A 115 Million Payroll?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

From Rozner's latest, there is this little line tucked deep within the article.

 

There are whispers of the Cubs bumping their payroll to about $115 million in 2007, which would be about $20 million more than last year.

 

 

A 115 million payroll would give the Cubs roughly 35-40 million to spend this offseason. Even if five million were eaten up in Ramirez's extension, there's still plenty to improve the team.

[Wheelimus]

Nice! Hope it's true. With that we could bring Soriano in for center field (just convince him that center is the second base of the outfield, he'll get to make some spectacular plays that will make the highlight reels), sign a Schmidt or a Zito, and bring back Kerry Wood to be our (eventual) closer.

 

And still have more money to spend if, say, Baltimore can be talked into dealing Tejada or something. :D

[Scott G. F.]

From Rozner's latest, there is this little line tucked deep within the article.

 

There are whispers of the Cubs bumping their payroll to about $115 million in 2007, which would be about $20 million more than last year.

 

 

A 115 million payroll would give the Cubs roughly 35-40 million to spend this offseason. Even if five million were eaten up in Ramirez's extension, there's still plenty to improve the team.

 

I am unsure that's good or bad news. Thinking back whent he Payroll was 85-90 the 100 mil mark was the golden ring. Looking at the team with lower payrolls that did better then the Cubs, which there are a lot of, I don't get that excited about this news.

 

New expanding the payroll to bring in Sorano, Zito, Matasuka or Lee would excite me. A-Rod is pie-in-the-sky territory for any Cubs fans, at least it is for me.

 

I'd like to chack out Miguel T. from Batlimore too. I still like that guy.

[shnsajax]

From Rozner's latest, there is this little line tucked deep within the article.

 

There are whispers of the Cubs bumping their payroll to about $115 million in 2007, which would be about $20 million more than last year.

 

 

A 115 million payroll would give the Cubs roughly 35-40 million to spend this offseason. Even if five million were eaten up in Ramirez's extension, there's still plenty to improve the team.

 

I am unsure that's good or bad news. Thinking back whent he Payroll was 85-90 the 100 mil mark was the golden ring. Looking at the team with lower payrolls that did better then the Cubs, which there are a lot of, I don't get that excited about this news.

 

New expanding the payroll to bring in Sorano, Zito, Matasuka or Lee would excite me. A-Rod is pie-in-the-sky territory for any Cubs fans, at least it is for me.

 

I'd like to chack out Miguel T. from Batlimore too. I still like that guy.

 

A $115 in the weak NL would be a very good thing, of course you can easily screw it up to :D . The small market NL teams don't concern me too much.

[JeffH]

Just think how many Cliff Floyds and Jamie Moyers we can sign with all that money!

[roadster]

Just think how many Cliff Floyds and Jamie Moyers we can sign with all that money!

 

Or Glendon Rusch, Neifi Perez, etc. etc. etc.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

The advantages of upping the payroll to that echelon are great. Yes, it's possible that Hendry could sqaunder it away on marginal talent.

 

But as it stands right now, the Cubs have maybe 20-25 million to spend. With that amount they can likely extend Ramirez and add one premiere FA and another marginal one. It will be difficult to add a lot of talent with that amount. (See Soriano wanting an excess of 14 million as an example.)

 

With an additional 15 million, the Cubs will have about 35 million to spend. That's probably as much as nearly anyone in the game. The Cubs could sign two premiere FA and also be free to make some other deals. Absorbing a bad contract to make a trade more palatable is easier with the additional dollars as well.

 

If the Cubs had 35 million to spend, three of that could go to extending Ramirez, another 15 to Soriano, 11 to Schmidt, and then there is still a left over four million to fill out the roster with maybe Lofton or someone like that.

 

If you don't like that scenario, 35 million might allow the Cubs to pursue two FA pitchers.

 

It might let the Cubs go after Andruw Jones by taking Hudson's salary off the Braves' hands.

 

It makes getting a player like Drew more likely as well.

 

Would the Reds be more willing to trade Dunn if we took Milton's deal from them?

 

Would the Yankees be more willing to trade Rodriguez if we take back Pavano?

 

 

 

While it surely could be wasted, it definitely provides options that we don't currently have.

[roadster]

It might let the Cubs go after Andruw Jones by taking Hudson's salary off the Braves' hands.

 

It makes getting a player like Drew more likely as well.

