Five Pohlad Family Minnesota Twins Payroll Levels, and What They'll Mean

[old nurse]

There is the old saying you get what you pay for  The streaming is bringing in so much money that baseball is looking at ending it. Fan attendance is down. The 23 Twins were in first place for nearly the whole season. Maybe 100,000 mor fans than the year before. Winning and great individual performance did not draw crowds. That is how a team has to come up with a “right size” budget plan. They did not come out for a winning team. 

[Riverbrian]

21 hours ago, chpettit19 said:

The Mets were in the NLCS last season. They were a wild card team in 2022. Yes, spending doesn't guarantee winning, and it's not always going to be the top 6 payrolls in each league making the playoffs. But it isn't hard to find the multitude of studies showing that payroll and winning in Major League Baseball are correlated. Pointing to 3 outliers and saying it's "mystifying" is pretty wild. The highest spending teams in baseball win more than the lower spending teams. It's been this way for a long time. 

I think you should do some research on the overall correlation between payroll and record before calling anything "outright stupid." I'll help out with this handy little chart to start. Yes, there's a handful of overachievers and the Angels being way off, but otherwise it's a pretty clear correlation. Payroll matters.

There is absolutely no doubt that Money Matters. There is absolutely no question that the Dodgers, Yankees, Mets and Phillies have an enormous payroll advantage. There is absolutely no question that there is a correlation between money spent and winning. 

There should also absolutely be no doubt that the Twins don't have money. Never had it... Never will. 

So... that Blue oval of overachievers is what they need to be because they won't be in the Green rectangle.   

[chpettit19]

1 hour ago, old nurse said:

Consider that a 4 year window is only but a glimpse at what a team does. Adjust your window by a couple of years and you have a little different results 

Do it. Provide the data. I'm happy to admit I'm wrong and spending doesn't matter. Show me the data.

[chpettit19]

3 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

There is absolutely no doubt that Money Matters. There is absolutely no question that the Dodgers, Yankees, Mets and Phillies have an enormous payroll advantage. There is absolutely no question that there is a correlation between money spent and winning. 

 

 

There should also absolutely be no doubt that the Twins don't have money. Never had it... Never will. 

So... that Blue oval of overachievers is what they need to be because they won't be in the Green rectangle.   

For sure. But this article laid out a wide variety of payrolls. A poster suggested that was "outright stupid" because spending doesn't matter. The difference between an 80 mil payroll and an 160 mil payroll absolutely matters. That's the difference between the As and the Mariners. It's huge. It matters. And people should care about the Twins ability and willingness to spend.

[old nurse]

40 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

Do it. Provide the data. I'm happy to admit I'm wrong and spending doesn't matter. Show me the data.

where did I say that spending did not have an influence or matter. In small windows you can eliminate the outliers, which you effectively did. If I want to return the favor of twisting words, I could say that your post proves that it is hopeless for the Twins to ever compete because they do not have the resources to compete. 

[Fatbat]

At this point, just buy back a bullpen guy or two and roll with a bunch of rookies. We aren’t getting the top tier FA’s and there is no reason to bargain shop for anyone. 

[Riverbrian]

52 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

For sure. But this article laid out a wide variety of payrolls. A poster suggested that was "outright stupid" because spending doesn't matter. The difference between an 80 mil payroll and an 160 mil payroll absolutely matters. That's the difference between the As and the Mariners. It's huge. It matters. And people should care about the Twins ability and willingness to spend.

Outright stupid is a bit strong and those two words (or is it three words) just doesn't cover the ground that nuance lays before all of us.  

I just wanted to point that I recognize the complication and I recognize the disadvantage and the roll that payroll plays in success if applied properly.

At the same time I believe that money isn't what will dig us out of this and I'm under the impression that many fans believe that money cures all.  

Your graph is accurate... your graph has value. Regardless... we need to divert our eyes from the Green Rectangle.

We need to build that solid 80 million payroll team that can take advantage of the extra 80 million spent. If we ever spend it. 

