Create Your Twins Offseason Blueprint - 2019/20 Edition

[Nick Nelson]

Use this thread to share, discuss, and debate offseason blueprints. The premise is simple: create a plan for building your ideal Twins roster in 2020. List your key moves, your final payroll, and your rationale. You can use the info/numbers available in the Offseason Handbook and this spreadsheet (create an editable copy) to guide your process. 

 

Feel free to either share your blueprint in a comment, or post it in our blog section and link to it here.

 

 

[goulik]

My blue print is pretty simple, so I will explain it without a spread sheet.

I’m letting Castro, Cron, Gibson, and Schoop all walk away without replacement from the outside.

SP: Berrios, Odorizzi, Pineda, And young guns. Im offering Odo a 3 year 42-45 and Pineda 1-2 years. I’m pushing all in on Cole because it is World Series or bust. We have the resources to outbid everyone and I am making sure we’re high bid and his choice is location over money. I’m even willing to go 7-8 years. I’m also talking to Wheeler, Bumgarner and Ryu. If I don’t get Cole I’m aiming for 2 of the others with 5-6 year contracts. I know big contracts bit us in the butt with Mauer and Moreau but it’s the window of opportunity now and it hasn’t been here for 30 years.

Bullpen: I’m going to make all attempts to get Smith on a 3 year and I’m going to be highest bidder. I’m offering Romo a 1-2 year deal. Otherwise I’m standing pat or looking for cheap 1 year vets with playoff success.

1B: Larnach, Kirrilloff, Weil, and Rooker are all given a chance to push there way up in Spring Training to replace Cron on the roster. I believe more than one of them is ready so I really am not concerned. I have them, Sano and Gonzalez working out the first base position.

2B: Arraez has already replaced Schoop with Gordon as a new utility man on the expressway back and forth from AAA. As a backup with Adrianna.

SS: Polanco, Adrianza, and Gordon

3B: Sano, Adrianza, Tortuga

 

I know many will not like my plan at catcher but here it goes. I bring back Sawyer and Tellis as insurance with Tortuga. Sawyer Tellis, Jeffers and Rortvedt are in Spring Training to earn a backup role behind Garver. I think Jeffers and Rortvedt are more ready than most believe. If one of them does not break camp as the backup, they will be ready mid season. Rortvedt is already there defensively. Sawyer and Tellis are insurance in case Jeffers, Rortvedt or Astudillot need to take refresher trips to the minors or are injured. Worst case scenario here is Garver playing more and resting less than we want or he gets injured.

 

OF is set with Buxton, Rosario, Kepler, Wade, and Cave plus the aforementioned rookies coming up.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I had already done that... 

 

http://twinsdaily.com/blog/84/entry-11677-2020-offseason-blueprint/

 

I'm slightly over on the payroll vs the handbooks recommendation of keeping it around 135M, but I like it. I went hard after Cole and Will Smith on the FA side of things

[Nick Nelson]

Here's mine. Focuses on building an elite, deep bullpen that can carry a majority of the load:

 

http://twinsdaily.com/_/minnesota-twins-news/minnesota-twins/offseason-blueprint-building-a-bullpenner-r8619

[Andrew Luedtke]

Here is my 2020 off-season blueprint. 

 

- Leave the historic offense alone

- Beef up the bullpen (Will Harris & Pomeranz additions)

- Sign a veteran backup catcher to a one-year deal who is solid defensively (Martin Maldonado)

- Go find an "ace" starter (Zach Wheeler) while keeping Odorizzi

- Bring in vet presence on a short term deal to help the rotation (Cole Hamels)

 

Payroll: a modest $141.5M

 

This team might not win 101 games again but looks like a force in the playoffs, on paper, at least.

 

What do you all think?

[mitcho8]

Here's my blueprint:

 

Non-tender C.J. Cron.

I think if he gets to full health he's a worthwhile piece, but not at $7.5mil.

