A look at the current payroll
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A look at the current payroll
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
With Jimmy Rollins finally under contract for 2012 and beyond, the Phillies have a better idea of their payroll for the upcoming season. As noted in Sunday's Inquirer, it's wholly possible the Phillies have a lower payroll in 2012 than 2011, but the numbers will be similar.
The Phillies finished 2011 with approximately $176 million in payroll. They currently have guaranteed $135 million to 16 players in 2012. That figure will rise with raises through arbitration to Cole Hamels, Hunter Pence, Kyle Kendrick and Wilson Valdez.
The below table projects their salaries.
| Cliff Lee | $21.5 |
| Roy Halladay | $20.0 |
| Ryan Howard | $20.0 |
| Chase Utley | $15.0 |
| Jimmy Rollins | $11.0 |
| Jonathan Papelbon | $11.0 |
| Shane Victorino | $9.5 |
| Joe Blanton | $8.5 |
| Placido Polanco | $6.25 |
| Carlos Ruiz | $3.7 |
| Jose Contreras | $2.5 |
| Ty Wigginton | $2.0 |
| Jim Thome | $1.25 |
| Laynce Nix | $1.15 |
| Dontrelle Willis | $0.85 |
| Brian Schneider | $0.80 |
| Cole Hamels | $14.0* |
| Hunter Pence | $11.0* |
| Kyle Kendrick | $3.4* |
| Wilson Valdez | $0.90* |
| TOTAL | $164.3* |
The rest of the roster will likely be filled by pre-arbitration players. The major-league minimum will be $480,000 in 2012. Figure Antonio Bastardo, Vance Worley, John Mayberry Jr., Mike Stutes and any other young relievers will each earn around that.
So that could leave the payroll shy of $170 million to begin 2012. Why is that important? It certainly permits flexibility come July when Ruben Amaro Jr. could look to make a midseason trade if necessary.
The usual disclaimer: A roster on opening day is not always set in stone. Remember, Ben Francisco was the Phillies' starting right fielder last April.
Another calculation with Rollins aboard: The Phillies have guaranteed $105.4 million to seven players for 2013. In 2014, four players (Howard, Lee, Papelbon, Rollins) are guaranteed $74 million.
With Rollins out of the way, Amaro could now turn to an extension for Hamels, who is a free agent after 2012.
Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.
The regular season is one thing but I don't know how anyone could watch this team the last 2 years in the playoffs and see that they are not built for October. They will feast throughout the year against bad pitching but when it comes to the playoffs they will struggle against quality pitching and thats what you face in the post season. They do not have enough plate disciple and at this point they are too old to change thier approach. I was hoping that we would sign Michael Cuddyer heres a guy who hits .300, can draw a walk when needed, and can play 5 different positions. I think Amaro dropped the ball by giving Papplebon that huge contract. We could have had heath Bell for half the money heres a guy who's had 40+ saves 3 years in a row. Not to mention Ryan Madsen still isn't signed and we could have gotten him for less then a guy who blew games down the stretch for Boston. I will watch them every game like I always do cause I love baseball and I love the Phillies but I am not expecting them too go very far in the playoffs with the lineup as is.— Jmoon402- @daystrum, did you think of "cholly the chimp" all by yourself or did Mommy help you? You're such a witty and original thinker; can you teach the rest of us to be just like you?
Then you attack someone for "name calling"; are you an idiot? Pot; black, you get the idea because you're such a witty, great thinker!— JBinPA - Trolls will be trolls. Keep being miserable and complaining about how RAJ is destroying our 2014 Phillies, I am just going to sit back and enjoy another 100 win season in 2012. Maybe I'll see you at the parade though, and you can tell how you knew it all along.— del_sj
