Tigers sign Prince - 9/214 - Heyman

[CubColtPacer]

Bruce Levine, who has consistently assertive in his belief that the Cubs *should* go after Prince Fielder, was markedly pessimistic in a recent chat about the Cubs’ chances to land Fielder – if they pursue him at all. “The Cubs are not going to get into a bidding war for Fielder. They don’t have that kind of money. Epstein might wait for the initial offers to take place and make one offer. But the Cubs are already at over $100 million in commitment for next season and still have a lot of work to do.” Levine later adds that “all indications” are that the Cubs are not in on Fielder. Given Levine’s public stance on Fielder, and the overall glum tone of the chat, I’ve got to believe that he’s been told from a Cubs source or two that the money probably isn’t there for Prince Fielder. Now, query whether that’s legitimately the case – teams frequently send out this kind of message to gain a bargaining advantage on a guy they’ve wanted all along. Still, it’s a bit of a downer if you believe Fielder is the Cubs’ best move at first base for 2012 and beyond.

 

http://www.bleachernation.com/2011/12/14/obsessive-prince-fielder-watch-another-national-pundit-knows-the-cubs-are-in-on-fielder/

 

 

Unless we put some enormous bid on the Darvish posting (so enormous that they're basically sure they're going to get it), I don't understand how we wouldn't have the money.

 

I think the bolded might be the most important sentence. If the Cubs are over 100 million already (which almost has to count Pena's salary otherwise I don't see how they are that high already) then they probably have about 30 million left. And if they feel they have a lot of other spots to fill, they don't think they can commit 20-25 of that 30 million to Fielder.

 

Could the report be erroneous? Absolutely. But it makes logical sense if those 2 assumptions (where the payroll is now and how many spots the organization wants to fill) are true. They have the money for Fielder, but if they commit to him he would take up most of the remaining budget.

[hawkeyecub]

I agree with almost everything jersey is saying and I really hope TT is right about the Darvish/Fielder angle.

[davell]

I think it's an either/or situation with Prince or Darvish. That said, I've got us at 111.6 right now. That includes Wood returning at 2.5, arb guesses for everyone, and what we pay the rest of the 40 man roster as well. It also includes Pena and Silva. But, I think our major league payroll will wind up much closer to 145 than 135, since the new CBA was announced. So, by my count, we've got 35ish mill to spend, not counting any potential trades taking money off the books.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I think it's an either/or situation with Prince or Darvish. That said, I've got us at 111.6 right now. That includes Wood returning at 2.5, arb guesses for everyone, and what we pay the rest of the 40 man roster as well. It also includes Pena and Silva. But, I think our major league payroll will wind up much closer to 145 than 135, since the new CBA was announced. So, by my count, we've got 35ish mill to spend, not counting any potential trades taking money off the books.

 

I thought we were officially paid off on Bradley/Silva.

[CubColtPacer]

I think it's an either/or situation with Prince or Darvish. That said, I've got us at 111.6 right now. That includes Wood returning at 2.5, arb guesses for everyone, and what we pay the rest of the 40 man roster as well. It also includes Pena and Silva. But, I think our major league payroll will wind up much closer to 145 than 135, since the new CBA was announced. So, by my count, we've got 35ish mill to spend, not counting any potential trades taking money off the books.

 

I thought we were officially paid off on Bradley/Silva.

 

Silva had a option with a buyout this year. It's hard to say if the Cubs absorbed that when they cut him last year or if they were planning to split it in their accounting like the original contract had it.

[Rob]

I think it's an either/or situation with Prince or Darvish. That said, I've got us at 111.6 right now. That includes Wood returning at 2.5, arb guesses for everyone, and what we pay the rest of the 40 man roster as well. It also includes Pena and Silva. But, I think our major league payroll will wind up much closer to 145 than 135, since the new CBA was announced. So, by my count, we've got 35ish mill to spend, not counting any potential trades taking money off the books.

 

I thought we were officially paid off on Bradley/Silva.

 

I think Silva has a buyout that goes to this year... $2 mil or so.

[abuck1220]

where are you getting the idea that the cubs' payroll next year will be $130 mil+?

[Guest]

where are you getting the idea that the cubs' payroll next year will be $130 mil+?

 

The fact that the baseball budget will remain the same and it appears we can't spend as much on IFA or the draft would seem to suggest so.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

where are you getting the idea that the cubs' payroll next year will be $130 mil+?

 

The fact that the baseball budget will remain the same and it appears we can't spend as much on IFA or the draft would seem to suggest so.

 

We just blew a huge chunk of the baseball budget on a McDonald's.

[CubColtPacer]

where are you getting the idea that the cubs' payroll next year will be $130 mil+?

 

The fact that the baseball budget will remain the same and it appears we can't spend as much on IFA or the draft would seem to suggest so.

 

Are player salaries the only thing in the baseball budget though? If you have a major league budget number, that's one thing. A baseball budget could include any number of things and is probably accounted differently from team to team.

[abuck1220]

it was, what, $110 last year? has there been any indication it's going to go up this year?

[Clem Fandango]

where are you getting the idea that the cubs' payroll next year will be $130 mil+?

 

The fact that the baseball budget will remain the same and it appears we can't spend as much on IFA or the draft would seem to suggest so.

 

We just blew a huge chunk of the baseball budget on a McDonald's.

