Payroll

Past and Present Twins Payroll Information

MLB team salaries are difficult to ascertain because teams and players for the most part want to keep this data under wraps. Salary information can and often is calculated very differently, some use Opening Day salaries, some use end of season salaries, some add in DL players, sunk money, etc. So we will give you a couple choices here to ponder and they each have lots of past, present and future information for you to look at. 

Spotrac

Baseball Prospectus – Cot’s Baseball Contracts

FanGraphs

 

Historical Twins Salary Information

Data provided primarily by the Biz of BaseballSpotrac.com, and Forbes
 

YearSalaryMLB
Salary
Rank
Highest
Paid
Player
SalaryDivision
Standing
Record
2023$153,713,74017 of 30Carlos Correa$33,333,3331 of 587-75
2022$134,408,190***18 of 30Carlos Correa$35,100,0003 of 578-84
2021$125,277,66616 of 30Josh Donaldson$21,000.0005 of 573-89
2020 $45,620,603**18 of 30Josh Donaldson$18,750,0001 of 536-24
2019$119,651,93318 of 30Nelson Cruz$14,000,0001 of 5101-61
2018$128,713,22618 of 30Joe Mauer$23,000,0002 of 578-84
2017$108,102,50021 of 30Joe Mauer$23,000,0002 of 585-77
2016$105,333,70018 of 30Joe Mauer$23,000,0005 of 559-103
2015$108,102,500*19 of 30Joe Mauer$23,000,0002 of 583-79
2014$85,465,00018 of 30Joe Mauer$23,000,0005 of 570-92
2013$82,010,00021 of 30Joe Mauer$23,000,0004 of 566-96
2012$100,435,00011 of 30Joe Mauer$23,000,0005 of 566-96
2011$113,237,0009 of 30Joe Mauer$23,000,0005 of 563-99
2010$97,659,16710 of 30Justin Morneau$15,000,0001 of 594-68
2009$56,932,76624 of 30Justin Morneau$11,600.0001 of 587-76
2008$56,932,76625 of 30Justin Morneau$8,400,0002 of 588-75
2007$71,439,50018 of 30Johan Santana$13,000,0003 of 579-83
2006$63,396,00619 of 30Torii Hunter$10,750,0001 of 596-66
2005$56,186,00022 of 30Brad Radke$9,000,0003 of 583-79
2004$53,585,00020 of 30Brad Radke$10,750,0001 of 592-70
2003$55,505,00019 of 30Brad Radke$8,750,0001 of 590-72
2002$40,225,00028 of 30Brad Radke$8,750,0001 of 594-67
2001$24,130,00030 of 30Brad Radke$7,750,0002 of 585-77
2000$15,700,00030 of 30Brad Radke$3,500,0005 of 569-93
1999$21,257,50030 of 30Rick Aguilera$4,300,0005 of 563-97
1998$27,927,50024 of 30Paul Molitor$4,250,0004 of 570-92
1997$34,072,50022 of 28Kirby Puckett$7,200,0004 of 568-94
1996$23,117,00023 of 28Kirby Pucktt$6,200,0004 of 578-84
1995$25,410,50024 of 28Kirby Puckett$6,300,0005 of 556-88
1994$28,438,50021 of 28Kirby Puckett$5,300,0004 of 553-60
1993$28,217,93320 of 28Kirby Puckett$5,300,0005 of 771-91
1992$28,027,83417 of 26John Smiley$3,400,0002 of 790-72
1991$23,361,83312 of 26Jack Morris$3,700,0001 of 795-67
1990$14,602,00018 of 26Kirby Puckett$2,816,6677 of 774-88
1989$15,531,6669 of 26Frank Viola$2,766,6665 of 780-82
1988$12,462,66612 of 26Gary Gaetti$1,666,6662 of 791-71
1987$6,397,50023 of 26Kent Hrbek$1,310,0001 of 785-77
1986$8,748,16723 of 26Bert Blyleven$1,450,0006 of 771-91
1985$5,764,82125 of 26Roy Smalley$728,5714 of 777-85
1984$1,960,000John Castino$600,0002 of 781-81
1983$2,200,000Ron Davis$475,0005 of 770-92
1982$1,981,000Roy Smalley$600,0007 of 760-102
1981$2,256,667Butch Wynegar$460,0007 of 741-68
1980$1,166,6673 of 777-84
1979$366,6674 of 782-80
1978$601,0004 of 7 73-89
1977$589,2004 of 784-77
1976$405,0003 of 685-77
1975$359,5004 of 676-83
1974$535,3003 of 682-80
1973$485,5003 of 681-81
1972$519,8503 of 677-77
1971$657,6005 of 674-86
1970?1 of 698-64
1969?1 of 697-65
1968?7 of 1079-83
1967?2 of 1091-71
1966$650,0002 of 1089-73
1965?1 of 10102-60
1964?6 of 1079-83
1963?3 of 1091-70
1962?2 of 1091-71
1961?7 of 10 70-90

