A Look At Dodger Contract Incentives
by Eric Stephen on Jan 24, 2010 7:00 AM PST
in Los Angeles Dodgers Payroll
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PrintThe last week or so was a busy one for the Dodgers, as they signed all their arbitration-eligible players and re-signed pitcher Vicente Padilla as well. Currently, 15 Dodgers are signed for 2010, and the other 22 on the 40-man roster are all under team control, and will be signed to contracts at some point before March 11, the deadline for teams to renew contracts to unsigned players. With the recently signed contracts, we have a pretty good idea of the total payroll for 2010, as well as 2011. On the payroll worksheet (also always linked on the bottom right-hand side of the front page) I currently have estimated the 2010 payroll at roughly $94 million, and the 2011 payroll at about $89.6 million.
In addition to base salaries, many Dodger contracts have bonuses built in as well. Per Major League Baseball Rule 3(b)(5):
No Major League Uniform Player's Contract or Minor League Uniform Player Contract shall be approved if it contains a bonus for playing, pitching or batting skill or if it provides for the payment of a bonus contingent on the standing of the signing Club at the end of the championship season.
This essentially -- except with a few rare exceptions -- limits contract incentives to playing time (games, plate appearances, days on active roster, etc) or award bonuses. Incentive-laden contracts were a big factor for the Dodgers last season, as two of their best players -- Randy Wolf and Orlando Hudson -- were each signed to one-year deals with a relatively low base salary and numerous incentives. Signed for a combined $8.38 million in guaranteed money, the duo collectively nearly doubled that by earning another $7.61 million in performance incentives.
In 2009, Dodger players collectively earned $9.16 million in incentives. There aren't any Dodger contracts this season with that many incentives, but a number of players have performance bonuses written into their contracts. The Dodgers potentially have a maximum of just under $3 million in incentives to be paid in 2010:
| Player | 2010 | 2011 |
| Furcal | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Carroll | $525,000 | $525,000 |
| Blake | $500,000 | $500,000 |
| Padilla | $250,000 | $750,000 |
| Kuo | $150,000 | |
| Sherrill | $150,000 | |
| Repko | $137,500 | |
| Ethier | $125,000 | $250,000 |
| Martin | $100,000 | |
| Broxton | $500,000 | |
| Kemp | $300,000 | |
| Totals | $2,937,500 | $3,825,000 |
Here are the incentive details for each player (which can also be found on the payroll worksheet):
Rafael Furcal
Has a bonus of up to $1 million annually if he participates in a conditioning program to keep his back healthy, although I am unsure of the exact details of the requirements of the program.
Casey Blake
Annually (2009-2011)
$125,000 for 525 PA
$125,000 for 550 PA
$125,000 for 575 PA
$125,000 for 600 PA
Jamey Carroll
Annually (2010-2011)
$25,000 for 275 PA
$50,000 for 300 PA
$50,000 for 350 PA
$75,000 for 400 PA
$75,000 for 450 PA
$125,000 for 500 PA
$125,000 for 550 PA
Vicente Padilla
$125,000 for 150 innings pitched
$125,000 for 160 IP
$150,000 for 170 IP
$175,000 for 180 IP
$200,000 for 190 IP
$225,000 for 200 IP
The final $750,000 of Padilla's $1 million in incentives is deferred until April 1, 2011.
Hong-Chih Kuo
$25,000 for 55 games pitched
$25,000 for 60 G
$50,000 for 65 G
$50,000 for 70 G
George Sherrill
$75,000 for 60 games pitched
$75,000 for 70 G
Jason Repko
$12,500 for 100 PA
$25,000 for 150 PA
$25,000 for 200 PA
$25,000 for 250 PA
$25,000 for 300 PA
$25,000 for 350 PA
Andre Ethier
Annually (2010-2011)
$25,000 for 600 PA
$50,000 for 650 PA
$50,000 for 675 PA
Achieving those incentives in 2010 will also add those amounts to Ethier's 2011 base salary
Russell Martin
$50,000 for 550 PA
$50,000 for 600 PA
Jonathan Broxton
$500,000 for 68 games finished or 1st place in Rolaids Relief Man standings
$400,000 for 64 games finished or 2nd place in Rolaids Relief Man standings
$300,000 for 60 games finished or 3rd place in Rolaids Relief Man standings
$200,000 for 56 games finished or 4th place in Rolaids Relief Man standings
$100,000 for 53 games finished or 5th place in Rolaids Relief Man standings
If Broxton achieves one of these non-cumulative incentives in 2010, it will be added to his 2011 salary.
