Exactly how much is left???

[SeldomSeen]

After the Eyre signing, there seems to be confusion about how much is left in the bank for next year. The following is a quick list of guys already under contract with some guesswork at arby figures. Feel free to correct or add anything I may have missed.

 

If these #s are correct, it looks as though there is about $20-$25M to round out the roster (assuming $100-105M payroll). You're the GM- how do you spend it?

 

 

 
Bench:
Blanco  $1.50 
Hairston $2.00 
Perez  $2.50 
???
???

Infield:  	
Cedeno $0.30 
Ramirez $10.50 
Lee   $8.70 
Barrett  $4.00 
Walker  $2.50 

Outfield:
Murton $0.30 
Patterson  $3.00 
???    

Pen:        
Dempster   $5.00 
Willamson   $2.00 
Wuertz	  $0.33 
Ohman	 $0.33 
Novoa	  $0.33 
Eyre	  $3.60 

Starters
Prior $3.50 
Zambrano  $5.00 
Wood	 $12.50 
Maddux	$9.00 
Rusch	  $2.50 
Williams $1.00 

Total	 $81.39 

 

Edit: Williamson $2M

Edited November 18, 2005 by SeldomSeen

[UMFan83]

Is Eyre making 3.6? I read in multiple places it was 2 years 11 million with a player option for a third year?

[JeffH]

The contract is worth $11 only if Eyre exercises the third year option.

[JeffH]

Currently under contract:

 

Aramis Ramirez - $10,500,000

Derrek Lee - $9,416,667

Michael Barrett - $4,000,000 (estimated)

Henry Blanco - $1,500,000

Kerry Wood - $12,000,000

Greg Maddux - $9,000,000

Mark Prior - $2,750,000

Ryan Dempster - $5,000,000

Todd Walker - $2,500,000

Scott Williamson - $2,000,000

Glendon Rusch - $2,750,000

Neifi Perez - $2,500,000

Scott Eyre - $3,666,667 (estimated)

 

Subtotal #1 - $67,583,333

 

Add Zambrano at $6,000,000 and Murton, Cedeno, Ohman, and Wuertz at $350,000 each.

 

Subtotal #2 - $74,983,333

 

That leaves about $25 million, assuming a payroll of $100 million.

[badger1679666666]

Seems to be a ton of money. Let's hope Hendry uses it more wisely than the first 2 signings (I like the Eyre signing, though it's not monumentally large), though he does spend money like a drunken sailor.

[MPrior]

Currently under contract:

 

Aramis Ramirez - $10,500,000

Derrek Lee - $9,416,667

Michael Barrett - $4,000,000 (estimated)

Henry Blanco - $1,500,000

Kerry Wood - $12,000,000

Greg Maddux - $9,000,000

Mark Prior - $2,750,000

Ryan Dempster - $5,000,000

Todd Walker - $2,500,000

Scott Williamson - $2,000,000

Glendon Rusch - $2,750,000

Neifi Perez - $2,500,000

Scott Eyre - $3,666,667 (estimated)

 

Subtotal #1 - $67,583,333

 

Add Zambrano at $6,000,000 and Murton, Cedeno, Ohman, and Wuertz at $350,000 each.

 

Subtotal #2 - $74,983,333

 

That leaves about $25 million, assuming a payroll of $100 million.

 

Not that I think he'll be on the team next year, but aren't you forgetting Corey Patterson?

[JeffH]

I'm only including:

 

1) Players who are under contract.

2) Players eligible for arbitration who I'm fairly certain will be on the team.

3) Players whose contracts are auto renewable who I'm fairly certain will be on the team.

