Tracking Cubs 2007 Payroll

[JeffH]

"It's a write-off for them."

"How is it a write-off?"

"They just write it off."

"Write it off what?"

"Jerry, all these big companies, they write off everything."

"You don't even know what a write-off is."

"Do you?"

"No, I don't."

"But they do. And they're the ones writing it off."

 

"I wish I had the last twenty seconds of my life back."

[CuseCubFan69]

New updated payroll

 

Miller - 1.5M

Wood - 1.75M

Dempster - 5.3M

Eyre - 3.8M

Howry - 4.5M

Rusch - 3.3M

 

Lee - 13M

Izturis - 4.3M

Ramirez - 14.6M

Barrett - 4.5M

Jones - 5.3M

 

if you add in arbitration eligible estimates:

 

Zambrano - 10M (hopefully with an extension)

Prior - 4M

Ohman - 1M

 

and player's without a contract that have less than 3 years of MLB experience

likely to be kept on the 25 man

 

Murton - 350k

Hill - 350k

Theriot - 350k

Wuertz - 350k

Guzman - 350k

Cedeno - 350k

 

totals to rougly 79 Million. If the 110-115 payroll estimate is right, we have around 36-41 million to play with for 5 players.

 

Don't you mean 31-36 mil? 110 minus 79 is 31 and 115 minus 79 is 36.

 

Man, if we could find someone to take our dead weight (Dempster, Izturis, Jones, Rusch retire, maybe Eyre) we'd have a ton of money to spend.

 

I wonder if Rusch's contract might be a writeoff due to his illness?

 

"It's a write-off for them."

"How is it a write-off?"

"They just write it off."

"Write it off what?"

"Jerry, all these big companies, they write off everything."

"You don't even know what a write-off is."

"Do you?"

"No, I don't."

"But they do. And they're the ones writing it off."

 

Kramer and his wonderful common sense!

[YearofDaCubs]

Has DeRosa's contract been to the current payroll?

[Jazz]

New updated payroll (added Blanco and Derosa)

 

Miller - 1.5M

Wood - 1.75M

Dempster - 5.3M

Eyre - 3.8M

Howry - 4.5M

Rusch - 3.3M

 

Lee - 13M

Derosa - 3.75M

Izturis - 4.3M

Ramirez - 14.6M

Barrett - 4.5M

Blanco - 2.15M

Jones - 5.3M

 

if you add in arbitration eligible estimates:

 

Zambrano - 10M (hopefully with an extension)

Prior - 4M

Ohman - 1M

Cotts - 500k

 

and player's without a contract that have less than 3 years of MLB experience

likely to be kept on the 25 man

 

Murton - 400k

Hill - 400k

Theriot - 400k

Wuertz - 400k

Guzman - 400k

 

Total = 85 Million

 

There is also a feeling that I'm getting from Hendry and Pineilla that the payroll might be 5-10 mil higher than the current 110-115M estimate going around. If you are optimistic and think that the payroll could be up to 120 mil, than that leaves us 35 million to work with. If you are pessimistic than you are still going to assume we are 25 mil away from the limit.

 

 

Rusch's injury could keep him from playing in 07, and the cubs could exercise the right to drop him, with a severance of some kind, maybe totaled to about 1M and some change.

Edited November 19, 2006 by Jazz

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

For the record, in the new CBA I believe the minimum salary is raised to a little over 400K, so those 350 estimates are off by a bit.

[Jazz]

For the record, in the new CBA I believe the minimum salary is raised to a little over 400K, so those 350 estimates are off by a bit.

 

Thanks for the info, ill edit the new estimate

[JeffH]

$380K is the new minimum.

[JeffH]

Blanco will make $2.15 next season - $1.4 in salary and a $0.75 signing bonus, which will likely be paid all at once and be counted against this year's payroll.

[Shavo]

How much money do we have left with the Soriano signing?