Matt Kemp
$50,000 for 600 PA
$100,000 for 650 PA
$150,000 for 675 PA
Any incentives reached by Kemp in 2010 will add to his 2011 salary.
For more salary details, be sure to click on the payroll worksheet. Special thanks to Dodger beat writers Tony Jackson and Dylan Hernandez for assistance in compiling data for this report.
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Ethier
So his 2010 base salary can increase from 6M to 6.125M? And if he achieves those incentives, his 2011 base salary becomes 9.375M and can increase to 9.5M?
Another Contract Incentive
What type of contract and incentives would it take and do you think that the Dodgers have the money to spend on Chien Ming Wang? Big risk yes. But if he is able to get back to like he was before he was hurt that would be a huge reward.
The more I think about it, I think you wait out Wang and sign him in May, and only if one of the top four are hurt. I think the Dodgers have enough in-house options to easily gill the #5 slot.
That said, if he’s healthy, I think Wang is a healthier, more durable Joel Pineiro. But his health is enough of a question mark to give me pause an make me wait until May. If he signs somewhere else before then, I wish him well and move on my way.
The type of contract for Wang is probably $1-2m base with lots of incentives for starts and IP, probably pushing the deal to $8m or so.
by Eric Stephen on Jan 24, 2010 9:36 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
However, even if one of the top four is not hurt signing Wang I believe would could give the Dodgers a very good to great rotation, if he goes back to his old form. Think about Kershaw, Bills, Kuroda, Wang, and Padilla? That would be a very formiable 5 rotation, and he has playoff pitching exp.
Wang isn’t good enough to block Elbert, McDonald, or Lindblom from the 5th starter spot. He’s a decent gamble if we had one more open spot, but nowhere near the upside of someone like Bedard or Pedro (both potential in-season targets).
by Eric Stephen on Jan 24, 2010 11:00 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
A healthy Wang would stand tall in the middle of the defense Seattle throws out there.
Not only do I agree with Eric about waiting until May, I suspect that all teams are waiting until Wang’s health is good enough to throw off a mound and show the scouts something.
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
FYI
I added 2012 to the payroll worksheet. Keep in mind those are just rough estimates and a lot can change in two years (just ask Russell Martin).
by Eric Stephen on Jan 24, 2010 9:30 AM PST via mobile reply actions
Kershaw
I’m not going to lie…I feel like $4M for Kershaw in 2012 is a little low. If stays on the pace he’s on now, he’ll be getting closer to Lincecum money rather than Billingsley money (even if he doesn’t win 2 Cy Youngs)
by Brandon Lennox on Jan 25, 2010 8:20 AM PST up reply actions
We don’t really know what Lincecum money is yet, and I don’t see how Kershaw gets to that point anyway. Lincecum is the “there a no comps for this guy” type pitcher particularly because of the 2 Cy Youngs and the fact that his is the best pitcher in the NL. Don’t see how Kershaw would compare closer to Lincecum than Billingsley.
by Michael White on Jan 25, 2010 8:53 AM PST up reply actions
I’m not saying he’ll get Lincecum money, but rather he’ll be closer to Lincecum than Billingsley in his first year of arbitration. Billingsley got $3.850M and let’s just say that Lincecum ends up with $11M. I really think Kershaw is going to be more comparable to Lincecum than Billingsley over the next two years…and that isn’t even taking into account any increase for salaries in the next two years. Basically I think Kershaw gets at least $6M in arbitration in 2012, and probably even more.
by Brandon Lennox on Jan 25, 2010 9:11 AM PST up reply actions
Lincecum doesn’t even have three full service years yet (the point Kershaw will be at after 2011). He really is the outlier, and his current Super Two status only adds to that.
by Eric Stephen on Jan 25, 2010 9:36 AM PST up reply actions
Without a Cy Young award (or two), Kershaw will be relegated to the world of mere mortals for his comparables.
