Dodgers to drop payroll to $75 million??

[E.J.]

Doesn't involve us at all, but I thought this was interesting. They've been averaging right around $100 million for the past couple years. A drop of $25 million would be drastic. Wonder what will happen.

 

http://dodgers.scout.com/2/466166.html

 

One press report coming out of the recent GM meetings had the Dodgers 2006 payroll headed down to the $75 million level -- a clear 25 per cent under the $100 million the Dodgers have averaged for more than the past decade. If this report is accurate, it is terrible news for Dodgers fans and yet another indication the McCourt ownership is a far cry from what was pledged early on.

 

Could you imagine the backlash if the Cubs dropped the payroll by $25 mil in one year?

Edited November 14, 2005 by E.J.

[USSoccer]

That certainly adds more credence to the Dodgers shopping Lowe this winter.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

i feel for dodger fans. they cut payroll on an inefficient team and get rid of DePo. not smart.

[USSoccer]

i feel for dodger fans. they cut payroll on an inefficient team and get rid of DePo. not smart.

 

Just wait til they try and hrie Jim Bowden away from Washington.

[E.J.]

i feel for dodger fans. they cut payroll on an inefficient team and get rid of DePo. not smart.

 

Just wait til they try and hrie Jim Bowden away from Washington.

 

and bring in Dusty to manage the team.

[USSoccer]

i feel for dodger fans. they cut payroll on an inefficient team and get rid of DePo. not smart.

 

Just wait til they try and hrie Jim Bowden away from Washington.

 

and bring in Dusty to manage the team.

 

If I were a Dodger fan and all that happened, I'd go insane. Straight insane.

[JC]

IIRC, the McCourt ownership group was heavily leveraged when they purchased the Dodgers. It seemed like that sale went on forever as MLB delved pretty deeply into the finances.

 

The most responsible thing they could do for payroll purposes is trade Drew to the Cubs.

[USSoccer]

IIRC, the McCourt ownership group was heavily leveraged when they purchased the Dodgers. It seemed like that sale went on forever as MLB delved pretty deeply into the finances.

 

The most responsible thing they could do for payroll purposes is trade Drew to the Cubs.

 

And Penny.

[USSoccer]

On a serious note, does anyone have any clue as to who the Dodgers have under contract and for what?

 

For some reason i recall them having a lot of FA this winter.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

The LA media and fans will be all over McCourt (they already have).

[E.J.]

Here are their FA's this year:

 

LOS ANGELES (6) -- Paul Bako, c; Elmer Dessens, rhp; Darren Dreifort, rhp; Olmedo Saenz, 1b; Jose Valentin, 3b; Jeff Weaver, rhp.

[Guest]

IIRC, the McCourt ownership group was heavily leveraged when they purchased the Dodgers. It seemed like that sale went on forever as MLB delved pretty deeply into the finances.

Yeah, I also remember hearing that McCourt could barely afford a new Buick, let alone an upmarket MLB team. This news tends to lend credence to those reports, as I highly doubt the team's revenue stream has dried up nearly this much.

[USSoccer]

IIRC, the McCourt ownership group was heavily leveraged when they purchased the Dodgers. It seemed like that sale went on forever as MLB delved pretty deeply into the finances.

Yeah, I also remember hearing that McCourt could barely afford a new Buick, let alone an upmarket MLB team. This news tends to lend credence to those reports, as I highly doubt the team's revenue stream has dried up nearly this much.

 

So why would MLB allow someone without much in the way of liquidity to purchase a major market team?

[E.J.]

Wow. And they're raising ticket prices.

 

LA Times

 

In advance of this week's announcement of a ticket price increase, the Dodgers have surveyed fans on a variety of topics, including the perception of owners Frank and Jamie McCourt and their commitment to winning and the community.

 

Talk about a slap in the face to Dodger fans...

[USSoccer]

Wow. And they're raising ticket prices.

 

LA Times

 

In advance of this week's announcement of a ticket price increase, the Dodgers have surveyed fans on a variety of topics, including the perception of owners Frank and Jamie McCourt and their commitment to winning and the community.

 

Talk about a slap in the face to Dodger fans...

 

Wow. Talk about a PR nightmare.

 

If I'm a ML GM, I'm trying to pry Lowe from them. I'd make an attempt to get Drew. They're in a total position of weakness.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

they make the Trib. look good. :shock:

[USSoccer]

they make the Trib. look good. :shock:

 

At least the Trib has increased payroll when they've raised ticket prices. They've stepped up the past 3 or 4 years.

[UK1679666180]

I can't blame the upper management as far as lowering payroll, it wasn't working spending it like they did. Now, onto to how they lower it and how it involves the Cubs. :)

[don_kessinger_was_good]

The Dodgers, like the Cubs, have about $40MM in freed up money to spend this year--if they maintained recent payroll. What the news is indicating is that the cheapskate McCourt intends on absorbing most of that payroll deduction and not replacing it. Considering the Dodger history, its profitability, and its location in the #2 market, this outcome is heinous. Dodger fans should justifiably be scaling the ramparts, pitchforks and torches in hand.

[radarluv1]

that should be 1 less team going after giles.

[E.J.]

that should be 1 less team going after giles.

 

Actually, surprisingly, it looks like the Dodgers will be making an offer to Giles. From Rotoworld:

 

Brian Giles - OF - Padres

 

 

According to the Los Angeles Daily News, the Dodgers will make their first offer to Brian Giles this weekend.

The Yankees and Cardinals may also be talking money with Giles. It's hard to believe Giles would consider signing with the Dodgers while they're still without a GM. Besides, one of his problems with San Diego is the pitcher friendly ballpark, something he'd still have to deal with in Los Angeles. Nov. 12 - 3:27 am et

Source: Los Angeles Daily News

PartyPoker.com

[oldcubsfan]

i feel for dodger fans. they cut payroll ondodgers an inefficient team and get rid of DePo. not smart.

Seems to me that everybody's favorite put together that inefficent team. Best move the Dodgers made was dumping Depo, worst move, hiring him.

[USSoccer]

i feel for dodger fans. they cut payroll ondodgers an inefficient team and get rid of DePo. not smart.

Seems to me that everybody's favorite put together that inefficent team. Best move the Dodgers made was dumping Depo, worst move, hiring him.

 

He surely lacked the people skills. His team was pretty much hosed by injuries, though. He also wasn't able to find any inefficiencies in the FA market to exploit like they did in Oakland from 1999-2003.

[RockTheIvy]

I think the Lowe and Drew contracts were pretty bad.

[shnsajax]

that should be 1 less team going after giles.

 

Actually, surprisingly, it looks like the Dodgers will be making an offer to Giles. From Rotoworld:

 

Brian Giles - OF - Padres

 

 

According to the Los Angeles Daily News, the Dodgers will make their first offer to Brian Giles this weekend.

The Yankees and Cardinals may also be talking money with Giles. It's hard to believe Giles would consider signing with the Dodgers while they're still without a GM. Besides, one of his problems with San Diego is the pitcher friendly ballpark, something he'd still have to deal with in Los Angeles. Nov. 12 - 3:27 am et

Source: Los Angeles Daily News

PartyPoker.com

 

Suddenly the LA Angels of Aneheim is making more sense. Does Party Poker have an affiliation with LA Daily News?