The Twins begin the season in a few hours with a payroll of $98,585,000. That total is for twenty-nine players. When Baker, Marquis and Waldrop return, three players will drop back to minor league salaries saving more than a million dollars. On the flip side however, there will be added payroll every time a minor league player is called up to replace someone going on the disabled list. The opening day payroll does not include any bonuses or incentives included in most contracts.
Six starting pitchers have salaries totaling $28,730,000, Carl Pavano ($8,500,000), Francisco Liriano ($5,500,000), Nick Blackburn ($4,750,000), Scott Baker ($6,500,000), Jason Marquis ($3,000,000) and Liam Hendriks ($480,000).
The Twins are paying nine relievers, Matt Capps ($4,500,000), Glen Perkins ($1,550,000), Jared Burton ($750,000), Brian Duensing ($515,000), Anthony Swarzak ($487,500), Matt Maloney ($482,500), Jeff Gray ($485,000), Kyle Waldrop ($480,000), and Alex Burnett ($490,000). The bullpen total of $9,740,000 is less than Joe Nathan made in 2011.
They are paying fourteen every day players, Joe Mauer ($23,000,000), Ryan Doumit ($3,000,000), Justin Morneau ($14,000,000), Chris Parmelee ($480,000), Alexi Casilla ($1,382,500), Luke Hughes ($485,000), Jamey Carroll ($2,750,000), Tsuyoshi Nishioka ($3,000,000), Danny Valencia ($515,000), Sean Burroughs ($525,000), Denard Span ($3,000,000), Ben Revere ($492,500), Trevor Plouffe ($485,000), and Josh Willingham ($7,000,000).
All salaries were obtained from Cots Baseball Contracts.