Develop to become Milwaukee with money. Develop to be Cleveland with Money. 

In regards to the article. There are multiple ways back to contention. From Trading Ryan and Lopez to keeping Ryan and Lopez and everything in between... money plays a big role in the path chosen forward.   

 

 

[chpettit19]

2 minutes ago, old nurse said:

where did I say that spending did not have an influence or matter. In small windows you can eliminate the outliers, which you effectively did. If I want to return the favor of twisting words, I could say that your post proves that it is hopeless for the Twins to ever compete because they do not have the resources to compete. 

I didn't eliminate outliers. There is a category of "overachievers," and the Angels are called out as well as an underachiever. The outliers are literally highlighted.

And, FYI, I didn't do anything. That isn't my chart. I pulled it from a much larger article about the finances of MLB from much smarter people than me.

[chpettit19]

1 minute ago, Riverbrian said:

Outright stupid is a bit strong and those two words (or is it three words) just doesn't cover the ground that nuance lays before all of us.  

I just wanted to point that I recognize the complication and I recognize the disadvantage and the roll that payroll plays in success if applied properly.

At the same time I believe that money isn't what will dig us out of this and I'm under the impression that many fans believe that money cures all.  

Your graph is accurate... your graph has value. Regardless... we need to divert our eyes from the Green Rectangle.

We need to build that solid 80 million payroll team that can take advantage of the extra 80 million spent. If we ever spend it. 

Develop to become Milwaukee with money. Develop to be Cleveland with Money. 

In regards to the article. There are multiple ways to go back. From Trading Ryan and Lopez to keeping Ryan and Lopez and money plays a big role in the path chosen forward.   

 

 

The Dodgers, Yankees, Mets, and everyone else in the green box need to develop too. Development is the life blood of every major league organization. You know I'm fully on board with your "develop or die" stance. Carlos Correa's deal didn't kill the Twins, the failure to develop even a singular consistent MLB starting position player around him did. The Yankees and Dodgers can pay for studs, but they also develop the Judges and Kershaws of the world. They develop the prospects needed to win the bidding wars for the Betts and Stantons. They develop Buehler and Schlittler. Will Smith and Ben Rice. The Mets struggle because Vientos turns back into a pumpkin, Mauricio doesn't live up to the hype, and Francisco Alvarez can't quite get over the hump. 

It's all about development. For everyone. It's why the league is in trouble now like they've never been before. Because the Dodgers are the best development team in the league and they're the richest. But development is king for everyone. Without development to back fill their pitching the Dodgers aren't the Dodgers the last handful of years. The big spenders still need to develop. Everyone does. The spending just allows you to go above and beyond. But development is still the core of it all.

[Woof Bronzer]

2 hours ago, old nurse said:

Consider that a 4 year window is only but a glimpse at what a team does. Adjust your window by a couple of years and you have a little different results 

They made the World Series in 2015, is that a big enough window? 

[Major League Ready]

34 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

Outright stupid is a bit strong and those two words (or is it three words) just doesn't cover the ground that nuance lays before all of us.  

I just wanted to point that I recognize the complication and I recognize the disadvantage and the roll that payroll plays in success if applied properly.

At the same time I believe that money isn't what will dig us out of this and I'm under the impression that many fans believe that money cures all.  

Your graph is accurate... your graph has value. Regardless... we need to divert our eyes from the Green Rectangle.

We need to build that solid 80 million payroll team that can take advantage of the extra 80 million spent. If we ever spend it. 

Develop to become Milwaukee with money. Develop to be Cleveland with Money. 

In regards to the article. There are multiple ways back to contention. From Trading Ryan and Lopez to keeping Ryan and Lopez and everything in between... money plays a big role in the path chosen forward.   

 

 

We are 100% aligned on this one.  I would frame it this way.  Cleveland, Tampa, and Milwaukee have provided a framework for success with modest revenue.  The Twins need to make good decisions following these practices.  Build a core the way you have been talking about for quite a while now.  Then, utilize their modest revenue advantage over these teams to make their model even better.  This could mean utilizing the extra payroll capacity in free agency to get a final piece or two.  The additional payroll capacity could also be used to extend a couple core players.  IE. Jose Rameriz.  Those deals have probably been on average more effective than free agency.

