The Twins Should Be Embarrassed to Be Outspent by the Royals

For the first time in 8 or 9 years the Royals are spending some serious money.  I don't think that's a reason for the Twins, or any other team, to feel "embarrassed".

A lot of people (even myself for a little bit) gave the team every benefit of the doubt when it came to the TV contract/payroll slash excuse. If payroll still ends up with an almost $40M cut by opening day despite the new contract (which seems like a $10M cut at most??) we should all be rightfully angry. Our competitive window is now, there are no more excuses

I'm not particularly fazed by the Royals spending money, especially because the owner is incentivized to spend to drum up community support to build a new stadium.

But if the Twins end up signing a TV deal in the range of $40 million for 2024, it's unfathomable that we didn't at least pursue someone like Jordan Montgomery or Blake Snell to be our #2 SP. Even with a roughly $15 million drop in payroll, there should have been room to sign either of those pitchers to a 1-year, $30 million or a 3-year, $75 million contract. 

It is crazy, given the market size advantage, that the Twins will end up with a local TV contract worse than Cleveland and Kansas City.

Regardless of the Royals actions, the Twins and Twins Fandom should all be embarrassed by this offseason.  The fact that the Royals, who were/are basically in the same limbo as the Twins and it did not stop them from making moves basically makes Ownership look selfish and short-sighted.  Very, very sad...

The Royals don’t have a Hockey team and NBA team to siphon even more money away from their Baseball team. While I think they had the money to resign Gray if you take out Santana and Desclarini especially.  That is annoying but good for the Royals for spending some cash.  They are still behind the Twins but much better than they were. I wonder if the Taylor Swift affect is helping them too financially.

What a terrible, whiny article.

They signed a franchise cornerstone to the biggest deal in club history and sit $7 mill ahead of the Twins on 2/5/2024.

I don’t care what the Royals spend but the Pohlad family should be embarrassed by this off season. They got caught completely unprepared for this TV situation and double down by pinching what equates to nickels and dimes after their first playoff in forever. They had to have known they were going to get some TV money yet they act like it is zero. I personally don’t understand why the fan base isn’t more pissed. I guess everyone has just been conditioned to not expect anything different. 

It is interesting.  I hope the Royals do well this year.  The Twins could use good competition.

We don't need to base our feelings on the Royals payroll. But the Twins payroll last season was $159 million. Even factoring in that they may have lost ~$10 million and might lose another $15 million in TV $$, they still should be at least in the $135 million range. They are currently ~$120. If they spend another $15 million to upgrade the starting rotation and bring back Taylor, I'm OK with it. If they stand pat at $120 million while the divisions is there for the taking, yes they should be embarrassed.

I don't think spending $32 million for two years of Michael Wacha (ages 34 and 35) is all that commendable, personally, but you can tell me in two years how that worked out.

Although compared to $45 million for three years of Seth Lugo (ages 34, 35, and 36)...

Perhaps the Twins can develop some plans to solve their media issues before the 2025 season. The roster is more or less set and the $120-125 million budget for players is fine. 

Good for the Kansas City fans that their team is building toward a stronger and more competitive team. It is a fine city and area that has always supported the Royals.

When the first mesage out of the front office after packing the stadium in a playoff matchup against Houston were, "We're cutting payroll", I was the one that was embarrassed. 

Embarrassed that I continue to allow this team to test my fandom regularly. I get all the factors that lead to their decision, but this team is going to continue to be a low-budget baseball team hunting for FA scraps and trying to cling to the talent they do have.

Baseball's economics suck and I'm embarrassed that it's my favorite sport. 

I honestly believe there is value and revenue to be made if you build a consistently excellent team that is a legit contender every year. You don't need to sign the top FA every year, but filling the holes on your roster with low budget players and prayers isn't a serious approach to winning.

I am a little fuzzy on where you are coming up with these numbers.  According to Spotcast, Kansas City's projected Total Payroll is $108,167,477 not $138M.  Why are you comparing the Luxury Tax Payroll instead of using the projected payroll total.  I guess I am asking why the Luxury tax number is a better representation than their actual payroll.

Royals Payroll

KC is definitely spending a lot more dough since their ownership change. I don't know if the Pohlads and our FO should be embarrassed, but it should at least get their attention. That's a huge chunk of change they're shelling out for Witt.

Royce Lewis today 

Not embarrassed and I appreciate the Pohlad’s. They have to be among the best ownership groups over my time in Minnesota.

The Lakers and North Stars moved. Norm Green and Bob Short are slotted in on the bottom. Is there any other clearly  ahead of the Pohlad’s? The Pohlad’s must be preferable to the Griffith’s. Max Winter might top the list. I think he sold to the Pohlad’s and then to Headrick. Maybe Zygi Wilf is the best? Football is hard to compare though. The revenue is shared so much more equally. Craig Leipold? Glen Taylor?

I have colleagues that are fans of the A’s. They always complain about the owners. With each ownership change they move from the relief of getting rid of the last group to the realization that they are worse off now than they were before. 

I think there is a lot to appreciate about the Pohlad’s and their really long run of ownership of the Twins.