Dodgers Payroll Difference Not As Bad As You Think
by Eric Stephen on Feb 14, 2010 6:36 PM PST
in Los Angeles Dodgers Payroll
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PrintTim Brown of Yahoo Sports wrote a lengthy article about the state of the Dodgers, particularly how the pending divorce of Frank and Jamie McCourt will affect the club. It is a well-intentioned and thorough article, complete with quotes from both Frank McCourt and the attorney for Jamie McCourt, as well as an explanation of the possible effects of divorce on the franchise (although, anyone who has read Joshua Fisher's work at Dodger Divorce over the last few months has been sufficiently informed). I do have one small quibble with Brown's article, regarding the Dodger payroll:
Because half of Ramirez’s $20 million salary for 2010 is deferred, the Dodgers are expected to pay about $80 million in salaries, a significant drop from last season’s $100 million or so. While payroll represents only a portion of the club’s overhead, one industry insider estimated revenues at about $350 million.
Emphasis mine. I don't doubt that the Dodgers will have a lower payroll this season, but I think Brown is overstating the case here. The Dodger payroll in 2009 ended up at roughly $110 million, but that was after various bonuses were reached and player acquisitions were made. Since we can't see the future, predicting the final 2010 year-end payroll is tough. However, it's close enough to April 5 that we can reasonably project the opening day payroll. Comparing this year's opening day payroll to last, the two years really aren't that far apart:
| 2009 | 2010 | |||||
| Pos |
Player | Salary | Pos |
Player | Salary | |
| C | Martin | $3,900,000 | C | Martin | $5,050,000 | |
| 1B | Loney | $465,000 | 1B | Loney | $3,100,000 | |
| 2B | Hudson | $3,000,000 | 2B | Belliard | $825,000 | |
| 3B | Blake | $5,000,000 | 3B | Blake | $6,000,000 | |
| SS | Furcal | $10,500,000 | SS | Furcal | $8,500,000 | |
| LF | Manny | $10,000,000 | LF | Manny | $7,267,760 | |
| CF | Kemp | $467,000 | CF | Kemp | $4,000,000 | |
| RF | Ethier | $3,100,000 | RF | Ethier | $6,000,000 | |
| OF | Pierre | $10,000,000 | OF | Johnson | $800,000 | |
| IF | Loretta | $1,250,000 | IF | Carroll | $1,350,000 | |
| PH | Mientkiewicz | $550,000 | PH | Mientkiewicz/Giles | $550,000 | |
| IF | DeWitt | $405,000 | IF | Green | $550,000 | |
| C | Ausmus | $1,000,000 | C | Ausmus | $850,000 | |
| SP | Kuroda | $13,600,000 | SP | Kuroda | $14,100,000 | |
| SP | Wolf | $5,000,000 | SP | Kershaw | $425,000 | |
| SP | Billingsley | $475,000 | SP | Billingsley | $3,850,000 | |
| SP | Kershaw | $404,000 | SP | Padilla | $4,025,000 | |
| SP | McDonald | $400,750 | SP | Elbert | $405,000 | |
| CL | Broxton | $1,825,000 | CL | Broxton | $4,000,000 | |
| RP | Kuo | $437,000 | RP | Sherrill | $4,500,000 | |
| RP | Mota | $2,350,000 | RP | Kuo | $950,000 | |
| RP | Wade | $402,500 | RP | Belisario | $425,000 | |
| RP | Ohman | $1,350,000 | RP | Troncoso | $425,000 | |
| RP | Belisario | $400,000 | RP | McDonald | $425,000 | |
| RP | Troncoso | $401,000 | RP | Weaver | $800,000 | |
| AAA | Repko | $500,000 | AAA | Repko | $500,000 | |
| DL | Schmidt | $16,000,000 | ||||
| DL | Vargas | $400,000 | ||||
| Dead Money | Dead Money | |||||
| Andruw | $4,850,000 | Pierre | $4,000,000 | |||
| Penny | $2,000,000 | Andruw | $3,600,000 | |||
| Nomar | $1,250,000 | Schmidt | $2,500,000 | |||
| Loaiza | $375,000 | Wolf | $2,000,000 | |||
| Bennett | $50,000 | Hudson | $1,440,000 | |||
| Nomar | $1,250,000 | |||||
| Ohman | $200,000 | |||||
| 2009 Opening Day: | $102,107,250 | 2010 Opening Day: | $94,662,760 | |||
I made some assumptions regarding the pre-arbitration players for 2010, and those are the salaries of Jeff Weaver, Nick Green, and Doug Mientkiewicz or Brian Giles should they make the club. See the payroll worksheet for more details, especially regarding the "dead money," or money paid to players no longer on the team. But the point is that the difference between this year and last is about $7.5 million, not the $20 million as Brown suggested.
