|
Most fans are already considering this upcoming offseason as the most exciting in Twins' history. Premature though that may be, there is every reason to believe that Minnesota could be among the most active teams this winter for one main reason: Target Field.
The new stadium is expected to drastically raise the annual payroll of the team, perhaps even removing the label of "lowest spending team in the AL Central." With more money at their disposal, the efficient Twins will add more wins to their team.
Then again, maybe the assumed revenue increase won't play as big a role as fans would like.
Here is an early look at the players who have guaranteed contracts for 2010:
Click here to read the rest!
| 2010 Payroll |
| C |
Joe Mauer
|
$12.5 M |
| 1B |
Justin Morneau |
$14 M |
| 2B |
|
|
| SS |
Nick Punto |
$4 M |
| 3B |
|
|
| LF |
Delmon Young |
$2 M |
| CF |
Denard Span |
$0.45 M |
| RF |
Michael Cuddyer |
$8.5 M |
| DH |
Jason Kubel |
$4.1 M |
| Bench |
| OF |
Carlos Gomez |
$1.5 M |
| Middle IF |
Alexi Casilla |
$0.45 M |
| IF |
Brendan Harris |
$1.3 M |
| C |
Jose Morales |
$0.45 M |
| Starting Rotation |
| SP |
Scott Baker |
$3 M |
| SP |
Kevin Slowey |
$0.45 M |
| SP |
Nick Blackburn |
$0.45 M |
| SP |
Brian Duensing |
$0.45 M |
| SP |
|
|
| Bullpen |
| C |
Joe Nathan |
$11.25 M |
| MR |
Jose Mijares |
$0.45 M |
| MR |
Matt Guerrier |
$2.8 M |
| MR |
Jon Rauch |
$2.9 M |
| MR |
Pat Neshek |
$0.75 M |
| MR |
Francisco Liriano |
$1.8 M |
| 2010 Payroll - $77.7 M |
For those keeping score at home, you'll have noticed I seem to make an addition error when summing these totals up. Not exactly, as other players on the 40-man roster still need to be paid. These players include Matt Tolbert, Danny Valencia, Brian Buscher, Glen Perkins, Anthony Swarzak, Jeff Manship, Boof Bonser, and Bobby Keppel.
Players above in italics are eligible for arbitration, and the number beside their name is an estimate as to what they will receive. Jesse Crain is not on this list, as he is also arbitration eligible but his $2 million could be spent better in other places.
Now, how much money is there available to spend? According to the best estimates, that number could range anywhere from $95 million to $100 million. Here at Twins Target, we'll play it safe and assume that number will be exactly $97 million. With a total of $77.7 million being spent on both guaranteed contracts and arbitration, that leaves $19.3 million extra to play around with this season.
How will that extra $19.3 million be spent? Be sure to stick around Twins Target, as I'll walk you through my offseason plan in the very near future.
|