BTW ... The Twins are better positioned currently to execute this model than they have been in quite a while.  Obviously, some prospects need to work out and they will need to devote 2026 to retooling the roster but they have a deep farm system that could enable them to build the way these other teams have succeeded.  

We should consider how Cleveland, Milwaukee or Tampa would likely proceed if their organizations were in this position?  History would suggest g=free agency would play a small role or no role at all.  

[DJL44]

8 hours ago, KirbyDome89 said:

So they've just been playing opossum the last few years? Guys like Lee, Lewis, ect weren't supposed to be more productive?

Martin and Lewis both showed improved performance in the 2nd half. That isn't enough to offset Outman, Gasper, Julien, Keirsey, McCusker, etc.

[Riverbrian]

3 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

We are 100% aligned on this one.  I would frame it this way.  Cleveland, Tampa, and Milwaukee have provided a framework for success with modest revenue.  The Twins need to make good decisions following these practices.  Build a core the way you have been talking about for quite a while now.  Then, utilize their modest revenue advantage over these teams to make their model even better.  This could mean utilizing the extra payroll capacity in free agency to get a final piece or two.  The additional payroll capacity could also be used to extend a couple core players.  IE. Jose Rameriz.  Those deals have probably been on average more effective than free agency.

1,000% Aligned.

If they do this right. They can put themselves in a position where they are shopping near the top of free agency for a player or two and extended fan favorites...  instead of finding multiple players chewing the last bit of budget by spending on multiple players at the bottom of free agency. 

It's critical.  

 

[Major League Ready]

3 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Martin and Lewis both showed improved performance in the 2nd half. That isn't enough to offset Outman, Gasper, Julien, Keirsey, McCusker, etc.

Lewis had a wRC+ of 80 post deadline and it's been a while since he has been good.  However, he is finally healthy now and I have not given up on him but 2026 is do or go for me on Lewis.  

[Riverbrian]

22 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

The Dodgers, Yankees, Mets, and everyone else in the green box need to develop too. Development is the life blood of every major league organization. You know I'm fully on board with your "develop or die" stance. Carlos Correa's deal didn't kill the Twins, the failure to develop even a singular consistent MLB starting position player around him did. The Yankees and Dodgers can pay for studs, but they also develop the Judges and Kershaws of the world. They develop the prospects needed to win the bidding wars for the Betts and Stantons. They develop Buehler and Schlittler. Will Smith and Ben Rice. The Mets struggle because Vientos turns back into a pumpkin, Mauricio doesn't live up to the hype, and Francisco Alvarez can't quite get over the hump. 

It's all about development. For everyone. It's why the league is in trouble now like they've never been before. Because the Dodgers are the best development team in the league and they're the richest. But development is king for everyone. Without development to back fill their pitching the Dodgers aren't the Dodgers the last handful of years. The big spenders still need to develop. Everyone does. The spending just allows you to go above and beyond. But development is still the core of it all.

Exactly...

And the Dodgers draft near the end of every single round. And the Dodgers are able to trade that development for another avenue for acquiring top flight talent.  

It's not just the job of front office to produce wins. Perhaps the most important thing that a front office can do to aid them in producing wins is:

INCREASE THE VALUE OF YOUR PROPERTY.

The Dodgers seem to be able to increase the value of their home grown farm system better than others. If you can increase value... you get back more in trades if you choose to go that route. How does Wallner getting pinch hit for in the 3rd inning increase his value? It doesn't... it limits his value. It caps it. People want to trade Wallner now... Now? Did we maximize his value to help us in this re-whatever we are doing?

Shall we trade him and let another team maximize his value? 

The Twins haven't been thinking about the future value of their players for many years now... they've been thinking about how to mix and match this thing together to squeeze out whatever they can out players that won't be back to get through the year.   

