Are the Twins Out of Payroll Space?

But, I’m also guessing they’re leaving a little budget wiggle room for a possible mid-season acquisition for the stretch run.

Like the font you used BTW.

And they still signed O-Hud. Jimmy P will release the funds if it provides a clear upgrade at a position. Lopez, e.g.

Every year, the Pohlads set a limit on payroll. However, this limit operates as a soft cap, because the Pohlad family has repeatedly stated that if the front office came to them with a player that they wanted and could improve the team, but would push them over the cap, the Pohlads would approve the addition to the payroll. That’s exactly what happened with Orlando Hudson last year. Just when it appeared the Twins didn’t want to add to the payroll any more, they added O-Dog for $5 million. So while the Pohlads get a lot of crap because their public perception is that they’re a bunch of tight-asses, the truth is that they are also baseball fans and if they are shown that a certain player can improve the roster, they’ll approve it.

You may argue back that this should mean that the Twins could sign big-name players because those guys are guaranteed to help the roster, but the Twins have tended to avoid large free agent contracts (anything above 4 years). Also, signing one great player to fill one hole means that all your other holes have to be filled with cheaper options. Therefore, the options would have been sign one great player and fill the other holes with average to below-average players, or fill all holes with roughly average players. Making shrewd moves is how the Twins have had so much success over the past decade.

Finally, I just know someone’s going to bring up the supposed profit that Target Field is bringing in. As far as I know, none of us has ever seen an actual amount, it’s always been estimates. I say that unless you can provide and cite an actual amount of profit the Twins made in 2010, then don’t argue that the payroll should be approaching $130 million this season.

FanGraphs had a “Bad Contract White Elephant” post Oct. 2009 and I piggybacked it on my blog, because I noticed that the Twins didn’t really have any “bad contracts.” Perhaps the only one that would have qualified is Michael Cuddyer, but he only had 2 years and $19 million left at the time. Joe Nathan was another suggestion (note this post was prior to his TJ surgery) but many closers are overpaid.

To quote my post…

Granted, they’ve made some bad signings, no doubt (Ramon Ortiz, Sidney Ponson, Livan Hernandez, Mike Lamb, Luis Ayala, etc.) but none of them can really be called a "bad contract." All of these contracts have been of the 1 year or 2 year variety, and all have been a couple million dollars or less per year, sans Hernandez.

The Twins have done a great job avoiding crippling contracts, though it’s very possible that Mauer’s may have that effect if he becomes chronically injured.

I don’t see anything available that makes me jump up and down. Not that I’m happy with Tolbert, but nothing out there makes me feel any better either. I don’t see any “Orlando Hudson” guys out there. I mean, the only guy I’d want is Vlad, but there’s definitely no room for that.

I’ve read a few things about payroll. One, Smith needed approval from the Pohlad’s to re-sign Pavano. This one I only read once. It was a day or so after Pavs signed. It was either in the StarTrib or Pioneer Press (leaning toward the Trib), but no other article I’ve seen has even repeated it, so maybe that wasn’t the case.

Two, Pavano said he was concerned about the payroll and the departure of some players before he re-signed. He said he made sure that the team would add pieces at the deadline if they needed it. This came from his mouth, so I’m guessing it’s true. And I believe it. If there’s a piece out there, they’ve proven for the last two years that they’ll go and get it.

Three, when offering arbitration, one thing they considered was the fact that all of the guys could accept which they believed would put the payroll at 120-125. It was either Smith or another FO guy who said it (also read it in the StarTrib at the time). They said they could handle that type of payroll, if they couldn’t have, they wouldn’t have offered.

So, what’s the payroll looking like right now without Frankie and Delmon? 105 (i have no clue)? Anyway, they probably push the payroll another 10 or so. So, let’s say 115.

If they still think they can support 125, then they might have 10 on the table to spend. I don’t think they’ll actually spend that though. Just because they have it, they’re not going to spend it. Like I said, I don’t think there really is any piece out there right now that’s worth getting. I don’t see any “Orlando Hudson’s” on the market. Keep the money for the mid-season addition(s) that will likely happen. I think they’re done for now.

Per Star Tribune, when Punto was not re-signed:

With a projected Opening Day payroll of $113 million, they insist they have reached their limit. Insiders say Carl Pavano’s contract actually pushed them over budget, requiring special approval from CEO Jim Pohlad.

It makes sense—the payroll is currently sitting at about where most estimated it would be for 2011. I don’t see why fans cling to this notion that the Twins have some secret stockpile of cash hidden somewhere…

A year or two ago, no one would be complaining about this off season. I think a lot of fans have gotten a little spoiled now and have unrealistic expectations for the Twins spending. A bigger payroll doesn’t automatically mean the Twins can go out a sign every player on their wish-list.

Of course, maybe Jim would approve some other signing, if it were a bargain or something. But I don’t really think we’ll see more signings.

So, perhaps more accurately, in a certain context it’s actually true.

So, what they told us was true… from a certain point of view.