Estimated future payroll commitments per Sportrac
As much as RL is the current/future face (along with Jenkins) we all want, until the TV deal and streaming package is settled, it may be difficult to estimate future payroll limits. We're committed to $105.5M in 2025 already with (potentially) DeSclafani, Kepler, Santana, Thielbar, and Staumont UFAs and Castro, Jeffers, Kiriloff, Topa, Okert, Stewart, Ryan, Ober, Larnach, Jax, and Duran all arbitration eligible.
The Twins are in great position with only 3 total guaranteed deals in 2026 and 2027 and 2 in 2028 (Lopez will be 32 at the end of his deal in '28). There's no rush IMHO. RL needs to prove he can stay healthy as much as we have a number of guys who need to prove they're long term building blocks and I argue we have quite a few guys who need to prove it. Jenkins is potentially the guy the buyout and that's 3-4 years away. There's no rush to do anything unless Boras and RL are pushing for it, which I doubt. RL is worth substantially more than $20M/year if averages 135+ games a year through '28. If he's got franchise type numbers he's probably worth double that at the peak of his prime.
Obviously if you're the Twins you start having talkings after NEXT season if that's the precedent you want to set, but unless there are health concerns from the RL camp we don't know about, I'd bet on myself. Buying guys out is a risky proposition. I wish I had the decision of $200M now or $350M later! lol