twins/mlb

Plenty of room for improvement

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