 

Offer arbitration to the rest

 

Trade Eddie Rosario and Jhoan Duran to San Diego for Kirby Yates.

 

Trade Royce Lewis and Lewis Thorpe to New York for Noah Syndergaard.

I played around with baseballtradevalues.com for these. According to that I'm overpaying for Yates and right on for Thor. I can see swapping a prospect, or adding one, but they seem reasonable.

 

Sign Zach Wheeler 4/$72mil

Sign Josh Donaldson 2/$40mil

Re-Sign Jake Odorizzi 3/$36mil

Sign Drew Pomeranz 2/$7mil

Re-Sign Jason Castro 1/$6mil

 

I'm not a fan of 6+ year contracts for anyone, let alone starting pitchers, and I love me some Zach Wheeler. If a third year is required for Donaldson, I'm in. I also believe the Pomeranz we saw in the last two months is for real, in which case this is a steal. Odorizzi and Castro are brought back for their veteranness/continuity/etc.

 

C - Garver $0.6

1B - Sano $5.5

2B - Arraez $0.6

3B - Donaldson $20.0

SS - Polanco $4.0

LF - Cave $0.6

CF - Buxton $3.5

RF - Kepler $6.3

DH - Cruz $12.0

Bench - Castro $6.0

           - Gonzalez $9.0

           - Adrianza $3.0

           - Wade $0.6

 

SP - Wheeler $18

      - Syndergaard $9.9

      - Berrios $4.5

      - Odorizzi $12

      - Dobnak or whoever $0.6

RP - Rogers $4.0

      - Duffey $1.3

      - May $2.5

      - Yates $6.5

      - Pomeranz $3.5

      - Littell $0.6

      - Stashak/shuttle rider $0.6

 

Perez buyout $0.5

 

The 26th man will be Astudillo or another Rochester-to-MSP shuttle rider. My math comes to $136.8 million. I think it would be justified to bump overall payroll this year to offer a Blake Snell-esque extension (4/$40mil) to Berrios, something similar to the Polanco and Kepler extensions to Sano and Buxton, and a Glen Perkins-style extension for Taylor Rogers. Cave is definitely a drop-off from Rosario, but he's also less than 10% the cost, and easily discarded when Kiriloff/Rooker/Larnach/Raley are ready to take over. Also in play is Shogo Akiyama (2/$6mil according to MLB Trade Rumors). If my scouts think he's an upgrade over Cave, Shogo mans LF, Cave goes to the bench, Wade goes to Rochester, and the payroll goes to $139.2mil.

 

Boom.

[cardsfan]

Wheeler is really only 2 years back from injuries. Why the $72 million for 4 years? You want a contract worse than Phil Hughes?

 

The Mets were trying to trade him while still trying to make the Wild Card.

 

You may get excited if he has a good first year, but, you will get hamstrung.

[Squirrel]

Just so everyone knows ... there are lots of 2020 blueprints to read and comment on in the blogs area of TD.

 

Take a gander ... http://twinsdaily.com/blogs/

[mk]

I've been reading a lot of blue prints, but I haven't seen anyone address having a backup plan in CF. Buxton is great, really great, in CF but he's just not there very often and it puts a huge stress on the rest of the team when he's not. I would present a team that could minimize the impact of another Buxton injury while fielding an all-world defensive outfield while he's out there - making all of our pitchers better in the process.

 

How would I do that?

