weitz41

I like the thought of Clemens at 1B if you bring in a platoon partner like Mountcastle. Plus, they both have experience in the outfield if you're playing the matchup game. Which I expect to continue. As for 2B... If they're trying to get into the playoffs, I get it, every team should be in some sense, the team will need to spend on a free agent at 2B if Clemens is at 1st. The lock out could be helpful for the Twins in that aspect. A one-year deal for an upper echelon 2B say Chisholm, Torres or Arreaza could be more likely after the lock out.

IDK why but I'm leery of the floor/cap the owners want. I worry that a roll players salary will quadruple along with arbitration salaries. Plus, a baseball contract is fully guaranteed. There's a lot of smoke and mirrors to NFL contracts. I guess another way to put it is baseball doesn't work anything like football or basketball. taking what they do and applying it to baseball feels to me like a total miss match.

I really like the Sato, Morejon (as a starter) and Schmitt additions. My only complaint and its minor is I think the BP needs a bit more added. But that could also happen Aug 1st if things go well.

Stephenson is younger and has some XP at 1B. Marte more expensive seasons come after Buxton's contract is off the books. I really like Morejon. But I don't see them winning the bidding war for him and he has a QO. Plus 5 guys with some closing experience rather than 4. With a 150 mil budget I'd add a starter and put Matthew in the BP or down in AAA ball. Someone in the 15 mil one year deal range. Maybe Mize, Boyd or Gallen (at 1/2 that)

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

You underestimate the power of the dark side...

I was all for giving him the QO. But those projected salaries give me pause... There's just not much out there in the FA market after him though. 2028 has Contreras and Rutschman. I also think it's way too optimistic (hopefully I'm wrong) to think Lackey will be a Twin by 2028. I guess I'd offer the 3/40 during the 5-day exclusive negotiating window, maybe up to 3/45 and pass on the QO if he turns it down. 13/15 mil per season is fair for a C/DH.

Probably a little too optimistic about none of the Twins prospects ending up being AAAA players. I'll keep with the theme and add Diaw as the backup catcher/RH outfielder, Clemens, Ross and Roden as the bench players. 1B will continue to be a revolving door of veterans from other teams. I like the Lopez extension. Bradley #2 and Prielipp #3. After that I'm not sure Abel or Rojas are starters. Bohorquez and Quick might pass them on the depth chart by 2028. In the BP I expect or maybe hope for a bit different group. I'd have Matthews or Festa (maybe both) in the BP over Sands. Minter will be 35? in 2028. That's a little too far past his prime for me. Same for Hoffman. This offseason has some quality set up guys. I'd sign a couple for 3 years. Let's say Versia and Abreu. Then 2027 offseason our old buddy Johan Duran is a free agent. Sign him! That would be a stout BP with Morris, Gomez, Funderburk, Matthews and Festa.

This is a pipe dream, but I want them to sign Morejon. Not for we'll see money but you're our closer money. Also, not for a season or two 4-5 seasons. No point in going any farther. Pipe dream...

I'd like them to bring him back. But not at 11 mil per. I like Vesia over Minter if we're talking more than a 1-year deal. 2 reliever upgrades in the 6-10 range. Say Minter/Vesia and Abreu at 8 each. Hoffman closes in 2027. Then bring back Duran in 2028.

Meh...If they just band aid their way through it. Sure, Lowe is a decent pick up to platoon with Lewis. It's not really the year to go big on 1st base. I don't see France repeating this year's numbers. So I'd look at trades. The offence needs upgrades not more of the same. If you want an upgrade that, will be your 3-5 hitter. I suggest a bad contract. Raffy Devers...I know. I know! You'd want SF to pay a substantial portion, so would I. Otherwise Lowe is about your top guy...No ez fix at 1b if Clemens stays at 2nd.