The Bill came due. It was always going to come due and if they don't fix development... They can spend 200 million and face the exact same bill in the future. 

 

 

[Major League Ready]

4 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

1,000% Aligned.

If they do this right. They can put themselves in a position where they are shopping near the top of free agency for a player or two and extended fan favorites...  instead of finding multiple players chewing the last bit of budget by spending on multiple players at the bottom of free agency. 

It's critical.  

 

The continued development of pitching is the key.  Free agent SPs are too hard to land and either don't perform or get injured far too often.  I would prefer those free agent dollars or extensions go to position players.  Were the deadline deals they made influenced by this aspect of roster building?  Abel, Bradley, and perhaps Rojas give them a very legit pipeline when added to SWR / Matthews / Prielipp / Hill / Soto / Festa / Raya / Quick / Morris and Bohorquez.  They should be able to fill a rotation with quality SPs for quite a while and there should be a few good BP arms among those that don't crack the rotation.

[Riverbrian]

1 hour ago, Major League Ready said:

The continued development of pitching is the key.  Free agent SPs are too hard to land and either don't perform or get injured far too often.  I would prefer those free agent dollars or extensions go to position players.  Were the deadline deals they made influenced by this aspect of roster building?  Abel, Bradley, and perhaps Rojas give them a very legit pipeline when added to SWR / Matthews / Prielipp / Hill / Soto / Festa / Raya / Quick / Morris and Bohorquez.  They should be able to fill a rotation with quality SPs for quite a while and there should be a few good BP arms among those that don't crack the rotation.

It is hopefully a decent core to build around.

Development will determine the end result and the speed of the rebuild. 

My concern still lies in what has been a fairly highly rated farm system for quite some time that is still leaving us wanting quite some time later.  

[PatPfund]

I'd expect payroll in the $100-110 million range. I wouldn't offer arbitration to Larnach (replaceable), or Ober (not a viable starter unless the lost velocity comes back in full). I'd trend towards 'no' on Clemens as well (why lock down even $1.2 million on a marginal player likely available just before camp if you even still want him). I'd buy Wallner a 1B glove, and strongly suggest he go to some baseball specialist to learn how to hit upper range fastballs (unless he wants to sell appliances at Sears).

If you keep Lopez and Ryan, and fill out the rest of the rotation with young arms, you'd still have a couple pieces you might be able to crank up for high leverage 'pen innings (like Prielipp). Spend some FA money on a couple solid RP arms, and you'd have a team that could easily compete in this division if the young players click. If not, they get needed experience, and you can always deal an SP or two at the trade deadline and get far more than trading them in the offseason. Not spending big in the offseason also can leave enough budget to add a piece if things DO click, and if you aren't fishing for a starting pitcher you are more likely to find an affordable piece.

[EGFTShaw]

Holy Guacamole Batman!!!

I'll have what he is having. 😁

I like the lead in with the Disney movie except now Disney is really Corporate Cruella Deville.  

So I think not.  (POOF)  IYKYK

All this jibber jabbering aside.

The Pohlads should pay me 40% of the average MLB Head of Baseball Operations to oversee the team.
Then (see I waited until they gave me the position and then Boom) provide for a team salary range of $160-$180 that goes up each year by the same % MLB team salaries go up.

So, if the MLB average goes up from $175M to $180M, (a 2.85% gain) then the salary range would $164.48 to $185.04)
[Editor's (me) Note:  This is a Cruelle Deville Production the idea should feel like selling 101 puppies]

First off is Manager:
Much as I like the Hamm's Bear, he notified me he is off the market due to Mrs. Hamm's Bear request.
We need a manager and coaches who can take hitters to the next level instead of back to Dominican Summer League levels as well as coaches who make the Twins play fundamentally sound baseball of Tom Kelley's time.

After 5 years, (seems I used 5 years in another post too), the Pohlads can sell the team and I get a percentage if the Twins have a winning record.  The percentage goes up with playoffs appearances, division title, get to the league championship series, win the league championship and win the WS.

