What is left to spend?
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What is left to spend?
Matt Gelb
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.
Who cares what their payroll is? They make plenty. What they need in another decent starter.— Ssteve115- Dr Hoffman - You are apparently thinking with your heart, not your head, regarding Ruf. Certainly, I hope your optimism is fulfilled, but we are talking about a guy who played on the AA level last season and still needs to prove himself defensively in LF. In my head, he's still a question mark....and a big one at that. I would sign a Cody Ross and HOPE Brown and Ruf can platoon and develop into major leaguers!— TruthTeller01
- Here are some good ideas for corner outfielders mentioned here:
Vernon Wells, (especially if the Angels will cover some of the cash & basically give him away),
Delmun Young, Grady Sizemore ( both of whom can be had on the cheap!)— gjd741 - Leave Babe Ruf in the minors this year!— gjd741
- Is that a joke? He's already in his mid 20's and you want him to sit in the minors. I'm not saying he's ready for an every day job, but the kid showed some real power. The best way to manage Ruff is with a platoon and see how he handles that. On the days he doesn't start, he could provide a very useful bat off the bench. — Stephen45
- I think they should go into the season with what they have, though I would have preferred they picked up a more accomplished starter like Marcum. They will likely have a lot of injuries with the older players, so see how it goes through June and try to pick up somebody in a salary dump for whoever is injured/underperforming. Cody Ross or Nick Swisher aren't going to add much to the team over the length of their contracts so why spend $$$ on them?— jtj10
- drh - I totally agree. Left field should - and I believe it will be - Ruf's to lose. As for right field, I believe the pressure to produce some EXPERIENCED pop will put Ross there - not Swisher due to the draft pick issue. I think a platoon of Ross and Brown should be used, at least until/if Brown continues to struggle.— dwp66
- Inciarte in LF, Revere in CF, Brown in RF, Galvis at 3B is not a bad late inning defensive replacement.— fafink