[JeffH]

These are my numbers, which differ slightly from those shown before:

 

• LF - Matt Murton ($425,000)
  CF - Alfonso Soriano ($17,000,000)
  RF - Jacque Jones ($5,333,333)
  3B - Aramis Ramirez ($14,000,000)
  SS - Cesar Izturis ($4,150,000)
  2B - Mark DeRosa ($4,000,000)
  1B - Derrek Lee ($13,000,000)
  C - Michael Barrett ($4,400,000)
  OF/IF - Kid (AP/RT/RC/FB) ($425,000)
  OF/IF - Open
  OF/IF - Open
  OF/IF - Open
  C - Henry Blanco ($2,150,000)
  SP - Carlos Zambrano ($10,000,000)
  SP - Rich Hill ($425,000)
  SP - Wade Miller ($1,500,000)
  SP - Open
  SP - Open
  RP - Will Ohman ($1,000,000)
  RP - Scott Eyre ($3,500,000)
  RP - Neal Cotts ($1,000,000)
  RP - Kerry Wood ($1,750,000)
  RP - Michael Wuertz ($425,000)
  RP - Bobby Howry ($4,000,000)
  RP - Ryan Dempster ($5,000,000)
  DL - Mark Prior ($4,000,000)
  DL - Glendon Rusch ($3,250,000)
   
   
  Total - $100,733,333

[Jazz]

These are my numbers, which differ slightly from those shown before:

 

• LF - Matt Murton ($425,000)
  CF - Alfonso Soriano ($17,000,000)
  RF - Jacque Jones ($5,333,333)
  3B - Aramis Ramirez ($14,000,000)
  SS - Cesar Izturis ($4,150,000)
  2B - Mark DeRosa ($4,000,000)
  1B - Derrek Lee ($13,000,000)
  C - Michael Barrett ($4,400,000)
  OF/IF - Kid (AP/RT/RC/FB) ($425,000)
  OF/IF - Open
  OF/IF - Open
  OF/IF - Open
  C - Henry Blanco ($2,150,000)
  SP - Carlos Zambrano ($10,000,000)
  SP - Rich Hill ($425,000)
  SP - Wade Miller ($1,500,000)
  SP - Open
  SP - Open
  RP - Will Ohman ($1,000,000)
  RP - Scott Eyre ($3,500,000)
  RP - Neal Cotts ($1,000,000)
  RP - Kerry Wood ($1,750,000)
  RP - Michael Wuertz ($425,000)
  RP - Bobby Howry ($4,000,000)
  RP - Ryan Dempster ($5,000,000)
  DL - Mark Prior ($4,000,000)
  DL - Glendon Rusch ($3,250,000)
   
   
  Total - $100,733,333

 

That gives us at least 15 mil to work with, possibly 25 mil if the spending limit is raised if we are targeting another marquee FA. Also, Jones, Izturis, Eyre, and Dempster could all be moved, seperately or invidually. If we moved 2 of them, we'd clear about 8-10 mil in payroll, possibly putting us back in the Drew sweepstakes

[Shavo]

Please god let Rusch retire!

[HoopsCubs]

Also, Jones, Izturis, Eyre, and Dempster could all be moved, seperately or invidually. If we moved 2 of them, we'd clear about 8-10 mil in payroll, possibly putting us back in the Drew sweepstakes

 

Let's say Drew were to end up with the Angels or Orioles, and the Cubs sign Lugo.

 

Do you think Boston would be interested in a deal for Jacque, Cesar and one of the 2 relievers? That's around $13-14M in payroll, maybe the Cubs would have to pick up $3M.

 

Soriano to RF, Murton in LF. Then the Cubs could trade Barrett and a few pitching prospects to Toronto for Wells.

[Jazz]

Also, Jones, Izturis, Eyre, and Dempster could all be moved, seperately or invidually. If we moved 2 of them, we'd clear about 8-10 mil in payroll, possibly putting us back in the Drew sweepstakes

 

Let's say Drew were to end up with the Angels or Orioles, and the Cubs sign Lugo.

 

Do you think Boston would be interested in a deal for Jacque, Cesar and one of the 2 relievers? That's around $13-14M in payroll, maybe the Cubs would have to pick up $3M.

 

Soriano to RF, Murton in LF. Then the Cubs could trade Barrett and a few pitching prospects to Toronto for Wells.

 

who would we take back in that deal with Boston though? I really like Willy Mo Pena as a bat off the bench. Or are you talking about a deal for Manny?

 

I'd like Barrett, Marshall, and Marmol for Wells. Then sign Zaun to play Catcher.