• Rosario is traded. Doesn't really matter where - try to get a lottery ticket type A-level prospect.
• Sign a free agent pitcher - I'd love Cole or Strasburg and an expanded budget approved by Mr. Pohlad would allow it, but Wheeler or Bumgarner are more realistic. Of them, I'd prefer Wheeler. 
• I'd let CJ Cron go. He's a nice player, but replaceable and I'd prefer another left handed bat so I go with similar production from the left side and Eric Thames
• This is where it might hurt. I love following Jhoan Duran and I hate to move him, but I trade Duran, Enlow, and Gordon to the Pirates for Starling Marte and Chris Archer. The two years remaining on the Marte and Archer deals allow time for the next wave of Twins prospects Lewis, Larnach, Graterol, and Balazovic. I'm not completely sold on what Archer can do but what I really want is Marte in LF and as an insurance policy to move him to CF if Buxton gets hurt. This would allow Kepler to stay in RF full time and wouldn't put the extra strain of CF on his body. If, and it's a big if, Buxton stays healthy I'd expect one of the best defensive outfields in baseball. As a bonus, Marte had a great year at the plate last year posting an .845 OPS, he runs well, and he gets on base more than Rosario.

 

This also assumes Graterol is being stretched out to be a starter and a candidate for a June call up if Archer can't figure it out. Kiriloff and Rooker are available if someone goes down in the OF or Thames isn't working out at 1B. Lewis is getting some extra seasoning in the minors and I really hope he has a breakout year. 

 

Hitters:

C - Garver = .6

1B - Eric Thames = 5

2B - Arraez = .6

3B - Sano = 5.5

SS - Polanco = 4

LF - Marte = 11.5

CF - Buxton = 3.5

RF - Kepler = 6.25

DH - Cruz = 12

BUC - Castro (or similar) = 6

OF - Cave = .6

IF - Adrianza = 3

UT - Gonzalez = 9

 

Hitter Total = 67.55M

 

Pitchers:

SP - Berrios = 4.5

SP - Odorizzi = 17.8

SP - Wheeler = 20

SP - Archer = 9

SP - Thorpe/Dobnak = .6

CL - Rogers = 4

RP - Duffey = 1.25

RP - May = 2.5

RP - Littell = .6

RP - Stashak = .6

RP - Smeltzer = .6

RP - Romo (or similar) = 3

RP - Alcala (or Spring Training performance winner) = .6

 

Pitcher Total = 65.05

 

Team Total = 132.6M

 

The Twins were a different team when Buxton wasn't patrolling CF and it had a ripple affect on the pitchers, Kepler, and the lineup was devoid of speed without him. By adding Marte I think ads some insurance.

 

What does everyone think?

 

 

 

 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

*This is where it might hurt. I love following Jhoan Duran and I hate to move him, but I trade Duran, Enlow, and Gordon to the Pirates for Starling Marte and Chris Archer. The two years remaining on the Marte and Archer deals allow time for the next wave of Twins prospects Lewis, Larnach, Graterol, and Balazovic. I'm not completely sold on what Archer can do but what I really want is Marte in LF and as an insurance policy to move him to CF if Buxton gets hurt. This would allow Kepler to stay in RF full time and wouldn't put the extra strain of CF on his body. If, and it's a big if, Buxton stays healthy I'd expect one of the best defensive outfields in baseball. As a bonus, Marte had a great year at the plate last year posting an .845 OPS, he runs well, and he gets on base more than Rosario.

 

This also assumes Graterol is being stretched out to be a starter and a candidate for a June call up if Archer can't figure it out. Kiriloff and Rooker are available if someone goes down in the OF or Thames isn't working out at 1B. Lewis is getting some extra seasoning in the minors and I really hope he has a breakout year.

 

 

Really interesting proposal. Marte is good and I think Archer can be “fixed” to pitch more like he did in Tampa Bay. I am on board for trading a couple of our top ten prospects for starting pitching, whether like this or something else. The better teams make trades like this and the Twins need to do it too if they want to take the final step.

[goulik]

I've been reading a lot of blue prints, but I haven't seen anyone address having a backup plan in CF. Buxton is great, really great, in CF but he's just not there very often and it puts a huge stress on the rest of the team when he's not. I would present a team that could minimize the impact of another Buxton injury while fielding an all-world defensive outfield while he's out there - making all of our pitchers better in the process.

 

How would I do that?