I haven't even factored in money the Dodgers received via insurance from Jason Schmidt's contract in these totals, but if you look at the non-Schmidt money, the Dodgers could actually be spending more in payroll this season than last. That might be a bit of a stretch, but at the very least I believe the payroll concerns for this season are overblown. There might be cause for concern, but as is usually the case, it's never as bad as our worst fears suggest. Will the Dodgers spend money during the season if needed? Only time will tell.
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Kershaw from May 1-October 3, 2009
8-6
2.16 ERA
150 IP
100 H
159 K
80 BB
3 HR
.192 BAA
The only numbers that aren’t AMAZING would be the record (not entirely his fault) and the walks.
Why would the Dodgers get salary relief Jason Schmidt contract in the form of insurance money for 2010, and 2011?
Who said 2011?
I was talking about 2009 vs. 2010. The Dodgers mostly likely got paid from insurance for the 2008 season, which was missed entirely, due to injury. They had to sue to get it, but the payment was received last season. Whatever the figure was — something like $11-12 million — that certainly affects the cash flow, which is the whole reason anyone would be worried in the first place
by Eric Stephen on Feb 14, 2010 7:00 PM PST up reply actions
So Jackson’s deal buys out his arbitration years? It seems a bit high for me, I’m not even sure Chad will make $8 million in his last year of his contract.
You're right, I thought 2010 was a lower base for some reason.
Closer to $3 million than 4.
2010: $3.85
2011: $7 million(?)
2012: $9 million(?)
Assuming that Chad pitches more like 2008 than 2009.
Something like that
maybe a little higher (if he pitches like 2008, that is).
Max won’t be higher than $19.5m (Verlander) or $20m (Felix, including signing bonus) for those two years. But if he has a 2008-type season, $7/$11 isn’t out of the question.
by Eric Stephen on Feb 14, 2010 7:08 PM PST up reply actions
I have to say that the NBA All star Halftime show is way better than the Superbowl Halftime show.
Seriously, The Who!? Nobody says the NFL has to employ crap like 50 cent for their halftime show, but they seriously need to stop hiring old white guys in their 60s for their half time show.
Yeah
The Who was really awful. The NFL is too conservative ever since the “wardrobe malfunction” regarding the halftime show.
by Eric Stephen on Feb 14, 2010 7:18 PM PST up reply actions
You young whippersnappers get off my damn lawn!
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
by David Young on Feb 14, 2010 10:28 PM PST up reply actions
I don’t object to the idea of The Who, just that specifically I thought their performance sucked.
I was OK with Bruce last year, and Petty a few years back was surprisingly good (I had low expectations).
by Eric Stephen on Feb 14, 2010 10:33 PM PST up reply actions
Daltrey definitely doesn’t have the pipes any more and Zach Starkey is NOT Keith Moon. The surviving half of the Who barely outperformed the deceased half. I’ll agree that the NFL needs to look at performers who are below social security eligibility levels.
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
by David Young on Feb 14, 2010 10:36 PM PST up reply actions
Through her representatives, Jamie McCourt declined to be interviewed. Her attorney, entertainment lawyer Bert Fields, argued a custody battle for the Dodgers will not harm the franchise, unless it concludes with Frank as the sole owner.