 

You gotta spend money to make money

[Little Slide Rooter]

where are you getting the idea that the cubs' payroll next year will be $130 mil+?

 

The fact that the baseball budget will remain the same and it appears we can't spend as much on IFA or the draft would seem to suggest so.

 

We just blew a huge chunk of the baseball budget on a McDonald's.

 

I doubt that they spent any of the baseball budget on that.

[Butterscup1679666578]

it was like 126 last year wasnt it?

[Clem Fandango]

it was, what, $110 last year? has there been any indication it's going to go up this year?

 

$134,000,000 opening day payroll

[CubColtPacer]

it was, what, $110 last year? has there been any indication it's going to go up this year?

 

The major league payroll was between 130 and 140 last year (it's hard to pin down much more than that without knowing how players like Pena, Silva, and the trades done throughout the season were accounted for).

[mul21]

where are you getting the idea that the cubs' payroll next year will be $130 mil+?

 

The fact that the baseball budget will remain the same and it appears we can't spend as much on IFA or the draft would seem to suggest so.

 

If the baseball budget is staying the same and we can't spend as much on the draft or IFA, that would indicate to me that the ML payroll would be able to be increased by the $8-10M that isn't being spent there.

[jersey cubs fan]

it was, what, $110 last year?

 

what?

[Guest]

where are you getting the idea that the cubs' payroll next year will be $130 mil+?

 

The fact that the baseball budget will remain the same and it appears we can't spend as much on IFA or the draft would seem to suggest so.

 

Are player salaries the only thing in the baseball budget though? If you have a major league budget number, that's one thing. A baseball budget could include any number of things and is probably accounted differently from team to team.

 

It could be. It's just hard to imagine where these tens of millions of dollars are disappearing to.

[abuck1220]

huh. thought it was lower than that. carry on.

[CubColtPacer]

where are you getting the idea that the cubs' payroll next year will be $130 mil+?

 

The fact that the baseball budget will remain the same and it appears we can't spend as much on IFA or the draft would seem to suggest so.

 

If the baseball budget is staying the same and we can't spend as much on the draft or IFA, that would indicate to me that the ML payroll would be able to be increased by the $8-10M that isn't being spent there.

 

It depends on if executive salaries, training staffs, coaches, other minor league staff, scout salaries, and maybe even some equipment to upgrade scouting are recorded in the baseball budget. All of that is under Theo's control and therefore quite possibly under his budget. And he wants to upgrade most of those areas and that's going to cost money.

 

Wrigley upgrades/Triangle building/McDonalds acquisition/other things like that are not under Theo's control and shouldn't be part of the baseball budget.

[abuck1220]

has there been talk of the payroll going down next year or am i imagining things?

[CubColtPacer]

has there been talk of the payroll going down next year or am i imagining things?

 

There's been talk, but mostly from reporters who weren't referencing sources. All we know for sure is that Ricketts has stated that the baseball budget will be about the same as last year because the revenues were about the same. But he is going to give Theo that number and let him decide how to divide it between all the different areas Theo is in charge of.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

has there been talk of the payroll going down next year or am i imagining things?

 

All the general media idiots seem to be assuming that's the case based on vague reports of Ricketts' debt or something. The only definitive statement from an actual named source has been Ricketts saying "The baseball budget will be the same as last year, about $200 million." This apparently covers MLB payroll, minor league payroll, amateur-talent signing bonuses, front office staff and a bunch of other little stuff.

[Guest]

Bruce Levine, who has consistently assertive in his belief that the Cubs *should* go after Prince Fielder, was markedly pessimistic in a recent chat about the Cubs’ chances to land Fielder – if they pursue him at all. “The Cubs are not going to get into a bidding war for Fielder. They don’t have that kind of money. Epstein might wait for the initial offers to take place and make one offer. But the Cubs are already at over $100 million in commitment for next season and still have a lot of work to do.” Levine later adds that “all indications” are that the Cubs are not in on Fielder. Given Levine’s public stance on Fielder, and the overall glum tone of the chat, I’ve got to believe that he’s been told from a Cubs source or two that the money probably isn’t there for Prince Fielder. Now, query whether that’s legitimately the case – teams frequently send out this kind of message to gain a bargaining advantage on a guy they’ve wanted all along. Still, it’s a bit of a downer if you believe Fielder is the Cubs’ best move at first base for 2012 and beyond.

 

http://www.bleachernation.com/2011/12/14/obsessive-prince-fielder-watch-another-national-pundit-knows-the-cubs-are-in-on-fielder/

 

 

Unless we put some enormous bid on the Darvish posting (so enormous that they're basically sure they're going to get it), I don't understand how we wouldn't have the money.

 

I think the bolded might be the most important sentence. If the Cubs are over 100 million already (which almost has to count Pena's salary otherwise I don't see how they are that high already) then they probably have about 30 million left. And if they feel they have a lot of other spots to fill, they don't think they can commit 20-25 of that 30 million to Fielder.

 

Could the report be erroneous? Absolutely. But it makes logical sense if those 2 assumptions (where the payroll is now and how many spots the organization wants to fill) are true. They have the money for Fielder, but if they commit to him he would take up most of the remaining budget.

 

But they don't have to commit 20-25M to Fielder this year. If it's a 6/150 deal, you can cut off 10M from 2012 and distribute that however you want over 2013-2018. That would drop the payout this year to 15M while making the other years $27M on average. If they have 30M remaining, that 15M would only make up half of the budget.