 

• Rosario is traded. Doesn't really matter where - try to get a lottery ticket type A-level prospect.
• Sign a free agent pitcher - I'd love Cole or Strasburg and an expanded budget approved by Mr. Pohlad would allow it, but Wheeler or Bumgarner are more realistic. Of them, I'd prefer Wheeler.
• I'd let CJ Cron go. He's a nice player, but replaceable and I'd prefer another left handed bat so I go with similar production from the left side and Eric Thames
• This is where it might hurt. I love following Jhoan Duran and I hate to move him, but I trade Duran, Enlow, and Gordon to the Pirates for Starling Marte and Chris Archer. The two years remaining on the Marte and Archer deals allow time for the next wave of Twins prospects Lewis, Larnach, Graterol, and Balazovic. I'm not completely sold on what Archer can do but what I really want is Marte in LF and as an insurance policy to move him to CF if Buxton gets hurt. This would allow Kepler to stay in RF full time and wouldn't put the extra strain of CF on his body. If, and it's a big if, Buxton stays healthy I'd expect one of the best defensive outfields in baseball. As a bonus, Marte had a great year at the plate last year posting an .845 OPS, he runs well, and he gets on base more than Rosario.

This also assumes Graterol is being stretched out to be a starter and a candidate for a June call up if Archer can't figure it out. Kiriloff and Rooker are available if someone goes down in the OF or Thames isn't working out at 1B. Lewis is getting some extra seasoning in the minors and I really hope he has a breakout year.

 

Hitters:

C - Garver = .6

1B - Eric Thames = 5

2B - Arraez = .6

3B - Sano = 5.5

SS - Polanco = 4

LF - Marte = 11.5

CF - Buxton = 3.5

RF - Kepler = 6.25

DH - Cruz = 12

BUC - Castro (or similar) = 6

OF - Cave = .6

IF - Adrianza = 3

UT - Gonzalez = 9

 

Hitter Total = 67.55M

 

Pitchers:

SP - Berrios = 4.5

SP - Odorizzi = 17.8

SP - Wheeler = 20

SP - Archer = 9

SP - Thorpe/Dobnak = .6

CL - Rogers = 4

RP - Duffey = 1.25

RP - May = 2.5

RP - Littell = .6

RP - Stashak = .6

RP - Smeltzer = .6

RP - Romo (or similar) = 3

RP - Alcala (or Spring Training performance winner) = .6

 

Pitcher Total = 65.05

 

Team Total = 132.6M

 

The Twins were a different team when Buxton wasn't patrolling CF and it had a ripple affect on the pitchers, Kepler, and the lineup was devoid of speed without him. By adding Marte I think ads some insurance.

 

What does everyone think?

What if you skip the Thames idea, package Rosario with prospects for Bundy and either Villar or Alberto and move Sano to 1st. Depending on who you get, you shuffle the infield for ideal SS, 2B, 3B between Polanco, Arraez, and acquisition. You have two promising starting pitchers to reclaim (Wes Johnson works his magic on Archer and Bundy so that we have an incredible rotation) with Dobnak and Thorpe as your 6th pitcher in case of injuries.

 

Editors note: Yes I realize we’re getting into the mid to upper $140s but World Series or bust...

[tony&rodney]

Re: mk's plan

A reasonable plan perhaps, but just keep Rosario and move Kepler to 1B. There seems to be several plans afloat as we all play around with the roster; keep the core or blow it up. Neither first time posters or those who write for the top blogs/sites really know what the Gm's plans involve at this point but it passes the time. Marte would likely require an additional piece though. Most of us are attempting to keep around $130 million as a nod to past Twins' budgets. I would personally like to see a $140 venture.

