Wouldn't Wallner>>>Gonzales/Rosario make league minimum instead of the $2.2M you have?

[Woof Bronzer]

4 minutes ago, jmlease1 said:

They're already putting word out that they were losing $40M this season on a payroll in the $140M range. 

If so I hope fans don't fall for this, and I hope local media doesn't fall for this and print this Pohlad propaganda uncritically.

If they were losing $40mil/year - or $4m/year, or $4/year - they would have sold the team for a song.  

If they were losing $40mil/year no investor on the planet would sign on.  

The Pohlads are not losing money.  

[Doctor Gast]

Twins had a very competitive core but did nothing real to complement it over these years. After gutting it why should they try now? The real problem is management, so just as well strip it down to the studs. IMO, Ryan would want out & he'll get a big bump. Just as well get rid of Lopez. I'd love to sign Jeffers to a reasonable extension because we have nobody! But as a Boras client, he won't want to sign an extension. Normally, under these conditions, Falvey would trade him. But with players that he really wants, he'll overpay, so I expect him to pay Jeffers an exorbitant extension no matter what. Making the excuse that he had no other option, Wrong! 

Although it makes perfect sense to tear it down completely, under these circumstances, they created. If they trade Ryan, Lopez & or Jeffers, they'll bloat the system with good prospects they can't develop properly & those they can't fit on the roster, they lose to other teams via Rule 5 draft, who can develop them. So they can keep Ryan, Lopez & Jeffers & be bad or they can trade them away, save more money, lose prospects that we traded for, via Rule 5 draft which is very inefficient & be horridly bad. They didn't think this through very well. They are damned if they do & damned if they don't, w/o any path that leads to success until they are long gone.

[tony&rodney]

47 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

Here is a projected payroll for next year.  Of course, we have to make some assumptions.  I come up with around $77M if they trade Pable and Ryan which I suspect they will.  Larnach is traded as well.  This also includes adding two RPs at a salary of $5M each.  Correa's $10M is included.

There are a couple other assumptions here that don't mean much in terms of payroll.  Culpepper eventually takes over for Lee at SS moving Lee to a utility IF role.  The year starts with Fitzgerald in that utility role but it could be Eeles or they could sign a Wili Castro equivalent for a bench role.  Of course, the return for Ryan/Lopez has a good chance of containing pieces that fit in at some point in 2026.

1	Bailey Ober	7,000,000
2	Zebby Matthews	820,000
3	Taj Bradley	820,000
4	David Festa	820,000
5	SWR	820,000
	Relief Pitchers
6	Cole Sands	820,000
7	LH Free Agent	5,000,000
8	RH Free Agent	5,000,000
9	Michael Tonkin	1,750,000
10	Justin Topa	1,750,000
11	Travis Adams	820,000
12	Andrew Morris	820,000
13	Funderburk	820,000
	Catchers
14	Ryan Jeffers	6,500,000
15	Cardenas  /  Trade  /  FA	6,000,000
	Infielders
1B	Fedko / Julien / Sabato	820,000
2B	Luke Keaschall	820,000
3B	Royce Lewis	3,000,000
SS	Brooks Lee  >>> Kaelen Culpepper	820,000
	Utility Players
20	Kody Clemens	820,000
21	Fitzgerald  >>>  Brooks Lee	820,000
22	Kyler Fedko	820,000
23	Wallner  >>> Gonzalez / Rosario	2,200,000
	Outfielders
24	Wallner  >>> Jenkins	820,000
25	Byron Buxton  CF	15,142,857
26	Roden  >>> Gonzalez or Erod	820,000
	Carlos Correa	10,000,000
	TOTAL PAYROLL	76,462,857

My napkin would have this as the peak payroll.

If the club is proactive they look to trade all of Lopez, Ryan, and Ober from the pitching side. Matthews, Festa, Abel, Woods Richardson, Morris, and others are capable of innings in losing games and have the talent to learn for when they can win. The return from our current top three is important. Can the front office manage to acquire talent? 

There isn't any reason to keep any of Jeffers, Lewis, Wallner, or Larnach. Just like the immortal Willie Norwood, we have seen what they bring to the game. The only reason to keep any of these guys is if no other team wants them. I believe there will be decent demand. Can the front office manage to acquire talent?

It is understandable that folks see hope in the roster, and particularly for a few players they may favor, but realism has shown that this current collection is not capable of hitting, running, and fielding. That is a sorry combination for entertainment much less playing competitive baseball. Look over the free agent list for the coming year and you will see little reason to spend other than on a few relief pitchers. Players like Tucker, Bellinger, and Schwarber are not answering calls or texts from the Twins. A payroll above $100 million seems almost impossible to reach unless the team signs a pile of no longer relevant tired vets. Forget the payroll and hope for some exciting talent to be acquired.

There should be some opportunities to acquire talent. The real question, for me, is whether the organization has the ability to complete meaningful transactions. If the Twins can pull off 5-7 trades this coming offseason to acquire talent there is a good chance the team is competitive in a couple of years. If they cannot there is bound to be a decade or more of looking up at the White Sox.

[Major League Ready]

8 minutes ago, In My La Z boy said:

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Classic Twins lack of forthright communication. We've been in denial about a rebuild because no one has told us we're rebuilding. We have to come to our own conclusions because this front office won't tell us where we're going. No question orders were given to tear it down IF we trade Pablo & Joe - and IF we trade them, no doubt we trade Ober's $7M. Why keep him for $7M when we could keep Joe for $7.5M? I fear NOT trading Pablo and trying to split the difference once again between a partial rebuild and staying competitive, which doesn't work. At this point we MUST trade Pablo's salary, but trading Joe isn't necessary. If we stink by next July, we still receive a haul for him.

Why must we trade Pablo's salary?  With him they are still under $100M.   Ryan will be the first to be traded because he would bring back two top 100 prospects and one of them would be a 1-3 ranked prospect for most teams.  Those are key components in getting to the next level.   Then, trade whichever player brings back the best package between Pablo and Ober.  Keep one of them around for veteran presence.  Pablo impresses me as the better veteran presence. 

Waiting until the deadline to trade Ryan is a huge mistake unless for some reason a great return is not presented this winter.  The return should be better this winter and they avoid injury risk.   My guess is that Ryan is by far the most likely of the three to be traded.  Keeping him would be a failure to commit to a rebuild which is the would be truly unfortunate.   

This would leave us with Ober/Matthews/Festa/SWR/Bradley/Able/Morris who are ready and a couple of Rojas / Raya / Prelipp / Culpepper and should be ready at some point in 2026.  Of course, it's possible perhaps even likely they get a SP for Ryan or Ober that will be ready for 2026 or at some point in 2026.

[P Meyer]

Agree that this shouldn't be a shock. I imagine some FAs will be added to the bullpen and that is probably it. They are going to let the young players play. There aren't many spots where it makes sense to add cheap MLB vets. It's largely going to be the same team we are seeing now.