Sun-Times: Expect another payroll bump for 2009

[David]

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, it wouldn't. And I'd give up Marmol in less than a second if it got us Hanley Ramirez. Not that it would.

[Guest]

And yes, the Andy Dolan bit is awesome.

[David]

Hell, I'd probably trade Geo for Hanley, too, despite how much I love Geo.

[Tyrant]

And yes, the Andy Dolan bit is awesome.

 

Yeah, that was weird. Funny guy, but why cite him as a source?

 

Hilarious.

[cubsfan26]

I expected the Cubs to increase their payroll again, but really the question is how much. Even with losing Howry,Eyre,Lieber, Edmonds,Ward, Dempster, Wood and Blanco that payroll will still be around 120m(with picking up Harden option) right now. The payroll at the end of the season was 130m, so a realistic bump would probably be closer to the 140-142m range. That would probably only let us resign Dempster(or bring in another pitcher),Wood and a few minor pieces.

 

 

 

I do expect the Cubs to dump Marquis contract, and that could save them 6-7m. So if they backload Dempster/Wood contracts a bit, that could give them 8-12m to spend on another hitter. So thats probably one LH bat, that will either be a middle infielder or outfielder. To add both or a player who makes 15m plus the payroll might have to be around 150-160m.

[imb]

according to espn.com national baseball writer buster olney and cubs.com poster teencubgirl87, soriano "totally" sucks and mark derosa is "hotter with a beard"

[TheDude]

I expected the Cubs to increase their payroll again, but really the question is how much. Even with losing Howry,Eyre,Lieber, Edmonds,Ward, Dempster, Wood and Blanco that payroll will still be around 120m(with picking up Harden option) right now. The payroll at the end of the season was 130m, so a realistic bump would probably be closer to the 140-142m range. That would probably only let us resign Dempster(or bring in another pitcher),Wood and a few minor pieces.

 

 

 

I do expect the Cubs to dump Marquis contract, and that could save them 6-7m. So if they backload Dempster/Wood contracts a bit, that could give them 8-12m to spend on another hitter. So thats probably one LH bat, that will either be a middle infielder or outfielder. To add both or a player who makes 15m plus the payroll might have to be around 150-160m.

 

I think you're math is off by about 6 million. I'll assume it was 130 at season's end, as you mentioned. You say they lose Howry, Eyre, Lieber, Edmonds, Ward, Dempster, Wood and Blanco, then mention payroll still at 120 after the Harden option...which implies all these players combined added up to 17 million. But that collection of players is ~ 21 million. Plus the team can drop the millions from 2008 buyout numbers (such as Jones).

 

After the Harden option, I think the number is around 214 rather 220, unless 2009 buyout number push it up.

[dew1679666265]

And yes, the Andy Dolan bit is awesome.

 

Yeah, that was weird. Funny guy, but why cite him as a source?

 

Hilarious.

 

Tim Stuart should be a source for them.

 

He's a good guy who runs a very popular Cubs message board too. I don't even have the first clue who Andy Dolan is.

[ChiCubsFan]

I expected the Cubs to increase their payroll again, but really the question is how much. Even with losing Howry,Eyre,Lieber, Edmonds,Ward, Dempster, Wood and Blanco that payroll will still be around 120m(with picking up Harden option) right now. The payroll at the end of the season was 130m, so a realistic bump would probably be closer to the 140-142m range. That would probably only let us resign Dempster(or bring in another pitcher),Wood and a few minor pieces.

 

 

 

I do expect the Cubs to dump Marquis contract, and that could save them 6-7m. So if they backload Dempster/Wood contracts a bit, that could give them 8-12m to spend on another hitter. So thats probably one LH bat, that will either be a middle infielder or outfielder. To add both or a player who makes 15m plus the payroll might have to be around 150-160m.

 

I think you're math is off by about 6 million. I'll assume it was 130 at season's end, as you mentioned. You say they lose Howry, Eyre, Lieber, Edmonds, Ward, Dempster, Wood and Blanco, then mention payroll still at 120 after the Harden option...which implies all these players combined added up to 17 million. But that collection of players is ~ 21 million. Plus the team can drop the millions from 2008 buyout numbers (such as Jones).

 

After the Harden option, I think the number is around 214 rather 220, unless 2009 buyout number push it up.