 

Hitters:
C -   Garver = .6
1B - Kepler = 6.25
2B - Arraez = .6
3B - Sano = 5.75
SS - Polanco = 4.0
LF - Marte = 11.5
CF - Buxton = 3.5
RF - Rosario = 8.5
DH - Cruz = 12.0
BC - Avila = 4.0
OF - Cave = .6
IF - Adrianza = 2.5
UT - Gonzalez = 9.0

Hitter Total = 68.20M

 

Pitchers:
SP - Berrios = 5.2
SP - Odorizzi = 17.8
SP - Wheeler = 20.0
SP - Archer = 9.0
SP - Thorpe/Dobnak = .6
CL - Rogers = 4.0
RP - Duffey = 1.50
RP - May = 2.50
RP - Littell = .6
RP - Stashak = .6
RP - Smeltzer = .6
RP - Dobnak/Thorpe = .6
RP - Graterol = .6

Pitcher Total = 62.60

Team Total = 130.8M

 

This is a twist on mk's plan, not my own.

[Trevor0333]

I believe its very important to make one big free agent acquisition in the rotation. Cole, Strasburg, & Wheeler are obviously in high demand but I firmly believe in paying for high end FA over having 3 solid to average veterans. The FO has put the team in a position where they should not have to greatly over pay for quality. 

 

Free Agent signings:

SP Z. Wheeler 22M/5y

Wes Johnson will be salivating at working with Wheeler, giving the team at least 3 starters you feel good about in the playoffs. If the team strikes out on Wheeler, I would look into Alex Wood or Bringing back Pineda on 2-3 years deals type signing.

 

CP W. Harris 11M/2y  

Losing Rogers in the back end of the pen means a high end RP is a must. (Wait losing Rogers, more on that later...) Harris maybe slightly underrated due to the amount of good RP the Astros had. He was very good and given his age, a 2 year deal makes sense for both sides.

 

RF A. Garcia 8M/2y

Losing Rosario in LF means you are either locking Gonzalez into the OF or adding an OF to keep him in the super sub role and injury replacement. Kepler/Buxton/Garcia would be a big improvement defensively. Garcia had a good year and would be a defensive improvement over Rosario. (Also, more on Rosario later...)

 

RP F. Liriano 2M/1y / S Romo 3M/1y

I have no issues starting out the year with both Smeltzer and Thorpe as your LRP but prefer having one of them ready in case of injury or performance issues. Franky had a solid year last year and it would be fun to see him and Romo slinging sliders from each side of the mound. 

 

Trades/Roster moves:

Trade Rosario to the Reds for Rece Linds.

An intriguing slugging "will he stick at 3B" prospect. The Reds just signed Moose and are deep in 3B prospects. Suarez is not moving off 3B after his break out season either. J India is a better and more MLB ready 3B prospect in their system. Potential Sano insurance.

 

Trade B. Rooker and N. Gordon for Josh Bell and Richard Rodriguez.

Rooker has looked promising and is near MLB ready. However he is only a year younger than an already established Bell. Who is still under Arb control until he is 30. The thought here is you are trading more cost friendly controllable years in Rooker for a known commodity at a higher cost. This team is too ready to contend, Im not bothered losing Rookers arb years at ages 30-34 for Bells presence in the lineup now. Rodriguez adds an good vet RP with cost controlled years left.

 

Move T. Rogers the the rotation.

Its been well documented on the changes to Rogers pitch repertoire being the trigger to his success, not relying on the extra velocity from moving to the pen. He pitched multiple innings often and would be a great candidate to employ an opener in his starts. I fully believe he can be top of the rotation starter with Wheeler & Berrios. Build his innings somewhat slowly so he is strong for the playoffs.

 

Start Graterol in the minors to build his IP and arm strength. Keep the innings low to fullfill the same role he did this year. Potential late inning equalizer. He slides into the SP rotation in 2021 in Odorizzi or Dobnaks place. 

