Jeremy Nygaard

Probably the going rate for a 27-year-old #4 starter. On a related note, it's a great time to be a professional-ish pitcher.

What better time than right now is there to roll out the newest edition of the Roster and Payroll page? After fiddling with some design changes, there really isn't a lot of options. There are still some potential changes that may be made, but for now you're gonna have to deal with it. The first thing you see is the PROJECTED payroll. You're gonna see that word a lot because, well... everything you see is a projection. I don't really have any special insight into anything. The Twins have five players under contract and are committed to paying portions of Perkins' and Burton's buyouts. They have three players eligible for arbitration (with Aaron Gleeman projected salaries). That leaves 16 minimum or near-minimum players. Add up those totals and you get a Opening Day team payroll of $59.31m. The figures you see publicly would be less because they don't include buyouts. The CBA states that buyouts are paid out over the course of the deals, so that's what I'm going with. You'll find contract notes underneath that. Not a lot to see there. Moving on... The "Number Table" is next. And that's ever-changing. I would tell you that the guys on the 40-man are in black, but that's not the case. So just go on ahead and ignore the black and gray colors. And pay more attention when March rolls around. Cool? The Twins roster which, again, is just a rough projection includes updated service times. I go off of my own records to update that and I usually find I need to give or take a day or two. Nothing should be too far off to make a difference. The biggest thing to pay attention to, in my opinion, is the players coming into 2014 that are out of options: Chris Parmelee, Trevor Plouffe, Alex Presley, Eduardo Escobar, Scott Diamond, Sam Deduno, Vance Worley and Anthony Swarzak. (I didn't include Darin Mastroianni, who spent just a few days on optional assignment, which shouldn't count as an optional year.) As you continue to scroll down, you'll notice some changes. That's right, folks... WINTER LEAGUES! These rosters are far from accurate, but they are less wrong that not including anything, so take them for what they're worth. The AFL is spot on. The VWL should be close. (They are already playing.) The Dominican and Australian Leagues are projections based on what I've read. The guys drafted by DWL teams are listed with their teams. Players on the 40-man were just recently given permission to join winter leagues, so I think we'll hear more about that soon. Next you'll notice the Farm Clubs. Rochester and New Britain are both light on numbers and unadjusted from the end of the seasons. That continues down the page until you reach Extended Spring Training, where J.T. Chargois is hanging out alone. You'll also find the DSL affiliate, where names are just held until they surface in the States. At the bottom you'll find a lot of PROJECTED Free Agents. For most of these players, they are listed here because they've accumulated six full years of minor league service time. A guy like Brad Boyer may have been signed through 2014, but I won't be sure one way or the other until the full list of minor league FAs are released. Pretty simple, right? If there are things you think are wrong or other things you'd like to see, please, don't hesitate to leave a comment on that page. Last year's page got over 20,000 views, so I'd like to make it as useful as possible.

Chatted with someone with the Twins who has seen Yoon, but isn't the point man on this scout/negotiation. Really liked Yoon in 2010. Fastball (94), nasty slider (87) and a curve and change to boot. Since then has battled injuries (lost velocity) and attitude issues and went from front line prospect to back-of-the-rotation type. Expects him to "get paid like a 4". Says he's talented and signable, but is more "lottery ticket" than anything. Nothing about Ryu, but says there is hope for a "Iwakuma-type revival" (which wouldn't be terrible, imo). This line sums it all up: "Better than what we got? Sure. Am I real psyched about it? Eh...." His workout is going to really determine everything. I would assume - at the least - that his deal tops the deal the Orioles gave Tsuyoshi Wada (2 yr/$8.15m plus a $5m team option) as a 30-year old in 2011. I floated 3/$20 out earlier today and I think, with Boras, that's a decent place to start.

Vasquez, Mitchell and Oliveros are all currently playing in Venezuela as well. There are many soon-to-be MiLB FAs that last played with the Twins playing there too. Dakota Watts is the only one currently under team control playing, in addition to the other guys.

BA reported those both in their most recent transaction log. They also reported the Twins re-signed Virgil Vasquez earlier in the off-season. R&P 14 is in progress and I hope to have something published this weekend.

Completely serious. I'm not going to try to de-code the other lists and how many they got right... so here's my list of 11, without a lot of thought. Polanco, Beresford, Kepler, Vargas, Boyer, Darnell, Achter, Wimmers, Ibarra, Thompson, Hauser I think 3 of those are very unlikely.

I don't know what is on Seth's mind, but I'd probably throw Aaron Thompson on his list. I haven't tried to guess Seth's 11 - but I think that might help you guys out.

He was talking about Polanco. Polanco gets added before Kepler. But I think Kepler gets protected too... even though he won't get drafted.

All of these guys have amassed enough professional service time to elect to become minor-league free agents. Roenicke can refuse his assignment because he has 3+ years of experience. My guess is that the Twins moved these guys first - while most teams rosters are still full - hoping they would make it through waivers and they'll cut minor-league deals with all of them.

Options are options. He had a year where he was on an optional assignment, so he has two left.

Beede has struggled to throw strikes for two years at Vandy. Newcomb relatively unknown. I watched Weaver pitch once late in the year and got a Kevin Slowey vibe... was surprised to see him ranked so high. I do agree, though, that a college arm would be more appealing. Can't you wait for a Meyer, Kolek, Stewart rotation in four years?

I don't think we see Cedaroth make a huge jump. His velo is there, but his delivery is violent. Gray jumped when his velo went up. Lots of good talk, though. Love it.

LaVelle reported last night on the Sports Show (didn't watch, but read Reusse's recap) that the return of both Gardy and Andy was a "done deal" and that there will be a press conference today.

I'm putting the 2013 page to bed. I'll be rolling out the 2014 version (which will looks similar) soon. The "excel pictures" are a little harder to read. They're also not searchable. So it will be back to normal, for the most part.

Gallant has dealt with a couple of serious injuries in the last few years. First the Tommy John, then while recovering had to have a nerve relocated because it was causing his arm to tighten up. Dallas is a good dude. I've got the chance to meet him and converse with him. He seems pretty shaken up by this. I didn't ask for details but he repeatedly said, "it's not what it seems like." I certainly believe him. I'm pulling for him, regardless of what spurred the positive test - and got his appeal denied - and wish him the best as he faces another obstacle in his journey.

I would drop Toussaint and Beede off of that list (for now). Definitely add Kolek (better prospect than Stewart at this point a year ago). Give me a top 5 of Rodon, Kolek, Jackson, Hoffman and Turner right now and I'd be happy with any of them.

I think you might be seeing that on prospect lists this winter.

Great write-up Bob. I love the optimism that these younger guys have. It might just start to wear off on others!

I think I have five listed on the R&P page. I'm too lazy to check it out right now.

Good luck in your recovery, AJ!

I'm confused. Are we good here?

I think if you looked at the payroll grid, it would make sense. They've spent just under $80m on players this season.

Updated with today's additions.

May is joining Rochester for their playoff push. Congrats to Trevor.

All the games are included in the most-updated write-up. Glynn for next manager... uhh... I would guess he'll be in the mix if there is a shakeup. It's going to be an interesting off-season, to say the least. I would put Molitor a step above him if Gardy goes. Would Steinbach stay as bench coach? If not, I'd put Glynn there. If Steinbach stays in his current position, Glynn goes to 3rd base coach. All hypothetical, obviously, as it might be 50/50 if Gardy comes back.