Below are the Phillies' current salary commitments for 2008:
Players
2B - Chase Utley - 7.5 million
3B - Wes Helms - 2.15 million
SS - Jimmy Rollins - 7 million
LF - Pat Burrell - 14 million
Pitchers
SP - Adam Eaton - 7.635 million
SP - Jamie Moyer - 5.5 million
RP - Tom Gordon - 5.5 million
RP - Brett Myers - 8.5 million
RP - Julio Mateo - 1.5 million (option)
Total money committed = 59.285 million
Arbitration Eligible Players and best guess on their salaries
1B - Ryan Howard - 6 million
RP - Ryan Madson - 2.5 million
OF - Jayson Werth - 2.5 million
Total money for arbitration eligible players = 11 million
Players under Phillies Control
SP - Cole Hamels - 1 million
SP - Kyle Kendrick - 400 K
RP - Mike Zagurski - 400 K
RP - Matt Smith - 400 K
RP - Scott Mathieson - 400 K
OF - Michael Bourn - 400 K
OF - Gregg Dobbs - 400 K
OF - Shane Victorino - 400 K
C - Carlos Ruiz - 400 K
Total money allocated to resign players under control = 4.2 million
Assuming the Phillies bump the payroll to about $100-105 million, that leaves roughly $26-31 million to sign free agents. The most prudent way to use that $26-31 million is to invest in pitching and possibly 3rd base. The Phillies must let Aaron Rowand walk. Below is how I see the Phillies needs:
Assuming Myers stays in the closer role:
SP - Curt Schilling (1 year deal) - $10 million
RP - $3 million
RP - $3 million
RP - J.C. Romero - $3 million
3B - Mike Lowell (only if he'll take a 2 year deal) - $12 million
Ok folks, I didn't get too many picks for spots, so I had to make an executive decision.
There will be a blog get together at McFadden's at the BallPark on Nov 9th at 7PM.
Come one...come all.
Mark
