weitz41’s 2023 Payroll Blueprint

[weitz41]

The payroll tool leads me to a lot of wishful thinking.

Things like the Pohlad's double down on spending and the FO signing pitchers to multi-year contracts. With that said I added a 6th year to Rodon to outbid others. Meada translates and convinces Senga he'll love Minnesota. Xander because the Pohlad's will only go so far on payroll and Vazquez because to many hitters' parks in the NL central for those catchers' numbers to translate to the AL central parks. Montero replaces Pagan for a little more $. Bell because who doesn't need a switch-hitting 1st baseman.

Arraez, Polanco, Bogaerts, Bell, Buxton, Kepler, Miranda, Kirilloff/Larnach and Jeffers/Vazquez 1-9 should score a lot of runs.

At the bargain price of only 172.00 million.

Dave St. Peter. There'd be a lot fewer empty seats next season...

Carlos Rodon 26 x 6

Koudai Senga 15 x 5

Rafeal Montero 3.5 x 3

Josh Bell 15 x 4

Xander Bogaerts 25 x 5

Christian Vazquez 7 x 2

• C: Ryan Jeffers ($0.70M)
• 1B: Josh Bell ($15.00M)
• 2B: Jorge Polanco ($7.50M)
• 3B: Jose Miranda ($0.70M)
• SS: Xander Bogaerts ($25.00M)
• LF: Alex Kirilloff ($0.70M)
• CF: Byron Buxton ($15.00M)
• RF: Max Kepler ($8.50M)
• DH: Luis Arraez ($4.50M)
• 4th OF: Trevor Larnach ($0.70M)
• Utility: Nick Gordon ($0.70M)
• Utility: Austin Martin ($0.70M)
• Backup C: Christian Vazquez ($7.00M)
• SP1: Carlos Rodon ($26.00M)
• SP2: Koudai Senga ($15.00M)
• SP3: Sonny Gray ($12.00M)
• SP4: Tyler Mahle ($8.00M)
• SP5: Joe Ryan ($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)
• RP: Rafeal Montero ($3.50M)
• RP: Bailey Ober/ Josh Winder ($0.70M)
• RP: Kenta Maeda ($3.00M)

Payroll is 14.11% over budget

[tony&rodney]

Like that this roster turns towards some new faces, but it does seem challenging to push the payroll past $150M. Trades may bring in a couple of players at less cost. Fair ideas at a higher cost though.

[weitz41]

2 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

Like that this roster turns towards some new faces, but it does seem challenging to push the payroll past $150M. Trades may bring in a couple of players at less cost. Fair ideas at a higher cost though.

I agree it's unlikely and spending well beyond the 150 mil target. I'm sure there are trades out there that can substitute some of the FA's. Switch Arreaz for Bell and Vazqueaz for a pre arbitration backup catcher and you're at $150. Also, you could replace Montero with Moron at the league minimum. $172 mil probably gets them in the top 10 in payroll. That lineup and starting pitching I think wins a lot of games on paper, at least.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

15 minutes ago, weitz41 said:

I agree it's unlikely and spending well beyond the 150 mil target. I'm sure there are trades out there that can substitute some of the FA's. Switch Arreaz for Bell and Vazqueaz for a pre arbitration backup catcher and you're at $150. Also, you could replace Montero with Moron at the league minimum. $172 mil probably gets them in the top 10 in payroll. That lineup and starting pitching I think wins a lot of games on paper, at least.

reading between the lines here, I’m prepared for a payroll below 140

[ashbury]

5 minutes ago, Richie the Rally Goat said:

reading between the lines here, I’m prepared for a payroll below 140

115 will not totally astound me, if Correa moves on. 

"Sometimes you just can't get free agents to take your money."  -- Terry Ryan

[weitz41]

5 minutes ago, Richie the Rally Goat said:

reading between the lines here, I’m prepared for a payroll below 140

OK so I'm smoking something hoping for $172 mil. BUT..he didn't say they wouldn't spend over their actual revenue to put a winning team in Target field. What's another 20-30 mil to a billionaire? A vacation? You like that team as much as I do..

[TopGunn#22]

I like what you've done.  It doesn't hurt to put something out there that is "over" budget if you back it up with good moves.  And your point that you could be closer to $150 million with a couple of tweaks is honest.  Still, our Rally Goat, Richie, makes a good point with what Aaron Gleeman got out of St. Peter in an interview, and rosters going forward should probably focus on budgets of $115-$130 million to be a little more realistic.  Keep 'em coming !  Always fun to see what guys are thinking.

[weitz41]

1 hour ago, TopGunn#22 said:

I like what you've done.  It doesn't hurt to put something out there that is "over" budget if you back it up with good moves.  And your point that you could be closer to $150 million with a couple of tweaks is honest.  Still, our Rally Goat, Richie, makes a good point with what Aaron Gleeman got out of St. Peter in an interview, and rosters going forward should probably focus on budgets of $115-$130 million to be a little more realistic.  Keep 'em coming !  Always fun to see what guys are thinking.

TY sir, no Vikings game today and already sent texts to my Packer fan buddies to torment them so spending a lot of time on the Twins this afternoon. I totally agree with all of you that $115-$130 is realistic. BUT, (a wise person said ignore what they said before they say BUT) The Padres are likely spending over their actual revenue, Philiies Ditto, Astro borderline and the Yankees...somebody has to spend their way to this point. I think you see my point. The pieces are there. Just got to say I want to go deep and maybe win one. Winning a world series isn't without taking on risk.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

3 hours ago, weitz41 said:

OK so I'm smoking something hoping for $172 mil. BUT..he didn't say they wouldn't spend over their actual revenue to put a winning team in Target field. What's another 20-30 mil to a billionaire? A vacation? You like that team as much as I do..

I like what you’re smokin’, just don’t pass me the Dutchee, I’m gettin the DTs

[FlyingFinn]

Since we are spending, keep Correa and add Judge. Now, that would be a lineup!

[tony&rodney]

3 hours ago, FlyingFinn said:

Since we are spending, keep Correa and add Judge. Now, that would be a lineup!

If the Twins had a $175 million payroll they could roster Correa and Judge. 

[Riverbrian]

All in All, I like the aggressiveness. 

However, that OF is a collection of health and performance question marks. 

[weitz41]

9 hours ago, FlyingFinn said:

Since we are spending, keep Correa and add Judge. Now, that would be a lineup!

 My original list had Correa, Verlander and $198 mil payroll. Which is just as likely as $172 mil. Like I said earlier switch Bell for Arreaz and remove Vazquez for a Sandy Leon type and you hit the $150 mil target. This team was more of a if we spent in the top 10 in payroll what could I do with it.

[weitz41]

41 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

All in All, I like the aggressiveness. 

However, that OF is a collection of health and performance question marks. 

I agree, I had to go with hoping for better health and production from the OF. I did look at trading Kepler but my lack of faith in Kirilloff, Larnach and Wallner made me hold onto him. Kepler, Gordon and Martin should be able to cover center when Buxton gets hurt.

[Riverbrian]

36 minutes ago, weitz41 said:

I agree, I had to go with hoping for better health and production from the OF. I did look at trading Kepler but my lack of faith in Kirilloff, Larnach and Wallner made me hold onto him. Kepler, Gordon and Martin should be able to cover center when Buxton gets hurt.

Being a GM is a tough job.