bjorks

I don't disagree, but I think as an infielder, he's got the potential to be better than Kreidler, Ross, Gray, etc. Not saying much, but he's got waaaaay better contact skills than maybe those 3 put together and he's fast. Super fast. If the glove plays, his speed will give him a shot somewhere. Is it the Twins? Ehhh....

Minimums are going to go up regardless, but if the owners are going to die on the hill of a capped market, i would be hard pressed arbitration will remain in place. The players don't like it and want to be able to reach FA earlier in their careers, which from an economic standpoint, would change the draft and the slotted bonuses. IF they got rid of slotted bonuses, an entire new way of controlling young players would need to be figured out, which would probably actually benefit ALL MiLB players, which is something they've been pining for. The NFL is a whole other level of economics. What many people don't know is all guaranteed portions of NFL contracts have to go into escrow - the owners have to have massive cash assets in order to protect future salaries, which is why they were so pissed when Cousins and Deshaun Watson got fully guaranteed deals. 100% of those contracts had to be placed in escrow.

Which is why it's proposed for 2028. I failed to mention that...

Interesting the new’ish proposal from MlB of a $258MM cap and $180MM floor. Regardless of whether the Union ever agrees or not, that floor is quite high, esp. for those bottom quarter teams. What it tells me is the expected TV/streaming deals and rev share are much higher than expected.

Here's an interesting twist depending on how far away you think we are from contending. Contending = minimum of ALCS If you think we can win the Central and make a run over the next 2-3 years, what would it take in return for Lackey? Far fetched I know, but if Team X makes an overwhelming deal, would you sign Jeffers to a say 4/$62 and replenish the minors? Let's say the Cubs offered Hartshorn, Wiggins, Alcantara, and filler? Point being if they believe in Tait, I wonder what the haul would be on Lackey or even a lesser package for Tait. I'd be very tempted to at least pick up the phone and listen, especially if you could get Jeffers on a small discount in exchange for length. Not suggesting we do it, but I'd be tempted if I thought we could make a run.

No brainer. Doesn't matter if it's Comp A or B. Can't let him walk for nothing. Hopefully he stays for one more season and we can move Caratini.

This was my first crack C: Hunter Goodman ($6.20M) 1B: Rafeal Devers ($31.00M) 2B: CJ Abrams ($10.2M) 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: Kody Clemens ($3.60M) 4th OF: Jarren Duran ($11.00M) Utility: Shohei Ohtani ($2.00M) Utility: Ryan Kreidler ($1.00M) Backup C: Me ($0M) POS: Add Dead Money Here ($0.00M) SP1: Pablo Lopez ($21.50M) SP2: Tarik Skubal ($51.00M) SP3: Reid Detmers ($7.50M) SP4: Connor Prielipp ($1.00M) SP5: Taj Bradley ($4.50M) RP: Jeff Hoffman ($7.25M) RP: Adrien Morejon ($20.00M) RP: Tommy Nance ($1.20M) RP: Alex Vesia ($11.00M) RP: Trevor Megill ($8.00M) RP: Travis Adams ($1.00M) RP: Andrew Morris ($1.00M) RP: AJ Minter ($7.00M) POS: Add Dead Money Here ($0.00M) Payroll is 40.25% over budget

My big signing is Pivetta, whose metrics and second half last year were lights out. Marte is a FA after '27 and like Lewis, is a change of scenery guy. I found it funny Alan Roden was left off internal options! Poor guy. THis is a fun tool and shows how challenging it can be if revenue/ownership don't adjust with rising economics. We're stuck trying to fill the backend of the roster with league minimum guys and that's not easy. I could care less if Ross/Kreidler/Jackson are on the team, but that's our options based on the list of available players. Any trade I make for someone like Ryan/ERod I'm taking back prospects anyway. C: Jimmy Crooks ($1.00M) 1B: Paul Goldschmidt ($5.00M) 2B: Kody Clemens ($3.60M) 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: Ketel Marte ($12.00M) 4th OF: Alan Roden ($1.00M) Utility: Ben Ross ($1.00M) Utility: Ryan Kreidler ($1.00M) Backup C: Alex Jackson ($2.00M) POS: Add Dead Money Here ($0.00M) SP1: Pablo Lopez ($21.50M) SP2: Nick Pivetta ($21.00M) SP3: Dean Kremer ($6.50M) SP4: Connor Prielipp ($1.00M) SP5: Taj Bradley ($4.50M) RP: Jeff Hoffman ($7.25M) RP: AJ Minter ($7.00M) RP: Tommy Nance ($1.20M) RP: Kevin Ginkal ($7.00M) RP: Kody Funderburk ($1.00M) RP: Travis Adams ($1.00M) RP: Andrew Morris ($1.00M) RP: Marco Raya ($1.00M) POS: Add Dead Money Here ($0.00M) Payroll is 6.26% under budget

