The crux of this plan is pulling off a blockbuster deal with the Kansas City Royals. The Royals have exactly the players the Twins need to fill their holes and become a favorite among the contenders.

First off, I'd offer arbitration to almost everyone knowing only perhaps one or two relievers will accept.

Sign JJ Hardy to a 3 year $21M contract.

Then I'd get on the phone with KC and try to give up as little as possible to obtain what I need. I think they could get this deal done.

Royals send David DeJesus, Zack Greinke, Joakim Soria

Twins send Jason Kubel, Nick Blackburn, Matt Capps, Brendan Harris and one of (Gibson, Wimmers, Salcedo, Hendricks, Bromberg) one of (Hicks, Revere, Arcia, Morales, Rosario, Tosoni, Parmelee) one of (Guerra, Bullock, Hermsen, Stuifbergen, Tootle, etc) two of (Perkins, Neshek, Hughes, Swarzak, Slama, Delaney, Manship, pick a C prospect).

Think of the first two groups as a sliding scale left to right. They can have Hicks or Gibson but not both. If they take Gibson they get Parmelee or Tosoni. If they want Hicks they get Bromberg.

Then I do one other radical move - I trade Joe Nathan to the Mets or Angels for prospects. He has the only movable high salary paycheck.

Position Players:

C: Mauer (23)

1B: Morneau (15)

2B: Casilla (0.9)

SS: Hardy (6.5)

3B: Valencia (0.5)

LF: DeJesus (6)

CF: Span (1)

RF: Young (5)

Bench:

1B/LF/RF/DH: Michael Cuddyer (10.5)

C: Butera (0.5)

INF: Tolbert (0.5)

INF: Free agent (1)

C/1B/DH: Morales (0.5)

OF: Repko (0.8)

Starters:

Greinke (13.5)

Liriano (4)

Baker (5)

Duensing (0.5)

Slowey (2)

Bullpen:

Soria (4)

Crain/Guerrier/Rauch (4)

Mijares (0.6)

Burnett (0.5)

Gutierrez (0.5)

Free agent (1.5)  (This is why we pay scouts)

Free agent / internal (0.5)

Total - $108M

It's a little thin in the back end of the bullpen but I'm confident I can pick that up as the season goes along.