How Much Would the Twins Have to Spend to Prove They're Serious About 2027?

[Woof Bronzer]

25 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Culpepper didn’t play because he spent most of the season injured. The Twins should plan for at least one of their starters to be injured at all times. 

For sure.  I'm just saying the Twins rotated 3 guys around 2-3 roster spots to fill 1 position...and all it got them was 1/4 of the production that the younger Culpepper gave them in his first 6 weeks in MLB.  

[Riverbrian]

1 hour ago, MapleGroveTwinsFan said:

Ben Ross and/or Ryan Kreidler could be brought back for cheap (Arb 1) and be the 13th man off the bench to fill in short term, and Kreidler would be easy to DFA if he is no longer needed. And neither of these guys should be playing much if everybody is healthy. Either one could be made a spot start at 3B, SS, 2B. There is no reason for a team in the Twins position to spend money for a back up infielder, that is what low cost older/cheaper players are for. 

And if the Twins around the deadline are looking like a legit playoff contender and those guys haven't been great, then go out and get a vet FA to be at the deadline. 

The Twins should only be spending money on guys that are an upgrade over the current starters and don't block your more promising prospects or to replace soon to be free agents, For example if they sign or trade for an outfielder they better being moving one of the prospects to 1B, if they trade Lopez and/or Ryan, get the prospects and sign a pitcher to replace them. And don't keep Ober and/or Kremer and start them and push Prielipp and/Matthews to the pen, do it the other way around, and the young guys aren't holding their own, switch them around. 

Build a good roster and supplement with Salary, not the other way around. 

I get the argument. I've been having this discussion with many over the years.

And I have no personal problem with Kriedler. His bat fell of at the end but he did some nice things at times and won us a few games.

And I am all for giving Ben Ross opportunity to see if he can carve out a career. 

As much as I support younger players and I really really do support them. I think they are beyond necessary to develop them. I also recognize that they are going to develop on their own timeline and you have to prepare for that. 

My disagreement with you and Mike is rather simple.

When you bet on 9 players and 9 players only... you will lose almost every time. Now the fortunate thing is that all 30 teams will lose this bet every time so it equals out to a degree but... I firmly believe that you don't have to limit your options to 9 and the team that realizes that 13 instead of nine increases your possibility of success with more players... they will create for themselves a competitive advantage over the manager or front office doing the 9 thing. 

If injuries every single year hasn't made that apparent to people... I'm not sure how people are missing that. If Royce Lewis going on a one year plus slump doesn't make it apparent. If Keashcall getting moved to the OF doesn't make it apparent to all... If the consistent ever changing context from day to day, week to week, month to month, year to year for all 30 teams isn't apparent... I have to start doubting who exactly is paying attention as these things pile up like my recyclables when I miss the Thursday pick up.  These are 2026 examples, you can go back to 2025, 24, 23, 22, 21, 20 and just keep counting down and you will see that it happens every year. 

Yet year after year... We place our bets on 9 and we lose every time. Your odds of success will increase by rostering 13 players that you would like to see the field. Instead of 4 disposable players whose greatest value to the team is that they are disposable. And I will guarantee you that those disposable players will see the field. 

I will never agree with the rostering of any players that you hope never see the field. You want bench players. Here's how your find bench players. Bench the players who fail in their opportunity but never assume that the chosen 9 won't fail or be unavailable for competition... Because I'll bet a large sum of money that a portion of them will because they do every single year for every single team.  

BTW... My son lives in Maple Grove. It's an awesome suburb. 

[dcswede]

The conversation is premature until the lockout, salary cap and strike have played out. 

[DJL44]

5 minutes ago, MapleGroveTwinsFan said:

I want nothing to do with 30 year old Torres and his declining power, barely above league average bat, and lack of stolen bases. 

Jazz is interesting, but I assume a huge cost, and that means Lee, Culpepper or Houston ends up a utility guy, or the plan is to play him in CF when Buxton gets hurt, plus it means Clemens to 1B, and Keashall to DH and platoon OF - Not horrible.

Arraez is pretty limited to 2B, 1B or not a huge fan of that.

Lowe pretty limited to 2B and hasn't really played much at 1B or DH. 

