An early look at the 2011 payroll/roster
It's never too early to look forward. So even as you digest the end of this Phillies season, here is a look at where they are headed. By my calculations, the Phillies have a minimum of $135.35 million committed to 16 players, depending on how they decide to allocate the $11 million they received from Houston in the Roy Oswalt trade (they could use some of it to defray this year's bottom line).
An early look at the 2011 payroll/roster
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
It's never too early to look forward. So even as you digest the end of this Phillies season, here is a look at where they are headed. By my calculations, the Phillies have a minimum of $135.35 million committed to 16 players, depending on how they decide to allocate the $11 million they received from Houston in the Roy Oswalt trade (they could use some of it to defray this year's bottom line).
We'll have more in tomorrow's paper, but here are some key points:
1) The Phils have five players who are headed toward free agency: Jayson Werth, Chad Durbin, Jamie Moyer, Mike Sweeney and Jose Contreras.
Factor into that group veteran lefty J.C. Romero, who has a $4.25 million option that seems unlikely to be exercised, and Greg Dobbs, who is arbitration eligible but will likely be non-tendered (Dobbs was twice designated for assignment and was left off the postseason roster).
2) Aside from Dobbs, the Phillies have two players who are arbitration eligible: Ben Francisco and Kyle Kendrick. Francisco is a virtual lock to return. Earlier in the season we did a rough calculation of what Francisco will be in line to receive through arbitration, and we projected it between $1.0 million and $1.5 million, though that is a rough estimate and we will take a closer look at it in the coming days.
Kendrick also is likely to be offered arbitration, unless the Phillies decide the $2 million or so that he could be in line to receive would be better spent elsewhere. Vance Worley has impressed the team with his performance and mound presence and could compete with Kendrick for the No. 5 starter job in spring training. But regardless of how they project their rotation for next season, Kendrick provides relatively cost-effective controllable pitching depth, which is a premium.
3) So if you factor in Kendrick and Ben Francisco and rookie outfielder Domonic Brown, and the Phillies can count on about $139 million committed to 19 players.
Beyond that, they will look to fill the following vacancies:
-Four relievers to replace the slots that were occupied by Durbin, Romero, Contreras and David Herndon.
-A back-up infielder to replace the slot that was occupied by Wilson Valdez.
-A right-handed outfielder to replace the slot occupied by Jayson Werth.
4) The most intriguing situation is the seemingly imminent departure of Werth, who should command a premium contract on the free agent market this offseason. Assuming Werth does not return, the Phillies could go a number of different directions to replace him. They could platoon Brown with Francisco, or another right-handed-hitting free agent. Or the platoon could end up coming in left field with Raul Ibanez, with Brown playing every day in right. Or they could decide that Brown still needs some more time at Triple-A, and plug either Francisco or a free agent into the starting line-up. We'll take a deeper look at this situation later.
Here is the 2011 payroll as it stands right now:
Figures in millions
Starting Pitchers (Four guaranteed at at least $43.0 million)
Roy Halladay - 20
Cole Hamels - 9.5
Roy Oswalt - 16.0 (-11.0 from Houston)
Joe Blanton - 8.5
Relievers (Three guaranteed at $18.75 million)
Brad Lidge - 11.5
Ryan Madson - 4.5
Danys Baez - 2.75
Regulars (Seven guaranteed at at least $70.5 million)
Jimmy Rollins - 8.5
Placido Polanco - 5.25 (Could increase by $.500 sign bonus payable b/w Jan. 2011 and Jan. 2012)
Chase Utley - 15
Ryan Howard - 20
Raul Ibanez - 11.5
Shane Victorino - 7.5
Carlos Ruiz - 2.75
Bench (Two guaranteed at $3.1 million)
Ross Gload - 1.6
Brian Schneider - 1.5
TOTAL GUARANTEED: 16 players, at least $135.35 million
Arbitration Elgibles
Kyle Kendrick - 2.0 million (projected)
Ben Francisco - $1.3 million (projected)
Greg Dobbs - Non-tender (projected)
Under Club Control
David Herndon
Domonic Brown
Vance Worley
Antonio Bastardo
Wilson Valdez
Vacancies
-Four relievers (Durbin, Contreras, Romero, Herndon)
-Starting right fielder (Werth)
-Bench Hitter (Dobbs, Sweeney)
-Bench utility player (Wilson Valdez)
I didn't read all 59 comments before me, so much of this probably has been said. I'd bring back Durbin and Contreras and maybe Herndon, and look to move Baez. I'd also bring back Valdez. I'd also consider bringing back Werth if they can move Victorino for a nice package. No one is going to take Ibanez. Solid citizen, but we need a more consistent power and contact bat out there.— Mike19703- What this article assumes is that the Phillies choose to keep all the guaranteed contracts? It is time to prioritize who is kept and who can be traded. The acquisition of Oswalt means Blanton can be traded even if the Phillies need to eat a million or two. Jimmy Rollins can also be traded for some salary savings, but the number of teams would be limited because of his ten-and-five status. If the Phillies do not resign Werth of do not replace him with a quality right-handed hitting power option, this playoff run is over. Or, perish the thought, maybe trade Utley or Howard. This team needs a balanced attack, and without it the goodtimes are over. All dynasties end when the players seek reward for their success, and maybe this is no exception.— RunningTheBases