If they don't sell the team, my percentages will be applied to the current value of the Twins less the value of the Twins when I am hired.  If the value goes to $2B it would be $2B - $1.7B for a $300,000,000 gain. (I figure the bonus steps of Bux Truck would work, (percentages))

Uh Oh.

Cruelle Deville just called the Pohlads and I have been fired before I even got hired.

[well now, this wandered all over the place.  it shouldn't need to be said, don't take this seriously.  Remember Cruella Deville is lurking]

My motivation for taking an artificially low salary.

 

[TheLeviathan]

John seems to have done a lot of unnecessary typing after "C"......

(And I might argue he could've stopped at D!)

[LA Vikes Fan]

4 hours ago, Fatbat said:

At this point, just buy back a bullpen guy or two and roll with a bunch of rookies. We aren’t getting the top tier FA’s and there is no reason to bargain shop for anyone. 

Much as I'd like to sign a Pete Alonso, you're right. The top tier fee agents will have their choice of where to go and will get the money wherever they go so money isn't a consideration that will move the needle. The Twins are not an attractive destination right now regardless of what they are willing to pay. Players want to go where there is a chance to win during the life of their contracts, where the organization invests in the team and treat players and their families well, and where there is a passionate, committed fan base. None of that describes the current Twins' situation. It does describe the Vikings and that's why they can attract quality free agents. The Twins could do well to look across town and learn a few things. 

I think the right move is to get a couple of FA relievers in the Danny Coulombe, Jacob Junis, Taylor Rodgers range - serviceable and sometimes more, nothing below. Try to sign Ryan and Jeffers long term (tough since they're Boras clients, but maybe we earned some good will by signing and then trading Correa when he wanted out). Trade Larnach for what you can get and try to bring Castro back for the bench. Other than that, roll with what you got and promote aggressively. Fedko, Roden, Laweryson, Ohl, Festa (relief, not SP) SWR, and Bradley make the team out of ST. Matthews could also move to the BP and start out the season there, depending on what you can get in FA. Anyone falters or gets hurt, Abel, Rojas, Morris, (SPs), Preilipp, Klein (SP/RP) Peredes, and Baker (RP) get a shot. Culpeper, Gonzalez, Jenkins, and Emma are all up by mid-season if they continue to perform in AAA. Eeles, Schobel, and Cardenas get a chance in case of injury. Run the bases like mad, and expect 20+ SBs from Martin, Buxton, and Keaschall (plus Castro if you sign him), and 10+ from Lewis, Roden and Outman (if he makes the team). Hire an aggressive manager who will hold players accountable and not be afraid to bench guys who don't play hard. Don't give out playing time or roster spot scholarships to guys who don't improve (looking at you, Wallner, Lee and Lewis, and Outman and Clemens if they make the team). Improve the defense by moving Keaschall to 1B and singing Castro or a guy with a good glove at 2B or SS. Be a team that is aggressively looking for every possible edge in personnel and tactics. This is a team that will have to win on good starting pitching and on the margins everywhere else. Fight for those margins and if it blows up in certain games, live with that and stay aggressive.      

[KirbyDome89]

3 hours ago, DJL44 said:

Martin and Lewis both showed improved performance in the 2nd half. That isn't enough to offset Outman, Gasper, Julien, Keirsey, McCusker, etc.

Lee, Lewis, and Martin are all high 1st round picks that haven't come close (maybe Lewis briefly) to meeting even moderate expectations. Wallner had a down year. Miranda won't be with the org. Idk why Julien is being lumped in with Gasper et al, he was definitely in future plans before flopping. Larnach just reached arb and he might not be around. That's a pretty good collection of pre arb "talent," that hasn't worked out to this point. Now the goalposts have shifted and it's the minor league system that has the "real," talent? 