McNeil has been a below average hitter for 4 of the last 6 years (2022 was pretty awesome, without much power or speed, bad combo in the current baseball world and turns 35 in April. (so this is probably what the Twins will do if available) 

All except Torres bat left handed, all but Jazz don't run and are on the wrong side of 30 for a multiple year contract. Only Jazz has any real time at 3B and that is a stretch (74 career games, albeit 24 and 25). None play SS so if there is an injury or Culpepper needs to go down, they are sliding over. 

 

McNeil is definitely a rung below the others, but he also is the one likely to sign a one year cheap contract. He is more of a “raise the floor” player and would be my last choice.

Lowe hasn’t played much 1B because he’s still a good defender at 2B. 

Jazz has a ton of utility, speed, defense and is the youngest guy on the list.

Everyone here is very familiar with Arraez.

Torres can still hit and he hits LHP especially well. That’s useful for the Twins.

[MapleGroveTwinsFan]

26 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

When you bet on 9 players and 9 players only... you will lose almost every time.

Then the Twins should upgrade at 3B, move Lee to 2B or Utility, Move Erod or Keschall to 1B, and Make Clemens another utility guy, 

That way you have a bench of guys that should play, and some defensive flexibility. My opinion on what should be done is based on next year not a organizational approach.

[Riverbrian]

16 minutes ago, MapleGroveTwinsFan said:

Then the Twins should upgrade at 3B, move Lee to 2B or Utility, Move Erod or Keschall to 1B, and Make Clemens another utility guy, 

That way you have a bench of guys that should play, and some defensive flexibility. My opinion on what should be done is based on next year not a organizational approach.

I won't argue with that approach. It's fine by me.  

Just accumulate talent as much as you can. And don't ever stop short and stuff your roster with lesser players on purpose. 

People talk of log jams. I've never seen one. A legitimate log jam means you are going to the playoffs because you got talent bursting at the seems. A legitimate log jam means you have trade chips with actual value than can load up the next wave. This team can't free agent there way into this. They must develop their way to this. 

I don't want my manager on auto-pilot with the lineup card. Hoping today is the day that Royce Lewis figures it out with even lesser options to choose from. I don't want my summer to be sunk by sinking ball players and we lack the alternatives to fix it. 

I want my manager tearing his hair out trying to figure out how to get playing time for all because they are all kicking ass. 

And I'll tell you... A good manager can do that. A bad manager can't because he's stuck in some sort of incremental better/worse disease. 

Necessity is the mother of invention. Let's make it necessary. 

[SteveLV]

Easy to spend Pohlad money:

1)  Sign Jeffers

2)  Extend Ryan

3)  Extend Lopez

4)  Give Jenkins one of those 8 year deals.

5)  Add additional pitching.

See?  Easy!

[weitz41]

19 hours ago, MeleMouth said:

It seems contradictory to say that because Abel pitched perhaps 30 innings in 2026 he won't be ready for a starter's load, but Lopez who didn't pitch at all should get an extension at a raise. Can you elaborate?

I guess, been there done that, or a professional to a rookie, is why I expect 110-120+ innings out of Pablo and 60-80 from Abel. Yes, Pablo is coming off TJ and may not take an MLB mound before May. As for the extension, if you don't trade anyone or extend anyone you could go from 5 veteran starters in 2027 to one in 2028. As I mentioned I'm shooting for 2028. 4 newish starters doesn't strike me as being in on 2028.

How many times this season did we read something about limiting starts for Prielipp over inning pitched previously? He had 82.2 innings the previous season. 144.1 this season total. Abel 28.1 to 100+ seems far-fetched to me. Don't get me wrong he will get MLB innings in 2027. I see him as #7 or #8 on the depth chart.

[NYCTK]

4 hours ago, Woof Bronzer said:

But isn't being afraid of playing prospects, and instead filling out the roster with 34 year old DHs 6 years past their prime on 1 year deals, also a good way ensure mediocrity?  I'm  thinking about teams like, I dunno, the 2024-2026 Minnesota Twins.  

Not all prospects are going to work out and even for those who do, it's not always going to be pretty.  That's why 26 and 27 should have been bottom-out development years, with a goal of seriously competing in 28 and 29.  