 

Patterson falls into none of those categories. Nor Hairston. Nor Macias. Nor Novoa.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

Currently under contract:

 

Aramis Ramirez - $10,500,000

Derrek Lee - $9,416,667

Michael Barrett - $4,000,000 (estimated)

Henry Blanco - $1,500,000

Kerry Wood - $12,000,000

Greg Maddux - $9,000,000

Mark Prior - $2,750,000

Ryan Dempster - $5,000,000

Todd Walker - $2,500,000

Scott Williamson - $2,000,000

Glendon Rusch - $2,750,000

Neifi Perez - $2,500,000

Scott Eyre - $3,666,667 (estimated)

 

Subtotal #1 - $67,583,333

 

Add Zambrano at $6,000,000 and Murton, Cedeno, Ohman, and Wuertz at $350,000 each.

 

Subtotal #2 - $74,983,333

 

That leaves about $25 million, assuming a payroll of $100 million.

 

As I pointed out in the other thread, the final payroll for 2005 was $102MM; the Cubs are raising ticket prices (again) in 2006 and installing yet more seats at Wrigley; the White Sox are the defending world champions. Taken together, I believe the payroll will be more like $105MM.

 

As for specific players above, Walker will almost certainly be traded, reducing your amount by $2.5MM. Jerry Hairston Jr. is not listed, but I think the Cubs will keep him; they control him now, and he's unlikely to get anything other than a trivial raise (if that) in arbitration.

 

The Cubs need two bench outfielders, I think one will be Adam Greenberg, the other will be someone new, with power, that can play some 1B.

 

In the end, I think Walker does get traded for a setup man.

 

Add all that up, and I guesstimate you're looking at $30MM to spend on just three players: a new starting CF, a new starting RF, and a new starting SS or 2B. I think it's safe to say $30MM is MORE than enough money to get that done.

[CUBZ99]

Currently under contract:

 

Aramis Ramirez - $10,500,000

Derrek Lee - $9,416,667

Michael Barrett - $4,000,000 (estimated)

Henry Blanco - $1,500,000

Kerry Wood - $12,000,000

Greg Maddux - $9,000,000

Mark Prior - $2,750,000

Ryan Dempster - $5,000,000

Todd Walker - $2,500,000

Scott Williamson - $2,000,000

Glendon Rusch - $2,750,000

Neifi Perez - $2,500,000

Scott Eyre - $3,666,667 (estimated)

 

Subtotal #1 - $67,583,333

 

Add Zambrano at $6,000,000 and Murton, Cedeno, Ohman, and Wuertz at $350,000 each.

 

Subtotal #2 - $74,983,333

 

That leaves about $25 million, assuming a payroll of $100 million.

 

As I pointed out in the other thread, the final payroll for 2005 was $102MM; the Cubs are raising ticket prices (again) in 2006 and installing yet more seats at Wrigley; the White Sox are the defending world champions. Taken together, I believe the payroll will be more like $105MM.

 

As for specific players above, Walker will almost certainly be traded, reducing your amount by $2.5MM. Jerry Hairston Jr. is not listed, but I think the Cubs will keep him; they control him now, and he's unlikely to get anything other than a trivial raise (if that) in arbitration.

 

The Cubs need two bench outfielders, I think one will be Adam Greenberg, the other will be someone new, with power, that can play some 1B.

 

In the end, I think Walker does get traded for a setup man.

 

Add all that up, and I guesstimate you're looking at $30MM to spend on just three players: a new starting CF, a new starting RF, and a new starting SS or 2B. I think it's safe to say $30MM is MORE than enough money to get that done.

 

$30 M after Eyre?

[XZero771679666304]

After the Eyre signing, there seems to be confusion about how much is left in the bank for next year. The following is a quick list of guys already under contract with some guesswork at arby figures. Feel free to correct or add anything I may have missed.

 

If these #s are correct, it looks as though there is about $20-$25M to round out the roster (assuming $100-105M payroll). You're the GM- how do you spend it?

 

 

 
Bench:
Blanco  $1.50 
Hairston $2.00 
Perez  $2.50 
???
???

Infield:  	
Cedeno $0.30 
Ramirez $10.50 
Lee   $8.70 
Barrett  $4.00 
Walker  $2.50 

Outfield:
Murton $0.30 
Patterson  $3.00 
???    