 

You'd have this lineup

 

Soriano RF

Theriot SS

Lee 1B

Ramirez 3B

Wells CF

Murton LF

Derosa 2B

Zaun C

[blufftonbuck]

Boy Cesar's $4.150MM really stands out as a waste of money on that graph

[Laura]

Aramis contract details.

 

The New York Times[/url]"]

Take the Ramírez contract as an example of that likelihood. The Cubs are paying Ramírez a $5 million signing bonus, but that sum will basically come off his first-year salary, which will be $8 million instead of $13 million.

 

His salary will then escalate to $14 million, $15.65 million and $15.75 million, with a player option to follow for 2011 at $14.6 million and a mutual option for 2012 with a buyout of $2 million.

[LeftCoastCubFan]

These are my numbers, which differ slightly from those shown before:

 

• LF - Matt Murton ($425,000) Likely to be higher given starter status. I would guess 475k to 500k range
  CF - Alfonso Soriano ($17,000,000) Just a SWAG until details come out and will need to be updated then
  RF - Jacque Jones ($5,333,333)
  3B - Aramis Ramirez ($14,000,000) Thanks to Serena, it looks like 8 mil base with a 5 mil signing bonus paid entirely in 2007, so it’s 13 mil
  SS - Cesar Izturis ($4,150,000) there is also a prorated 100k signing bonus so he should be at 4.250 mil
  2B - Mark DeRosa ($4,000,000) Again lacking details but at this point you should assume a prorated signing bonus of .333 included
  1B - Derrek Lee ($13,000,000)
  C - Michael Barrett ($4,400,000) (12.0 – 4.333 in 2006 – 3.133 in 2005 using USA Today’s salary database) from the total contract of 12 mil is 4.534
  OF/IF - Kid (AP/RT/RC/FB) ($425,000) It’s to early to speculate on the bench at this point, so I wouldn’t include anyone just yet
  OF/IF - Open
  OF/IF - Open
  OF/IF - Open
  C - Henry Blanco ($2,150,000) This is another one lacking signing bonus details. Base is 1.8 mil but we don’t know if the signing bonus of 750k is prorated or not. If it isn’t (likely) it’s 2.55. Otherwise it’s 2.175
  SP - Carlos Zambrano ($10,000,000) I don’t expect Z to sign an extension in spring, so I would see this a little higher at 11 mil, as he won’t be likely to be giving a hometown discount)
  SP - Rich Hill ($425,000) after 17 games last year and not guaranteed anything for 2007, he will likely get 380k minimum, maybe 400k at most
  SP - Wade Miller ($1,500,000)
  SP - Open
  SP - Open
  RP - Will Ohman ($1,000,000) second year arbitration eligible, so this is likely
  RP - Scott Eyre ($3,500,000) 3.5 base + .333 signing bonus to be paid should be 3.833
  RP - Neal Cotts ($1,000,000) Since he is a first year arbitration eligible player, 700k is more likely
  RP - Kerry Wood ($1,750,000)
  RP - Michael Wuertz ($425,000) Still a year from being arbitration eligible, this is likely, but being at best the 7th guy in the pen he’s on the bubble at this point and I wouldn’t include him just yet
  RP - Bobby Howry ($4,000,000) 4 base + .500 signing bonus to be paid should be 4.500
  RP - Ryan Dempster ($5,000,000) 5 base plus .333 signing bonus to be paid should be 5.333
  DL - Mark Prior ($4,000,000) Cubs unlikely to go for 10% cut or a raise, and will likely offer same as last year which was 3.65 mil
  DL - Glendon Rusch ($3,250,000)
   
   
  Total - $100,733,333

 

Comments in bold above. My revised numbers would be:

 

11.000 – Zambrano (arbitration/contract estimate)

3.650 - Prior

1.500 - Miller

.380 – Hill (contract renewal estimate)

 

4 Starters at 16.530

 

5.333 - Dempster

3.833 - Eyre

4.500 - Howry

.700 - Cotts (arbitration/contract estimate)

1.750 - Wood

1.000 - Ohman (arbitration/contract estimate)

3.250 - Rusch

 

7 Relievers at 20.366

 

4.534 - Barrett

2.550 - Blanco (estimated pending signing bonus payment details)

 

2 Catchers at 7.084

 

13.000 - Lee

4.333 – DeRosa (estimated pending contract details)

4.250 – Izturis

13.000 - Ramirez

 

4 Infielders at 34.583

 