There's a difference in playing prospects when they've proved themselves at various levels and counting on a prospect being ready on a projected timeline. 

Houston has been pretty decent at AA. But if the Twins were serious about contending a good team wouldn't go into Spring Training with a vacancy at the major league level hoping he's ready for the majors quickly. Players plateau, struggle, or get hurt all the time. 

Fans here were getting mad that Harrison Bader was added to the roster last spring because they thought Emmanuel Rodriguez deserved to start the year in the majors. That would have been incredibly foolish, even if it ultimately didn't matter since that team sucked regardless. 

[rv78]

8 hours ago, LastOnePicked said:

I'm basing it off reality, sadly:

He also doesn't seem to be able to throw out base-stealers anymore.

I'm not sure 29 is the prime of a catcher's career. It could be, but that position carries more wear and tear than any on the diamond.

I hope he gets a wonderful payday - he's been a great catcher and one of my favorite Twins. I just don't see the value in keeping a player just because he's a good guy and we like him.

So you are basing it on this season only. Seems to be a little short-sighted don't you think? In 2023 he had his best season. 2024 he had a down year..... based on one season, which is what you are doing, they should have gotten rid of him before his 2 solid seasons in 2025 and 2026. Sure, I'd like a full season without injury, but I don't want them to keep him because he's a nice guy. It's because the cupboard is bare without him and his likely replacement, based on what this Front Office does, will be much worse. That's the true reality.

[Fatbat]

5 hours ago, Woof Bronzer said:

Culpepper: 0.8 WAR in 120 PA

Gray, Arcia, Kreidler combined:  0.2 WAR in 500 PA

We really, really need to stop being afraid to play the kids.  

Culpepper to 2nd and Houston to SS by July. 

[Mike Sixel]

5 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

I get the argument. I've been having this discussion with many over the years.

And I have no personal problem with Kriedler. His bat fell of at the end but he did some nice things at times and won us a few games.

And I am all for giving Ben Ross opportunity to see if he can carve out a career. 

As much as I support younger players and I really really do support them. I think they are beyond necessary to develop them. I also recognize that they are going to develop on their own timeline and you have to prepare for that. 

My disagreement with you and Mike is rather simple.

When you bet on 9 players and 9 players only... you will lose almost every time. Now the fortunate thing is that all 30 teams will lose this bet every time so it equals out to a degree but... I firmly believe that you don't have to limit your options to 9 and the team that realizes that 13 instead of nine increases your possibility of success with more players... they will create for themselves a competitive advantage over the manager or front office doing the 9 thing. 

If injuries every single year hasn't made that apparent to people... I'm not sure how people are missing that. If Royce Lewis going on a one year plus slump doesn't make it apparent. If Keashcall getting moved to the OF doesn't make it apparent to all... If the consistent ever changing context from day to day, week to week, month to month, year to year for all 30 teams isn't apparent... I have to start doubting who exactly is paying attention as these things pile up like my recyclables when I miss the Thursday pick up.  These are 2026 examples, you can go back to 2025, 24, 23, 22, 21, 20 and just keep counting down and you will see that it happens every year. 

Yet year after year... We place our bets on 9 and we lose every time. Your odds of success will increase by rostering 13 players that you would like to see the field. Instead of 4 disposable players whose greatest value to the team is that they are disposable. And I will guarantee you that those disposable players will see the field. 

I will never agree with the rostering of any players that you hope never see the field. You want bench players. Here's how your find bench players. Bench the players who fail in their opportunity but never assume that the chosen 9 won't fail or be unavailable for competition... Because I'll bet a large sum of money that a portion of them will because they do every single year for every single team.  

BTW... My son lives in Maple Grove. It's an awesome suburb. 

Who said bet on 9 players? I said don't trade a whole lot of prospects for a starting SS when you have a top 50 prospect at the position. Because you will have to trade 2-3 top prospects to get a starting SS with multiple years of control. Context matters. That is not the same thing at all....not even close. 

[Mike Sixel]

4 hours ago, weitz41 said:

I guess, been there done that, or a professional to a rookie, is why I expect 110-120+ innings out of Pablo and 60-80 from Abel. Yes, Pablo is coming off TJ and may not take an MLB mound before May. As for the extension, if you don't trade anyone or extend anyone you could go from 5 veteran starters in 2027 to one in 2028. As I mentioned I'm shooting for 2028. 4 newish starters doesn't strike me as being in on 2028.

