Crunching numbers for Phillies 2012 payroll
News blogs, sports blogs, entertainment blogs, and more from Philly.com, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News.
Crunching numbers for Phillies 2012 payroll
Bob Brookover, Inquirer Baseball Columnist
This is a second version showing Cole Hamels as being arbitration eligible. Thanks to the fine editors who are also my readers.
General manager Ruben Amaro Jr.'s 10-word answer to a question about the Phillies' 2012 payroll received little attention Tuesday.
"Don't know yet," he said. "I would say it would be similar (to 2011)."
Given Amaro's plea for a change in the approach by his hitters and the pending free agency of shortstop Jimmy Rollins and closer Ryan Madson, it was understandable that the payroll was glossed over at this embryonic stage of the offseason.
Nevertheless, it will be an interesting subject at some point when the quest to either re-sign or replace Rollins and Madson intensifies.
For the record, the Phillies' payroll was somewhere between $175 and $180 million this season and it's possible, once player bonuses are factored in, that the team passed baseball's $178-million threshold that requires a team to pay a luxury tax of 22.5 percent for every dollar it spends above $178 million.
The luxury-tax number expands every year, but it figures to be a challenge for the Phillies to stay below that figure again in 2012, especially if they re-sign Rollins and Madson and pick up the $16 million option on Roy Oswalt.
If the Phillies pay a $2 million buyout to Oswalt and, as expected, a $1.5 million buyout to Brad Lidge, they will still owe $110.45 million to the nine players already under contract for next season. That total includes the $3.5 million buyout total for Oswalt and Lidge.
Here's the breakdown of those nine players: Cliff Lee ($21.5 million), Ryan Howard and Roy Halladay ($20 million each), Chase Utley ($15 million), Shane Victorino ($9.5 million), Joe Blanton ($8.5 million), Placido Polanco ($6.25 million), Carlos Ruiz ($3.7 million) and Jose Contreras ($2.5 million).
Lefthander Cole Hamels, right fielder Hunter Pence, extra outfielder Ben Francisco and pitcher Kyle Kendrick are among the Phillies players eligible for salary arbitration. Let's say the Phillies only decide to bring back Hamels, Pence and Kendrick. Being conservative, Hamels will likely get $14 million, Pence will likely get at least $10 million and Kendrick will get somewhere around $3 million, bringing the payroll to just under $137.5 million for 12 players.
Amaro said that even if the Phillies do not re-sign Madson, they plan on going outside the organization for an experienced closer. Whether it's Madson or somebody else with experience at the role, it's likely to cost at least $10 million, bringing the payroll to $147.5 million for 13 players.
To fill out the bullpen and the bench, it will likely cost roughly another $12 million, so the total is up to $159.5 million and you still need a shortstop.
Amaro said some of his lieutenants believe that Freddy Galvis is ready to play in the big leagues right now and others do not. Before that, he said he thought outfielder Domonic Brown could use 500 at-bats at the triple-A level before he's ready for another shot at the big leagues. Brown, 24, is more than two years older than Galvis, who just got his first taste of triple-A baseball at the end of the 2011 season.
The smart money here is that the Phillies will either re-sign Rollins or try to sign a veteran to a one-year deal and give Galvis at least one more year to develop in the minor leagues. The going rate for someone like St. Louis' Rafael Furcal would probably be in the $6 to $8 million range while Rollins could cost $10 million for next season.
Let's say they re-sign Rollins. That would put the payroll at about $169.5 million.
Then the Phillies would have to decide if they needed another player -- a third baseman or super utility guy? -- to jumpstart the offense that has disappointed them each of the last two postseasons.
Regardless, given the economics, the emergence of Vance Worley and the likely return of Joe Blanton to the starting rotation, there does not appear to be room in next year's budget for Oswalt's $16 million option.
So get ready for the "And Then There were Three (Aces)" news conference next February in Clearwater.
Download our NEW iPhone/Android app for easy access to all of our Phillies coverage, plus app-exclusive videos and analysis. Get it here.
no reason whatsoever to resign Oswalt with the emergence of Worley and having Blanton and Kendrick under contract...additional money spent needs to be upgrading bench and trying to find a more offensively dynamic ( either power or speed) 3rd baseman. Problem is there arent many options...but I expect RAJ to come up with something from out of the blue...he always does. Polly, in my mind, can be a super sub and if need be, a late inning defensive upgrade at 3rd if they can snag a strong O, weak D 3rd baseman with some pop— TheLon
Comment removed.- thompson, you bring kendrick back because he is head and shoulders a better pitcher than blanton. amaro is a buffoon for giving blanton a long-term 8 million per year contract. blanton wasnt even worth that while healthy - which has been rare. kendrick pitched great in spot starts and long relief this year. kendrick deserves a spot in the rotation next year along with worley, assuming they dont pickup oswalt's option. let joe rot in the bullpen for the last year of his contract. — zwarte piet
- If Freddy's not ready what's wrong with Orr, Martinez or Valdez fighting to win the SS job in spring training to start the season. Rollins will not be missed if can get five years from someone. Let him go get it!— Dull
- gotta buyout oswalt. giving him 16mm would be a terrible move.— drumminge6
- Isn't Hamels arbitration eligible??— re6035
- You can't always buy a championship. The Phillies (the Yankees of the NL) found that out the hard way this season. They peaked too early then fell flat on their faces. Phillies are in top 3 in the league in payroll. How much more will they spend to try to buy a championship? They were only $30 Million behind the Yankees this season and just $1 million+ behind in average player salary.
I'm still waitint to hear all of the goons whine about the Yankees trying to buy a championship. Hypocrites.— taxmanndumbeth - Yankees of the NL? The yankees have 3 players that are home grown that they actually use. Jeter, nova, and rivera. The rest were traded for or signed. The phillies have over 10 including the bullpen. Don't call us hypocrites for bringing in 3 good pitchers and a right fielder. — Lets Go Eat
- Although you are right about the Phillies and their homegrown players (Howard, Utley, Rollins, Chooch, etc) you are inaccurate about the Yankees. Arguably their best position player is homegrown...Robinson Cano — bl4211
- Oswalt let the team and the fans down with his return to the farm routine. He was never the same as in 2010. His decision to take a month off will cost him 14 million. No one will pay him anywhere near 16 million.— fischman
- Comment removed.
- Sign Aaron Rowand to play left field, while Mayberry plays first base until Howard comes back....also give play Martinez at Shortstop, if JRoll signs with another team.— frank105
- Comment removed.