 

So it's 114? So we have potentially 26M to work with if the payroll is set at around 140M? I wonder how much Wood and Dempster will want...I really, REALLY want Kerry back because he's been the face of the franchise for so long, but it might make more sense to let him walk. I'm still on the fence about Dempster. He might need to go as well.

[JeffH]

Right now, we have the following players under contract:

 

LF - Alfonso Soriano ($16,000,000)

RF - Kosuke Fukudome ($11,500,000)

3B - Aramis Ramirez ($15,650,000)

2B - Mark DeRosa ($5,500,000)

1B - Derrek Lee ($13,000,000)

SP - Carlos Zambrano ($17,750,000)

SP - Ted Lilly ($12,000,000)

SP - Jason Marquis ($9,875,000)

RP - Jeff Samardzija ($1,300,000)

 

Subtotal - $102,575,000

 

The Cubs have team options on Henry Blanco ($3,000,000) and Rich Harden ($7,000,000). They may decline the option on Blanco and try to re-sign him for less. Barring a bad report on Harden's arm, they'll exercise the option on him. For this accounting, let's assume they exercise both options.

 

Subtotal - $112,575,000

 

The Cubs have three arbitration-eligible players: Reed Johnson, Neal Cotts, and Chad Gaudin. Let's assume they re-sign all three. Johnson ($3,500,000). Cotts ($1,200,000). Gaudin ($3,500,000). These figures may be slightly high.

 

Subtotal - $120,775,000

 

I've assumed that there will be seven auto-renewal players on the roster - Felix Pie, Ryan Theriot, Geovany Soto, Ronny Cedeno, Mike Fontenot, Sean Marshall, and Carlos Marmol. I've allotted $500,000 for each.

 

Subtotal - $124,275,000

[17 Seconds]

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?

 

lawl

[cubsfan26]

I hope the Cubs don't pick up Blanco 3m option, and kinda don't think they will. When they gave Blanco that deal, they had a subpar defensive catcher in Barrett behind the plate. So I think they felt it was important to have a good defensive catcher on the roster. Now that we have Soto who is a good defensive and offensive catcher, I don't think having a good back up catcher is as important. I do think they will try to resign him, but probably for closer to 1-2m tops.

[ChiCubsFan]

I hope the Cubs don't pick up Blanco 3m option, and kinda don't think they will. When they gave Blanco that deal, they had a subpar defensive catcher in Barrett behind the plate. So I think they felt it was important to have a good defensive catcher on the roster. Now that we have Soto who is a good defensive and offensive catcher, I don't think having a good back up catcher is as important. I do think they will try to resign him, but probably for closer to 1-2m tops.

 

I would hope so.

[BCVM22]

I think Blanco's influence on Geo has to be taken into account to some degree when we discuss how willing the Cubs will be to try and bring him back, be it by exercising his option or declining it, buying him out and renegotiating. Any time anyone has asked Geo about his defense or his handling of the pitching staff or his leadership, the first words out of his mouth are "Henry Blanco helps me a ton."

[mhuber92211]

why wouldnt the cubs just decline Harden's option and offer arbitration. I doubt he would get the 4.5 million salary raise that the option gives him.

[SouthSideRyan]

why wouldnt the cubs just decline Harden's option and offer arbitration. I doubt he would get the 4.5 million salary raise that the option gives him.

 

I bet it'd be close enough to not make it worth them to fight him in arbitration.

[jersey cubs fan]

why wouldnt the cubs just decline Harden's option and offer arbitration. I doubt he would get the 4.5 million salary raise that the option gives him.

 

I bet it'd be close enough to not make it worth them to fight him in arbitration.

 

I bet he'd get the raise and then some (and as you said, the arbitration fight could make later negotiations even more difficult.)

[BigbadB]

Henry Blanco started 28 games this year. That accounts to more than $100,000 per game started. I like Hank White as much as the next guy, but come on. If they can't resign him to a million or so, it's time to bid adieu.

 

The only teams that should be able to afford a 3m back up catcher are the Bosox and Yankees.

 

That money would be better spent elsewhere. There are plenty of cheap catchers out there that could provide a better bat for pinch hitting purposes. I certainly wouldn't expect Blanco to reproduce the numbers he put up this year.

[BigbadB]

why wouldnt the cubs just decline Harden's option and offer arbitration. I doubt he would get the 4.5 million salary raise that the option gives him.

 

I bet it'd be close enough to not make it worth them to fight him in arbitration.

 

I bet he'd get the raise and then some (and as you said, the arbitration fight could make later negotiations even more difficult.)

