The era of austerity has begun for the Twins
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The Twins begin spring training in Florida today. Many of the players they'll send to the practice field came from the clearance aisle.
By the numbers: Only seven of MLB's 30 teams have projected payrolls lower than the $105.9 million the Twins are projected to shell out this year.
- Unless they sign more players between now and the opener on March 26, this will be the team's lowest payroll since 2014, not counting the COVID-shortened 2020 season.
Why it matters: While there are rare occasions when thrifty teams make the World Series, there's a strong correlation between spending and winning.
Stunning stat: The Twins' third-largest "salary" this season is the $10 million they are paying the Houston Astros for taking Carlos Correa's contract off their books.
What they're saying: New controlling owner Tom Pohlad has said that the family's commitment to winning is evidenced by the $500 million in debt they racked up in recent years, which they paid off via selling a stake in the team to investors last fall.
What we're watching: Since excitement in the roster is low this spring, the team is rolling out new ways to entice fans to come to Target Field.
- They have cut the price of their full-season ballpark pass by nearly $100. They also unveiled a new promo: if you buy tickets to two games, you can get a third for free.