Twins Payroll Budget for next year

I saw that on Cot’s Span has only 1.111 but I figured it would be more than that as he played in 93 games in 2008 and a full year in 2009. I guess I don’t understand how they measure service time I assumed it went by how much of a season you were in the majors. So Span would be more like 1.6 by that logic. So I thought maybe they were off, hopefully not because Span could be in for a big raise if he puts up another great year.

I agree with your logic on Pavano especially, not quite as much with the 3 relievers you mentioned. I think we’ll be ok without them but only if Neshek gets back to form. I kind of thought the same things about Casilla and Condrey but didn’t want to make that assumption.

The point was more that the Twins have a lot of money coming off the books but most of it will be eaten up by current players raises and thus a multi year deal to a 2B would be tough to pull off.

If they can afford it, it would be great to keep one of those 3. Who knows though, if Neshek can return to form and some of the AAA guys get a chance and prove themselves, they may not need them.

If it’s a choice between spending the budget on position players or relievers I’d prefer to improve the everyday players. My point was not that the minor league guys will be exactly as good as Crain, Guerrier and Rauch. I was trying to point out reasonable low cost alternatives. The Twins will never have proven players everywhere and if you have to pinch pennies I think bullpen slots 4-7 is a good place.

He’s locked up for another 4 seasons, through his age 32 season.

He’s a great closer but only a team that can afford 12m and needs a closer (ie contends) would think about trading for him. But there are a lot of other (lesser) closers available for much less than the $ and prospects it would take to get Nathan.

And maybe Burnett is one of them (or Slama or Delaney or Guty). “It” being the ability to come in and close games, even as a rookie, a la Papelbon or Andrew Bailey.

Perhaps Mauer will structure his contract to help insure that Nathan and Cuddyer don’t have to be traded next offseason, thus ensuring at least a two year window with the current team. After that, the next wave of prospects should be more than ready, Delmon may be gone, perhaps a Kubel or a Baker get’s traded as they become expensive.

In general, I think the year to year budget is useful, but I expect a wise organization uses average payroll over a stretch of years. Heck, even the Yankees seem to be showing restraint—they broke the bank last year to insure a WS win their first year in their new stadium.

I think the Twins would be wise to use the next couple years of Mauer and Morneau’s prime, spend as much as possible, and see what happens. After that, they start to become grizzled vets, and the next crop of young studs start appearing on the scene. Not to mention getting the Tar Pit off to a resounding start.

then I don’t even know what to say to you. If you meant that Kubel and Cuddy, together, were the MVP, and together were more valuable than Mauer, then you at least have an argument, but I still think you’re wrong.

The twins would have won more games last year with a Delmon, Gomez, Span outfield and Harris DHing every day then they would have with Redmond and Morales splitting the catching duties.