Quote:
Originally Posted by Prison Bitch
I believe DM said recently the goal in a small market is to bring up the following each year:
1. Position player
2. Starter
3. Reliever
He has done that most years. last year he didn't unless you include Orlando. He will have to do it this year tho. Guys like Eibner, Zimmer, Almonte almost have to come up because Madson + Young are surely gone and we are really maxing out payroll.
What happens to Vargas' contract? I read it's all covered by insurance if he doesn't pitch. That's a big game-changer (8m) in terms of payroll.
The team did go 26-16 or something like a 97-win pace without Gordon. Something to thjnk about if he really wants 90-100M.
|
I've read the insurance for Vargas covers 75 percent of his deal, so $6 million. That would drop their committed salaries down to about $78 million once Gordon declines his player option, with about $25-30 million for arbitration guys (assuming Holland is allowed to walk, which would be a big arb figure).
That puts KC around $110 million, with about 9-10 players to go get. Those would be:
Starting LF
Starting RF (if you don't go with Dyson/Orlando/etc.)
UTIL IF (Likely filled with Colon)
5th OF (filled internally)
Reserve C (could be filed internally with Francisco Pena, potentially, or by keeping Butera)
SP
BP (long reliever)
BP (middle)
BP (middle)
BP (lefty)
I could see Young returning because I still don't think his free market value will be that high, and even if he is at $3-4 million, that's a pretty valuable swing guy to have on a staff.
Guys like Louis Coleman, Brian Flynn, and perhaps Michael Mariot could fill the other bullpen slots.
So really, the number of guys KC needs to "pay" for is pretty limited.