Cub payroll expected to be $125-130 million

[JohnBriggs12]

According to Bruce Levine on ESPN1000, the Cubs will increase their payroll significantly to the $125-130 million range. They are hot after Fukodome and a Japanese pitcher too. Levine also expects ticket prices at Wrigley to go up around 25%.

[colbyjack]

I think it was Brewer Fever a year ago that loudly stated the Cubs payroll would continue to rise.

 

And it wouldn't be surprising to see it reach the $125-130 range, since their payroll was already at $100M, and raises to Zambrano, Soriano, Ramirez, Lilly, Marquis, Jones and even Henry Blanco is going to cost the team an additional $18M. Throw in someone like Fukudome for $10M and someone like Kuroda, and you're easily in the $125-130 range.

 

After years of having the Tribune Co. suppress spending they sure are making up for lost time.

[sbrylski]

I won't get really nervous until they start showing they can spend it wisely. Not that they've been bad spenders, but they haven't been pulling off great deals either.

[Jopal78]

After years of having the Tribune Co. suppress spending they sure are making up for lost time.

Maybe it is because the Tribune is selling the Cubs and they won't be around to pay the salaries when guys like Soriano are pushing 40 and still under contract. Also, the Cubs already have 14 players with guaranteed multi-year deals, which as pointed out, will increase payroll from last year. Plus, they want to bring back Kerry Wood (who certainly will demand at least triple his 1.75 million dollar salary in '07). The Tribune is going to get out from under the mess Hendry is making, and maybe they view it as being the new owner's problem so why not spend to beat the band, after all it is the 100 year anniversary in 2008.

[craigharmann]

Why not, then, if their 100 year anniversary is 2008, have their payroll be $100 billion? Then they're assured of winning, right?

[homer]

They are planning on using Wood as closer. Seems odd given the fact he needs about 40 pitches to warm up. I don't see why they don't use Howry or Marmol.

[LS Brewer]

Let their payroll continue to expand. It will make it that much better when we beat them.

[TooLiveBrew]

Jopal78 wrote:

Maybe it is because the Tribune is selling the Cubs and they won't be around to pay the salaries when guys like Soriano are pushing 40 and still under contract. Also, the Cubs already have 14 players with guaranteed multi-year deals, which as pointed out, will increase payroll from last year. Plus, they want to bring back Kerry Wood (who certainly will demand at least triple his 1.75 million dollar salary in '07). The Tribune is going to get out from under the mess Hendry is making, and maybe they view it as being the new owner's problem so why not spend to beat the band, after all it is the 100 year anniversary in 2008.

Exactly, jopal. The only augmentation I'd make is that, in addition to it no longer being the Tribune Co.'s problem, the added 'stars' help increase the value of the franchise for any future sale. Watching a 36+ y.o. Soriano get paid $18 mil. is going to be sweet.

[danzig6767]

They are planning on using Wood as closer. Seems odd given the fact he needs about 40 pitches to warm up. I don't see why they don't use Howry or Marmol.

 

IMO they are smart to not use Marmol as the closer. One of the big reasons they won the division is having Marmol available to snuff out potential dangerous situations in the 6th/7th.8th innings instead of restricting his usage to only the 9th inning when they had the lead of three runs or less.

As for their payroll going up, i can't see anything good about that as a Brewers fan. Sure they may spend cash poorly, but they just as well could spend it smartly and make them tougher to beat.

 

[davemakovec]

re: Carlos Marmol - in my opinion, he was used the way a "closer" should be used - the best reliever in the most high-leverage situations. When the bases are juiced with two outs and Albert Pujols is at the plate, the Cubs definitely want Marmol in there. I like the strategy, myself.

 

I also think it will last until he "proves" himself (aka has a couple of years under his belt) and then gets put into the ironclad closer's role of only the ninth inning with a lead of three runs or less.

[Baldkin]

I agree with using Wood as a closer.

 

How many times did Coco come in this year when he wouldn't have been able to have 30+ pitches to warm up?

 

3? 4?

 

I wish that the 'crew could use their closer in the highest leverage situations instead of always pitching them for 3 outs in the 9th... I hate to say it but I envy the Cubs and their situation with Marmol.

[Oldcity]

Agreed. Every team should use their closer the way the Cubs used Marmol.

[JohnBriggs12]

I hear Howry will be the closer, Wood will be the 8th inning guy and Marmol will continue in the same role he was in last year.

 

Marmol was the difference maker for the Cubs. Had he been on the Brewers, they win going away.

[kmcasper23]

Can they spend more money on free agents considering the team is up for sale? Didn't MLB block the Jacque Jones trade stating that they could not make that move while the team was up for sale? I am just curious if there are rules against them taking on more salaries before a new owner actually purchase the team?

[kgbaseball]

Supposedly, they're going to make a "serious" run at Kaz Matsui. PLEASE, PLEASE do that, Mr. Hendry, I beg of you. Jump all over Matsui, who is only being considered because he had a nice run in the playoffs. Please sign him to a 10 year, $80 million contract and be cursed for another 100 years. If they got Matsui, Mark DeRosa (who I like a lot) would be a utility player again.

[Fatter than Joey]

Marmol will continue in the same role he was in last year.

 

Oh Carp.

[Team Canada]

http://pond.dnr.cornell.edu/nyfish/Cyprinidae/common_carp.jpg