What is left to spend?
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What is left to spend?
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
After a busy Saturday, the Phillies have filled two holes, a setup man (Mike Adams) and fifth starter (John Lannan). The biggest need, a corner outfielder, remains.
The top available players are Nick Swisher and Cody Ross. Both are reportedly seeking at least three-year contracts, with Swisher probably looking for four years. A part-time player like Scott Hairston is said to be demanding two guaranteed years.
There is still money for Ruben Amaro Jr. to spend on an outfield upgrade. Amaro said at the winter meetings he expects a payroll similar to that of 2012, which at opening day was near or above $178 million.
Here is a (rough) budget worksheet that accounts for 24 players, leaving one spot for a corner outfielder obtained through free agency:
| 2013 PAYROLL (IN MILLIONS) | |
| PLAYER | AAV |
| HOWARD, Ryan | $25.00 |
| LEE, Cliff | $24.00 |
| HAMELS, Cole | $24.00 |
| HALLADAY, Roy | $20.00 |
| PAPELBON, Jonathan | $12.50 |
| UTLEY, Chase | $12.14 |
| ROLLINS, Jimmy | $9.50 |
| YOUNG, Michael | $6.00 |
| ADAMS, Mike | $6.00 |
| RUIZ, Carlos | $4.50 |
| KENDRICK, Kyle | $3.75 |
| LANNAN, John | $2.50 |
| NIX, Laynce | $1.25 |
| FRANDSEN, Kevin | $0.85 |
| BASTARDO, Antonio | ARB 1 ($1.00) |
| PRE-ARB (9) | $4.50 |
| BENEFITS | $10.80 |
| 40-MAN ROSTER | $1.50 |
| BONUSES | $2.00 |
| TOTAL | $171.80 |
Remember, this does not account for possible in-season moves, like any recalls should a player go on the disabled list. Payroll, for luxury tax purposes, include average annual values of contracts for players on 40-man rosters, benefits and bonuses.
Time spent on the major-league disabled list counts toward payroll. Phillies players while on the disabled list in 2012 earned $34.96 million.
The Associated Press reported Friday the Phillies finished the season with a $174.5 million payroll, as computed for luxury tax purposes. Payroll is not computed until the end of the season, and the Phillies sneaked under the luxury tax limit by saving money through trades of Hunter Pence, Shane Victorino and Joe Blanton.
The luxury tax limit is again $178 million in 2013, and the Phillies have previously prioritized being under that. They could surpass that number in 2013 because the limit increases to $189 million in 2014, and it would be easier to stay below that figure.
If the Phillies do hold at $178 million, as Amaro said earlier this month, they could sign an outfielder with an average annual salary of approximately $7 million and be right up against the tax threshold.
Whether they view any of the available options as that valuable remains to be seen.
Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.
Please someone correct me if I am wrong but I believe Ryan Howard's AAV in terms of the Luxury Tax is 23.8 million because even though his 5/125 mil contract is an avg. of 25, when Howard signed this deal, he was already in another contract of 3/54 million and because this contract was not up yet when he signed the mega deal, so the luxury tax then viewed his deal as a 6 year/143 million dollar deal making his AAV a total of 23.8 million. Now if I am right the difference isn't enormous but an extra 1.2 million is a big difference when your walking such a tight line...btw if I am wrong please let me know.— 93phils2008- This Benefits guy is overrated. Haven't seen him on the field at $10MM.— palmyra21
- cliff lee or cole hamels and money for upton or stanton. get er done.
- Dude...why would those teams do that? Trading Cole Hamels a few months after signing him for 6 years is ONE of the dumbest things I've seen written. NO ONE IS TRADING GIANCARLO STANTON. The Rangers couldnt even get Upton with all the top prospects they were offering. The problem with your crazy trade ideas is that the other teams GM has to actually agree to ....you know, trade the player. Go make your idiotic trade proposals in your fantasy baseball league bud. — cdedrick05
- trade lee then plus money. arizona might take hamels contract for upton. but i'd rather have stanton. i'm not the one floating stanton name as on the block so don't get mad at me. i just know we should do everything to get him if available.
