We're heading into the dead of winter. Where we'll discuss if x pitcher is worth the price, if the Twins should sign a rock star SP, or build an elite bullpen. Some aren't afraid to open the checkbook for relievers. Others believe RP is unpredictable and prefer to go 1 year, low risk signings. 

Let's take a look at the MLB playoff teams this year, and how much they spend on their bullpens: These numbers come from spotrac.com

LA Dodgers: $30.29 MM -- 11.62% of total payroll -- MLB rank 6

Arizona: $8.48 MM -- 7.14% of total payroll -- MLB rank 23

Colorado: $23.3 MM -- 16.68% of total payroll -- MLB rank 10 

Chicago: $33.18 MM -- 18.19% of total payroll -- MLB rank 4

Washington: $21.64 MM -- 11.52% of total payroll -- MLB rank 11

 

Boston: $54.07 MM -- 24.35% of total payroll -- MLB rank 1

New York: $30.95 MM -- 13.85% of total payroll -- MLB rank 5

Cleveland: $26.6 MM -- 19.2% of total payroll -- MLB rank 7

Houston: $26.51 MM -- 17.9% of total payroll -- MLB rank 8

Minnesota: $11.76 MM -- 8.5% of total payroll -- MLB rank 16

 

I know for a fact that spotrac included Glen Perkins in the Twins total, so really they were playing with ~$5 MM. I'm sure other teams had dead money too. 

There does appear to be a correlation between a successful team, and spending big money on a bullpen. 3 teams in the top 10 failed to make the playoffs:

#2 St. Louis -- 25.42% of total payroll 

#3 San Francisco -- 18.01% of total payroll 

#9 Baltimore -- 12.82% of total payroll 

 

Heading into next year, perhaps the sweet spot for the Twins is dedicating 15-20% of their payroll towards the bullpen. If they shed Perkins' contract, they'll be around ~$6 MM in total salaries, given a couple of arbitration increases. 

If their payroll is $115 MM, they could spend $11 to 17 MM in order to reach that level of 15-20%. 

Edited October 5, 20179 yr by Vanimal46

Don't show this to Twins. They'll just bring Perkins and Capps back for 15 mil each.

Kimbrel is at 13, Addison Reed was a midseason add, 7 for the whole year. To get 54 million  for Boston you have to include Price's salary for the games he was a reliever. That is shoddy statistics.  For St. Louis to be at that figure they included Adam Wainright's salary in total for one relief appearance.  For Chicago to be at that number they added Lackey's salary for one relief appearance.