 

Agreed. I haven't been a strong advocate for Hendry over the years, but one thing he has been able to do is sign players on the cheap that were deserving of much more than what they signed for had they hit the market. Picking up the option is a sign of respect to that player, and in future dealings could impact a cheaper contract than if you disrespect the player by trying to negotiate a much smaller raise.

[Cubswin11]

Right now, we have the following players under contract:

 

LF - Alfonso Soriano ($16,000,000)

RF - Kosuke Fukudome ($11,500,000)

3B - Aramis Ramirez ($15,650,000)

2B - Mark DeRosa ($5,500,000)

1B - Derrek Lee ($13,000,000)

SP - Carlos Zambrano ($17,750,000)

SP - Ted Lilly ($12,000,000)

SP - Jason Marquis ($9,875,000)

RP - Jeff Samardzija ($1,300,000)

 

Subtotal - $102,575,000

 

The Cubs have team options on Henry Blanco ($3,000,000) and Rich Harden ($7,000,000). They may decline the option on Blanco and try to re-sign him for less. Barring a bad report on Harden's arm, they'll exercise the option on him. For this accounting, let's assume they exercise both options.

 

Subtotal - $112,575,000

 

The Cubs have three arbitration-eligible players: Reed Johnson, Neal Cotts, and Chad Gaudin. Let's assume they re-sign all three. Johnson ($3,500,000). Cotts ($1,200,000). Gaudin ($3,500,000). These figures may be slightly high.

 

Subtotal - $120,775,000

 

I've assumed that there will be seven auto-renewal players on the roster - Felix Pie, Ryan Theriot, Geovany Soto, Ronny Cedeno, Mike Fontenot, Sean Marshall, and Carlos Marmol. I've allotted $500,000 for each.

 

Subtotal - $124,275,000

 

 

If we are expected to be in the 140,000,000 area we might not be able to do to much if Wood and Demp are resigned. we could save some money if Blanco is brought back, he will likely be bought out for 300,000 and resigned between 1-2 mil so that could cut some money out. If we are going to bring back Wood and Dempster however that alone will likely put us close to if not over 140,000,000 assuming Wood gets 6-9 mil and Dempster gets 10-14.

[YearofDaCubs]

I REALLY hope they don't resign Blanco. He's getting older, not that great offensively and we can use a much cheaper option like K Hill. I don't think we need to go crazy on a backup catcher.

[cubsfan26]

I agree we don't have to go crazy, and get a really good back up catcher. But if we don't bring Blanco back, we need to bring in someone else. Koyle Hill IMO, isn't really a major league player, and just a fill in guy if you have a injury. I'm fine with having a back up catcher who can hit 220-250, but I don't even think Hill can hit 200.

[BigbadB]

I agree we don't have to go crazy, and get a really good back up catcher. But if we don't bring Blanco back, we need to bring in someone else. Koyle Hill IMO, isn't really a major league player, and just a fill in guy if you have a injury. I'm fine with having a back up catcher who can hit 220-250, but I don't even think Hill can hit 200.

 

Agreed. I'm fine with Hill backing up a prospect at AA or AAA, but he's done as a major league backstop. There are other options available on the cheap that I'd be perfectly fine with. But, my first preference would probably be to bring back Blanco for 1m.

[CubColtPacer]

I agree we don't have to go crazy, and get a really good back up catcher. But if we don't bring Blanco back, we need to bring in someone else. Koyle Hill IMO, isn't really a major league player, and just a fill in guy if you have a injury. I'm fine with having a back up catcher who can hit 220-250, but I don't even think Hill can hit 200.

 

Agreed. I'm fine with Hill backing up a prospect at AA or AAA, but he's done as a major league backstop. There are other options available on the cheap that I'd be perfectly fine with. But, my first preference would probably be to bring back Blanco for 1m.

 

I don't think anywhere near 1 million is realistic for a good veteran backup catcher. You can find another catcher out there for around a million, but he won't be anywhere near as good as Blanco. Most backup catchers that have hit free agency make between 1.5 and 2 million, and most of them aren't as good offensively or defensively as Blanco.

 

I think it has to be either the expensive option (Blanco) or the cheap option (Hill). The in between options don't really give you the correct value for your money.

[mdwilla]

K.Hill for backup over Blanco. Although I would like the Cubs to get creative and find a backup that can actually hit so Lou will Geo a break more next season.