LyleCole’s 2027 Payroll Blueprint: Prospect Rebuild

[LyleCole]

• C: Victor Caratini ($7.00M)
• 1B: Royce Lewis ($5.10M)
• 2B: Luke Keaschall ($1.00M)
• 3B: Brooks Lee ($1.00M)
• SS: Kaelen Culpepper ($1.00M)
• LF: Emmanuel Rodriguez ($1M)
• CF: Walker Jenkins ($1M)
• RF: Hendrys Mendez ($1.00M)
• DH: Kody Clemens ($3.60M)
• 4th OF: Alan Roden ($1.00M)
• Utility: Marek Houston ($1.00M)
• Utility: Gabe Gonzales ($1.00M)
• Backup C: Khadim Diaw ($1M)
• POS: Add Dead Money Here ($0.00M)
• SP1: Pablo Lopez ($21.50M)
• SP2: Joe Ryan ($9.60M)
• SP3: Dean Kremer ($6.50M)
• SP4: Zebby Matthews ($1M)
• SP5: Taj Bradley ($4.50M)
• RP: Jeff Hoffman ($7.25M)
• RP: AJ Minter ($7M)
• RP: Tommy Nance ($1.20M)
• RP: Cole Sands ($1.30M)
• RP: Kody Funderburk ($1.00M)
• RP: Connor Prielipp ($1.00M)
• RP: Andrew Morris ($1.00M)
• RP: Marco Raya ($1.00M)
• POS: Add Dead Money Here ($0.00M)

Payroll is 33.67% under budget

[Cory Engelhardt]

So they add no one, trade all of the veterans (and don't get starting level players back) and don't bring in literally any relievers while also moving Prielipp to the bullpen and Keaschall back to 2b?

I'd need to find a new therapist JUST for this offseason, let alone everything else going on in the world.

[LyleCole]

1 hour ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

So they add no one, trade all of the veterans (and don't get starting level players back) and don't bring in literally any relievers while also moving Prielipp to the bullpen and Keaschall back to 2b?

I'd need to find a new therapist JUST for this offseason, let alone everything else going on in the world.

IT is rebuild time.   The only player that is traded is Buxton.   Perhaps some of the prospects/players he brings back would be on this rebuilding roster.  

What I would hope is that Culpepper, Jenkins, Rodriguez, Houston, all gain solid experience in 2027 to build on 2028.  There is enough of a cadre of pitching (Ryan is still tentatively on this roster unless a team makes a solid offer), with Hoffman and resigning MInter to carry over into 2028 to start to compete.

Then, because of the massive savings this budget develops, they can build around that core to fill in the gaps.

This is the only realistic approach.  

[Cory Engelhardt]

1 minute ago, LyleCole said:

IT is rebuild time.   The only player that is traded is Buxton.   Perhaps some of the prospects/players he brings back would be on this rebuilding roster.  

What I would hope is that Culpepper, Jenkins, Rodriguez, Houston, all gain solid experience in 2027 to build on 2028.  There is enough of a cadre of pitching (Ryan is still tentatively on this roster unless a team makes a solid offer), with Hoffman and resigning MInter to carry over into 2028 to start to compete.

Then, because of the massive savings this budget develops, they can build around that core to fill in the gaps.

This is the only realistic approach.  

I disagree. It's not the only realistic approach. 

And I don't see Buxton leaving. He's said this a number of times. He'll be a Twin for life if it is up to him. No reason to push him out the door.