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The Minnesota Twins opened the 1985 season paying $5,764,821 to 19 players and closed 2016 at $102,583,200 across 24 players, a 17.8× rise in nominal dollars. The franchise’s biggest recorded single-season salary in this span is Joe Mauer’s $23,000,000 in 2011.
| Year | Players | Payroll | Average | Median | Top paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 19 | $5,764,821 | $303,412 | $293,750 | Roy Smalley ($729K) |
| 1986 | 22 | $8,748,167 | $397,644 | $237,500 | Bert Blyleven ($1.4M) |
| 1987 | 9 | $6,397,500 | $710,833 | $830,000 | Kent Hrbek ($1.3M) |
| 1988 | 23 | $12,462,666 | $541,855 | $350,000 | Gary Gaetti ($1.7M) |
| 1989 | 25 | $15,531,666 | $621,267 | $200,000 | Frank Viola ($2.8M) |
| 1990 | 36 | $14,602,000 | $405,611 | $174,000 | Kirby Puckett ($2.8M) |
| 1991 | 24 | $23,361,833 | $973,410 | $612,500 | Jack Morris ($3.7M) |
| 1992 | 28 | $28,027,834 | $1,000,994 | $437,500 | John Smiley ($3.4M) |
| 1993 | 33 | $28,217,933 | $855,089 | $253,600 | Kirby Puckett ($5.3M) |
| 1994 | 30 | $28,438,500 | $947,950 | $177,500 | Kirby Puckett ($5.3M) |
| 1995 | 33 | $25,410,500 | $770,015 | $150,000 | Kirby Puckett ($6.3M) |
| 1996 | 33 | $23,117,000 | $700,515 | $155,000 | Kirby Puckett ($6.2M) |
| 1997 | 31 | $34,072,500 | $1,099,113 | $300,000 | Kirby Puckett ($7.2M) |
| 1998 | 29 | $27,927,500 | $963,017 | $425,000 | Paul Molitor ($4.3M) |
| 1999 | 29 | $21,257,500 | $733,017 | $240,000 | Rick Aguilera ($4.3M) |
| 2000 | 26 | $16,519,500 | $635,365 | $285,000 | Brad Radke ($3.5M) |
| 2001 | 27 | $24,130,000 | $893,704 | $260,000 | Brad Radke ($7.8M) |
| 2002 | 27 | $40,425,000 | $1,497,222 | $450,000 | Brad Radke ($8.8M) |
| 2003 | 26 | $55,505,000 | $2,134,808 | $750,000 | Brad Radke ($8.8M) |
| 2004 | 26 | $53,585,000 | $2,060,962 | $525,000 | Brad Radke ($10.8M) |
| 2005 | 27 | $56,186,000 | $2,080,963 | $750,000 | Brad Radke ($9M) |
| 2006 | 26 | $63,396,006 | $2,438,308 | $900,000 | Torii Hunter ($10.8M) |
| 2007 | 28 | $71,439,500 | $2,551,411 | $1,000,000 | Johan Santana ($13M) |
| 2008 | 25 | $56,932,766 | $2,277,311 | $1,050,000 | Justin Morneau ($8.4M) |
| 2009 | 29 | $65,299,266 | $2,251,699 | $525,000 | Justin Morneau ($11.6M) |
| 2010 | 28 | $97,559,166 | $3,484,256 | $1,800,000 | Justin Morneau ($15M) |
| 2011 | 25 | $112,737,000 | $4,509,480 | $3,000,000 | Joe Mauer ($23M) |
| 2012 | 27 | $94,085,000 | $3,484,630 | $750,000 | Joe Mauer ($23M) |
| 2013 | 27 | $75,337,500 | $2,790,278 | $520,000 | Joe Mauer ($23M) |
| 2014 | 27 | $83,762,500 | $3,102,315 | $935,000 | Joe Mauer ($23M) |
| 2015 | 25 | $107,755,000 | $4,310,200 | $2,000,000 | Joe Mauer ($23M) |
| 2016 | 24 | $102,583,200 | $4,274,300 | $1,812,500 | Joe Mauer ($23M) |
| # | Player | Salary | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joe Mauer | $23,000,000 | 2011 (MIN) |
| 2 | Joe Mauer | $23,000,000 | 2012 (MIN) |
| 3 | Joe Mauer | $23,000,000 | 2013 (MIN) |
| 4 | Joe Mauer | $23,000,000 | 2014 (MIN) |
| 5 | Joe Mauer | $23,000,000 | 2015 (MIN) |
| 6 | Joe Mauer | $23,000,000 | 2016 (MIN) |
| 7 | Justin Morneau | $15,000,000 | 2010 (MIN) |
| 8 | Justin Morneau | $15,000,000 | 2011 (MIN) |
| 9 | Justin Morneau | $15,000,000 | 2012 (MIN) |
| 10 | Justin Morneau | $15,000,000 | 2013 (MIN) |
| 11 | Ervin Santana | $13,500,000 | 2015 (MIN) |
| 12 | Ervin Santana | $13,500,000 | 2016 (MIN) |
| 13 | Johan Santana | $13,000,000 | 2007 (MIN) |
| 14 | Joe Mauer | $12,500,000 | 2010 (MIN) |
| 15 | Torii Hunter | $12,000,000 | 2007 (MIN) |
This page aggregates the Lahman database’s real salary rows (1985-2016) for every identity this franchise played under: Minnesota Twins. Amounts are nominal US dollars exactly as recorded, with no inflation adjustment, because a deflator is an editorial choice and this archive refuses to invent one. The Lahman Salaries table was last updated for 2016, so nothing here reaches the current season.
The franchise’s heaviest recorded payroll was the 2011 season at $112,737,000 across 25 players.
Salary data: SABR / Lahman baseball database, CC BY-SA 3.0. Aggregated and published by Legends Deck. Nominal dollars; no inflation adjustment.