Look at Billingsley, even with a disappointing 2nd half last year, his credentials are still excellent: 47 wins, 119 ERA+. For Kershaw to match that win total, he would have to have 34 wins in the next two years, something no Dodger has done since 1991 (Ramon Martinez had 37 wins from 1990-1991). Like it or not, wins matter in arbitration hearings. Now, Kershaw could get close (Park had 33 in 2000-2001, Penny and Nomo had 32), but the point is, he’s unlikely to be so far and away the Billingsley-Felix-Verlander level that he sets a new precedent in the $6 million range.
Unless, of course, he wins a CYA. But, until that happens, I’m keeping my estimate at $4 million.
by Eric Stephen on Jan 25, 2010 10:18 AM PST up reply actions
Fair enough
You make good points and it helped me realize that you are right in that Kershaw won’t be getting in the $8M+. However, I think he’ll be good enough over the next two years to get himself in a level beyond Billingsley at the same stage in their career, which would pay him the $6M that I’m guessing. We’ll just have to wait and see!
by Brandon Lennox on Jan 25, 2010 12:14 PM PST up reply actions
Top 50 Prospects show on MLB Network
Wednesday at 5 p.m. pacific.
Hopefully Gordon and Withrow make it at least.
fuck
i dont have mlb network… but i have nba TV… i have no idea how to get mlb network and i am pissed!
Hudson & Wolf
It should be noted that $2 million of Randy Wolf’s $3 million of earned 2009 incentives will be paid in 2010.
For Hudson, $1.07 of his $4.61m earned incentives (plus his $380k signing bonus) are paid this year.
by Eric Stephen on Jan 24, 2010 10:12 AM PST via mobile reply actions
Dylan Hernandez thinks the 2010 payroll is “below 90M.” I guess he did not take everything into account.
by silverwidow on Jan 24, 2010 10:23 AM PST up reply actions
Yeah, I’m not sure where the discrepancy is. Even if it’s Manny’s contract, the difference is not enough because if he’s only getting $5m base this year, he would also be getting deferred money from last year (but I have it different) which would make up the difference.
Dylan himself reported on the $2m deferred to Wolf.
by Eric Stephen on Jan 24, 2010 10:32 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
That should read $1.06m for Hudson
by Eric Stephen on Jan 24, 2010 10:27 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
Jamey Carroll, Indiana native, is a Colts fan
but I can’t tell if Troy Renck of the Denver Post is being serious or not when he remembered a bunch of details about Carroll but not his name.
by Eric Stephen on Jan 24, 2010 10:41 AM PST via mobile reply actions
White Sox GM Kenny Williams, on Juan Pierre's D
“I don’t like the way he throws, but he’ll track some balls down,” Williams said.
by Eric Stephen on Jan 24, 2010 10:45 AM PST via mobile reply actions
for a second
i forgot pierre was traded to the white sox..
lets just hope all but Carroll and Repko make their incentives, well mayber Repko his first two or three .But if Carroll gets even his first incentive bonus it would mean Dewitt had problems…
Carroll can get into the 300s in PA without DeWitt having problems. Let’s say 40 starts at 2B, 20 more at 3B, plus 60+ PH opportunities.
by Eric Stephen on Jan 24, 2010 11:46 AM PST up reply actions
Matt Kemp was among the participants in the Red Cross youth run in Santa Monica this morning to raise money for relief in Haiti.