How many times this season did we read something about limiting starts for Prielipp over inning pitched previously? He had 82.2 innings the previous season. 144.1 this season total. Abel 28.1 to 100+ seems far-fetched to me. Don't get me wrong he will get MLB innings in 2027. I see him as #7 or #8 on the depth chart.

Except the TWins didn't limit Priellip. 

[Mike Sixel]

4 hours ago, dcswede said:

The conversation is premature until the lockout, salary cap and strike have played out. 

Then why come and post? 

[Fatbat]

5 hours ago, Whammy said:

Who’s service time do you feel like was manipulated in the last 4-5 years?

Erod. If he would have been on Varsity this spring. He would not have been sliding into base getting injured with the Saints. 
Varland, Hedrick, Lewis and a few others over the last few years.  They consistently keep Prospects in AAA as absolutely long as they can with options until they run out.  Then they lose guys without getting them a long runway in MLB. Rooker is a prime example. They also lost a couple seasons of Hoffman because he was out of options.  FO mismanagement. 

[Riverbrian]

6 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Who said bet on 9 players? I said don't trade a whole lot of prospects for a starting SS when you have a top 50 prospect at the position. Because you will have to trade 2-3 top prospects to get a starting SS with multiple years of control. Context matters. That is not the same thing at all....not even close. 

Who said starting SS? 

😉

[Mike Sixel]

11 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

Who said starting SS? 

😉

That's literally what we've been discussing. 

If not, what were we?

[Riverbrian]

7 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

That's literally what we've been discussing. 

If not, what were we?

Here is what I said:

The SS who can also play 2B or 3B. Go young. This is where we try make a trade to bring in someone with years of control. Major league ready prospect is what I'd like to see. 

We work too hard to attach labels to things. Starter - Bench... it trips people up. I don't like the terms. I'm looking for ball players period. Their play will attach the labels.

We got Culpepper to play SS, We got Lee to play 3B, We got Clemens to play 2B. What we don't have is someone who can challenge them. We will need that... and we will need Houston to keep his nice rise going as well. 

 

[HarmonK03]

7 hours ago, TopGunn#22 said:

If we moved on from Buxton

What is your plan to make this happen

[HarmonK03]

6 hours ago, spanman2 said:

It is possible the new CBA may have a lot of influence on the amount they do or do not commit to.  I would hope it is around 175 after a couple of years on the cheap. 

They are going to have to make decisions before the CBA is finalized.  You can't wait' until February or March to set your budget.  And if history is an indicator, teams are going to be aggressive in November before the lockout, if we do nothing then, it won't matter what the budget is.

[Mike Sixel]

11 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

Here is what I said:

The SS who can also play 2B or 3B. Go young. This is where we try make a trade to bring in someone with years of control. Major league ready prospect is what I'd like to see. 

We work too hard to attach labels to things. Starter - Bench... it trips people up. I don't like the terms. I'm looking for ball players period. Their play will attach the labels.

We got Culpepper to play SS, We got Lee to play 3B, We got Clemens to play 2B. What we don't have is someone who can challenge them. We will need that... and we will need Houston to keep his nice rise going as well. 

 

Ok. You're willing to give up 2-3 legit prospects . One of those will have to be Lackey or Houston. Plus 1-2 more top guys, at least one in the top five or so. Why not just keep Houston? I'm super happy they didn't deal for Neto.... Small market teams don't get ahead by dealing multiple prospects when they are a ninety win team two years in a row. That's the opposite of Tampa and Milwaukee. 

[Riverbrian]

20 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Ok. You're willing to give up 2-3 legit prospects . One of those will have to be Lackey or Houston. Plus 1-2 more top guys, at least one in the top five or so. Why not just keep Houston? I'm super happy they didn't deal for Neto.... Small market teams don't get ahead by dealing multiple prospects when they are a ninety win team two years in a row. That's the opposite of Tampa and Milwaukee. 

