weitz41’s 2027 Payroll Blueprint:

[weitz41]

I would like to point out that I enjoy this exercise every year. Thanks to all that put the work into it to make it possible.

The one trade I made that effects the 26 man the most is I traded Joe Ryan to the Dbacks for Ketel Marte. BTV says it a big overpay so I added 3 mil per season from the Dback to cut his "Twins" salary to 9 mil. Still an overpay by their measurements. Also he has 10/5 rights so he could refuse it. Traded Ober, Larnach, Martin and Sands for prosects. Nothing that would affect the 2027 roster. I would like to move Lewis but couldn't come up with an RH 1B/OF guy that fit what I was looking for. Maybe Ryan Mountcastle on a cheap or minor league deal? Stephenson has played some 1B for the Reds in the past.

Adel, Rojas, Parades and Gallagher in AAA. I don't feel too confident about that depth. But trying to keep my payroll under 135 mil. Morris could go back to the rotation if injuries really pile up. There's still Quick and Bohorquez in AA but that's really pushing it to call them depth.

I think these changes should add 6-8 wins to last year's total.

• C: Tyler Stephenson ($8.00M)
• 1B: Kody Clemens ($3.60M)
• 2B: Ketel Marte ($9.00M)
• 3B: Brooks Lee ($1.00M)
• SS: Kaelen Culpepper ($1.00M)
• LF: Walker Jenkins ($1.00M)
• CF: Byron Buxton ($15.00M)
• RF: Luke Keaschall ($1.00M)
• DH: Emmanuel Rodriguez ($1.00M)
• 4th OF: Alan Roden ($1.00M)
• Utility: Royce Lewis ($5.10M)
• Utility: Ryan Kreidler or Ben Ross ($1.00M)
• Backup C: Victor Caratini ($7.00M)
• POS: Add Dead Money Here ($0.00M)
• SP1: Pablo Lopez ($21.50M)
• SP2: Taj Bradley ($4.50M)
• SP3: Dean Kremer ($6.50M)
• SP4: Zebby Matthews ($1.00M)
• SP5: Connor Prielipp ($1.00M)
• RP: Jeff Hoffman ($7.25M)
• RP: Yoendrys Gómez ($1.00M)
• RP: Andrew Morris ($1.00M)
• RP: Alex Vesia ($11.00M)
• RP: Bryan Abreu ($12.00M)
• RP: Tommy Nance ($1.20M)
• RP: Kody Funderburk ($1.00M)
• RP: Travis Adams ($1.00M)
• POS: Add Dead Money Here ($0.00M)

Payroll is 7.67% under budget

[tony&rodney]

Looks pretty solid. The bet for the bullpen is that Abreu and Vesia provide more than one big signing (Bednar, Morejon) I guess and that makes sense.

One wonders if Marte would agree to be traded or if Zoll (the Twins brain trust) has interest. Marte can be very good, but he also has a big contract, especially in 2028-2030.

I am curious why you chose Stephenson over Kelly at catcher.