- likhon1969 - you are way overestimating ryan howard. The biggest mistake the phils made this yr was jumping the guy and signing howard to a LT deal. They could have waited till after next season when 3-5 power 1st basemen will be free agents. Howard is far from one of the top 5 players in baseball and is now one of the most overpaid. He pads his numbers by hitting when the game is not on the line and against bad pitching. When you get to the playoffs, good teams have leftys to bring in against him. He is a strikeout machine. He is also one of the worst fielding 1st basement in all of baseball. He cut down on his errors this year, why - because he stopped throwing the ball. Many times the phils had an easy double play when hit to howard, yet he either threw the ball away or decided not to throw it at all. I'd say trade him, but with this contract, he is untradeable. Who in their right minds would pay Howard 25million?? If it were a perfect world, I'd trade Howard for bullpen help and prospects and be gone with his salary. Then re-sign Werth and keep him in right field. Put Brown in left and if you can't trade Ibanez (which again, who would take him with his contract), platoon him at first with a righty (Schnieder or someone else).— scubapro
- You can never have too much starting pitching. Would love to see the Phils trade for ZACK GREINKE of the Royals. You saw what can happen when you take a great pitcher (Oswalt)from a bad team and bring him to a good team.— VILLAGE144
- we have to face it--Its rebuilding time. Pitching is in pretty good shape except for a good lefty in the bull pen, the team has to have more good right handed hitting -regulars and bench. It was embarrasing to see teams bringing no name left handers out of the bull pen and shutting the phillies down— richweb
The numbers that stand out are Blanton 8.5mil (that's a million dollars per win). Ibanez - 11.5 mil. That 20 mil for Blanton and Raul would fit perfectly into Werth's pocket with some change left over. Only possible move is to send vic packing and put Werth in center with the young one in right and the old one in left.— CyaNutter- Couple people mentioned Herndon - he isn't necessarily coming back to the pen because he can be sent back to AAA now that he's been on the roster for the full season. He's not a FA, and under team control like Fabio Castro was several years ago. The only very attractive trade chip on the roster is Victorino, based on contract and performance. If they could swing him for a AAA 3B prospect who could step in in 2012, and in the process afford to pay Werth, that would be great. Singleton or someone else from the low minors could be ready to play LF in 2013, so a year of Francisco or Gillies, (if he comes around), or whoever in left field in 2012 and then the OF looks pretty whole again.— B in DC
bdm - I just laughed coffee out of my nose. Right, it's so logical to move a 38-year old OF with minimal range, who (by the way) makes $12.2 M. I already see the other teams furiously stampeding toward South Philadelphia to be the first to open their checkbooks for Ibanez. You should not be allowed to post while drunk. Until we unburden ourselves from the contracts of Ibanez and Lidge, we don't have the flexibility we need to reload without getting creative.— Doctor D- Hey Doctor D, read the whole post before idiotically responding to bad mouth - the idea was to trade Victorino, prospects, and Ibanez to a team for another contract. Of course no team would accept a trade for Ibanez outright.— bdm155
- Interesting. What stands out to me isn't the money our "big guys" are getting, but what some of the people who AREN'T our A-level players are going to make:
Joe Blanton: $8MM
Danys Baez: $2.75MM
Raul Ibanez: $11.5MM
I like that David Herndon, Vance Worley, Antonio Bastardo and Wilson Valdez are under club control. To me, if these guys are around, I feel better about some of our relief pitching and our infield backup (Valdez is the single biggest reason we were able to make a run down the stretch and he proved that he can play ball.)— AmyC822 - For all the talk about trading Victorino, I'll say this: on a player-by-player comparison, there is NO WAY I get rid of Victorino to keep Werth. None. I know Victorino had a down year and a terrible postseason, but to me, he's the better play and the one the team NEEDS. It's funny: everyone talks about the Phils needing to "adjust" their offensive philosophy after this postseason. If that's the case, who's more likely to play "small ball" for the team moving forward: power-hitting Werth or lead-off type Victorino? Also, centerfield is a much more difficult position than right field. I'd rather have Victorino in center and someone young in right, than having Werth in right and a rookie centerfielder or (gasp!) an aging Werth in center. Keep Victorino, let Werth go.— AmyC822
- If you want to keep Werth you probably are going to have to trade Victorino and Ibanez and pay 1/2 of Ibanez's salary. Seattle would be a good fit because they need veteran leadership and they like Ibanez.— alihajishank
- AmyC - Victorino is certainly not a leadoff hitter. The playoffs proved that. He doesn't get on base enough to be the leadoff guy; 6th or 7th is his natural position in a lineup. I'm not saying he's a bad player, but right now he's the Phillies only commodity to trade that they can afford to give and that other teams would desire.— bdm155
- @bdm155: I agree. Victorino is not a lead off guy. His approach is more "lead off" (i.e. small ball) than power. That's all I meant by that comment. I guess, at this point, I just don't see Jason Werth as the valuable cog in the Phils engine that everyone else does. To me, his outstanding play this year was because he was heading into free agency. I'd just hate to see the team get rid of Victorino (who is adept at playing small ball as well as going yard...and who's ever-so-slightly younger than Werth) to sign Werth and then have Werth fall into mediocrity.— AmyC822
- RckyMtnPhillyFan
Cot's contracts prorates all signing bonuse over the life of the deal even though most were paid at time of deal. Only Polanco's signing bonus was paid in installments. Blanton received a $6M signing bonus but only makes $8.5 in salary each of the next two years. players contracts are explained in detail on the home page— rgs
