DJL44’s 2027 Payroll Blueprint: Let’s build for 2028

[DJL44]

Acquire Joey Bart C for cash considerations (he is a likely non-tender).

Trade Joe Ryan, Kody Clemens, Dean Kremer and Trevor Larnach for prospects to reload the minors with pitching. Some of the prospects might compete for a spot on the team but we will assume they begin the season in the minors.

Sign Jazz Chisholm on a pillow contract to either trade him at the deadline or get the draft pick from the qualifying offer. If Jazz won’t sign, try Arraez for 3-years $50M. If that fails, give JP Crawford $8M to mentor Culpepper and play 2B.

Rebuild Pablo Lopez value in the rotation and look to flip him at the deadline. Ober moves to relief to try to improve his trade value. Hoffman, Nance, Sands, Gomez, Funderburk and Caratini are also trade bait in July.

Matt Wallner gets one last chance to turn his career around with the Twins as the DH.

Rojas is the 6th starter in AAA.

• C: Victor Caratini ($7.00M)
• 1B: Royce Lewis ($5.10M)
• 2B: Jazz Chisholm ($23.00M)
• 3B: Brooks Lee ($1.00M)
• SS: Kaelen Culpepper ($1.00M)
• LF: Luke Keaschall ($1.00M)
• CF: Byron Buxton ($15.00M)
• RF: Walker Jenkins ($1.00M)
• DH: Matt Wallner ($1.00M)
• 4th OF: Emmanuel Rodriguez ($1.00M)
• Utility: Austin Martin ($1.00M)
• Utility: Ryan Kreidler ($1.00M)
• Backup C: Joey Bart ($2.70M)
• POS: Add Dead Money Here ($10.00M)
• SP1: Pablo Lopez ($21.50M)
• SP2: Taj Bradley ($4.50M)
• SP3: Mick Abel ($1.00M)
• SP4: Connor Prielipp ($1.00M)
• SP5: Zebby Matthews ($1.00M)
• RP: Jeff Hoffman ($7.25M)
• RP: Bailey Ober ($6.90M)
• RP: Tommy Nance ($1.20M)
• RP: Yoendrys Gomez ($1.00M)
• RP: Kody Funderburk ($1.00M)
• RP: Travis Adams ($1.00M)
• RP: Andrew Morris ($1.00M)
• RP: Garret Acton ($1.00M)
• POS: Add Dead Money Here ($0.00M)

Payroll is 11.00% under budget

[DJL44]

If the Twins go this route they should be opportunistic signing overlooked free agents, especially in the bullpen.