tony&rodney’s 2026 Payroll Blueprint: A Reasonable Path

[tony&rodney]

This plan aims, within a reasonable budget, to compete. Ryan and Lopez stay. While all signs point to a further sell off of players despite the various comments by the front office, here I add to the "core" by signing two corner infielders and two relief pitchers. Additionally, via trades, two catchers are added along with a middle infielder and a pitching prospect. It would be useful to add another reliever but I wanted to remain within a reasonable budget.

Kaelen Culpepper, Gabriel  Gonzalez, Andrew Morris, J.ohn Klein, and Brody Hopkins remain in AAA.

4 trades & 4 free agent signings. Can't expect this as a reality, but it comes in at less than $120M before adding Correa's money.

R. Lewis for Harry Ford                                         

B. Ober, K. DeBarge for Jordan Lawler               

T. Bradley, J. Topa for Jeferson Quero               

R. Jeffers, T. Adams for Brody Hopkins

FA - Bo Bichette for 9/$225M                               

FA - Josh Naylor for 4/$90M                               

FA - Pete Fairbanks for 1 year/$10M                   

FA - Caleb Thielbar for 1 year/$3.1M

This plan uses about the same as the Twins began two years ago, 2024. It is more than my middle road but still within reason.

If Lopez, Ryan, and Buxton go then we need a "Savings Plan Team".

 

• C: Jeferson Quero ($0.80M)
• 1B: Josh Naylor ($22.50M)
• 2B: Luke Keaschall ($0.80M)
• 3B: Bo Bichette ($25.00M)
• SS: Jordan Lawler ($0.80M)
• LF: Emmanuel Rodriguez ($0.80M)
• CF: Byron Buxton ($15.15M)
• RF: Walker Jenkins ($0.80M)
• DH: Matt Wallner ($0.80M)
• 4th OF: Austin Martin ($0.80M)
• Utility: Brooks Lee ($0.80M)
• Utility: Alan Roden ($0.80M)
• Backup C: Harry Ford ($0.80M)
• POS: Add Dead Money Here ($0.00M)
• SP1: Pablo Lopez ($21.75M)
• SP2: Joe Ryan ($5.80M)
• SP3: Zebby Matthews ($0.80M)
• SP4: Simeon Woods Richardson ($0.80M)
• SP5: Mick Abel ($0.80M)
• RP: David Festa ($0.80M)
• RP: Kody Funderburk ($0.80M)
• RP: Cole Sands ($1.30M)
• RP: Connor Prielipp ($0.80M)
• RP: Marco Raya ($0.80M)
• RP: Caleb Thielbar ($3.10M)
• RP: Pierson Ohl ($0.80M)
• RP: Pete Fairbanks ($10.00M)
• POS: Add Dead Money Here ($0.00M)

Payroll is 7.56% over budget