Sun-Times: Expect another payroll bump for 2009

[CaliforniaRaisin]

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/1205705,CST-SPT-csep07.article

 

Hendry's aggressive redirection has been paired with a renewed financial push by ownership. This year's payroll was a franchise-record $130 million, up more than $20 million from 2007. And Kenney anticipates another bump going into next season, even with the uncertainty of an ownership transition that could occur by spring training.

 

An increase in revenues and projected revenues -- from additional ballpark advertising and other sources -- are part of the reason for that, Kenney said.

[JimSorgi]

:yahoo:

[anabiono]

thank god

 

dunn

brob

C.C.

 

\:D/

[SouthSideRyan]

If I can be Debbie Downer here, remember there pretty much had to be a payroll bump in order to afford our current team.

[TheDude]

Anyone have numbers on Fukudome's returns? I know a lot of people are down on him for his production vs. salary and want to dump him (which isn't going to happen and is quite reactionary), but I'm curious if an attempted cost differential is out there speculating on his actual cost after new revenue streams are considered.

[UMFan83]

Keep throwing money at our problems!

 

If we weren't so close I'd advise against doing this. I'd like to see an increase in spending towards scouting and player development. The Cubs seem to be 5 years behind the curve. This is what the Red Sox and Yankees were doing at the beginning of the 2000's. Now they are spending a lot of their efforts in player development and they've gotten some solid returns so far.

 

I'm not saying they arent spending money (at least the Red Sox still are), but they don't just throw money at problems anymore.

[SouthSideRyan]

Maybe if we get the payroll up high enough, nobody cheap would dare touch the team.

[TheDude]

Keep throwing money at our problems!

 

What are you defining as the 'problems'? 97 wins?

[Roast]

Keep throwing money at our problems!

 

What are you defining as the 'problems'? 97 wins?

Two consecutive playoff sweeps?

[UMFan83]

Keep throwing money at our problems!

 

What are you defining as the 'problems'? 97 wins?

 

Every team has problems

[RedFlash]

If I can be Debbie Downer here, remember there pretty much had to be a payroll bump in order to afford our current team.

 

Nah, you're not a "Debbie Downer" you interpret the article as it should. People assume when Kenney said there would be a "payroll bump" that the Cubs will be jumping to the head of every major FA thi offseason. Not necessarily...How many players have increases in their contracts? Then what happens if the Cubs decline Harden's option (not a FA, tho he would be ARB eligible). Or what happens if the Cubs feel the need to want to sign Soto long-term.

 

I agree with you SSR, a payroll bump doesn't mean anything.

[David]

Keep throwing money at our problems!

 

What are you defining as the 'problems'? 97 wins?

Two consecutive playoff sweeps?

 

There's no way to solve not being hot at the right time.

 

Granted, there are areas of this team that could be improved (areas that may have been exploited in the playoffs), but it's not because we got swept in the playoffs. And had we won in the playoffs, the weak points of the team still would've been the same ones.

[chuckywang]

A payroll bump to get more talent? This year's team was the best team in the NL. If next year's team got 110 wins, they'll still just be as likely to get swept in the first round.

[David]

I don't think you can read "anticipates a payroll bump" as being in reference to increases that already had to happen contractually.

 

That's like saying "Skilling anticipates cold weather this winter."

 

I mean, they could be saying that in reference to the contract escalations, but it would make that a completely pointless snippet. But I guess you could say it might just mean they want to keep Wood and Dempster around.

[David]

A payroll bump to get more talent? This year's team was the best team in the NL. If next year's team got 110 wins, they'll still just be as likely to get swept in the first round.

 

This year's team winning 97 games /= next year's team winning 97 games

 

There are a few areas where you probably can't expect to get the same level of production next season.

 

 

Plus, it would be nice to add another starting pitcher who strikes guys out, because those guys do tend to be a part of the recipe for playoff success.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Here more on it from MLBtraderumors

 

Cubs Rumors: Hendry, Payroll, Ibanez, Roberts

By Tim Dierkes [October 7 at 11:36am CST]

Let's talk Cubs.

 

First things first - the Cubs need to lock in their GM. ESPN's Buster Olney says the Cubs are currently trying to convince Jim Hendry not to opt out of his contract in December. Olney expects a new long-term agreement.

Gordon Wittenmeyer of the Chicago-Sun Times talked to Cubs CEO Crane Kenney, who anticipates another payroll bump despite ownership uncertainty. Maybe the $140MM range?

Lot of talk about the Cubs adding a left-handed hitter for balance. Names suggested by Olney, Wittenmeyer, and Andy Dolan of Desipio.com: Raul Ibanez, Bobby Abreu, David DeJesus, Milton Bradley, and Brian Roberts. Regardless of the path the Cubs take, they seem likely to accept shaky right-field defense in exchange for a middle-of-the-order bat. The Cubs could also consider Aubrey Huff or Adam Dunn, but they'd be even more of a stretch in right.

Dolan would like to add a more complete shortstop. If the Cubs feel the same, they could again pursue switch-hitter Rafael Furcal and finally move Alfonso Soriano out of the leadoff spot.

Everyone expects Rich Harden's $7MM option to be exercised, setting the '09 rotation. Wittenmeyer recommends an aggressive run at C.C. Sabathia, which seems unlikely.

[David]

lol citing andy from desipio, wtf?

[C.C.]

Just crank it up to 200 million and be done with it.

[SouthSideRyan]

A payroll bump to get more talent? This year's team was the best team in the NL. If next year's team got 110 wins, they'll still just be as likely to get swept in the first round.

 

Eh that's not true. Much of winning a playoff series comes down to luck, getting hot, however you want to define it.

 

But a true talent 110 win team is more likely to "get lucky" than a 97 win team. It's a marginal upgrade, but it is an upgrade.

[UMFan83]

lol citing andy from desipio, wtf?

 

lol, whats that I was thinking

 

National beat writer, local beat writer, and blogger with no known ties to anyone in the know (but had dinner with Len Kasper once)

[JeffH]

Great. Let's put more money in the hands of our drunken sailor of a GM.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Or we could just say screw free agency and tell the Marlins they can have anything they want aside from Soto or Marmol for Hanley Ramirez. Would a package of Theriot, Mitch Atkins, Sean Marshall, Jose Ceda, Pie or Colvin and maybe a few more do the trick?

[Guest]

If I can be Debbie Downer here, remember there pretty much had to be a payroll bump in order to afford our current team.

 

Certainly, the comment is open to interpretation but it sounds like they are open to adding some talent (we're not talking Tex/CC money).

[Guest]

Or we could just say screw free agency and tell the Marlins they can have anything they want aside from Soto or Marmol for Hanley Ramirez. Would a package of Theriot, Mitch Atkins, Sean Marshall, Jose Ceda, Pie or Colvin and maybe a few more do the trick?

 

No.

[SouthSideRyan]

If I can be Debbie Downer here, remember there pretty much had to be a payroll bump in order to afford our current team.

 

Certainly, the comment is open to interpretation but it sounds like they are open to adding some talent (we're not talking Tex/CC money).

 

Somebody get a chat set up with Andy, so we can find out the truth.