Simple and reasonable, although I'm not a fan of either player. The payroll figure is off though. 

If they tender Plouffe, Milone, Schafer, Nunez and Fien and non-tender Swarzak and Duensing, payroll would be at about $70M before counting pre-arb players. These two signings would take them over $100M. 

It's something they can afford, but you did mention being realistic with payroll.

Instead of signing Santana who will get more than 3/45 on the open market we can trade for a starter.  We can do a combination of Escobar, Pinto and Relievers and prospects and there are numerous pitchers who may be available due to teams over supply (Mets) or because they are a year from FA (Toronto and Cincinnati)  that pitcher would cost less in terms of dollars.  Niese would be around 8 million for example. 

For the OF I am ok with Hunter signing cause its just for 1 season.  We have Rosario almost ready, Schaefer, Parmelee, Hicks and possibly Colabello gets another chance since we now know he was hurt last season.  who can all compete for LF as is.  I still think Santana gets a lot of time in CF next year and I am fine with that as it gives Escobar more time to prove he is a starting SS provided he isn't traded during the offseason.  

In the bullpen we don't really need to sign anyone, however the fan in me wants to see Neshek back with the Twins. 

The only other thing I can think of is making sure we have a solid back up C.  I don't think the Twins want Pinto to be that guy and the guy they had there last year isn't all that good so I would think getting a decent back up is in order.  Where are you Drew Butera?

I don't see this as a transaction filled offseason as we now have a pretty stable team and even our bench is solid as well as the pen. Just a tweak in the rotation for depth and some competition in the OF.

More or less agree completely. But with a couple tweaks.

I like Rasmus because he CAN play CF. But I think I'd prefer him to play LF, knowing he can help cover CF, as can Santana here and there possibly.

Small trade or inexpensive FA, I'm looking for another Schafer type to bring in to compete with Schafer and Hicks for probably two jobs, primary CF and 4th OF, or a combo/platoon to share those two spots. I want defense and speed for the bottom of the order, and whatever hitting, OB and power I can get.

I have a few other ideas for SP signings, but Santana is definitely one of the tops. He's talented, generally consistent, but generally not dominating. He's probably the top SP in the second group of available FA's. Despite his overall ability and numbers, he simply isn't an $18-20M per pitcher. Your $15M per is about right, give or take a little.

I think one low cost Burton-like RP should be in order.

Totaled up, that's somewhere in the $25M range of moves barring a big market swing either way. IF the Twins keep Duensing and Milone, that outs the Twins around $100M.

Simple and reasonable, although I'm not a fan of either player. The payroll figure is off though. 

 

If they tender Plouffe, Milone, Schafer, Nunez and Fien and non-tender Swarzak and Duensing, payroll would be at about $70M before counting pre-arb players. These two signings would take them over $100M. 

 

It's something they can afford, but you did mention being realistic with payroll.

Turns out I was off a bit.  No way should Nunez or Fien be back. Using these numbers and only bringing back only Schafer, Milone, Plouffe, and Escobar from the tender portion I think you get close to $95M.

Seems reasonable to me given a few things.  None of these are long term contracts. We are going to start to get production from guys making $500K.  And next year you lose Pelfey's $6M, replace Milone and Schafer with guys making $500K, and potentially trade Plouffe and replace him at 3B with Sano making $500K.

http://www.twinkietown.com/2014/8/4/5966571/a-first-look-at-the-twins-2015-payroll-and-roster

Instead of signing Santana who will get more than 3/45 on the open market we can trade for a starter. We can do a combination of Escobar, Pinto and Relievers and prospects and there are numerous pitchers who may be available due to teams over supply (Mets) or because they are a year from FA (Toronto and Cincinnati) that pitcher would cost less in terms of dollars. Niese would be around 8 million for example.

 

For the OF I am ok with Hunter signing cause its just for 1 season. We have Rosario almost ready, Schaefer, Parmelee, Hicks and possibly Colabello gets another chance since we now know he was hurt last season. who can all compete for LF as is. I still think Santana gets a lot of time in CF next year and I am fine with that as it gives Escobar more time to prove he is a starting SS provided he isn't traded during the offseason.

 

In the bullpen we don't really need to sign anyone, however the fan in me wants to see Neshek back with the Twins.

 

The only other thing I can think of is making sure we have a solid back up C. I don't think the Twins want Pinto to be that guy and the guy they had there last year isn't all that good so I would think getting a decent back up is in order. Where are you Drew Butera?

 

I don't see this as a transaction filled offseason as we now have a pretty stable team and even our bench is solid as well as the pen. Just a tweak in the rotation for depth and some competition in the OF.

