I had a chance to read the paper yesterday and to see the status of all of the players for next season.  We have a fair share of free agents, 8 to be exact.  Only 4 players are under contract for next season, 6 are available for arbitration and 6 are under club control so their contracts can be renewed.  Elmer Dessens I am sure will have his deal bought out for 300,000 than for us to pick up his option at 4.5 Million.  The players under contract are Dreifort, Green, Ishii and Weaver.

 

  The players who are Free Agents:

 

Wilson Alvarez - I don't know if he will be back or not but I don't see the team overpaying to keep him.

 

Jose Lima - He made 925,000 last season I believe, I don't see the team over paying for him either even though I would love to have him back.

 

Hideo Nomo - Gone

 

Odallis Perez - I think the team will offer him a contract but I think he could get a better deal somewhere else.  New York perhaps?  A line up that can give him more runs?

 

Brent Mayne - I think he's good as gone since Ross is still under club control.

 

Adrian Beltre - I think he should be the team's first priority but I'm not the owner or GM but I don't see McCourt overpaying for him. 

 

Jose Hernandez - I would like to see him back.  He was another player as was Lima who was a non roster invitee and made the team out of Spring Training.  He might try for a starting job someplace else though.

 

Steve Finley - I think his salary was around 6 Million last season, I don't know if the team will pay him that much.

 

  The players available for Arbitration:

 

Eric Gagne - I would love to see him signed to a long term deal.  If not, I wouldn't be surprised if he is dealt sometime.

 

Brad Penny - I think he got 3.5 Million.  I can't see how he would think he is worthy of a raise.

 

Alex Cora - I think his salary was around 1.5 Million.  I would say he deserves a raise but not a big one.

 

Cesar Izturis - If anyone deserves a big raise, it's this guy.  I would like the team to sign him to a long term deal as well.

 

Olmedo Saenz - With our bench being a little shorter now with Ventura gone, I like having this guy.  As for a raise?  I am assuming he will get one.  The team might not offer him arbitration and decide to look someplace else.

 

Milton Bradley - I am assuming he will be offered arbitration with McCourt talking so highly of him in the press.  He is still relatively cheap too and if Finley isn't back, Bradley would be our Center Fielder again.

 

Club Control:

 

Duaner Sanchez, Yhancey Brazoban, David Ross, Hee Seop Choi, Jason Grabowski, Jayson Werth

 

Well, McCourt could end up with a payroll around 98 - 100  Million give or take, that's if he doesn't sign any other free agents, just our guys with the exception of Nomo and Mayne.  I added in 1.5 Million for a catcher. 

 

That would be 2 Million for Alvarez, 300,000 buyout for Dessens, Dreifort at 13 Million, Gagne at his 8 Million, Ishii at 3.2 Million, Lima at 2 Million, Penny at 5 Million, Perez at 6 Million, Sanchez at 500,000, Brazoban at 500,000, Ross at 500,000, Beltre at 10 Million, Choi at 600,000, Cora at 2.5 Million, Green at 16 Million, Hernandez at 2 Million, Izturis at 3.5 Million, Saenz at 1.5 Million, Bradley at 3.5 Million, Finley at 6 Million, Grabowski at 500,000, and Werth at 750,000. 

 

I guess I have a lot of time on my hands!  The 6 Million for Finley can be spend maybe getting another Free Agent Outfielder at 3 Million and then a Catcher at 3 Million instead and then McCourt would be ahead of the 1.5 Million that I already counted into the payroll.  Just my thoughts.

 

                                                                                                               Kristin