I'm not willing to do that. I'm keeping Lackey and Houston. That sounds like robbing Peter to pay Paul. Why would another club trade a young player for young players. You really don't have a net gain when Peter and Paul are involved. 

Actually I'm not sure who Peter and Paul are.  But if Mary had a hammer. She'd Hammer out an Ober or something. Strictly hypothetical conversation. But, my desire is the same as last year. I want a young infielder SS capable. 

I'm saying we are light on infielders. We are stronger in the outfield and starting pitching. We got a wall coming after the 2027 season concludes. 

[Mike Sixel]

9 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

I'm not willing to do that. I'm keeping Lackey and Houston. That sounds like robbing Peter to pay Paul. Why would another club trade a young player for young players. You really don't have a net gain when Peter and Paul are involved. 

Actually I'm not sure who Peter and Paul are.  But if Mary had a hammer. She'd Hammer out an Ober or something. Strictly hypothetical conversation. But, my desire is the same as last year. I want a young infielder SS capable. 

I'm saying we are light on infielders. We are stronger in the outfield and starting pitching. We got a wall coming after the 2027 season concludes. 

That wall includes starting pitching after next year. This wouldn't be a problem, most likely, if the owner let falvey do his job.... Not that we wanted Tolle and Arias....

[D.C Twins]

8 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

I'm not sure your point? Houston is next man up. He'll be the starting short stop by July. Why would I trade for a short stop given that's my plan? Which it should be. 

Agree with Mike.... Houston up with Culpepper and Ross available for back up.... Clemens to second if Culpepper needs to shif to SS..... 2027 is about development still for me.... Probably more losses than we like but should be FUN to watch!

[terrydactyls]

10 hours ago, killercarewoliva said:

10 hours ago, killercarewoliva said:

it's pretty close to that with AA baseball used to sit behind home plate in Richmond when the Minnesota twins AAA team came to town $11 behind home plate. that's $100 now. it's minorly sports. what is it?

 

What is a minorly sport?  I went to games at Nicolette Stadium in the 50's.  It only cost $0.55 for a cheap seat.  I guess times have changed.

[Brandon]

It's about fielding the best team.  I don't care if it's on budget if they are good.  In 2027 let's look at the roster and see.  

Rotation where money will be spent.  1.  Lopez is 20 million.  2.  Ryan will be 13-15 million 3.  Bradley will cost less 5-6 million?  4.  Kremer 7 million?  5.  Matthews/ Preliepp 800k

Bullpen : 1.  Gomez 1 million?  2. Morris 800k 3.  Banda 2 million 4 Hoffman 7 million, 5.  Adams 800K 6.  Funderburk 800k 7.  Adams 800k. 8.  Sands 1,200k or Rojas, Raya and others in the mix as well. 

Do the Twins find a way to resign Jeffers?  That is the real question.  That is where the increase in spending goes.  

Clemens, Keaschall, Culpepper, Houston, Lee, Jenkins, E Rod, Martin, are all near league minimum.  Caritini and Jackson will be an 8 million cost C tandem maybe 9 million.  Buxton is 15 million, If we keep Lewis he won't be more than 5 million, Kreidler will be around 2 million to be a backup.  If they keep Bell it's 10 million maybe they trade for a 1B or reliever or resign Minter but I don't see where big money needs to be spent next year outside of maybe a QO for Jeffers or a long term deals for him which I don't see.  

[Rosterman]

The two glaring needs for 2027 are catching and figuring out first base. Okay, maybe another strong bullpen arm.

Twins can solve catcher issue with money. Give Jeffers a three-year contract with an option for a fourth, or hope he takes $23m to stay with the team for another season.

At first, do the Twins stay with Lewis. Is this the position Keaschall can play, opening the outfield for Roden Jenkins Rodroguez. Is Sabato an alternative, 2027's Josh Bell? I would picture moving Jeffers to 1st the following season, depending on how well Tait and Tinney are doing in the minors. But, the question remains, what to do with Lewis and where to play Keaschall in the grand scheme of now and the future.

I like the Twins bullpen nfor next season. I would resign Minter. Hoffman as closer. Morris and Minter as setup. Gomez, Funderburk Banda Nance next in line. Adams Sands Raya Culpepper, maybe even Rozek getting a shot. Who knows is you move Ober to the pen, or even Rojas come mid-season.