Pen:        
Dempster   $5.00 
Willamson   $1.00 
Wuertz	  $0.33 
Ohman	 $0.33 
Novoa	  $0.33 
Eyre	  $3.60 

Starters
Prior $3.50 
Zambrano  $5.00 
Wood	 $12.50 
Maddux	$9.00 
Rusch	  $2.50 
Williams $1.00 

Total	 $79.39 

 

I will go with what I think could happen:

 

Furcal - 10 million

Howry - 3.5 million

Mark Sweeney - 1 million

Orlando Palmeiro - 1 million

 

 

Via trade:

 

Dunn/Floyd/Green 6-8 million

 

And I have a feeling Hendry will make another run at Kearns, who could play CF.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

$30 M after Eyre?

 

Yup. I should note I forgot one guy: Jerome Williams. If he returns, he gets arb money I believe, he'd likely be around $1.5MM or so?

 

The point is though, I think some are panicking a bit much regarding money. I agree Hendry does not use his available money as prudently as other GMs, but what are you going to do? So long as he has sufficient funds to get everything done, what do we care whether the payroll is 100MM, or 105MM, or 125MM?? All Hendry needs do is please his masters in the Trib Tower. For all we know, they've OK'd whatever it takes to put a winner on the field up to say, $120MM, Hendry knows that, and he's spending freely accordingly. C'est la vie, nice problem to have.

[iowacub]

And if you trade patterson and walker, thats another 6 million cleared for another player. Personally, I think that the free agents are going to get more than they are worth. Supply and demand. There are really only about 12-15 quality free agents total. Gms will overpay. I bet Burnett gets 60 million. Plus, as Cubs fans, we may see some benefit of the White Sox winning the World Series. Maybe the Cubs will spend more?? The past would say no, but Hendry is being very agressive thats for sure.

[TrueBlueCubFan]

This is pure speculation I got from a Cub's fan blog on Eyre's contract:

06': 3 mil

07': 3.5 mil

08': player option for 4.5 mil.

 

Supposedly, there are some incentive bonuses for appearances,etc.

[YearofDaCubs]

This is pure speculation I got from a Cub's fan blog on Eyre's contract:

06': 3 mil

07': 3.5 mil

08': player option for 4.5 mil.

 

Supposedly, there are some incentive bonuses for appearances,etc.

that 08 option is..OUCH.

[SeldomSeen]

I'm starting to think it will be Cedeno/Neifi and Soriano in the middle IF, with Pierre in CF and Encarnacion/Jones/etc. in RF. It works $$wise, and these are guys Hendry has always liked.

 

Pierre

Murton (yeah, right- Neifi)

Lee

Ramirez

Soriano

RF

Barrett

Neifi (Murton)

 

 

Not much of an improvement, if any.

[JeffH]

Yup. I should note I forgot one guy: Jerome Williams. If he returns, he gets arb money I believe, he'd likely be around $1.5MM or so?

 

I'm almost certain Williams is not eligible for arbitration.

[badger1679666666]

This is pure speculation I got from a Cub's fan blog on Eyre's contract:

06': 3 mil

07': 3.5 mil

08': player option for 4.5 mil.

 

Supposedly, there are some incentive bonuses for appearances,etc.

that 08 option is..OUCH.

 

Unless he pitches like Cliff Politte or Neil Cotts next 2 years. Then we'll have two years of a stud setup man, and won't have to worry about 08 because he'll leave wanting more. If he sucks, then it's a big OUCH.

[TrueBlueCubFan]

Yup. I should note I forgot one guy: Jerome Williams. If he returns, he gets arb money I believe, he'd likely be around $1.5MM or so?

 

I'm almost certain Williams is not eligible for arbitration.

JW will make league minimum next year.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

Yup. I should note I forgot one guy: Jerome Williams. If he returns, he gets arb money I believe, he'd likely be around $1.5MM or so?

 

I'm almost certain Williams is not eligible for arbitration.

JW will make league minimum next year.