 

Starters

1) Arraez 2B - .6M

2) Garver C - .6M

3) Kepler LF - 6.3M

4) Cruz DH - 12M

5) Sano 3B - 5.5M
6) J. Bell 1B - 5.9M
7) Polanco SS - 4M
8) Buxton CF - 3.5M
9) A. Garcia RF - 8M

 

Bench

IF/OF Gonzalez - 9M

IF  Adrianza - 3M
OF/1B Cave - .6M
C Astudillo - .6M

 

Rotation

SP Berrios - 4.5M
SP Wheeler - 22M/5y
SP T. Rogers - 4M
SP Odorizzi - 18M
SP Dobnak - .6M
 

Bullpen

CP W. Harris - 11M/2y
RP - Duffey 1.3M
RP - May 2.5M
RP - Littel .6M
RP - Romo 3M/1y
RP - R. Rodriguez .6M
LRP - F. Liriano 2M/1y
LRP - Smeltzer/Thorpe .6M
 

Total Salary 130.3 M

 

[tony&rodney]

Still spinning off of mk's plan.

The idea is to keep the core together and salvage prospects like Lewis, Kiriloff, Graterol, and Balazovic. A significant amount of money (@$50+/-M) comes off the books after the 2020 season. The team should be able to reduce payroll by somewhere near $20M next year with an insertion of a few graduates (bc, utility fielder, SP, and 1B) from the minor leagues. Thus, the budget is a two year plan.

There are different paths to improvement but blowing up the core this winter seems too complicated and difficult.

The Twins have held their money close forever and if there isn't money for the 2020 season, there never will be. The sale of the Kansas City Royals for $1 billion ought to convince everyone there is money for the owners in baseball. The current core of players must be supplemented with a couple of key free agents while keeping the young talent developing. The only reason to punt on Lewis, Kiriloff, Graterol, or Balazovic is if the Twins internal evaluations on these players does not match the hype. If this is true, then by all means the trades should flow freely and the 2020 budget can be significantly reduced to the $120+ range. I have no idea how the Twins or other teams value the prospects.

My additions are four free agents: bc - Alex Avila for $4M, 1B - Mitch Moreland for $5M and two significant gambles on Madison Bumgarner for $20M/4 years and Gerrit Cole for $40/6 years.

The trade: Jhoan Duran, Blayne Enlow, Jack Cave, and Nick Gordon to Pittsburgh for Starling Marte (per mk).

I could easily substitute Ryu ($20M/3 years) for Cole if the numbers violate the guidelines. This would reduce costs to $138.0 M.

 

 

Hitters:
C - Garver = .6
1B - Moreland = 5.0
2B - Arraez = .6
3B - Sano = 6.0
SS - Polanco = 4.0
LF - Marte = 11.5
CF - Buxton = 3.25
RF - Kepler = 6.25
DH - Cruz = 12.0
BC - Avila = 4.0
OF - Wade = .6
IF - Adrianza = 1.6
UT - Gonzalez = 9.0

 

Hitter Total = 63.40M

 

Pitchers:

SP - Cole = 40.0

SP - Bumgarner = 20.0
SP - Odorizzi = 17.8

SP - Berrios = 5.2
SP - Thorpe/Dobnak = .6
CL - Rogers = 4.0
RP - Duffey = 1.50
RP - May = 2.50
RP - Littell = .6
RP - Stashak = .6
RP - Smeltzer = .6
RP - Dobnak/Thorpe = .6
RP - Graterol = .6

 

Pitcher Total = 94.60

 

Team Total = 158.0M

[wallyrichards]

 

Still spinning off of mk's plan.

The idea is to keep the core together and salvage prospects like Lewis, Kiriloff, Graterol, and Balazovic. A significant amount of money (@$50+/-M) comes off the books after the 2020 season. The team should be able to reduce payroll by somewhere near $20M next year with an insertion of a few graduates (bc, utility fielder, SP, and 1B) from the minor leagues. Thus, the budget is a two year plan.

There are different paths to improvement but blowing up the core this winter seems too complicated and difficult.

