Article in the Strib today about the Twins Salaries for next year.
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The payroll jumped to $98 million on Opening Day and swelled to $101 million after General Manager Bill Smith added All-Star relievers Matt Capps and Brian Fuentes during the season.
Target Field made it possible for the Twins to sign Joe Mauer to an eight-year, $184 million contract extension in March, but now the bill comes due. He made $12.5 million this year. Beginning next year, and every year through 2018, he'll make $23 million.
Everyone wants to see them re-sign Thome, and he wants to return. But just for a moment, let's say they let all 11 free agents leave. That includes Thome, Hudson, Fuentes, Carl Pavano, Jon Rauch, Jesse Crain and Matt Guerrier. Even if all sign elsewhere, the Twins still would need to spend about $105 million to keep the rest of this year's team together.