Torre
Here are a couple of stories on Joe Torre by my hometown newspaper (The Desert Sun in Palm Springs):
Torre opens up about childhood
Torre anxious about 2010
The second one is mostly fluff, but he will be in the low desert next week for the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center.
He did say this about Kershaw FWIW:
"It’s unfair for us to expect him to be the same guy he was the second half of last year because he did a remarkable job," Torre said. "There’s a lot he’s going to learn. I still think he’s going to be a No. 1 without question, but I think it’s unfair of us to expect him to do it at this point in time."
Not that Kershaw couldn’t handle the hype, but it seems smart to at least publicly temper the expectations a bit, lest they get unrealistic. After all, Kershaw could improve quite a bit and have better peripherals, and in fact be a better pitcher than 2009, but still have worse overall raw numbers.
yeah
especially with the new slider he got at the end of the year…
slider looks like a curve… curve might be a slider… tough to tell the difference..
nate?
brett farve SUCKS… please retire old man..
An amazing career too. They beat the hell out of the old guy today.
by 68elcamino427 on Jan 24, 2010 9:35 PM PST up reply actions
I've never been a Favre fan
but the way he played through that beating today almost had me pulling for him. That game kind of personified his entire career.
I'll agree saying Favre sucks is just plain wrong
But who didn’t sit there thinking Favre was just as likely to force something and blow it as he was to win the game? I was waiting for that pick the entire final drive.
www.manningface.com
Sure
but just like you don’t define Broxton on one pitch to Stairs or Rollins you don’t define his season on the one incredibly stupid pass. He still had a season that most NFL quarterbacks would kill for from guys 15 years his junior.
idiot comment
his last 2 championship games have endd cause hes thrown an interception… the guy is a choker.. hes a turnover machine and to call my commment an idiot comment and then not clorify why is not nice… favre is annoying and should retire.. [when was the last time he went to the superbowl? 1995? we act like this guy is so great.. he has had some great teams yet he cant even get to the superbowl.. hes overrated.. hes played a long time and playing for a long time gets you record stats..
Part of me wanted to root for the old guy making good, but how can I root for the damn Vikings?
New Orleans – Archie Manning’s old team – finally making the Super Bowl is a great story. I can (barely) remember the expansion Saints joining the NFL and having their first exhibition game against my Los Angeles Rams. They ran the opening kickoff back for a touchdown on the very first play, but it has been mostly tough times ever since. Congratulations New Orleans.
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
by David Young on Jan 24, 2010 10:15 PM PST up reply actions
He and the Nationals have been eyeing each other from across the dance floor all night; it’s only a matter of time before one side drinks some punch, sucks it up and grabs the other’s hand and leads it to the dance floor.
by Eric Stephen on Jan 25, 2010 12:05 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
Any numbers yet?
Do you think he’ll get anywhere near 3 yrs / $30MM?
by Seanny Rotten on Jan 26, 2010 2:28 PM PST up reply actions
Jim Callis on Ely and Link
While the Dodgers system isn’t as strong as it was in the first half of last decade, their Top 10 list is fairly strong and neither Ely nor Link would have cracked it. Both players were listed with the White Sox in the Prospect Handbook, with Ely coming in at No. 12 and Link at No. 28.
Ely, who led the Double-A Southern League in wins (14) and strikeouts (125) as a 23-year-old in 2009, has a fringy fastball and curveball but gets out by throwing strikes and setting hitters up for his plus changeup. Link, who led the minors with 35 saves in 2008 and was less consistent as a 25-year-old in Triple-A last year, has a quality slider and a low-90s fastball.
I would have slotted Ely in at No. 18 on our Dodgers Top 30, between catcher Lucas May and outfielder Alfredo Silverio, and Link at No. 25, between outfielders Jonathan Garcia and Jerry Sands.
http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/ask-ba/2010/269427.html
Getting our #18 and #25 prospects – even if they are older, lower-ceiling, but closer to the majors guys – plus $8M salary relief for Pierre works for me.
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
by David Young on Jan 25, 2010 12:19 PM PST up reply actions
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