Torii was always my favorite twin. But he will be 40 next year and vargas needs reps at dh. Torii would be par for the course defensively in the outfield.

The general plan is fine. I think the prices for Santana (including a draft pick) and Rasmus will be too high. I think picking up a stopgap who can play center would work, and it probably should be a right handed hitter. Bourgos from the Cards, maybe, or Ruggiano from the Cubs. Denorfia is a free agent who is a plus fielder. The pitcher I'd most like to see the Twins land is Masterson. Another might be Anderson, who pitched for the Rockies last year.

Turns out I was off a bit.  No way should Nunez or Fien be back. Using these numbers and only bringing back only Schafer, Milone, Plouffe, and Escobar from the tender portion I think you get close to $95M.

 

Seems reasonable to me given a few things.  None of these are long term contracts. We are going to start to get production from guys making $500K.  And next year you lose Pelfey's $6M, replace Milone and Schafer with guys making $500K, and potentially trade Plouffe and replace him at 3B with Sano making $500K.

 

http://www.twinkietown.com/2014/8/4/5966571/a-first-look-at-the-twins-2015-payroll-and-roster

Here are more accurate projected arbitration salaries. 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/11/projected-arbitration-salaries-for-2015.html

No chance they non-tender Fien at $1.1M. Nunez I can see being non-tendered. I would non-tender him. I just don't know if the Twins will. But even if somehow they did non-tender both of them, you would still be over $100M as you would only save $1.3M.

As for it not being long term, you would have almost $70M locked up in 5 players for the next three years. That doesn't leave much flexibility unless they plan to increase payroll significantly. You'd really have to hit on almost all of your league minimum players and hope that the 5 players taking up about 70% of your payroll produce. 

I think that if the Twins are committed to Santana at short, Nuñez' chances of staying a Twin take a big hit. A second utility guy with a rep as a below-average glove really doesn't cut it. I like what Nunez has to offer (speed, some pop), but if he's backing up three guys who figure to play every day and also behind Escobar, he isn't needed.

Here are more accurate projected arbitration salaries. 

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/11/projected-arbitration-salaries-for-2015.html

 

No chance they non-tender Fien at $1.1M. Nunez I can see being non-tendered. I would non-tender him. I just don't know if the Twins will. But even if somehow they did non-tender both of them, you would still be over $100M as you would only save $1.3M.

 

As for it not being long term, you would have almost $70M locked up in 5 players for the next three years. That doesn't leave much flexibility unless they plan to increase payroll significantly. You'd really have to hit on almost all of your league minimum players and hope that the 5 players taking up about 70% of your payroll produce. 

I am assuming we can go up to $115M if we are winning again.  The only other players that should be expensive in the next three years are Hughes and Dozier.  All these deals except probably Mauer come off the books when Sano, Buxton, Meyer, Gibson, etc. would theoretically start getting expensive.  So the timing seems to work out well.

 The pitcher I'd most like to see the Twins land is Masterson. Another might be Anderson, who pitched for the Rockies last year.

I am not a huge fan of Masterson.  Over the last four years he has been really good in two years and really bad in the other two.  You don't want to go multi-year on a guy like that. I am assuming you favor a one year deal....I just don't think it makes sense.  He is still going to cost $10M or something like that.

-If he has a really good year, he leaves and does not help this team when we are good again.  Even if he has a good year, I would not want to extend him.

-If he has a really bad year, we don't want him.

Torii was always my favorite twin. But he will be 40 next year and vargas needs reps at dh. Torii would be par for the course defensively in the outfield.

I am not saying that Torii is the best option in terms of best player available.  He's a good one that won't cost a long term commitment As we do have players coming up who can take over LF.  I am putting lower cost options out there to fill the holes.  your 2 moves cost 30 million to the payroll.  Mine are closer to 20 million without a commitment past next year.  The twins management will want to see if we can win and how that affects attendance before they spend again. 

Re: Masterson, I favor a one-year contract with a relatively expensive team option (maybe $9M with a $14M option). While it would restrict the player a bit, he is still young enough to cash in big if he pitches well. The Twins would get to keep him for a decent AAV, but be protected if 2015 was 2014 redux.

Re: Masterson, I favor a one-year contract with a relatively expensive team option (maybe $9M with a $14M option). While it would restrict the player a bit, he is still young enough to cash in big if he pitches well. The Twins would get to keep him for a decent AAV, but be protected if 2015 was 2014 redux.

I would probably consider something like that. I am not sure Masterson would.  But if it is a 50% shot he has a 4.50 to 5.00 ERA this year....the odds of having another terrible staff are a tad high.