His salary isn't stopping them from signing anyone else, the twins would never pay for a top ace type anyways, even if they had a $160 mil payroll. It's not in Ryan's nature. As many have said over over and over again. His contract is up long before guys like Hicks, Berrios, Buxton, dozier, Rosario, Gibson, etc hit free agency. I still have hope that he comes back next year a couple years removed from the concussion and ends up being the Mauer of old (.800+ ops)