"Unlike Jamie, I don’t think Frank is willing to spend what Jamie will to keep them competitive," Fields said. "You might ask him how much money he took out of the organization last year. You might be surprised. Rather than spend it on pitching."
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ti-mccourts021410&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
As the offseason wore on, agents peddling free agents and general managers hoping to talk trade would contact the Dodgers and get the same message: We’re near our payroll limit. We don’t have the money. Thanks, but no thanks.
"They have great core players, but no depth," one agent observed. "They can’t fill in their team because they don’t have the money."
My interpretation of many of those calls
Agent: “we think Player X would be a great fit for your club.”
Ned: “we think he is good, but not worth the prices you are asking.”
Agent, to reporter: “Dodgers can’t afford top tier talent”
by Eric Stephen on Feb 14, 2010 7:34 PM PST up reply actions
“They have great core players, but no depth,”
Bullshit. Why, because the Dodgers don’t want to pay to have Damon as the backup outfielder? I don’t see the lack of depth at all.
by Michael White on Feb 14, 2010 7:37 PM PST up reply actions
Indeed
Besides, we did the whole obscenely-overpaying-for-a-3.5th-outfielder thing for 3 years. It wasn’t all bad, but the Dodgers certainly don’t need to go down that route again!
Man, where have I seen that link before :)
by Eric Stephen on Feb 14, 2010 7:32 PM PST up reply actions
I wonder if Jamie didn’t respond to questions because she was taking another trip to France on the team’s dime.
by Eric Stephen on Feb 14, 2010 7:57 PM PST up reply actions
Wonder if ...
Mr. Fields needs to wipe his mouth off with toilet paper every time he gets done talking…
because he is so full of crap
by 68elcamino427 on Feb 14, 2010 10:07 PM PST up reply actions
How do 100,000 people pay to go see the NBA all star game?
Who sits in the top of the stadium to watch a crap basketball game?
108,000 people
unreal. I feel like an idiot just for watching it on TV….
by Michael White on Feb 14, 2010 7:56 PM PST up reply actions
I haven’t watched any Olympics yet. I’m really only interested in watching mens hockey. Perhaps I shouldn’t take for granted that the U.S/Switzerland game will be on live Tuesday afternoon.
by Michael White on Feb 14, 2010 7:59 PM PST up reply actions
I haven’t watched anything either, but more due to lack of interest. I’ll check it out at times this week I’m sure.
by Eric Stephen on Feb 14, 2010 8:01 PM PST up reply actions
It’s apparently a Guiness World Record for any basketball game. Not sure about indoor overall though, but I’m sure it’s close.
by Eric Stephen on Feb 14, 2010 8:03 PM PST up reply actions
For basketball?
Yes. It can’t be for any sport because the Cowboys opening night would have done just as much; perhaps more since they sold standing room only seats….
by Michael White on Feb 14, 2010 8:04 PM PST up reply actions
The football field has a much bigger footprint than basketball though
by Eric Stephen on Feb 14, 2010 8:04 PM PST up reply actions
Football field is 360 feet by 160 feet (including end zones), or 57,600 SqFt
Basketball court is 94 feet by 50 feet, or 4,700 SqFt
by Eric Stephen on Feb 14, 2010 8:10 PM PST up reply actions
but who's
counting.
Who is Karim Garcia? Who is he to challenge me?
by Who Is Karim Garcia? on Feb 14, 2010 9:40 PM PST up reply actions
highest Cowboys crowd this year was 105,121
by Eric Stephen on Feb 14, 2010 8:06 PM PST up reply actions
the big screen
it shows the players bigger then they really are…
Would it be possible for Dodger Stadium to host an NFL game? Of course, it will never happen, just wondering if it can be done.
Right now, it would have to be a one-time event, likely an exhibition. Some renovation would have to be done to make it viable long term, in terms of increasing the seating capacity.
