Nashvilletwin’s 2023 Payroll Blueprint

[Nashvilletwin]

• C: Ryan Jeffers ($0.70M)
• 1B: Alex Kiriloff ($0.70M)
• 2B: Luis Arraez ($4.50M)
• 3B: Jose Miranda ($0.70M)
• SS: Brooks Lee ($0.70M)
• LF: Matt Wallner ($0.70M)
• CF: Byron Buxton ($15.00M)
• RF: Trevor Larnach ($0.70M)
• DH: Jose Miranda ($0.70M)
• 4th OF: Austin ($0.70M)
• Utility: Nick Gordon ($0.70M)
• Utility: Gilberto Celestino ($0.70M)
• SP1: Sonny Gray ($12.00M)
• SP2: Tyler Mahle ($8.00M)
• SP3: Kenta Maeda ($9.00M)
• SP4: Joe Ryan ($0.70M)
• SP5: Bailey Ober ($0.70M)
• RP: Jhoan Duran ($0.70M)
• RP: Jorge Lopez ($3.00M)
• RP: Griffin Jax ($0.70M)
• RP: Jorge Alcala ($1.00M)
• RP: Caleb Thielbar ($2.00M)

Payroll is 54.07% under budget

[Greglw3]

1 hour ago, Nashvilletwin said:

• ? Ryan Jeffers ($0.70M)
• 1B: Alex Kiriloff ($0.70M)
• 2B: Luis Arraez ($4.50M)
• 3B: Jose Miranda ($0.70M)
• SS: Brooks Lee ($0.70M)
• LF: Matt Wallner ($0.70M)
• CF: Byron Buxton ($15.00M)
• RF: Trevor Larnach ($0.70M)
• DH: Jose Miranda ($0.70M)
• 4th OF: Austin ($0.70M)
• Utility: Nick Gordon ($0.70M)
• Utility: Gilberto Celestino ($0.70M)
• SP1: Sonny Gray ($12.00M)
• SP2: Tyler Mahle ($8.00M)
• SP3: Kenta Maeda ($9.00M)
• SP4: Joe Ryan ($0.70M)
• SP5: Bailey Ober ($0.70M)
• RP: Jhoan Duran ($0.70M)
• RP: Jorge Lopez ($3.00M)
• RP: Griffin Jax ($0.70M)
• RP: Jorge Alcala ($1.00M)
• RP: Caleb Thielbar ($2.00M)

Payroll is 54.07% under budget

I like your line of thinking. I like that you shook up the offense. I did the same thing in putting Arraez at 2nd, leaving Polanco out because of his injury history the last 3 years. I don’t think we can plan around players that have been chronically injured. Keep the door open for them if they can beat out healthier options over last few years but can’t count on them.

I think putting Austin on your roster was smart. I originally had him as the starting shortstop but signed Dansby Swanson at an apparently too low $13. So, I feel very comfortable with putting Martins OBP and his 34/39 SB back there.

I’m not as high on Jeffers but if the Twins scouts believe he’ll hit than I’d defer. In my plan, I put Willson Contreras.

Good move putting Brooks Lee in there at SS! I think he’s coming fast like a freight train and will hit and maybe be a great #2 in the order option after Arraez. 

I like Wallner, Larnach and Kirilloff but I did go out and get Binentendi for LF and Joc Pederson or Mitch Haniger (one other) for RF to build depth due to Kirilloff and Larnach’s injury histories. With depth, maybe Kirilloff is healthy and wins a position or earns 450 or more AB.

I also love Billy Hamilton and retained him for his spectacular defense and SB ability as a long term Buxton injury option.

I agree with every single on of your pitching options. I think I had a couple more relievers, one of them Matt Wisler and Andrew Chafin for a 3rd lefty.

My plan is under greglw3’s 2023 payroll blueprint if you want to check it out. I think we’re both thinking in the same progressive direction. I think Wallner, Martin, Lee and possibly Larnach and Kirilloff can all help in 2023. The you speed and bat skills would be just what the Dr. ordered!

Oh, and I’m a Nashvillian to since 2014!

Edited October 16, 2022 by Greglw3
Adding Nashville reference

[Nashvilletwin]

I was just seeing what a complete rebuild could look like and this was posted accidentally. When I x’d out of the site, it just posted. No biggie.

I’m not advocating this plan and don’t think it will be put in place. Having said that, a position player team somewhat like this by year end could be possible if we get off to a slow start.  Also, I’m not confident Gray will not ask for a trade - good starters in contract years don’t want to be seen as 5 inning guys and if Rocco won’t give him much more of a leash, he might leave. Mahle, is of course, a wild card as well - might be moved with a slow team start or based on his health.

What this does show is that if the FO sticks with the current starting staff, there is plenty of cash to acquire two good FA position players, a backup C, and a couple of relievers.

[stringer bell]

Apparently trades are made for both Polanco and Kepler? I think that is within the realm of possibility, but who comes back for them? Additionally, if Larnach and Wallner are your corner OFs, I'm pretty certain Wallner will be in right field with Larnach in left. 

I don't foresee Lee starting at shortstop on Opening Day, although I wouldn't rule him out from getting the most reps at short this year. 

[Nashvilletwin]

29 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

Apparently trades are made for both Polanco and Kepler? I think that is within the realm of possibility, but who comes back for them? Additionally, if Larnach and Wallner are your corner OFs, I'm pretty certain Wallner will be in right field with Larnach in left. 

I don't foresee Lee starting at shortstop on Opening Day, although I wouldn't rule him out from getting the most reps at short this year. 

Yes, I’d trade both. Ultimately Urshela too. All before the deadline. I’m not expecting a ton, but RP would be my target. But this was an incomplete exercise in looking at ‘23 as a transition year to ‘24.

The biggest hole in ‘24 from a positional player basis is probably not SS, but more likely a big RH corner OF bat. That’s where I’d be looking to spend the big FA dollars on a multi year deal.

Just thinking a bit more about it. In ‘24, we could have these five players comprising our starting IF and DH: Lee, Lewis, Martin, Arraez, and Miranda. Those five could essentially play every day, provide excellent interchangeability options and should offer a strong mix of fielding, OBP, power, and speed. Also, other than Arraez, four of those five are essentially on league minimum. That’s pretty darn good.

With our existing big bat RH CF limited to 100 or so games and depth at LH corner OF (Wallner, Kiriloff, and Larnach), the real need is a power RH corner OF bat.  That’s the FA I’d go get. Add in Gordon (CF mostly) to that group and you have six really good options in the OF with three RH and LH bats. Two players are relatively expensive and four are essentially league minimum.

Throw in a quality backup C with Jeffers and that’s my plan for the 13 position players in ‘24.  This leaves lots of $ for the pitching staff.

 

[TwinsDr2021]

19 hours ago, Nashvilletwin said:

I was just seeing what a complete rebuild could look like and this was posted accidentally. When I x’d out of the site, it just posted. No biggie.

I’m not advocating this plan and don’t think it will be put in place. Having said that, a position player team somewhat like this by year end could be possible if we get off to a slow start.  Also, I’m not confident Gray will not ask for a trade - good starters in contract years don’t want to be seen as 5 inning guys and if Rocco won’t give him much more of a leash, he might leave. Mahle, is of course, a wild card as well - might be moved with a slow team start or based on his health.

 

I realize you were just playing around, but with that said it could easily be the worst offense in the majors (maybe ever) or there could be an absolute miracle and be really good. But if the Twins were going down the path of an unproven player or injury at every position but 2nd, there would be zero reason to have Gray, Mahle and Maeda on the team.