It's October 2026. Hoffman as the closer sound pretty good now. By June 2027 (if they're playing games) who knows. Bring back Minter and maybe get another top notch set up guy (Abreau?) and you can look at it as matchup based. Hoffman, Gomez, Morris, Minter and Abreau

A little different thought on this that may or may not fly.. Your competition plays a part in this as well. Playing in a division that has the Yankees, Red Sox for the Rays and the Cub and Cardinals for the Brewers. That old saying beat the best to be the best...or something like that. Don't get me wrong of course you need to be good to great at the things being mentioned and yes payroll does make a difference. Just a little different tid bit is all

Seems pretty simple to me. QO him. If he accepts great, you get one more year at a 30% premium of what a 4-year deal will likely cost per season. If the Brewers can afford a player accepting a QO the Twins sure as heck should be able to. The article mentioned $110 mil payroll, but that doesn't account for none-tenders or trades. I could see them clearing out plenty of payroll that way and still having plenty left over for other FA players. I would think 4 years @ 18 mil (to top Raleigh) should be the sweet spot for a contract. 5 years, I would guess they pass.

Well, if Festa is being mentioned as a starter, Morris should be as well. I know he had a decent run in the BP. That doesn't mean it's permanent. (A little Johan Santana scenario) It's more like a situation then a "crisis" for 2028. Easy enough to fix. Sign a FA starter, extend one of the Vets or trade one or more of the Vets to give the young guys the opportunity to further establish themselves. Better yet, I saw a projection today for Skubal of 6 for $360. That'd solve some of this and put butts in the seats. Keep in mind it isn't my money. I'll happily spend TP's dough.

1st off great article. It's an interesting situation. I don't see many soon-to-be free agents (who may get a QO) that make sense for the Twins to go after. But it's still a possibility. Looking at the Twins starting roster...Draft picks are a big thing to part with. The Jeffer situation though...$23.1 mil is pretty steep for a catcher if he accepts. There is a real need to upgrade catcher for 2027. Probably the next best FA catcher is Stephenson (Reds). I doubt the Twins can sign him without a multi-year commitment. I don't care for that because of Diaw, Lackey and even Olivar. It may end up that an overpay for Jeffer is the best possible outcome.

I don't think they do. If a player is traded during their final year of control the cannot get a QO.

I'm of course in on a bigger payroll. But when I look at the FA class and what the Twins have in place going forward say 3 or more seasons. Plus, where there are glaring holes. I really don't see any difference makers in free agency in 2027, not many in 2028 either. By that I'm saying someone you would sign for 4 years or more. Sure, Skubal is one. After that who? In 2028 Murakami? Then a ton of 40-year-old starters. By increasing payroll maybe, a pricey veteran or two from a team looking to go younger and cheaper may be the way to go.

I'm going to root for the upside and say other than 1B the next 4 years or more of the infield looks very promising. The outfield does as well, just not as comfortable with thinking all of them will turn out as projected. Just need a younger 1st baseman who has some slug and plays at least average defense. Culpepper may or may not be the long-term SS for the Twins. But I believe he's a long-term member of the Twins.

I think they need to keep him around and on the active roster. It they start the OF we're all expecting, there will be 90 games with at least one outfielder on the IL. The 1B idea makes sense until Houston is the starting SS and Clemens gets shifted there. But you cross that bridge when you get to it.

He makes this off season a bit more complicated IMO. Do you invest in the IF? The OF, with all the prospects? Starting pitching? Probably the only safe place to invest is the BP. Was this his career year?....Like I said it's complicated.

The down season definitely didn't help. But before that he's stuck in a system that is bursting with OF prospects. Not ideal for a guy teetering on mlb/AAAA. Similar to Mendez. I think there's room for a RH OF but not for a RH DH.

Or this

Sign 2 of Minter, Morejon, Abreu and Matsui. Leave room in the BP for 1 of Matthews, Rojas and Festa.

There will likely be 31 other teams trying to move a few guys before Dec 1st. Tender and trade.