You need 360 feet of length just to put the field, plus probably another 10 feet or so just for the white lines and some tiny room behind each end zone. It’s 330 feet from home plate to the foul pole, so the question would be is there 30 feet of space between home plate and the dugout / fence behind home plate (imagine the foul line extending behind home plate)? I’m not sure there is that room, so the solution would be to move back one of the pavilions, which could reduce capacity. It seems like too much of a hassle.
by Eric Stephen on Feb 14, 2010 8:18 PM PST up reply actions
Peter O Malley
offered the stadium to the Raiders when the readiness of the Coliseium was in doubt, but those were the days before the foul territory was reduced for more seating
by 68elcamino427 on Feb 14, 2010 9:26 PM PST up reply actions
It’s nearly 400 feet from home plate to dead center and there is space behind home plate. I’d bet you can fit in a football field in that direction, where the center line, end zone to end zone, runs through home plate and splits the flagpoles.
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
by David Young on Feb 14, 2010 10:34 PM PST up reply actions
That might be a better fit, but it’s ~127 feet in a straight line from first to third (yay, Pythagorean Theorem!) which still leaves you 33 feet short. Is there enough room from base to stands on each side? I’m not sure.
by Eric Stephen on Feb 14, 2010 10:37 PM PST up reply actions
Doesn’t Larry Bowa stand at least 20 feet away from third base at times? :)
You only need 16.5 feet on each side, but room for the benches as well, etc. Maybe the new seats McCourt put in would make it impossible.
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
by David Young on Feb 14, 2010 10:50 PM PST up reply actions
I’m thinking the benches can be more in the outfield, so the 16.5 feet will work I think.
The Bowa line cracked me up. :)
by Eric Stephen on Feb 14, 2010 10:54 PM PST up reply actions
Many of the guys on Letsgokings
were hoping that Chavez Ravine would host an outdoor hockey game. There was even a mock up.
Who is Karim Garcia? Who is he to challenge me?
by Who Is Karim Garcia? on Feb 14, 2010 9:42 PM PST reply actions
That does look pretty sweet. More importantly, how do your fists feel about it?
by Eric Stephen on Feb 14, 2010 9:46 PM PST up reply actions
Sarah Morris says Brian Giles should leadoff in games Furcal doesn’t start.
There’s something seriously wrong with that statement.
That should work great ...
if Giles is allowed a designated runner
by 68elcamino427 on Feb 14, 2010 10:10 PM PST up reply actions
GIles is not Thome
if the knee is fine he’d probably make a decent lead off hitter. No different then those who advocated Martin as a lead off hitter. Until last year Giles probably had a higher OBP then anyone on the team other then Manny. If the knee is not fine he probably doesn’t make the team. Still has a career .400 OBP even after last year.
For that matter the bench guys of Minky, Carroll, and Giles might all be better lead off hitters then Furcal. Only problem is, they are bench players. If Furcal cannot improve on last year he will be a lousy lead off hitter since his OBP game and speed game would be below average for a lead off guy.
I'm not thrilled with this teams lead off options
Maybe I’ll do a write on it but Furcal is going to get the gig and whoever replaces him will probably get it.
You think Nick Green or Angel Berroa or Alfredo Amezaga will bat leadoff on days they are playing SS in Furcal’s place?
by Eric Stephen on Feb 15, 2010 8:13 AM PST up reply actions
Torre operates on keeping a set schedule for the most part. He kept Kemp batting 7th and 8th for most of the season because he didn’t want to break a good thing.
70 starts (batting 7-8-9) isn’t most of the season.
We don’t really have any pattern to go off regarding Torre and leadoff that supports your theory because for the most part, if it hasn’t been Furcal, it has been Pierre. The only time he didn’t have both (July 2008) is was Kemp. Then, after Manny came aboard and Furcal was still hurt, Martin batted leadoff for a 3-week stretch.