17.000 – Soriano (estimated pending contract details)

5.333 - Jones

.475 – Murton (contract renewal estimate)

 

3 Outfielders at 22.808

 

Total 20 players at 101.371 million

 

Note: (I included Hill, Ohman, and Murton since barring trade they are likely to stick. Given Pienella’s 3 starter comment likely to be a free agent/trade/reclamation it’s hard to see another young starter making the opening day roster unless they beat out Hill. The bullpen is pretty full until trades are made, so a lot of youngsters are fighting for one or two open spots. Also Lou’s comments about strengthening the bench leave me to believe the youngsters won’t be there at the start of the season. I almost included Cedeno given Hendry’s comments about him getting at bats, but it’s still till early to pencil him in. Either way, all of these players are at or close to the minimum, which won’t add much to payroll.)

[LeftCoastCubFan]

11.000 – Zambrano (arbitration/contract estimate)

10.000 - Lilly (pending contract 4/40 details)

3.650 - Prior

1.500 - Miller

.380 – Hill (contract renewal estimate)

 

5 Starters at 26.530

 

5.333 - Dempster

3.833 - Eyre

4.500 - Howry

.700 - Cotts (arbitration/contract estimate)

1.750 - Wood

1.000 - Ohman (arbitration/contract estimate)

3.250 - Rusch

 

7 Relievers at 20.366

 

4.534 - Barrett

2.550 - Blanco (estimated pending signing bonus payment details)

 

2 Catchers at 7.084

 

13.000 - Lee

4.333 – DeRosa (estimated pending contract details)

4.250 – Izturis

13.000 - Ramirez

 

4 Infielders at 34.583

 

10.000 – Soriano

5.333 - Jones

.475 – Murton (contract renewal estimate)

 

3 Outfielders at 15.808

 

Total 21 players at 104.371 million

Edited December 7, 2006 by LeftCoastCubFan

[oldcubsfan]

you forgot that ARam's 5mil bonus, which makes him $9 mil this year and the likelihood that Rusch's contract may be covered by insurance(85%)

 

Which gets it down to $88 roughly. That should leave plenty of room to acquire pitching.

[LeftCoastCubFan]

you forgot that ARam's 5mil bonus, which makes him $9 mil this year and the likelihood that Rusch's contract may be covered by insurance(85%)

 

Which gets it down to $88 roughly. That should leave plenty of room to acquire pitching.

Ramirez's Bonus is paid entirely in the first year, and are accounted for in the year they are paid, so he is at 13 for 2007 (8m salary + 5m Bonus).

 

If they do carry insurance on Rusch, it is still part of the 2007 payroll. It's an accounting issue next year when they receive a check. It's very unlikely they do. Insuring his contract likely would have carried a 6 digit cost. They likely assumed the risk.

[oldcubsfan]

I think bonus accounting is spread over the contract and the insurance would be paid after the season which is still 07.

[LeftCoastCubFan]

I think bonus accounting is spread over the contract and the insurance would be paid after the season which is still 07.

 

Aramis contract details.

 

The New York Times[/url]"]

Take the Ramírez contract as an example of that likelihood. The Cubs are paying Ramírez a $5 million signing bonus, but that sum will basically come off his first-year salary, which will be $8 million instead of $13 million.

 

His salary will then escalate to $14 million, $15.65 million and $15.75 million, with a player option to follow for 2011 at $14.6 million and a mutual option for 2012 with a buyout of $2 million.

Though most bonuses are spread out over the life of the contract, this one is not. It is like Sosa's last contract that the bonus was paid in full the next year.

 

Rusch will be paid through payroll next year just like every player. How it's funded (insurance, ticket sales, loan) is an internal matter. It's still payroll for the purposes of spending. Again I would be very surprised if it exists in this case.

[oldcubsfan]

I have heard several opinions on both of these, and we will just have to disagree on the accounting, no big deal. I appreciate your reasoning.

[Jazz]

Wow, if we're only at 95 mil at this point in our spending spree, with a projected 125 spending limit, then we could afford 2 more impact players (through FA or trade)

[sethuel1]

Wow, if we're only at 95 mil at this point in our spending spree, with a projected 125 spending limit, then we could afford 2 more impact players (through FA or trade)

 

We may or may not be at 95 mil, depending on whether you think the New York Times is a reliable source.