Category Archives: MLB

Minnesota Twins

Build A Team: 2023 Minnesota Twins

5 Comments

Another disappointing season for the local nine. Free agency starts on Thursday so it's time to build a team that can do more than win low 90s in a weak division.

Team roster

I've tentatively written in the more prominent players from 2022 still on the roster. Mix and match as you see it.

Position players (13)

Catchers (2): Jeffers, ??
1B: Arraez
2B: Polanco
3B: Miranda
SS:
DH:
Utility/backups (2):
LF: Gordon
CF: Buxton
RF: Kepler
Backup outfielder: Celestino

Pitchers (13)

Starters (5): Gray, Ryan, ...
Relievers (50 8): Duran, ...

Here are the players under contract right now. Roster information from RosterResource.

Guaranteed contracts for 2023

Player 2023 cost (millions)
Byron Buxton $15.143
Sonny Gray $12.5
Max Kepler $8.5
Jorge Polanco $7.5
Kenta Maeda $3.125
Rodney Dobnak $1.5
TOTAL $48.268

Arbitration-eligible players

All figures estimated.

Player 2023 cost (millions)
Gio Urshela $9.2
Emilio Pagán $3.7
Tyler Mahle $7.2
Caleb Thielbar $2.4
Jorge López $3.7
Chris Paddack $2.4
Luis Arraez $5.0
Cody Stashak $0.8
Jorge Alcala $0.8
Kyle Garlick $1.1
TOTAL $36.3

Not yet arbitration-eligible, on 40-player

Some of these players were on the 60-day IL and will go back to start 2023.

  • Jordan Balazovic
  • Gilberto Celestino
  • Mark Contreras
  • Jhoan Duran
  • Blayne Enlow
  • Nick Gordon
  • Ronny Henriquez
  • Griffin Jax
  • Ryan Jeffers
  • Alex Kirilloff
  • Trevor Larnach
  • Royce Lewis
  • José Miranda
  • Trevor Megill
  • Jovani Moran
  • Bailey Ober
  • Joe Ryan
  • Cole Sands
  • Caleb Thielbar
  • Louie Varland
  • Matt Wallner
  • Josh Winder
  • Simeon Woods Richardson
Category Amount
Guaranteed $48.268
Arbitration $36.3
Minimum to fill roster (10, $720k each) $7.2
TOTAL $91.768

Estimated final payroll for 2022 was $142 million. Estimated current 2023 payroll is $91.8 million. That's $50 million or a little more to spend to fill holes. What trades do you make? How will you spend the Pohlads' money?

Game Logs, MLB

2022 World Series Game 5: Astros at Phillies

6 Comments

Justin Verlander
vs
Noah Syndergaard
7:03 p.m. on FOX. I appreciate the slightly more reasonable starting times. I believe they used to start closer to 8 Central a decade ago so starting at 8 Eastern now is convenient.

What a game last night and what a game the night before. I'm pleased this series will go at least six games now. A couple more close games should cement this as a solid Series overall.