- Not only did the Phillies just sign Cole to a mega contract, but he is also only their best pitcher and only 30 years old. Doc and Lee aren't going to be around forever. — Bossman76
- Easier to find good pitching then young 5 tool players and the phils need to get younger. IMO do whatever you can to get Stanton. I'd definitely do Lee for Upton. Phils ain't winning anything this year so might as well start rebuilding and getting younger.
- Also I do not see the benefit from paying 10 mil plus for 3 years on a guy like Cody Ross who is 32 and had a breakout year last year but still only hit .267 and you literally have a guy in Darin Ruff who I know could be a bust but has the potential to be produce very similar to that of Ross as a right handed power bat but also has the potential to hit for better average and a higher OBP and only would be for basically league minimum, I think i'd rather take a risk on Ruff for half a season rather than sign Ross to a bad deal and if it doesnt pan out then you get someone at the trade deadline. Nick Swisher would be a great addition to our lineup and he is literally the most consistent player in baseball but it seems like he is going to get overpaid as well and it is not worth losing a draft pick, paying a luxury tax and overpaying him on dollars and years. At this point honestly it makes sense to possibly take a chance on a 1 year deal with a guy like Delmon Young because even though his fielding is sub par, you got a guy in center with unbelievable range and he is a proven right handed power threat that basically had the same stats as Cody Ross last year but could be had at a bargain possibly.1 year deal would be great and wouldnt break bank. I also would look into signing a guy like Grady Sizemore to a minor/major league contract with incentives because he is still a younger guy and if he ever gets healthy for you he could be a steal that has good power and worse comes to worse you dont lose anything. Scott Hairston..well we already have him basically...John Maryberry Jr....we don't need another one, and I like Mayberry better, higher ceiling— 93phils2008
- high water- go back and finish high school.— passi0natephillyfan
- plenty of people here ready to move lee and money for upton or stanton. trade for one then sign him to a long term contract and you have your power bat to match with howard and you can buy pitchers next offseason. why not? we're not winning anything this year.
- Plenty of people here might move Lee and money for Stanton, but that is why none of them are or will ever be a GM. The Marlins just went through their annual salary dump, and Stanton isn't eligible for free agency until after the 2016 season. Why on Earth would they swap a rising star under their control for 4 more years for a guy making $20M with his best years behind him? — Bossman76
- stanton was rumored during the meetings to be on the market. that's all i'm saying. Upton is on the market. get one of them. do a three team trade if need be. Texas needs pitching and have lots of prospects. if these guys are available, phils could get one of the best young 5 tool players that they could rebuild around.
93phils: I haven't heard that Delmon Young is available, but he'd be fine with me. Guy can rake, and as you point out, Revere can come get most of what Young can't reach.- Delmon Young is a free agent & just had a minor ankle surgery a little bit ago so people think he may wait until hes fully recovered in January to sign to silence any teams potential question marks about it. Statistically speaking his career stats are so much better than Ross's and had generally been pretty consistent and for being only 27 years old still has a solid ceiling. His defense is the only drawback, but if the Phillies are willing to give Darin Ruff a try in left then they'll be fine with Young.— 93phils2008
- Delmon Young is a free agent & just had a minor ankle surgery a little bit ago so people think he may wait until hes fully recovered in January to sign to silence any teams potential question marks about it. Statistically speaking his career stats are so much better than Ross's and had generally been pretty consistent and for being only 27 years old still has a solid ceiling. His defense is the only drawback, but if the Phillies are willing to give Darin Ruff a try in left then they'll be fine with Young. The guy has some character issues but nothing crazy. A one year deal with incentives could be beneficial to both parties as Young at such a young age may be willing to take a year deal with a high profile team to increase his market value for next year and regain appeal. I like this move on a 1 yr for 6 or 7 million dollar deal with incentives— 93phils2008