So, the Twins basicaly will pay mor money to play next season. They have to make hard deccisions on keeping Lopez or Ryan around. That would be the big 2028 and beyond expenses. By 2030 they have to look at contracting Culpepper Jenkins Rodriguez, Houston and whatever longer term. Oh, and Bradley. Make a decision before he starts thinking about Berrios money.

Target Field was built so the Twins could keep their own free agents, further investment in their development. You can throw money at big names - but they don't really want to come here. You can overpay other free agents, but who do they bump off the current 40-man and what prospects do they derail over the length of their contract.

[TopGunn#22]

HarmonK03 asked what my plan was to make a Buxton and Ryan trade.  I've attached what I wrote after the bolded script.

If we moved on from Buxton and Joe Ryan as the major trades, but others like Bell, Lewis, Larnach and Ober, it's hard to speculate what talent we would have brought back with those trades.  But it would open up the DH spot for someone like Yandy Diaz or Seiya Suzuki (who are both FA).  

Off season priorities:

Catcher-William Contreras.  1B-Jake Bauers.  A veteran SP-Nick Martinez or Sandy Alcantara.  A solid Closer-Ryan Helsley.  Add to this the influx of talent that we get from the trades and progression by a young core of Jenkins, Culpepper, Brooks Lee, Luke Keaschall, E-Rod, and the young pitchers and while 2027 could be cloudy with the expected labor strife, you've got the makings of a team that can meet and exceed the low bar of contention in the A.L. Central.  

So to try to pick up here with an answer...If the exercise is primarily how much the Twins should spend, and how do we use those dollars, I'm of a mind that spending does need to be increased but that bigger, broader changes need to be made.  It's time to fundamentally change this roster.  With Jenkins and E-Rod being a big part of the way forward, the Twins could simply just move Byron to LF/DH. 

But we've been able to part with Killebrew and Carew in the past and it's time to get something for Buxton if he's willing to waive his no-trade clause.  If he won't, I'm fine with him in LF/DH.  Buxton and Pablo are very similar in that their value will immediately bounce back once they demonstrate they are healthy.  Joe Ryan has finished the season with a few starts, so there is not any serious doubt he's healthy...he is.  

I'm hanging onto Lopez to begin the season as well as Buxton.  They need to rebuild value.  Ryan's value has taken a hit, but with a decent track record and a clean bill of health, he's our primary trade chip this winter.  I agree HarmonK03, the activity will be hot and heavy as soon as the World Series concludes.  The Twins need to be aggressive EARLY.  Waiting until the new CBA is completed will be far too late.  

But it's difficult to speculate on what the return in trades for Ryan, Lewis, Ober, Larnach and others would be.  I'd expect the Twins to target young pitching, an upgrade at 1B from the minor leagues who is buried behind a solid, established major leaguer and maybe a serviceable Catcher.  I had mentioned that the Twins should go hard after FA Catcher William Contreras from the Brewers.  He's head and shoulders better than Jeffers and for the next 2 seasons would serve as a great bridge to Vahn Lackey.  At some point, they could share the Catcher position and ultimately, Contreras moves to 1B/DH.  Contreras is a top 3 hitting catcher.

If I traded Joe Ryan, I'd look at Sandy Alcantara (31 y/o) for a 4 year contract or Nick Martinez/Nick Pivetta on a 2-3 year deal to replace Ryan in the rotation.  I hope this helps clarify my thoughts.  

[DJL44]

43 minutes ago, TopGunn#22 said:

 I had mentioned that the Twins should go hard after FA Catcher William Contreras from the Brewers.  He's head and shoulders better than Jeffers and for the next 2 seasons would serve as a great bridge to Vahn Lackey.  At some point, they could share the Catcher position and ultimately, Contreras moves to 1B/DH.  Contreras is a top 3 hitting catcher.

Contreras is not a free agent. The Brewers have a $15M option for 2027 which they will exercise.

[HarmonK03]

57 minutes ago, TopGunn#22 said:

If we moved on from Buxton and Joe Ryan as the major trades,

Same question, how are you going to trade Buxton, he is here for two more years.  Just because people want him to move on, doesn't it's going to happen.