PatPfund’s 2026 Payroll Blueprint: No trades, Jansen only FA

[PatPfund]

My 1st stab at this. Goal was $100 million, and no trades. I don't see any future for either Larnach or Wallner in the OF, and neither has hit well enough for any stretch to warrant 1b or DH, but I had to put them somewhere. Roden is 4th OF until he shows he is an MLB hitter. Fitz over Cruddy Kreidler, Love Bailey, but he didn't look any better to me after his month off; I think he is 2026's Most Expensive Saint. I'm giving Abel the early nod over Zebby; Matthews, Morris, Rojas, and Adams are the core Saints SPs, Klein swings, Raya gets 'pen work and/or swings. I signed Jansen to close, Prielipp, Festa, Orza, and Sands are higher leverage, and Funderburk and Topa fill things out. If they click even a little bit, there is payroll space to make an in-season move, if they bomb, you have big trade chips in Buxton, Lopez, and Ryan at the deadline.

• C: Ryan Jeffers ($6.60M)
• 1B: Trevor Larnach ($4.70M)
• 2B: Luke Keaschall ($0.80M)
• 3B: Royce Lewis ($3.00M)
• SS: Brooks Lee ($0.80M)
• LF: Austin Martin ($0.80M)
• CF: Byron Buxton ($15.00M)
• RF: Emmanuel Rodriguez ($0.80M)
• DH: Matt Wallner ($0.80M)
• 4th OF: Alan Roden ($0.80M)
• Utility: Ryan Fitzgerald ($0.80M)
• Utility: Kody Clemens ($1.10M)
• Backup C: Alex Jackson ($1.80M)
• POS: Add Dead Money Here ($0.00M)
• SP1: Pablo Lopez ($21.75M)
• SP2: Joe Ryan ($5.80M)
• SP3: Taj Bradley ($0.82M)
• SP4: Simeon Woods Richardson ($0.80M)
• SP5: Mick Abel ($0.82M)
• RP: Justin Topa ($1.23M)
• RP: Kody Funderburk ($0.80M)
• RP: Cole Sands ($1.30M)
• RP: Eric Orze ($0.82M)
• RP: Bailey Ober ($4.60M)
• RP: Connor Prielipp ($0.80M)
• RP: David Festa ($0.80M)
• RP: Kenley Jansen ($10.00M)
• POS: Add Dead Money Here ($0.00M)

Payroll is 19.87% under budget

[dxpavelka]

9 hours ago, PatPfund said:

My 1st stab at this. Goal was $100 million, and no trades. I don't see any future for either Larnach or Wallner in the OF, and neither has hit well enough for any stretch to warrant 1b or DH, but I had to put them somewhere. Roden is 4th OF until he shows he is an MLB hitter. Fitz over Cruddy Kreidler, Love Bailey, but he didn't look any better to me after his month off; I think he is 2026's Most Expensive Saint. I'm giving Abel the early nod over Zebby; Matthews, Morris, Rojas, and Adams are the core Saints SPs, Klein swings, Raya gets 'pen work and/or swings. I signed Jansen to close, Prielipp, Festa, Orza, and Sands are higher leverage, and Funderburk and Topa fill things out. If they click even a little bit, there is payroll space to make an in-season move, if they bomb, you have big trade chips in Buxton, Lopez, and Ryan at the deadline.

• C: Ryan Jeffers ($6.60M)
• 1B: Trevor Larnach ($4.70M)
• 2B: Luke Keaschall ($0.80M)
• 3B: Royce Lewis ($3.00M)
• SS: Brooks Lee ($0.80M)
• LF: Austin Martin ($0.80M)
• CF: Byron Buxton ($15.00M)
• RF: Emmanuel Rodriguez ($0.80M)
• DH: Matt Wallner ($0.80M)
• 4th OF: Alan Roden ($0.80M)
• Utility: Ryan Fitzgerald ($0.80M)
• Utility: Kody Clemens ($1.10M)
• Backup C: Alex Jackson ($1.80M)
• POS: Add Dead Money Here ($0.00M)
• SP1: Pablo Lopez ($21.75M)
• SP2: Joe Ryan ($5.80M)
• SP3: Taj Bradley ($0.82M)
• SP4: Simeon Woods Richardson ($0.80M)
• SP5: Mick Abel ($0.82M)
• RP: Justin Topa ($1.23M)
• RP: Kody Funderburk ($0.80M)
• RP: Cole Sands ($1.30M)
• RP: Eric Orze ($0.82M)
• RP: Bailey Ober ($4.60M)
• RP: Connor Prielipp ($0.80M)
• RP: David Festa ($0.80M)
• RP: Kenley Jansen ($10.00M)
• POS: Add Dead Money Here ($0.00M)

Payroll is 19.87% under budget

Kind got goosebumps when you said you didn't see a future for our two corner OF boat anchors but then I realized that just meant nobody else would be willing to give anything for them.  Saw the name Jansen and kind of got excited about a catcher with a WAR over twice that of Jeffers the realized it was Kenley.  

[PatPfund]

@dxpavelka I laughed out loud at your comment, because I was looking to move Larnach and/or Wallner, and couldn't think of a legitimate return I wanted, so I went 'no trade' mode. I spent 10 mill on Jansen (please Twins, don't do that), because if they don't make any moves, they should have some money to spend and still be under $100 million (and a mostly young 'pen could use some veteran leadership). Recent news about Buxton also has me wondering if Byron isn't just open to being traded, but has asked for it. That sure would make tendering Larnach more understandable (he's at least an average MLB bat in a lineup that might suddenly be missing its best).

[dxpavelka]

On 12/3/2025 at 9:49 AM, PatPfund said:

@dxpavelka I laughed out loud at your comment, because I was looking to move Larnach and/or Wallner, and couldn't think of a legitimate return I wanted, so I went 'no trade' mode. I spent 10 mill on Jansen (please Twins, don't do that), because if they don't make any moves, they should have some money to spend and still be under $100 million (and a mostly young 'pen could use some veteran leadership). Recent news about Buxton also has me wondering if Byron isn't just open to being traded, but has asked for it. That sure would make tendering Larnach more understandable (he's at least an average MLB bat in a lineup that might suddenly be missing its best).

I never get too concerned about "recent news" about anyone.  One thing the internet age has brought is lots  of folks who need clicks.