[KirbyDome89]

10 hours ago, Cap'n Piranha said:

The White Sox have a bunch of young players trying to stay in the bigs and set themselves up for future contracts, playing with no expectations and nothing to lose.  The Twins had a bunch of veterans heavily disillusioned by what happened--that has an effect.  I think you're also underselling some of their talent--Montgomery, Teel, Baldwin, and Vargas all had nice hitting stats in the 2 months after the ASG; by wRC+ they were all top 100 hitters in MLB for that timeframe.  Is it also safe to assume you're not looking at schedules and pitchers for those 2 months--did the Sox get to play worse teams, and play against worse pitchers?  If you can't say for sure, then how do you know that perhaps the Sox' better record had more to do with an easier schedule than the Twins?

The Twins cratered after selling the vets. Who was so disillusioned post deadline? Correa was sold off. France and Bader went to winning clubs. Castro (if he counts as a vet) was moved. Vazquez was hurt for a huge chunk of the 2nd half, and was terrible whether or not the club was doing well. Buxton continued to have a career year. Jeffers was better in the 2nd half. Lee, Lewis, Martin, Clemens, Wallner, Larnach ect. aren't vets, but Lee was consistently disappointing all year. Lewis actually improved in the 2nd half. Martin played pretty well after coming up. Wallner continued a down year then got hurt. Clemens turned back into a pumpkin. So again, who are these vets that become so frustrated by the fire sale they started tanking games by turning in half *** performances? 

I don't doubt Chicago has a least a couple players to be excited about. Is there a team that doesn't?

So the Sox having a better record for the last 2 months isn't indicative of them being the better team, because of a soft schedule, but the offensive numbers from a select few players, against that same soft schedule, is indicative of their true talent level. Hmmm...

[JD-TWINS]

On 10/6/2025 at 8:29 AM, In My La Z boy said:

As of today we're projected to have the #2 farm system in all of baseball. This seems to be our greatest asset. How will we utilize this greatest asset will be the question? Will ownership allow us to keep what we currently have in Lopez Ryan Ober & Jeffers ($44.5M) - will Falvey play the hot prospects coming, or do we have room now to trade prospects to fill holes and try and compete? Who manages this team, and who can get the most out of the prospects? Lots of questions?

I just don’t see anybody trading everyday position player talent (with real value) to Twins nor anybody.

The pitching we have may net us a AAA catcher or 1B but again, if the Catcher was of value he wouldn’t be getting traded. A first baseman in an organization could theoretically be blocked & thus traded for pitching.

I’m personally done with reaching for more “prospects”. Team needs to move someone internally to 1B or they need to acquire one via FA.

Catcher could be covered with what we have, theoretically………I have no problem with Jeffers moving to 1B for 70% of his starts. He could catch 20 games through the year to stay viable (as the 3rd catcher) and DH after catching if he needs the break.

Spend $$ on a 1B &/or DH!!!!

OF is covered with what’s on roster and, hopefully by June, the other guys, (Gonzalez - Rodriguez - Jenkins) 1 or 2, will be ready. 

……………..

Obviously, could use 2 FA’s for PEN.

Thielbar had a good year …. going forward though???

Devin Williams may have shaken Yankee’s confidence in him ……. he may have lost confidence being in NY? Better small market fit?

These 2 guys, or like arms for a total of $10-$11M could be a nice fit. Have Topa - Sands - Funderburk as 3 competent guys returning. Add 3-4 young guys to the mix from organization & the PEN isn’t the mess it seems to be.

Seems that current $95M salary total + another $35 - $40M gets them in a very competitive position…….. IMO.

 

[JD-TWINS]

22 hours ago, LA VIkes Fan said:

Much as I'd like to sign a Pete Alonso, you're right. The top tier fee agents will have their choice of where to go and will get the money wherever they go so money isn't a consideration that will move the needle. The Twins are not an attractive destination right now regardless of what they are willing to pay. Players want to go where there is a chance to win during the life of their contracts, where the organization invests in the team and treat players and their families well, and where there is a passionate, committed fan base. None of that describes the current Twins' situation. It does describe the Vikings and that's why they can attract quality free agents. The Twins could do well to look across town and learn a few things. 

