A couple notes.
1. This isn't intended to predict the 2008 payroll or roster. It's strictly a projected payroll based on the salaries owed to players who are either guaranteed a roster spot or likely to be on the roster. (i.e. Springer, despite the liklihood that he'll be resigned, is not included at this point.)
2. Salaries in italics are estimated (usually a little high) until we get salary assignment figures for those players.
3. Ankiel, Maroth, and Miles are both arb eligible (I believe), so I gave them salaries that are reflective of possible arb amounts.
4. We will be able to cut some payroll by DFA'ing players that are arb eligible, including Maroth.
Player notes:
* Taguchi has a very reasonable buyout ($100k or so) that I think should be taken.
* Gary Bennett can opt out of his option if he wants.
* There are more players that will be called up, but that's part of normal operating costs. There's no way to project that right now.
The PostDispatch stated recently that the club was looking at a $105 or more payroll. By my math, that gives us $10-$12 million to spend, with obvious holes at SP and SS.
Imo, we're going to have to either move some salary or significantly raise payroll to make any substantial improvements to this club. It's much bleaker than last year when I felt like we had plenty of salary room and didn't raise payroll.
Take this for what it is... a projection. I will update it as significant moves are made and the roster becomes clearer.
