TwitterLooking Ahead, Is It Too Soon?
30 Oct 2007
While still enjoying things, my mind wandered to thoughts of 2008. Just a few notes to consider when forming your strategies and opinions on how to construct a team capable of defending a world title.
Salaries coming off the books:
Matt Clement – $9.5m, Curt Schilling – $13m, Mike Lowell – $8m, Tim Wakefield – $4m, Julian Tavarez – $3.35m, Eric Hinske – $2.8125m, Mike Timlin – $2.7m, Wily Mo Pena (already gone) - $2.5m, J.C. Romero (already gone) – $1.6m, Brendan Donnelly – $1.4m, Doug Mirabelli – $750k, Eric Gagne – $6m, Bobby Kielty – $500k.
That’s over $56m in payroll that drops off the books. Now consider that raises are in order for Kevin Youkilis (first year arb. elig.) and slight increases for Jonathan Papelbon and the other guys under 3 full seasons, but still there is going to be cash available. Also consider that Coco Crisp is likely to be traded this off-season. His $5.17m put it to $60m in freed up cash.
Some of that extra cash will also be spent on Mike Lowell, should he be re-signed. If he gets $12m that cuts the resources to $48m, still enough to make significant inroads to helping the team. But please tell me, won’t you, just where you’d spend that money.
Your immediate options include re-signing current free agents and perhaps considering giving long term deals to Papalbon and Kevin Youkilis ala Nomar Garciaparra. The idea would be to have them sign into their free agency years. Those are just a few. While we can all keep enjoying these good times, there is work to be done to keep this train a rollin’.
Anyway, I’ll cut it at that and let me know your ideas.
Oct 30, 2007 @ 12:24:02
Lowell – est $12M
Schilling – est $10M (if he accepts)
Wakefield – $3M
Timlin – $2.5M
Gagne – $2M (if he signs, I admit, I would be intrigued)
ok, so that is close to $30M for the re-signings
as for other movement, I would package Crisp and a prospect or two (Hansen?) to try to get Saltalamachia from Texas. Prospects would have to be good but when the Braves traded Salty I was depressed, this guy is gonna be really good and a power hitting catcher is a bonus in my opinion.
Let him catch one out of 5 starts to get him some time, he can spell 1B on occaission if necessary too.
Then I would go into the season with that team.
Oct 30, 2007 @ 13:54:00
I agree on all but Wakefield, as his continuous team option is for $4m per year, Gagne and Saltimacchia.
I also disagree on Gagne. I think he is going to run from this team. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if he wasn’t at the parade today. He will also want to close and someone WILL give him that chance, even it if is Pitt or KC or Cinci, etc. I bet he gets $6m guaranteed with incentives. He is too good a pitcher and what we saw was an anomoly.
I think to get Saltimacchia, it’ll take more than Crisp and Hansen. It might also take a Masterson or a Bates etc. I hope we could get him though. Better yet would be for George Kottaras to get his act together (which I think he did 2nd half at Pawtucket).
Oct 30, 2007 @ 18:57:17
Man, before the parade, that is early to look ahead.
I think the obvious think to do with all that money is sign A-Rod to a monster deal.
Oct 30, 2007 @ 20:39:37
I actually laughed out loud Peter, about 2/3 of the way through I recognized it must have been you…
Oct 31, 2007 @ 07:21:07
Signing Alex to the Sox? What a great idea !
I can imagine what it would be like listening to Remy trying to figure out just what the heck Manny, Papi and Alex could possibly talk about while sitting on the bench. That would be a very funny bit of broadcasting.
Oct 31, 2007 @ 10:51:42
I’d love to be there when they pose for the team picture: A-Rod, Varitek, Schilling. Too bad Nixon is still not around. Arroyo, too. Priceless. I’d pay good money to be there.
Oct 31, 2007 @ 12:45:21
Greg I know that you are being funny here, but I also know there is a ton of truth in what you said. It would be a donnybrook. That is exactly why we will never see ARod in a Red Sox uni.
Nov 01, 2007 @ 02:20:09
I thought I would never see Damon in a Yankees’ uniform