http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/baseb...reports/nd3gX/
New stadium, upping payroll (cautiously), we need this number to keep rising for our team to stay competitive.
http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/baseb...reports/nd3gX/
New stadium, upping payroll (cautiously), we need this number to keep rising for our team to stay competitive.
Ivermectin Man
thethe (03-03-2014)
If Liberty plays their cards right the revenues could explode even more. The new stadium has changed EVERYTHING for this orgnaization. Its amazing to me how quiet it was kept under wraps.
The organization needs to sign Heyward long term. Take another big step into showing the fans that this is a team that you can root for long term.
Natural Immunity Croc
In light of this and the new national TV deal kicking in, payroll has gone up by a surprisingly small amount this year. And Wren is operating as if there is a significant constraint in 2015. It is disappointing that near-term payrolls (2014 & 2015) are apparently not going up more.
The optimist possibility is that Wren will have more flexibility for a mid-season deal. We'll see.
I wonder if Wren is holding his bullets to make a Heyward/Upton extension workable. Basically saying to ownership that we aren't going to spend this money now because quite frankly they don't need to. But, we will need it in the future when we want to keep the rest of the core together.Originally Posted by nsacpi
Natural Immunity Croc
Hopefully it will be enough to keep the team competitive until this TV deal expires which I think is 2027.
zitothebrave (03-03-2014)
Personally, I'm glad the Braves aren't letting the money burn a hole in their pocket (eg. Phildelphia and the absurd Burnett contract). If a situation arises where the team needs to throw down, they will. Until then, Wren stays active on the International front (Bello, and maybe Diaz) and continues to negotiate extensions on the homefront. Smart play.
The Burnett deal isnt that absurd, honestly.
It makes the team better in 2014 which is what I'm guessing they are aiming for. No real chance to be contenders unless a lot of things go their way but I believe their TV deal expires this year so they will be negotiating a new deal and the better the team is playing I'm sure the better deal they will get.
It is to me. Especially when you consider the terms of the option and the fact that Philadelphia didn't need him to begin with.
Last edited by Hawk; 03-03-2014 at 12:35 PM.
Why didnt they need him?
it's projected rotation was : Lee/Hamels/Kendrick/MAG/?
Because they aren't going to win in 2014.
With the money they will pay Burnett ($30MM over two years, or $23.5 if Philadelphia declines their 2015 mutual option and Burnett accepts his end) they could've gone after a Matt Garza or Ubaldo Jimenez. Best case scenario they pay Burnett $16MM for one year of mediocrity. Not exactly a great value.
Last edited by Hawk; 03-03-2014 at 03:29 PM.
Probably signed him as MAG insurance and early reports are he isn't impressing. Not sure if him starting the year in the minors is an option or not....
Ivermectin Man
The Phillies are in need of a rebuilding project. Signing Garza or Ubaldo to multiple years isn't really the way to go. 1 year contracts like AJ are so you aren't tied down to even more money. Garza or Ubaldo wouldn't help them win this year. Or the next two or three years either.
Tell that to their GM, he's one of the few who does not understand that.
Yeah his comments make him seem pretty delusional.
I was not advocating that the Phils should've signed Garza/Ubaldo per se, just saying that the money could've been allocated to a fatter cow.
AJ's contract isn't exactly a one year and done proposition. The option is sticky, as are the incentive clauses, and the partial no-trade clause.
They also jumped the gun and signed Marlon Byrd to a 2/16 deal. Nelson Cruz signed for 1/8.
It's similar to us getting too big a jump on Bossman (though our mistake is more critical). Still, Amaro has shown little competence in any area.
Maybe a better free agent comes along next year or the year after to use that money for? I just don't see the harm in this deal. They needed another quality starter and they got one without it being long term. Doesn't really matter if they are contenders or not.
Cruz isn't really that good of a player. Hasn't been over 1 WAR in a few years. I suspect Byrd and Cruz will be pretty similar in 2014. Although I wouldn't want to go 2 years with Byrd.
The Phillies wealth isn't infinite. If they spend $24MM on Burnett that money doesn't magically return once he's departed. The team is flush, no doubt, but with the way they have performed the last couple of years CBP isn't exactly the mint anymore. As I've said several times this offseason, instead of wasting money on washed up mediocrity (Chooch Ruiz/Byrd) and old pitchers (Burnett) why not invest it your player development system or international operations? Or just save it for a rainy day? (Or just sign good players).
You are right: Burnett does not 'hurt' Philly, but his contract is an unequivocal waste of resources as are virtually all of Amaro's moves.
Last edited by Hawk; 03-03-2014 at 08:39 PM.
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