 

Would the Reds be more willing to trade Dunn if we took Milton's deal from them?

 

Would the Yankees be more willing to trade Rodriguez if we take back Pavano?

 

 

 

While it surely could be wasted, it definitely provides options that we don't currently have.

 

I like the Drew and Dunn (with Hudson) options but I would stay away from the Dunn (with Milton) - I would rather keep Murton and spend the money elsewhere because Milton is just plain bad, and the A-Rod (with Pavano) - A-Rod I like very much but to add Pavano and his contract would just not be worth it - Pavano's and Wright's contract were the worst of the bad contracts I have ever seen (I am sure there are others but these were just awful).

[Scott G. F.]

The increase in flexability would be great. No doubt. But it's scary how it can be wasted in light of the Neifi and Rusch deals last year. I hope whoever is brought in as manager has alot of knowledge and input for Hendry.

 

Why not trade for Carl Crawford?

Why not sign Lofton if that doesn't work, at least until Pie is ready?

Why not get Sorano?

The pitchers go without saying, Zito, yes; Schmidt, maybe.

[jmajew]

I'm all for Andruw Jones and Tim Hudson.

 

The extra 15 million would be huge. I was trying to configure ways to use the extra 20-25 million we were going to have and I kept coming to the conclusion that signing one premiere free agent, highly overpriced, was not the right moves to make. Because it woudl leave too many holes. But with the extra 15 million we can sign two premiere free agents. That extra 15 million will allow us not to have to be cost conscious in the players we sign. It gives us so many more options on what we can do in the offseason. The more options we have the less likely it is that Hendry can screw it up.

[WrigleyField 22]

Thats 46 Niefi Perezes...

 

 

World Series here we come!

[NCCubFan]

It's great news IF Hendry has learned from his mistakes and learned that quality is more important than quantity when it comes to signing players. If it just means signing a greater number of Neifi/Glendon types then he could have $200 million to spend and it wouldn't help.

[TheDude]

Go for Schmidt and Zito. Keep Ramirez. Win with dominant pitching and a mediocre offense, floated by two studs (Lee and Ramirez).

 

I think that formula has a greater chance of winning than going after many big bats and relying on more than one kid in the rotation.

 

Only 4 of the top 10 offenses in baseball made the playoffs this year, and only 2 of those are left (Detroit and NY). Same was true in 2005.

 

But 7 of the top 10 pitching staffs made the playoffs this year, with all 4 remaining teams included. 2005 was similar.

 

I am using Runs as the category of measure in both situations.

 

I also think it is a very 'Hendry-esque' formula.

[goonys evil twin]

Go for Schmidt and Zito. Keep Ramirez. Win with dominant pitching and a mediocre offense, floated by two studs (Lee and Ramirez).

 

I think that formula has a greater chance of winning than going after many big bats and relying on more than one kid in the rotation.

 

Only 4 of the top 10 offenses in baseball made the playoffs this year, and only 2 of those are left (Detroit and NY). Same was true in 2005.

 

But 7 of the top 10 pitching staffs made the playoffs this year, with all 4 remaining teams included. 2005 was similar.

 

I am using Runs as the category of measure in both situations.

 

I also think it is a very 'Hendry-esque' formula.

 

I'm not sure kid in the rotation is all that bad. Some of the best pitchers in this year's playoffs have been very inexperienced. And many had very checkered pasts before this year.

 

I think it's a bad idea to purposefully go into the season with a mediocre offense. It's not necessary to skimp in that area. Your lists don't take into account that the Cubs are in the top 25% in baseball in payroll, whichs means that, unlike other teams, they can afford to pay for pitching and hitting.

[imb]

That's 125 million double bacon cheeseburgers...

[Derwood]

Am I the only one who wishes the playoffs would just be done already so we can get to the winter meetings? :fingerscrossed:

[jtownie]

Go for Schmidt and Zito. Keep Ramirez. Win with dominant pitching and a mediocre offense, floated by two studs (Lee and Ramirez).

 

I think that formula has a greater chance of winning than going after many big bats and relying on more than one kid in the rotation.

 

Only 4 of the top 10 offenses in baseball made the playoffs this year, and only 2 of those are left (Detroit and NY). Same was true in 2005.

 

But 7 of the top 10 pitching staffs made the playoffs this year, with all 4 remaining teams included. 2005 was similar.

