A Preliminary Look at the Minnesota Twins' Baseline 2027 Roster and Payroll

I really like your predictions, Nick.

I think they move one more of the starters listed. That's just too much turnover from 2027-2028 season IMO. Then the #5 spot is rotated between Matthews, Rojas, Abel, Gallagher, Bohorquez and maybe even Morris.

Invest the $ saved into the BP, C, 1B or 2B.

3 hours ago, Nick Nelson said:

If they do this, then one of Buxton, Keaschall, Jenkins or Rodriguez is sitting to make room for him every time he starts. And what of Roden? Just out of the plans?

I am pretty sure no one is starting 162 games in the OF next year.  Maybe Keaschall but Buxton, Rodriguez and Jenkins already have a history of getting injured.  If Larnarch was a full time player I wouldn't suggest it.  But at 3/4 time it might work and Larnarch could try a few games at 1B too.  I am also not saying they do this.  I am just suggesting it could be an option.  Larnarch was a good hitter last year.  He could also pinch him in 20 games or so off the bench.  

I will say the Twins shouldn't go all rookies in their lineup in a season their rotation will be at their best chance.to win and go to the post season.  Need some veteran hitters to help even things out.  

It's time to shake it up.  Players like Larnach, Lewis and Ober time will not get it done.  They have refused to make the changes others have spoke of and the result is clear.  Let's not continue down the same path to mediocrity.

10 hours ago, ToddlerHarmon said:

Only 4 lineup regulars had wRC+ over 110 last year: Buxton, Keaschall, Jeffers, and Larnach. Meaning everyone else was average or worse offensively. They may have little control over keeping Jeffers, but it seems odd to drop Larnach when the chances of replacing his production in 2027 are slim. As part of a more aggressive rebuild, fine.

I understand the roster squeeze, but Martin seems expendable and Larnach fills a similar, if more limited, role.

The team let Rosario go after a similar, albeit shortened, season. The next wave, Rooker, Larnach, Kirilloff, and Wallner, were here, or close, and was supposed to replace him. The next wave, Jenkins, Rodriguez, Mendez, and Gonzalez, are here or close, time to let Larnach go.

9 hours ago, LyleCole said:

Positive thinking is not analytical thinking.   And it is absolutely correct to point out mistakes that have happened in the past.   The mistake they made at the beginning of 2026 was not trading Buxton and Joe Ryan.   If you set their relative trade value to 100 in the offseason of 2026, I would argue that Buxton's trade value is now about 40 and Ryan's 50.  Less than half.   I would argue that Ryan Jeffer's trade value relative to the trade deadline is also 50.  

And the real need to make those trades at max value is that the Twins pitching pipeline is rather barren and we really do not have a lot of other methods of adding to the pitching core.  We have to make smart draft picks for pitching, develop those players and then add smart prospects from trades, such as getting Joe Ryan in the first place, to fill out the staff. 

Where we need to be positive is believing that our core group of prospects that are just pushing to the majors now will have what it takes to become a competitive team over the near far term (2-3 years).  Jenkins, Culpepper, Rodriguez, Houston, Lee, Diaw, Lackey, Tait, Tinney, Mendez, Gonzales, Roden, Keaschall.   I think there is a lot of data that suggests we should be positive with this group.  

If we brought up that entire group like the Twins did in 1982 with the Hrbek-Gaetti-Brunansky-Viola cohort, took their lumps, found out which of these guys pans out and which does not, then bring in the second wave Gagne-Puckett,  And then make smart moves in trades (Jeff Reardon, Bert Blyleven) and lower end free agents hopefully we can form a truly competitive team.

And while people have made comments that baseball today is not what it was in 1982, one factor that is different is that if we "tank" for a year or two that just adds top level draft picks to our system.  But in that era without signing bonus slot values it was very difficult for the Twins to sign their picks.  In 1983 the Twins failed to sign the #1 player picked in the draft, Tim Belcher and their 2nd round pick, #29 Bill Swift.  That was a major blow and I also believe it made them gun shy from drafting players they feared would not sign.

Buxton has a full no trade clause and has since he signed his extension. 

7 minutes ago, LyleCole said:

THe probability that Buxton would have rejected a trade to LA, Yankees, Braves, Cubs, Red Sox was 0%.

Byron Buxton has stated that this idea is nonsense. I guess someone can choose not to believe anything he says. There is that.

21 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

Also, where else are they spending money?

Signing young guys to extensions.  

49 minutes ago, LyleCole said:

People can SAY anything.  Of course he says he wants to stay in Minnesota.   But, when confronted with a huge upgrade in teams and the chance to play in the World Series, he would forget everything he ever said.  And if he didn't, then you have to wonder about his competitiveness level.

So, in a way, you can believe him and not believe him simultaneously.

"Byron we have a deal to trade you to teh LA Dodgers do you opt out of your no trade?"  

Split second later  "Of course."

But, Byron we have a deal to trade you to the Montreal Expos, do you reject that trade" is a much different proposition.

Those conversations have already taken place and Buck has been firm in his response. Think of him whatever you choose (I will agree it is somewhat abnormal) but Buxton has not wavered - he plans to have only one team on the back of his baseball card.