It will be Kemp or Martin IMO at leadoff if Furcal isn’t playing.
by Eric Stephen on Feb 15, 2010 8:23 AM PST up reply actions
Amezaga for sure
Remember Joe doesn’t like to shake up lineups when guys are resting. Different if they are hurt and going to be gone long but otherwise if he likes his lineup he doesn’t like moving them around when he gives a guy a day of rest.
I actually wouldn’t mind Kemp batting lower in the order if it meant that it helped him keep his plate discipline.
Kemp batting 2nd for the last two months were a boom and bust player who forgot what a walk looked like.
Kemp only batted 2nd just 13 times in the last two months, and not once after September 14. In those games, Kemp hit .308/.351/.462.
by Eric Stephen on Feb 15, 2010 8:28 AM PST up reply actions
What I'm saying is
that Tripon may not be right about the batting 2nd but he is dead right about Kemp losing the plate discipline during those two months. He only walked 12 times in Aug/Sept/Oct combined compared to the 12 walks he garnered in July where he was doing his best work of the season.
I am concerned about Kemp’s lack of plate discipline the final two months, but batting 2nd had nothing to do with it.
by Eric Stephen on Feb 15, 2010 8:58 AM PST up reply actions
Ignoring the 48 games during the Manny suspension when Pierre batted leadoff, Furcal got nine days of rest.
In those days, here were the leadoff men:
Pierre 5
Kemp 1
Martin 1
Hudson 1
DeWitt 1
Castro or Hu batted 7th or 8th in every game but the DeWitt start, when DeWitt played SS.
I don’t see a pattern, other than Torre not putting Furcal’s backup into the leadoff role.
by Eric Stephen on Feb 15, 2010 8:32 AM PST up reply actions
Well
I would answer that Pierre was of course the logical lead off man for when Rafy sat.
This year we don’t have another natural lead off hitter, so based on the question asked I could easily see Joe just using whoever is replacing Rafy. It would be simple if Carroll could play SS since he’d be the best option in the 1st place.
My point is this is all just speculation. Furcal rarely sits, but the data we do have sans Pierre is that 3 out of 4 times Torre did not use Furcal’s backup as his leadoff man. So I’m wondering where the presumed Torre pattern is coming from.
by Eric Stephen on Feb 15, 2010 8:45 AM PST up reply actions
Perception
from the past that when someone like Casey Blake sat down, he was replaced in the lineup at the same spot. Maybe it goes all the way back to the Shea Hillenbrand days. Maybe it was never true, but I do seem to recall commentators complaining about lineup spots on days players were being rested.
And I have this
vague recollection of Torre being asked about it and he responded that he didn’t like to move guys around in the lineup if he thought they were comfortable.
The perception seems to be wrong though. Blake started 131 games last year.
Out of the 31 games he didn’t start, his replacement batted in his batting order spot only five times.
by Eric Stephen on Feb 15, 2010 8:52 AM PST up reply actions
I would too. Depends on the mind set though. My first thought would be that you don’t want to weaken two positions instead of 1. If Furcal is out, that means you have already weakened your starting lineup such that Berroa or someone like that is in the starting lineup. To get Giles in there, that means taking out one of our outfielders, just so we can have a “lead off” hitter. I don’t see the sense in it. Start the rest of your lineup, and then put Kemp in the lead off spot.
Unless, the Dodgers have won the first 2 games of a 3 game set, and Torre will go all house money, then Giles can lead off all he wants….
by Michael White on Feb 15, 2010 8:13 AM PST up reply actions
I hope the divorce
brings out plenty of information. Could very well be that we’ll find that Frank McCourt has not been very upfront on the Dodger financial issues. I’m certainly not picking a dog in this fight until I read court information, could very well be that Jamie would be a better bet for our future. We do know several things about Frank. He has not spent money in player development that a team with this revenue stream should be spending, he has cheaped out on trading our prospects for salary relief, he has cheaped out when arbitration was the right decision. His answers to Jon in the interview did nothing to make me believe different.
He has spent money on improving Dodger Stadium. He’s a developer, that is what they do. Those of us who don’t sit in the first level would rather he spent that money on the team.
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