The Twins have held their money close forever and if there isn't money for the 2020 season, there never will be. The sale of the Kansas City Royals for $1 billion ought to convince everyone there is money for the owners in baseball. The current core of players must be supplemented with a couple of key free agents while keeping the young talent developing. The only reason to punt on Lewis, Kiriloff, Graterol, or Balazovic is if the Twins internal evaluations on these players does not match the hype. If this is true, then by all means the trades should flow freely and the 2020 budget can be significantly reduced to the $120+ range. I have no idea how the Twins or other teams value the prospects.

My additions are four free agents: bc - Alex Avila for $4M, 1B - Mitch Moreland for $5M and two significant gambles on Madison Bumgarner for $20M/4 years and Gerrit Cole for $40/6 years.

The trade: Jhoan Duran, Blayne Enlow, Jack Cave, and Nick Gordon to Pittsburgh for Starling Marte (per mk).

I could easily substitute Ryu ($20M/3 years) for Cole if the numbers violate the guidelines. This would reduce costs to $138.0 M.

 

 

Hitters:
C - Garver = .6
1B - Moreland = 5.0
2B - Arraez = .6
3B - Sano = 6.0
SS - Polanco = 4.0
LF - Marte = 11.5
CF - Buxton = 3.25
RF - Kepler = 6.25
DH - Cruz = 12.0
BC - Avila = 4.0
OF - Wade = .6
IF - Adrianza = 1.6
UT - Gonzalez = 9.0

 

Hitter Total = 63.40M

 

Pitchers:

SP - Cole = 40.0

SP - Bumgarner = 20.0
SP - Odorizzi = 17.8

SP - Berrios = 5.2
SP - Thorpe/Dobnak = .6
CL - Rogers = 4.0
RP - Duffey = 1.50
RP - May = 2.50
RP - Littell = .6
RP - Stashak = .6
RP - Smeltzer = .6
RP - Dobnak/Thorpe = .6
RP - Graterol = .6

 

Pitcher Total = 94.60

 

Team Total = 158.0M

 

Still spinning off of mk's plan.

The idea is to keep the core together and salvage prospects like Lewis, Kiriloff, Graterol, and Balazovic. A significant amount of money (@$50+/-M) comes off the books after the 2020 season. The team should be able to reduce payroll by somewhere near $20M next year with an insertion of a few graduates (bc, utility fielder, SP, and 1B) from the minor leagues. Thus, the budget is a two year plan.

There are different paths to improvement but blowing up the core this winter seems too complicated and difficult.

The Twins have held their money close forever and if there isn't money for the 2020 season, there never will be. The sale of the Kansas City Royals for $1 billion ought to convince everyone there is money for the owners in baseball. The current core of players must be supplemented with a couple of key free agents while keeping the young talent developing. The only reason to punt on Lewis, Kiriloff, Graterol, or Balazovic is if the Twins internal evaluations on these players does not match the hype. If this is true, then by all means the trades should flow freely and the 2020 budget can be significantly reduced to the $120+ range. I have no idea how the Twins or other teams value the prospects.

My additions are four free agents: bc - Alex Avila for $4M, 1B - Mitch Moreland for $5M and two significant gambles on Madison Bumgarner for $20M/4 years and Gerrit Cole for $40/6 years.

The trade: Jhoan Duran, Blayne Enlow, Jack Cave, and Nick Gordon to Pittsburgh for Starling Marte (per mk).

I could easily substitute Ryu ($20M/3 years) for Cole if the numbers violate the guidelines. This would reduce costs to $138.0 M.

