Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Phillies to open with lowest Opening Day payroll since 2010?

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Phillies to open with lowest Opening Day payroll since 2010?

POSTED: Thursday, January 24, 2013, 4:38 PM

David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer

With the Delmon Young signing, the Phillies appear to have completed their work on what is likely to be their Opening Day roster. Barring a late trade or free agent signing, both of which appear to be highly unlikely, the club should open the season with a payroll under $160 million for the first time since 2010, when their total salary expenditures was around $140 million.

A quick breakdown of the projected 25-man squad:

Lineup

Jimmy Rollins SS - $11 million ($9.5 AAV)
Ben Revere CF - $0.515 million
Chase Utley 2B - $15.0 million ($12.143 AAV)
Ryan Howard 1B - $20.0 million ($25 million AAV)
Michael Young 3B - $6.0 million
Domonic Brown LF - $0.500 million
Delmon Young RF - $0.750 million
Erik Kratz C - $0.500 million

Rotation

Cole Hamels - $19.5 million ($24.0 AAV)
Cliff Lee - $25.0 million ($24.0 AAV)
Roy Halladay - $20.0 million
Kyle Kendrick - $4.5 million ($3.75 AAV)
John Lannan - $2.5 million

Bullpen

Jonathan Papelbon - $13.0 million ($12.5 AAV)
Mike Adams - $6.0 million
Antonio Bastardo - $1.4 million
Jeremy Horst - $0.500 million
Mike Stutes - $0.500 million
Jake Diekman - $0.500 million
Justin De Fratus - $0.500 million

Bench

Laynce Nix - $1.35 million ($1.25 AAV)
Darin Ruf - $0.414 million
John Mayberry Jr. - $0.515 million
Kevin Fransen - $0.850 million
Humberto Quintero - $0.850 million
Carlos Ruiz - $4.60 million (SUSPENDED FOR FIRST 25 GAMES)

According to my figures -- everybody who has a salary under $800,000 is projected, although all of those salaries will end up being around $500,000 -- the Phillies should open the season with a payroll right around $157 million ($158 million in AAV, which is the number used for luxury tax purposes). Factor in the $10 million that gets added to the total for player benefits when calculating the luxury tax, and the Phillies will be about $11 million under the threshold.

Last year, the Phillies opened with a payroll around $172 million. In 2011, it was around $165 million.

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Comments (7)

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 7:20 PM, 01/24/2013

At a time when the Washington Nationals continue to improve, and the Braves have both Upton brothers in place now, and the Phil's main nucleus is at an age where they must win now, the Phillies sign Delmon Young so they can keep their total salary expenditures at 2010 level. We have returned to the days when the ownership ( which has totally exploited it's championship year and new stadium and secured the tv deals) is only concerned about revenue and not winning. To think otherwise is naive. I thought those days were over. The writers, the manager, the GM are all complicit as they promote a mediocre product and exploit the fan base.

— Phillip Phan

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 11:35 PM, 01/24/2013

Roster is ridiculously top heavy. Look at teams that consistently win. Lots of guys in the 8 to 12 million range plus great homegrown talent. But Clueless Rube had to have his RBI guy and sign Lee to show everyone how smart and special he was. He should follow Reid to KC.

— maximusud

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 12:56 PM, 01/25/2013

Seeing that roster in print has given me indigestion ...

— Copper34

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 7:58 AM, 01/26/2013

I don't think anyone in their right mind thinks this team as it stands, will finish above third. It's an insult to a fans intelligence to be told differently. This abomination falsely described as a GM, has vacillated between dumpster diving and injured fringe players. His love for over paid, over the hill , square pegs for round holes, knows no bounds. He uses a band-aid approach on arterial wounds.....pathetic !

— phineas

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:40 PM, 01/26/2013

All-Star break will be memorable this year, if the Phils are still in contention they have a cushion to pick up some players. If they are not
in contention look for the youth rebuilding to begain. Veteran players
with big salaries will be moved for prospects. Prime candidates to be
moved....Utley, Rollins, Ruiz, Howard, both Youngs, Nix, Halladay, and
Lee.

— Philvegas

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 5:03 PM, 01/27/2013

It will be hard to believe other teams would be willing to take on those salaries for mediocre production. In addition, if they trade for players of the same calibre of the overhyped Tommy Joseph, the ineffective Josh Lindblum, the late Nate Scherholz, (might s well have traded for a cadaver) we are still destined for mediocrity.

— Phillip Phan