Chart: Twins projected 2013 roster and salaries
With the season ending Wednesday, it's time to take inventory again, time to study what the Twins have in stock and what payroll commitments they have for 2013.
Warning: This isn't pretty. Coming off back-to-back seasons of at least 95 losses, the Twins have glaring issues, especially the starting rotation. Nick Blackburn is listed with the in-house rotation candidates, not because he is one of their best pitchers, but because the Twins owe him $5.5 million next year no matter what he does. At least Tsuyoshi Nishioka asked for his unconditional release last week, saving the team $3.25 million.
This year's Opening Day payroll was $100 million, for the 25-man roster and other commitments, including Nishioka. The Twins would spend about $76 million on the 25-man collection below. After adding and subtracting players, they are expected to land near the $100 million mark again next year.
2013 PROJECTED ROSTER (IN-HOUSE CANDIDATES)
Estimated cost: $76 million
*-Denotes arbitration estimate. All players who aren't under contract or arbitration-eligible will make about $500,000.
STARTING LINEUP
1. CF Denard Span, $4.75 million
2. RF Ben Revere, $500,000
3. C Joe Mauer, $23 milion
4. LF Josh Willingham, $7 million
5. 1B Justin Morneau, $15 million
6. DH Ryan Doumit, $3.5 million
7. 3B Trevor Plouffe, $500,000
8. 2B Brian Dozier, $500,000
9. SS Pedro Florimon, $500,000
Total (nine players): $55.25 million
BENCH
INF Jamey Carroll, $3.75 million
OF/INF Chris Parmelee, $500,000
C Drew Butera, $650,000*
OF Darin Mastroianni, $500,000
Total (four players): $5.4 million
ROTATION
LH Scott Diamond, $500,000
RH Nick Blackburn, $5.5 million
RH Cole De Vries, $500,000
RH Samuel Deduno, $500,000
RH Liam Hendriks, $500,000
Total (five players): $7.5 million
BULLPEN
LH Glen Perkins, $2.5 million
RH Jared Burton, $1.75 million*
RH Casey Fien, $500,000
LH Brian Duensing, $1.6 million*
LH Tyler Robertson, $500,000
RH Alex Burnett, $500,000
RH Anthony Swarzak, $500,000
Total (seven players): $7.85 million
PROBABLE FREE AGENTS
(with 2012 salaries)
RH Carl Pavano, $8.5 million
RH Scott Baker, $6.5 million
RH Matt Capps, $4.5 million
INF Alexi Casilla, $1.38 million
Notes: Baker has a $9.25 million option, but the Twins likely will decline it. The same goes for Capps, who has a $6 million option. The Twins probably will nontender Casilla rather than give him a raise through arbitration.
NOTABLE DEPTH
(each would make about $500,000)
Starting pitchers: Kyle Gibson, P.J. Walters, Esmerling Vasquez
Relievers: Kyle Waldrop, Luis Perdomo, Jeff Manship
Infielder: Eduardo Escobar
Outfielders: Oswaldo Arcia, Aaron Hicks
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