While last week’s payroll pie was awesome and all, there’s no denying that improvements were possible. Stones left undisturbed. So, in that vein, I’d like to unveil Reds Payroll Pie 2.0:
You’ll immediately notice a few things. Most importantly, it’s beveled now.
Second most importantly, where uncertainty lay previously, now sits knowledge. For instance, several players expected to receive significant playing time are up for arbitration. Without going into excruciating detail about that entire process, suffice it to say that while these contracts are still unknown, one can make educated guesses. Most notably, Homer Bailey, Nick Masset, and Bill Bray will all earn more than marginal raises. I have tried to stay conservative with my numbers, but again they are only estimates.
Thirdly, Yonder Alonso and Edinson Volquez are off the books. It’s hard to notice given all the other changes, but this frees up about three million dollars.
You’ll notice that several pie pieces remain unlabeled. I decided to delete those off of the main graphic who are expected to play key roles but will be making league minimum (all are estimated at half a million). Additionally, instead of listing all the additional bench players, or those who may bounce back and forth between Cincinnati and Louisville, I’ve estimated remainder costs for additional reserves and relievers.
Wonderfully, the Reds still have around eight millions dollars of potential surplus (by the way 85 million dollars may be a bit of a ceiling here… somewhere between 80 and 85 is almost assured). There have been several rumors flying around, including the acquisition of Sean Marshall from the Cubs for around three million. Also, for some reason Walt Jocketty continues to show interest in Francisco Cordero, with contract speculation coming in at around eight million for one year. I would be VERY against such a signing, but alas, no one seems to care.
If it were up to me (and others over at Redleg Nation), I would be taking a serious look at Carlos Beltran.
Is Jocketty trying to improve or destroy the 2012 Reds. Beltran was the ideal, logical answer but again he let his St. Louis friends get what the Reds needed. He has not made any trade to help the Reds in the last 2 years, but he has given away three great prospects and Hernandez. Maybe we all need to be able to understand that while St. Louis fans lost Pujos their team went out to rebuild their team. If we never gave Texas Hamilton, we’d already have that outfielder we need but instead we have the major leagues most frequent striking out outfield. Strikeouts never will win games!! He memtions Ankiel as a possible addition, and he is another strikeout man. Smith at Colorado is a logical addition, but instead we wasted Volquez so we lost our chance there. Stubbs is a strikeout waiting to happen, and when Bruce needs a hit, he follows suit. I been a Reds fan since 1947, but unless things change, I’ll find a new team to root for. You’d think a team with a rookie catcher, rookie shortstop, rookie infield and outfield reserves,and a pitching staff that the Reds alledge is questionable, they’d have plenty money to get needed players.
I am not sure what everyone thinks the Cards will get out of Beltran. He had a good first half of the season for the Mets, the first season he had been healthy since he signed his last contract. However, when he got to the Giants he was not great shakes and did not help them much. With his history of injury, I would never have given him that much money. Of course Berkman had a great season last year, at least at the beginning and the end, but I am not sure he can do it again. I would be surprised if he does much this year. I see him as a Scott Rolen candidate. I think he is sliding down the slippery slope towards being done. I think the same is true of Holliday. I am no expert, but I think he was an expensive player that would not be worth the money paid. If Phipps and Heisey hit the way they should they will equal, if not surpass Beltrans production.
If WJ is smart, he waits for Rolen and Arroyo to fall off the books and then sign Votto with that money.