Average Team Opening Day Payroll Down by 1.7%

by tarakas on Apr 9, 2009 9:38 AM EDT

The Associated press reports that the average baseball team's opening day salary decreased by 1.7% from last year, or about $1.6 million per team. 16 teams cut payroll.

The Cubs increased payroll by $16.5 million. The article does not discuss them, but the Cardinals are down quite a bit more than the average (the cards are down about $10 million and 10%, I think).

While I don't think throwing money at players will solve the team's problems, I'm still curious why the team is cutting more than most teams and how this helps the club construct a winning team around Pujols.

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Not surprised...

Hell, even the Yankees have a lower Opening Day payroll than last year! Why pay a veteran for “replacement-level” performance when you can have a younger, cheaper “replacement-level” player in that slot?

As for the Cardinals… they could NOT outbid the Yanks for Sabathia or Burnett… who else was out there that would have been a guaranteed improvement over what they currently have?

As for the Cubs… they’ve replaced DeRosa with Miles, and added Milton Freakin’ Bradley… they’ve got to avoid injuries (just like everybody else), and there’s no guarantee that replacing Wood with Gragg will lead to October success.

"In this game, don't nobody know nuthin' about nuthin'." -- attributed to Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra

by The Ol Goaler on Apr 9, 2009 11:03 AM EDT reply actions

Yeah

The Cubs are one of the few teams that have increased their payroll and probably become worse.

Patiently awaiting the day Colby Rasmus does this: .275/.381/.551/.932, 29HR, in St. Louis...

by RunninRedbird on Apr 9, 2009 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions

they definitely became worse.

even if they have a better record, their team on paper is nowhere near as scary as it was last year.

On with the (good) youth movement!

by aet15 on Apr 9, 2009 6:32 PM EDT up reply actions

If they have a better record,

that probably means that someone has had a breakout season, which means that then they are every bit as scary.

They say that it's never too late, but you don't get any younger...

by Valatan on Apr 9, 2009 11:06 PM EDT up reply actions

I just don't think they have anyone capable of "breaking out."

I think Fontenot is capable of a career year, but it’s not going to be anything like Pedroia had last year. Marshall is the only one with that potential in my opinion, but I don’t think it’s going to happen.

I really don’t think they will have a better record, though. If Soriano doesn’t stay healthy, I think the NL Central could become somewhat of a toss-up.

On with the (good) youth movement!

by aet15 on Apr 10, 2009 2:59 AM EDT up reply actions

I'd think picking up a second baseman

would be an improvement compared to having Skip stand at second and calling him one.

by tarakas on Apr 9, 2009 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Hudson would have been nice

Especially for the price that he signed for.

St. Louis Cardinals... defying win expectancy since 2008

by vivaelpujols on Apr 9, 2009 11:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Payroll Issues

Those were the two notable big payroll teams that had big jumps in payroll. Money’s not everything, but it helps. The Phillies are world champions with two straight division titles, and the Cubs have proven they can win division titles. The low budget Rays have increased their payroll significantly in an effort to stay competitive. They proved last season that a high payroll isn’t necessary to win a pennant. Again, the high payroll helps.

I’m surprised the Cardinals’ payroll is not higher. St. Louis has the most expensive ticket prices of any small market team. The attendance is great. To a certain extent, I feel the Cardinals management is taking the St. Louis fans for granted thinking that they will show up no matter how the team does. I don’t think the top brass feels a need to put 100-win teams on the field anymore. Just have a team skate into the playoffs with around 85 wins and take your chances in postseason seems to be the philosophy now.

"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on Apr 9, 2009 1:53 PM EDT reply actions

Phillies and Cubs

They were the most notable big payroll teams that had big jumps in payroll.

"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on Apr 9, 2009 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't remember where it was,

and I wish I did so I could prove that this isn’t purely my opinion (although I do share the feelings), but one of the major sports places (CBS sportsline, ESPN, yahoo sports or something) had an article about how we were the cheapest organization of the offseason. And y’know what, I’m not saying we did a BAD job this offseason, but I would have to agree that we were pretty stinkin’ cheap. Especially when we go from saying we’ll increase payroll by 15 million or whatever, and then next moment, it ends and we’ve decreased . . .

I will admit, though, that there’s really no one I’d have wanted us to sign that we didn’t. I’d still like to see us sign Sheets to a Carpenter-esque deal (the first time we signed him), but that’s about all. Everything else I would’ve like to have seen would have been through trades, but oh well.

On with the (good) youth movement!

by aet15 on Apr 9, 2009 6:32 PM EDT reply actions

i won't completely defend the inaction,

but the front office did better than those of some similar mid-market teams.

houston. az. padres. milwaukee. a lot of teams went to great lengths to cut salary and were preposterously cheap. we just let a lot of stupid contracts lapse. and our FO at least had the foresight to start squirreling away talent in the farm — houston, looking at you. i think we were one starting pitcher away from having a really good off-season.

the truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark/ it scares you witless, then you see things clear and stark -- macmanus

by tom s. on Apr 9, 2009 7:24 PM EDT up reply actions