Jeremy Nygaard

Join us tonight at 8:30 to talk Twins Baseball. Seth is back home, so he should be less tired (in theory). Ask us lots of Twins and Twins minor league questions. [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] <iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/BZrKkh0o4XU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> The show is also available on the too. You can view and all other episodes on our YouTube channel, download our shows on iTunes, or listen to them on our webpage.

It's a special Spring Training episode with Seth live in Fort Myers. If you have questions or comments, please leave them below. You can view and all other episodes on our YouTube channel, download our shows on iTunes, or listen to them on our webpage.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVTyvoEZREk

The Twins made their first round of cuts this morning. I figured this was as good of time as any to highlight some things that are important (to nerds like me) as the regular season opens and progresses. The Roster and Payroll page has been updated to include a lot of new information. It was mostly re-shuffling of where minor league guys might go. It also included the batch of most recent international signings. [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] PAYROLL One of the reasons that I started this page was to keep updated tabs on what the Major League payroll is. We often get reports about what the "Opening Day payroll" is but then after that there aren't many updates. Payroll fluctuates whenever there is a transaction. The other thing is that only the 2014 salaries would be included when figuring that payroll. There are a couple other things that affect that number. OPENING DAY PAYROLL: Without knowing exactly what the final group of 25 is going to look like, it's impossible to say where that number is going to fall. At this moment, we're looking at the neighborhood of $83 million. OTHER ITEMS TO CONSIDER: The Twins have three players on their rosters that have an option year at the end of their contracts. Those years can either be picked up or bought out. The "buyout" portion of those contracts are paid out over the life of the contract (up until the option year). The Twins have a $1m buyout on the fifth year of Nolasco's contract. The Twins will pay him an additional $250,000 each year for the next four years. Both Glen Perkins and Jared Burton are owed an extra $100,000 this year. Burton's option year is next year, while Perkins's doesn't happen until 2016. That adds an extra $450,000 to payroll. ARTICLE XX( FREE AGENTS: The Twins signed both Jason Kubel and Matt Guerrier to minor league contracts. Because those players are coming directly off of major league deals, they would have to be paid $100,000 to be assigned to the minor leagues. Both of these players - as well as Jason Bartlett - will make significantly more than league minimum if and when they do suit up for the Twins. INCENTIVES: Perkins and Burton both have clauses in their contracts that pay them more for "games finished". Perkins also has a unique clause that will increase his salary for 2015 based on the incentives he earns in 2014. Mike Pelfrey and Phil Hughes can both earn more money if they hit innings-pitched milestones. Anthony Swarzak can earn more money by making 10 starts. Kurt Suzuki has triggers in his contract that will pay him more, basically, for being the starting catcher. And both Kubel and Guerrier have incentives that will pay them for their performances too. CREDITS: While it's not common to sell a player's rights, the Twins did just that this year. In agreeing to release Andrew Albers, the Twins were paid about $500,000 by a Korean team. The exact figure is not known, but two outlets have confirmed the amount was very close to that $500,000. There also always remains the possibility of trading a player under contract and having that team pick up the contract. That happened last year with Morneau and saved the Twins almost $3 million. LOOKING AHEAD ARBITRATION: The Twins avoided the arbitration process this past off-season by agreeing to deals with Brian Duensing, Trevor Plouffe and Swarzak. Next year, the Twins could face arbitration with as many as eight players. Duensing will enter his third and final year of arbitration. Swarzak will enter his second year of arbitration. Plouffe will enter his second year too, but has three years remaining as he was a Super Two player last year. Vance Worley would exceed three years of service if he plays a full year in the majors. Scott Diamond, Casey Fien, Eduardo Escobar and Alex Presley all currently have less than two years of experience, but with one more full season should have more than the Super Two cutoff and be eligible for arbitration the first time (of four). ROSTER ADDS: The Twins will have to add players to their roster in November to avoid exposure in the Rule 5 draft, and it's never too early to speculate who those guys might be. Alex Meyer, Miguel Sano and (the good) Eddie Rosario are must adds. Sean Gilmartin, Corey Williams, Brett Lee, Jason Wheeler, Matt Summers, Tyler Jones, Randy Rosario and Yorman Landa are some pitchers that will be discussed. I led off with Gilmartin, Williams and Lee because they're left-handed. Rosario and Landa have not yet played full-season ball, but might have upsides that aren't worth exposing. Aderlin Mejia and Niko Goodrum are two hitters worth mentioning. Former first-round pick Levi Michael would also be eligible for the first time. Let's hope Levi puts together a monster season. FREE AGENTS: The trio of Kevin Correia, Kurt Suzuki and Josh Willingham all are entering their final season under contract and will be eligible for free agency five days after the conclusion of the World Series. --- Obviously, that's a lot of information to try to digest. If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments or contact me @jeremynygaard on Twitter. If there's anything that can't be covered on either of those avenues, send me an email at jeremynygaard1@gmail.com. Hope you enjoy!

Join Seth and Jeremy on Tuesday night at 8:30 to discuss the events of the last week. Obviously, Miguel Sano is going to be a discussion topic. But there will be many other things you might want to hear. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/iJOcOi-kLBs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]You can view live on this page (using the video link above) or you can view live on the where you'll have access to the live Q and A. You can view all past episodes here (YouTube link) and download all of the previous shows here (iTunes link) Please leave questions and comments below!