 

Then that's even better news. Hendry has plenty of money.

[CardsFanInChiTown]

You also might want to add Johnny Damon's 7/84M contract.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

I'm starting to think it will be Cedeno/Neifi and Soriano in the middle IF, with Pierre in CF and Encarnacion/Jones/etc. in RF. It works $$wise, and these are guys Hendry has always liked.

 

I would be very disappointed with that outcome, but to be fair: Cedeno would be an upgrade over Neifi 05; Pierre would be an upgrade over Patterson/Hairston 05; Soriano would be an upgrade over Walker 05; and Encarnacion (for example) would likely be an upgrade over Burnitz 05. With Murton obviously an upgrade over Hollandsworth 05.

 

If the pitching staff were significantly strengthened, the field upgrades might be enough to get it done. Clearly I'm hoping for much more in the field, as is everyone else here, but the "worst case" scenario "upgrades" you list would still be upgrades from what we trotted out there last year. If that's worth a half-dozen wins, and an improved bullpen and healthy starters are worth a half-dozen wins as well, suddenly you're a 90 win ballclub. And that's the WORST case scenario?

 

Things could still turn out pretty well, here. Give it time.

[Andy]

You also might want to add Johnny Damon's 7/84M contract.

Please CFICT, don't scare me like that! :wink:

[MPrior]

I'm starting to think it will be Cedeno/Neifi and Soriano in the middle IF, with Pierre in CF and Encarnacion/Jones/etc. in RF. It works $$wise, and these are guys Hendry has always liked.

 

I would be very disappointed with that outcome, but to be fair: Cedeno would be an upgrade over Neifi 05; Pierre would be an upgrade over Patterson/Hairston 05; Soriano would be an upgrade over Walker 05; and Encarnacion (for example) would likely be an upgrade over Burnitz 05. With Murton obviously an upgrade over Hollandsworth 05.

 

If the pitching staff were significantly strengthened, the field upgrades might be enough to get it done. Clearly I'm hoping for much more in the field, as is everyone else here, but the "worst case" scenario "upgrades" you list would still be upgrades from what we trotted out there last year. If that's worth a half-dozen wins, and an improved bullpen and healthy starters are worth a half-dozen wins as well, suddenly you're a 90 win ballclub. And that's the WORST case scenario?

 

Things could still turn out pretty well, here. Give it time.

 

I agree with most of this. Except what's in bold.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

I'm starting to think it will be Cedeno/Neifi and Soriano in the middle IF, with Pierre in CF and Encarnacion/Jones/etc. in RF. It works $$wise, and these are guys Hendry has always liked.

 

I would be very disappointed with that outcome, but to be fair: Cedeno would be an upgrade over Neifi 05; Pierre would be an upgrade over Patterson/Hairston 05; Soriano would be an upgrade over Walker 05; and Encarnacion (for example) would likely be an upgrade over Burnitz 05. With Murton obviously an upgrade over Hollandsworth 05.

 

If the pitching staff were significantly strengthened, the field upgrades might be enough to get it done. Clearly I'm hoping for much more in the field, as is everyone else here, but the "worst case" scenario "upgrades" you list would still be upgrades from what we trotted out there last year. If that's worth a half-dozen wins, and an improved bullpen and healthy starters are worth a half-dozen wins as well, suddenly you're a 90 win ballclub. And that's the WORST case scenario?

 

Things could still turn out pretty well, here. Give it time.

 

I agree with most of this. Except what's in bold.

 

You would be wrong. I'm not a huge Soriano fan, he's entirely too undisciplined at the plate for my taste. But you won't find anyone in baseball other than here that would claim he isn't a better overall player than Todd Walker. He is a far superior slugger, with speed where Walker has none. If both players hit lower in the order like #6, Soriano is a much more valuable player.

 

Having said that, I was simply assessing the first poster's scenario in terms of whether it would be an improvement over 2005 or not. I am in no way advocating for Soriano, and I would be disappointed if that's a route Hendry pursues.