I think the right move is to get a couple of FA relievers in the Danny Coulombe, Jacob Junis, Taylor Rodgers range - serviceable and sometimes more, nothing below. Try to sign Ryan and Jeffers long term (tough since they're Boras clients, but maybe we earned some good will by signing and then trading Correa when he wanted out). Trade Larnach for what you can get and try to bring Castro back for the bench. Other than that, roll with what you got and promote aggressively. Fedko, Roden, Laweryson, Ohl, Festa (relief, not SP) SWR, and Bradley make the team out of ST. Matthews could also move to the BP and start out the season there, depending on what you can get in FA. Anyone falters or gets hurt, Abel, Rojas, Morris, (SPs), Preilipp, Klein (SP/RP) Peredes, and Baker (RP) get a shot. Culpeper, Gonzalez, Jenkins, and Emma are all up by mid-season if they continue to perform in AAA. Eeles, Schobel, and Cardenas get a chance in case of injury. Run the bases like mad, and expect 20+ SBs from Martin, Buxton, and Keaschall (plus Castro if you sign him), and 10+ from Lewis, Roden and Outman (if he makes the team). Hire an aggressive manager who will hold players accountable and not be afraid to bench guys who don't play hard. Don't give out playing time or roster spot scholarships to guys who don't improve (looking at you, Wallner, Lee and Lewis, and Outman and Clemens if they make the team). Improve the defense by moving Keaschall to 1B and singing Castro or a guy with a good glove at 2B or SS. Be a team that is aggressively looking for every possible edge in personnel and tactics. This is a team that will have to win on good starting pitching and on the margins everywhere else. Fight for those margins and if it blows up in certain games, live with that and stay aggressive.      

Lots of good thoughts - I like Keaschall or Jeffers moving to 1B ……. get that “need” behind Team & don’t let it linger. Maybe Gonzalez is focussed at 1B over the Winter and in the Spring.

Would prefer moving Lee to 2B if Keaschall vacates. Roll with Culpepper or best young option by end of May at SS.

I’d try to have Matthews in the PEN to handle the former Griffin Jax role.

Maybe bring Thielbar back home - similar stats to Coulombe in ‘25, I believe? Spend $7-$9M on somebody that can close.

Roden - Outman - Fitzgerald ……to me, these guys are gone, at least by June 1. Maybe one of the OF hits there way in the Team but am not holding my breath.

I saw Santana & Liriano make the Team as relievers & then evolve……… to me, Prielipp & Rojas should be close to being viable PEN options coming out of Spring Training…… probably Morris as well. Abel & Festa are the “starter depth guys” to start.

[LA Vikes Fan]

2 hours ago, JD-TWINS said:

Lots of good thoughts - I like Keaschall or Jeffers moving to 1B ……. get that “need” behind Team & don’t let it linger. Maybe Gonzalez is focussed at 1B over the Winter and in the Spring.

Would prefer moving Lee to 2B if Keaschall vacates. Roll with Culpepper or best young option by end of May at SS.

I’d try to have Matthews in the PEN to handle the former Griffin Jax role.

Maybe bring Thielbar back home - similar stats to Coulombe in ‘25, I believe? Spend $7-$9M on somebody that can close.

Roden - Outman - Fitzgerald ……to me, these guys are gone, at least by June 1. Maybe one of the OF hits there way in the Team but am not holding my breath.

I saw Santana & Liriano make the Team as relievers & then evolve……… to me, Prielipp & Rojas should be close to being viable PEN options coming out of Spring Training…… probably Morris as well. Abel & Festa are the “starter depth guys” to start.

I agree with this with one exception. I think Festa should be in the bullpen next year given his shoulder issues, assuming he's ready to pitch at all. I think that's the best way to get value from next year and we can always switch them back to starting for 20s 27 (if there is a season) and beyond. I would rather keep Matthews as a starter, probably in AAA because I don't think he can beat out SWR or Bradley yet, although I would also be open to having him open up in the bullpen to be a real weapon. I think the AAA depth is able, Morris, Rojas, and maybe Prielipp.