 

I am using Runs as the category of measure in both situations.

 

I also think it is a very 'Hendry-esque' formula.

 

I'm not sure kid in the rotation is all that bad. Some of the best pitchers in this year's playoffs have been very inexperienced. And many had very checkered pasts before this year.

 

I think it's a bad idea to purposefully go into the season with a mediocre offense. It's not necessary to skimp in that area. Your lists don't take into account that the Cubs are in the top 25% in baseball in payroll, whichs means that, unlike other teams, they can afford to pay for pitching and hitting.

 

And if they up payroll another 20-25M as is being speculated they can afford to add offense and pitching.

[goonys evil twin]

And if they up payroll another 20-25M as is being speculated they can afford to add offense and pitching.

 

They can already afford both, the extra money would just give them that much more flexibility.

[Knyption]

Go for Schmidt and Zito. Keep Ramirez. Win with dominant pitching and a mediocre offense, floated by two studs (Lee and Ramirez).

 

I think that formula has a greater chance of winning than going after many big bats and relying on more than one kid in the rotation.

 

Only 4 of the top 10 offenses in baseball made the playoffs this year, and only 2 of those are left (Detroit and NY). Same was true in 2005.

 

But 7 of the top 10 pitching staffs made the playoffs this year, with all 4 remaining teams included. 2005 was similar.

 

I am using Runs as the category of measure in both situations.

 

I also think it is a very 'Hendry-esque' formula.

 

The above sounds nice.

 

I would Let Theroit Sweat out a year, convert Cedeno to SuperSub hopefully he could become better than Bellhorn has been in that role.

 

Infield Stays the Same.

 

We will need the defence of a healthy Izzy to backup the hopefully dominant pitching.

 

Get 1 good offensive (ops) pickup for the OF.

 

Get 2 good pitchers

 

Wood Closer by playoffs.

 

Sounds good.

 

I think the trouble Hendry has all the time is that he is going into the offseason with TOO MANY IF'S about which players will be healthy or not.

 

And sometimes when Hendry Gambles his luck isn't WSP caliber.

[goonys evil twin]

We will need the defence of a healthy Izzy to backup the hopefully dominant pitching.

 

It's quite possible there will never again be a healthy Izzy. He didn't just break a finger. He's had very serious injuries, and apparantly has some sort of degenerative issue on top of things.

[CubColtPacer]

We will need the defence of a healthy Izzy to backup the hopefully dominant pitching.

 

It's quite possible there will never again be a healthy Izzy. He didn't just break a finger. He's had very serious injuries, and apparantly has some sort of degenerative issue on top of things.

 

I would agree with that distinct possibility. That's I think one of the main reasons that the team needs to go out and sign a second baseman and let Theriot be the top sub so that there will be depth in case that reasonable possibility becomes true again. To go into a season with Izturis and Theriot with no depth but Cedeno behind is just asking for trouble, IMO.

[goonys evil twin]

We will need the defence of a healthy Izzy to backup the hopefully dominant pitching.

 

It's quite possible there will never again be a healthy Izzy. He didn't just break a finger. He's had very serious injuries, and apparantly has some sort of degenerative issue on top of things.

 

I would agree with that distinct possibility. That's I think one of the main reasons that the team needs to go out and sign a second baseman and let Theriot be the top sub so that there will be depth in case that reasonable possibility becomes true again. To go into a season with Izturis and Theriot with no depth but Cedeno behind is just asking for trouble, IMO.

 

Unless the OF is improved greatly, this is true.

[CP_414]

It would be very hard to lose with a $115 Million payroll in this division. They could get Drew for RF (giving up Jones and others), Keep Ramirez, Upgrade CF with Jones or Wells, Sign Zito or Schmidt, extend Zambrano, Keep Wood, and add another pitcher like a Viciente Padilla. The still might even have room to upgrade a middle infield spot, say with Luis Castillo.

 

2B Castillo

LF Murton

1B Lee

RF Drew

3B Aramis

CF Wells

C Barrett

SS Izturis

 

Zambrano, Zito, Padilla, Hill, Prior

 

Excellent.

[soccer10k]

It would be very hard to lose with a $115 Million payroll in this division.

 

It's the Cubs. Anything is possible.

Edited October 13, 2006 by soccer10k

[USSoccer]

It would help to be able to outspend your mistakes. Except with Hendry, his mistakes come from poor budget mangement.