 

 

Hitters:
C - Garver = .6
1B - Moreland = 5.0
2B - Arraez = .6
3B - Sano = 6.0
SS - Polanco = 4.0
LF - Marte = 11.5
CF - Buxton = 3.25
RF - Kepler = 6.25
DH - Cruz = 12.0
BC - Avila = 4.0
OF - Wade = .6
IF - Adrianza = 1.6
UT - Gonzalez = 9.0

 

Hitter Total = 63.40M

 

Pitchers:

SP - Cole = 40.0

SP - Bumgarner = 20.0
SP - Odorizzi = 17.8

SP - Berrios = 5.2
SP - Thorpe/Dobnak = .6
CL - Rogers = 4.0
RP - Duffey = 1.50
RP - May = 2.50
RP - Littell = .6
RP - Stashak = .6
RP - Smeltzer = .6
RP - Dobnak/Thorpe = .6
RP - Graterol = .6

 

Pitcher Total = 94.60

 

Team Total = 158.0M

 

Put Sano at first because he is a below average 3rd baseman and hopefully he can learn to play first. Put Gonzalez on 3rd he's a much better fielder than Sano. Hate to see Cron go but we weren't going to be able to keep all of them. 

 

[tvagle]

After starting to create a blog for this thing three times...modifying it for massive signings of Pineda and Avila twice in the past three days...here's my Partridge in a Pear Tree 2020 Twins BluePrint

 

It's more of a HotDish than a HotTake and with a couple more Free Agent signings and a whopper of a trade...oh and $165M of Uncle Carl's hard earned cash spent

 

Free Agent Signings:

 

Twins garner a bum from the cheese-head capitol and all it takes is $84M...add a LCLOOGY (Low Cost LOOGY) here's hoping he can get 3 guys out...and the end of a short lived era in DC

 

Madison Bumgarner - 4/$84M $21M/year

Rumors have it it may take more but that's the number I latched on to and using...hey it's my blueprint

 

Ryan Bucther - 1/$1.8M

Went with MLBTR ARB Dollars...should get him for less

 

Anthony Rendon - 7/$235M $33.57M/year

Or whatever it takes to get him in our Hot Corner for the next 3 World Series Championships

 

Trade #1: WE'RE STILL FRIENDS SO LETS MAKE SHELTON'S LIFE EASIER 

 

Pittburgh Pirates trade:

 

1B - Josh Bell  Switch-Hitting Beast solves 1B need for a couple years 

OF - Starling Marte Will open up opportunities for more moves

P - Chris Archer Wes can fix him

 

Twins Send to Pittsburgh:

 

3b - Miquel Sano See A. Rendon above

1B - Alex Kirilloff Gotta give to get and he instantly becomes the Face of the Pirates for 10 years

P - Blayne Enlow They'll want pitching in 3 years and Enlow fits that bill

SS - Nick Gordon Still has value and most important for Pirates is cheap for 6-7 years

C - Ben Rortvedt Read they will be looking for Catching...could change this to Jeffers if it seals the deal

OF - Jake Cave Someone has to play OF in Pittsburgh

P - Lewis Thorpe Young-ish arm to add to the deal

 

Trade #2: BUXTON WILL PLAY 150 GAMES IN CENTER IN 2020

 

Twins and Reds do a 1-for-1 Swap

 

What was your favorite Starling Marte moment as Twin?

Newly acquired OF Starling Marte heads to Cincinnati

 

Cincinnati sends the Twins their choice of:

 

Sonny Gray / Anthony DeSclafani / Trevor Bauer

 

I'll go with Sonny Gray to keep the dollars down for Uncle Carl

 

Falvine were quoted when announcing the deal: "We asked for Luis Castillo and really made a strong attempt to secure him but fell just short and will settle for one of the other 4 Reds starters"

 

Pohlad's release a few Million Moths

 

So what will all this cost? Total Payroll would come to $165.15M for 2020 (see below for future financial obligations)

 

So what if it obliterates the largest Payroll ever by $40M...Scott Bore-us just said the Washington Nationals will realize an extra $30M from winning the World Series and this plan guarantees at least 3 Championships before Rendon leaves Target Field...so that's $90M right there

 

This might be incomplete...should have been a blog post...and was delayed by the JV and Varsity Hoops game tonight (don't ask the outcomes...especially if you're from East Grand Forks)...before all these people get signed here's what the roster would look like AfterMath