*** = Expanded roster sizes to 28 for first month

** = Expanded rosters, pro-rated pay over a 60 game schedule 

* = Includes $6,666,667 that was not paid because of Ervin Santana 80 game suspension

 

History of MLB Minimum and Average Salaries

YEARMINIMUM SALARYAVERAGE SALARY
2026$780,000
2025$760,000
2024$740,000
2023$720,000
2022$700,000$4,414,184 million (AP)
2021$570,500$4,167,164 million (players union)
2020$563,500 - prorated to $208,574$3.89 million (players union) **
2019$555,000$4,051,490 (players Union)
2018$545,000$4,095,686 (players union)
2017$535,000$4,097,122 (players union)
2016$507,500$4,400,000 (USA Today)
2015$507,500*$4,250,000 (USA Today)
2014$500,000*$3,818,923 (players union)
2013$480,000*$3,386,212 (players union)
2012$480,000$3,213,479 (players union)
2011$414,000$3,095,183 (players union)
2010$400,000$3,014,572 (players union)
2009$400,000$2,996,106 (players union)
2008$390,000$3,925,679 (players union)
2007$380,000$2,824,751 (players union)
2006$327,000$2,699,292 (players union)
2005$316,000$2,476,589 (players union)
2004$300,000$2,313,535 (players union)
2003$300,000$2,372,189 (players union)
2002$200,000$2,340,920
2001$200,000$2,138,896
2000$200,000$1,895,630
1999$200,000$1,611,166
1998$170,000$1,398,831
1997$150,000$1,336,609
1996$122,667$1,119,981
1995$109,000$1,110,766
1994$109,000$1,168,263
1993$109,000$1,076,089
1992$109,000$1,028,667
1991$100,000$851,492
1990$100,000$597,537
1989$68,000$497,254
1988$62,500$438,729
1987$62,500$412,454
1986$60,000$412,520
1985$60,000$371,571
1984$40,000$329,408
1983$35,000$289,194
1982$33,500$241,497
1981$32,500$185,651
1980$30,000$143,756
1979$21,000$113,558
1978$21,000$99,876
1977$19,000$76,066
1976$19,000$51,501
1975$16,000$44,676
1974$15,000$40,839
1973$15,000$36,566
1972$13,500$34,092
1971$12,750$31,543
1970$12,000$29,303
1969$10,000$24,909
1968$10,000n/a
1967$6,000$19,000
1966
1965
1964
1963
1962
1961

** = Because the pandemic caused players to receive roughly 37% of pay, the actual average plunged to $1.59 million, its lowest since 1998.

* = Plus cost of living adjustment

 

MLB and Players Union Agreements

CBA HistoryA summary of the collective bargaining history between Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association (Baseball Prospectus Cot’s Baseball Contracts)

 

MLB highlights unique features for 2020 season
Details of MLB-players’ union agreement on 2020, ’21 seasons

 

MLB Basic Agreement 2022-26 (Final)

All the details in MLB’s new Collective Bargaining Agreement 2022-2026

2017 thru 2021 MLB CBA

2012-2016 MLB Basic Agreement

MLB 2003-2006 Basic Agreement.pdf

CBA 1997-2000.PDF

SABR list of MLB annual salary leaders from 1874

Index the Minimum Salary to MLBAM and TV Revenue (4/13/2016)

 

Forbes list of MLB team values (updated with 2023 data)

Forbes annually publishes what they perceive to be the values of all the major league baseball teams taking a number of things into consideration. You can find their most current list that was published by going here. Keep in mind the data is for the last completed season. Once you are at their site and you see their value ranking list, you can get more detailed information on what makes up a particulars teams value by clicking on the team name. The Minnesota Twins are ranked number 22 and you can see the detailed info that was collected by Forbes by clicking here. In the AL Central division the White Sox are ranked number 15, the Detroit Tigers are ranked number 21, the Cleveland Guardians are number 25 and the Kansas City Royals are number 27. As you would expect, the New York Yankees are number one at a team valuation of $7.1 billion (up 18% for 2022) and the Miami Marlins have the lowest team valuation at $1 billion.