WORKING ON IT!!! 🤣

Interesting to say the least. This team on paper would be IMHO far worse. What do you do with Clemens, ERod, Buxton, Alcantara, Keaschall and the DH role? You're not going to platoon someone like Bauers, but we'd be adding another OF/DH type who can't be sent to St. Paul? I'd argue our infield may not be strong enough as constructed to sign and get the benefits of someone like Romero who's an extreme ground ball pitcher who needs a great defense behind him for max value.

Nothing more than organization depth, but that's not a bad thing either. He's got a chance to be the prototypical backup, light hitting catcher who doesn't hurt you per say, but he's 3-4 years away from that. Would rather have him than not.

Professional and Collegiate athletes are underpaid when you measure it directly to "jock tax" and other revenue generators linked to sports (hotels, travel, food, etc). I've been a consultant in the sports industry for 15 years and nobody can make an argument against professional sports salaries as it relates to tourism revenue for pro sports. MN has the 2nd highest jock tax in the country after California. Events like the gymnastics olympic trials or junior hockey championships bring in $5+ million to the state. You need to think of them not as employees, but entertainers. Does anyone complain when ScarJo or Brad Pitt make $50 million for a movie? No because it's based on the numbers and sports are the same. I'm not justifying it, but professional sports team ownership is the ultra, ultra exclusive and a very small group of individuals who benefit. WE (all of us) created the market through fandom and watching games. If there wasn't a demand, the salaries and TV deals wouldn't be what they are. All you need to look at are expansion markets across the Core 4 + MLS/NWSL to see States/Cities will do anything to get an invite the party. MLS/NWSL is pure speculation from an ownership standpoint. Teams lose money, but NWSL expansion fees will eclipse $250MM in 2028 for the next round of expansion, yet many of the teams barely can draw 5-figure attendance. BUT, because of perceived value of professional sports team ownership, ownership in MLS/NWSL can place almost any valuation on teams they want because of the way the rev share model works in both leagues. Ohtani and Yamamoto (and I suppose Roki) have been worth over $1B in direct economic impact from the Japanese markets alone since their signings. If anything, Ohtani and Yamamoto are underpaid versus their value. The really crazy thing is how NBA/NFL have really sold their souls and I'm not even talking about sports gambling. The Euro/Asian market for TV, merch, overseas games, etc. is literally finding the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow (regardless if the leprechaun is in a tree). If you think salaries and stadiums are out of control now, just wait until they figure out expansion to non-US markets. The only solution (a lot due to revenue) is split, true global leagues with true "World Champions". If the NBA expands like they want to in the Asian markets (esp. China), you would see a nearly uncapped league or the "stars" like Ant, easily making $150+ million annually.

I think one of the labor issues they're trying to address is you can be rinky-dink and screw the fans over, but at the end of the day ALL professional sport team ownership is about the $ and whether you win the WS or you're the Oakland/Sacramento/LasVegas/Bend/Waco/.Blackduck/International Falls Athletics, the profit is there. Maybe nobody in the media or with the org will say this publicly, but i believe the Twins were pulled off the table (temporarily) last year because the Pohlads would've been fools to sell before the the CBA and media deal gets figured out. Just by operating at the status quo when the sell at a minimum will net them $300-$500 MILLION more just by waiting 12-18 months.

IMHO - an above league average catcher who can hit > above league average defensive catcher who can't To each their own on how you build, a team, but some, not all defensive catching metrics are solely on the catcher. Steals are nearly as much on the pitcher and can significantly hurt defensive metrics. Again, IMO the offensive metrics can't/aren't as skewed as some catching.