Riverbrian’s 2026 Payroll Blueprint: Riverbrian - Moving forward. Whatever happens in 2026... happens.

[Riverbrian]

What I would do is quite simple. I would trade Joe Ryan and Ryan Jeffers. Ryan has the value to acquire a Jenkins type prospect and that should not be wasted. Jeffers is also necessary to cash in because he will probably be the top free agent catcher next year. 

I want a young 1B and a young SS and bullpen additions. 

I spent 18 million out of the reported 20 million. I spent it on two bullpen arms. Best of what's left. Pete Fairbanks and Seranthony Dominguez were both signed two year contracts at 10M per and 9M per respectively. 

For the Trades... I used BBTV as the guide. I know some don't like BBTV but it's the only guide I have. I hope to achieve some realism but there is no way of knowing if you achieved. I made 3 trades. One huge and straight forward. The other complicated but also huge... even bigger . The other trade is getting a young 100 mph arm for the bullpen.

Trade 1: Joe Ryan to the Giants for Bryce Eldridge. There is our first baseman for the next 6 years. Jenkins range rated talent. Joe Ryan goes home and the Giants would be a team that could really use someone like Joe Ryan. 

Trade 2: Trevor Larnach and Eduourd Julien to the Padres for reliever Bradgely Rodriquez. The Padres are trying to cut payroll and they have a lot of holes to fill and they are cutting payroll. The Padres need to be creative. It will be interesting to see what Preller actually does. Trevor would be a good fit for the Padres as is. Julien could be of value to Padres. They are rumored to be shopping Cronenworth.  

Trade 3: This one is for fun. I blew it up big just to have some fun with it. Three team trade between the Twins, Red Sox and D-Backs. In order to move Jeffers for a SS. The market for Jeffers is hard to figure everyone can use him but most have primary's so I just looked at teams rumored to be talking with Realmuto. The Phillies and Red Sox seem to be it. The Rangers just signed Danny Jansen. So Jeffers to the Red Sox and the SS close to price for Jeffers would be Jordan Lawler. Plus Speed and a little pop. Solid AAA numbers... Rough MLB Start. He will do... so the D-backs are in the deal. The Red Sox were rumored to be talking to the D-backs for Katel Marte so let's make that happen. The Red Sox are rumored to be shopping Duran. I included Bailey Ober and Alan Roden and here is what everyone gets. The numbers are close enough to a match on BBTV. So... I'm happy to report that all 3 teams agreed to the deal.

Red Sox: 

Marte, Jeffers and SP Mitch Bratt

D-Backs: 

Duran, Ober, Cases and Roden. 

Twins: 

Lawler and Payton Tolle

I'm keeping Buxton and Lopez to lead this new squad forward. 

Lawler, Lewis, Keaschall and Lee will cover 2B, 3B and SS and all 4 will compete for playing time. 

With the trades of Larnach and Roden. Erod comes out of camp with a MLB job. 

Outman is on the roster because I'm willing to give him two months to show that he can play. GG or Jenkins will replace him if he doesn't. He gets until June.

Catcher position is punted. They will bat 9. It's OK. Just catch and call a good game. We will build the other position spots first. 

Starting pitching is young but so are the position players. Let's see what they can do. I'll start with Lopez, Bradley, Zebby, SWR and Tolle. We have Abel and Festa are a phone call away. Swap Abel and Tolle is you want... Either way it is fine. 

The Bullpen... I spent some money and I apologize for that. I grabbed the two best available arms and gave them two year contracts. Welcome to Minnesota Pete Fairbanks and Seranthony. Bradgely Rodriquez acquired. Prielipp into the pen. Raya are doing pen work in AAA waiting for a call up. 

• C: Alex Jackson ($1.8M)
• 1B: Bryce Eldridge ($0.8M)
• 2B: Luke Keaschall ($0.80M)
• 3B: Royce Lewis ($3.00M)
• SS: Jordan Lawlar ($0.80M)
• LF: Austin Martin ($0.80M)
• CF: Byron Buxton ($15.00M)
• RF: Emmanuel Rodriguez ($0.80M)
• DH: Matt Wallner ($0.80M)
• 4th OF: James Outman ($0.80M)
• Utility: Brooks Lee ($0.80M)
• Utility: Kody Clemens ($0.80M)
• Backup C: Jhonna Pereda ($0.80M)
• POS: Carlos Correa Dead Money ($10.00M)
• SP1: Pablo Lopez ($21.75M)
• SP2: Taj Bradley ($0.80M)
• SP3: Zebby Matthews ($0.80M)
• SP4: Simeon Woods Richardson ($0.80M)
• SP5: Payton Tolle ($0.80M)
• RP: Pete Fairbanks ($10.00M)
• RP: Seranthony Dominquez ($9.00M)
• RP: Cole Sands ($1.30M)
• RP: Justin Topa ($2.00M)
• RP: Kody Funderburk ($0.80M)
• RP: Connor Prielipp ($0.80M)
• RP: Eric Orze ($0.80M)
• RP: Bradgely Rodriquez ($0.80M)
• POS: Add Dead Money Here ($0.00M)

Payroll is 19.77% under budget

[Linus]

I love all of this other than handing a job to ERod. This squad has a much better chance next year and way more upside going forward. 

[Riverbrian]

3 minutes ago, Linus said:

I love all of this other than handing a job to ERod. This squad has a much better chance next year and way more upside going forward. 

It will be up to Erod to keep it. 

[Parfigliano]

Or not

[thelanges5]

Love the Fairbanks signing. Would be nice to have one legit arm in the BP. Larnach trade needs to happen. Nice work overall. 

[Rigby]

Ryan & Larnach for Tong, Benge and Pena.