Forbes Annual MLB Team Valuations - Minnesota Twins Historical Information

YEARVALUEREVENUEOPERATING
INCOME
PLAYER
EXPENSES
2023$1.39 billion$267 million-$27 million$172 million
2022$1.39 billion$268 million$10 million$141 million
2021$1.325 billion$111 million-$49 million$66 million
2020$1.3 billion$297 million$43 million$144 million
2019$1.2 billion$269 million*$14 million$151 million
2018$1.15 billion$261 million$23.0 million$133 million
2017$1.025 billion$249 million$29.9 million$123 million
2016$910 million$240 million$18.5 million$125 million
2015$895 million$223 million$21.3 million$106 million
2014$605 million$221 million$30.2 million$97 million
2013$578 million$214 million$10.8 million$122 million
2012$511 million$213 million$16.8 million$121 million
2011$490 million$213 million$26.5 million$112 milliom
2010$405 million$162 million$25 million$83 million
2009$356 million$158 million$26.8 million$80 million
2008$328 million$149 million$23.8 million$81 million
2007$288 million$131 million$14.8 million$76 million
2006$216 million$114 million$6.9 million$73 million
2005$178 million$102 millionNot Available$69 million
2004
2003$148 millionNot Available$400,000Not Available
2002$127 million$75 million$3.6 millionNot Available
2001$99 million$58 million$5.8 millionNot Available
2000$91 million$47.7 million$2.2 millionNot Available
1999$89 million$46.8 million$7.1 millionNot Avaiable
1998$94 million$46.8 million-$16.5 millionNot Available
1997$77 millionNot AvailableNot AvailableNot Available
1996$74 millionNot AvailableNot AvailableNot Available
1995$80 millionNot AvailableNot AvailableNot Available
-Value of team based on current stadium deal (unless new stadium is pending) without deduction for debt (other than stadium debt).
-Revenue numbers are for the previous season.
-Operating Income is earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.
-Player expenses include benefits and bonuses.

 * – Revenue and operating income (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) measure cash in versus cash out (not accrual accounting) for the 2018 season. Our figures include the postseason and are net of revenue sharing and stadium debt payments for which the team is responsible. Revenues include the prorated upfront bonuses networks pay teams as well as proceeds from non-MLB events at the ballpark. The nonrecurring $50 million each team received in 2018 from the sale of a stake in BamTech to Walt Disney was excluded, as were profits or losses from team-owned RSNs.

Update 12/2/22https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/11/mlb-sells-remaining-bamtech-share-to-disney.html

 

The Dollars of Baseball

The average salary in major league baseball in 2010 surpassed $3,000,000 for the first time. Free agency came into baseball in 1975 when arbitrator Peter Seitz ruled that since pitchers Andy Messersmith and Dave McNally played for one season without a contract, they could become free agents. This decision essentially dismantled the reserve clause and opened the door to widespread free agency. At the time, the average big league player was making $44,676 and since then the average salary has risen over 6,600%. There is a very interesting all be it long (35 pages) historical write-up on the Reserve Clause written by Ben Heuer that you can check out here. There is also a nice piece written in The Atlantic in 2011 on Curt Flood and his attempt in 1970 to fight the Reserve Clause after being traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to the Philadelphia Phillies that you can read by going here.

A good friend Stew Thornley wrote “The Demise of the Reserve Clause”, it is well worth your time to check it out here.

MLB fired arbitrator Peter Seitz in 1975 after Seitz granted free-agent status to Andy Messersmith and Dave McNally. Read more about it here.

 

Salary Arbitration

A collective bargaining agreement was signed on February 23, 1973 between the players union and the owners which provided for “salary arbitration” as a means for resolving salary disputes. The process certainly is not loved by everyone; “The arbitration process is the worst thing that has happened to the Major League teams since the Black Sox scandal,” says one veteran executive who has worked for a number of clubs and has vast experience related to arbitration cases. The process however; can be difficult for both the player and the club involved. There is a relatively easy to understand “arbitration 101” write-up on major league baseball that you can view at Arbitration 101.

Dick Woodson (courtesy of Twinscards.com)

The Minnesota Twins were involved in salary arbitration early on, as a matter of fact, Twins pitcher Dick Woodson was the first player to ever go through the process. On Monday, February 11, 1974 pitcher Woodson, Players Association attorney Richard Moss, Twins owner Calvin Griffith, and American league attorney James P. Garner all met in a room before arbitrator Henry Platt for more than four hours in MLB’s first salary arbitration hearing. When the smoke had cleared and this historic meeting was completed, Platt had ruled in favor of Dick Woodson and his request for $30,000 versus the $23,000 that owner Griffith had offered on behalf of the Minnesota Twins. The Woodson hearing was the first of 498 hearings that have taken place through March of 2011. Although Woodson won the hearing and the $30,000, neither he or owner Calvin Griffith were totally happy. After Griffith also lost hearings to Larry Hisle and Steve Braun he reacted angrily by saying “It cost me about $15,000. But I’ll find a way to get my money back, I’ll trade ’em.” Infielder Steve Braun and outfielder Larry Hisle survived the 1974 season but Woodson did not, Griffith held true to his word and sent Woodson packing to the New York Yankees for minor league pitcher Mike Pazik. After pitching in only 8 games for the Yankees, Woodson was sent to the minors and never pitched in the big leagues again. To listen to Dick Woodson talk about his salary arbitration process, just click on the play button below.

Dick Woodson talks about the first salary arbitration case

The era of salary arbitration had begun. In 1974 and 1975 the arbitration system had produced positive results for the players regardless if they had won or lost their cases. The Dave McNally and Andy Messersmith arbitration decisions and the difficult labor relations climate in general in baseball produced a lockout of the players during spring training in 1976 from March 1-17 and salary arbitration was suspended and a new agreement was not in place until July. All players whose contracts had expired after the 1976 season were declared to be free agents so no salary arbitration was required in 1977. When the 1976 agreement was reached, the arbitration process that was used for 1974 and 1975 was modified and a player could only go to arbitration through consent from both the club and the player. In addition, free agency was granted with six years of service. During the 1980 negotiations, ownership pressed to eliminate salary arbitration with a fixed salary scheme and compensation for a team losing a player to free agency but instead ended up with an agreement that reduced arbitration to only two years of service. Over the years a number of changes have taken place to the salary arbitration process and you can read all about them by going to this very interesting Marquette Sports Law Review article written in 2009: A Most Interesting Part of Baseballs Monetary Structure – Marquette Sports Law Review – 2009

In May of 2013 there was a paper done by Edward Silverman for the Pepperdine Law Review titled: Dick Woodson’s revenge _ Silverman

 

MLB Salary Arbitration Cases Heard thru 2023

 

YearArbitration
cases
heard
Player
wins
Club
wins
202319613
20221349
2021945
20201257
20191064
2018221210
20171477
2016431
20151468
2014312
2013000
2012725
2011321
2010835
2009321
2008826
2007734
2006624
2005312
2004734
2003725
2002514
20011468
20001046
19991129
1998835
1997514
19961073
1995826
199416610
199318612
199220911
199117611
1990241410
19891275
198818711
1987261016
1986351520
19851367
19841046
1983301317
198223815
1981211110
19802615 11
19791284
1978927
1977n/an/an/a
1976n/an/an/a
197516610
1974291316
TOTALS thru 2023625268 or 42.88%357 or 57.12%

 

Minnesota Twins Salary Arbitration Cases thru 2023

The Twins have gone to arbitration a total of 30 times since the process started and they have won 17 times (57%) and the players have won 13 times (43%). 

Twins pitcher Dick Woodson was the first player to ever go through the arbitration process and you can listen to Dick’s take on the experience in the interview I did with Dick which you can find on this same page.

Since 1999 the Twins have only been to arbitration on five occasions. Like most teams, the Twins try to settle before going through the process because the process can be so difficult for both the player and the team. The last player to take the Twins to arbitration was Jose Berrios in 2020.

 

YearNamePlayer
number
Twins
Number
Winner
2020Jose Berrios$4,400,000$4,025,000Twins
2018Kyle Gibson$4,550,000$4,200,000Twins
2006Kyle Lohse$3,950,000$3.400,000Lohse
2005Kyle Lohse$2,400,000$2,150,000Lohse
2004Johan Santana$2,450,000$1,600,000Twins
1999Matt Lawton$2,400,000$1,700,000Twins
1998Frankie Rodriguez$880,000$425,000Twins
1996Chuck Knoblauch$4,670,000$3,750,000Knoblauch
1986Gary Gaetti$675,000$515,000Twins
1986Tim Laudner$250,000$155,000Twins
1986Frank Viola$674,000$525,000Viola
1985Tom Brunansky$600,000$425,000Twins
1983Bobby Castillo$350,000$185,000Twins
1983Ron Davis$475,000$360,000Davis
1982Roger Erickson$160,000$105,000Erickson
1981John Castino$210,000$150,000Castino
1981Ron Jackson$200,000$130,500Jackson
1980Ron Jackson$150,000$115,000Twins
1980Geoff Zahn$200,000$130,000Zahn
1978Mike Cubbage$72,500$51,000Twins
1978Tom Johnson$92,500$62,000Johnson
1978Roy Smalley$110,000$85,000Twins
1978Geoff Zahn$59,000$45,000Twins
1975Bert Blyleven$85,000$65,000Twins
1975Steve Braun$39,500$36,500Twins
1975Tom Burgmeier$35,000$28,500Twins
1975Rod Carew$140,000$120,000Twins
1974Larry Hisle$29,000$23,000Hisle
1974Steve Braun$31,000$25,000Braun
1974Dick Woodson$30,000$23,000Woodson

 

Updated 12/20/2023

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