2009 Salaries, 2010 Projected

Hey everyone,

Quick rundown of what everybody made in 2009, and what is owed in 2010. This isn't exact obviously with trades and what not, but is generally pretty close.

(Salary in millions of dollars)
Position Name '09 Salary 2010 Salary
SP Suppan 12.75 12.75
CF Cameron 10 FA
3B Hall 6.925 7.15 (Seattle is paying 1.375)
CP Hoffman 6 7.5
C Kendall 5 FA
SP Looper 4.75 6.5 option 1 buyout
SS Hardy 4.65 ARB
RP Riske 4.25 4.5
RF Hart 3.25 ARB
SP Bush 4 ARB
2B Weeks 2.45 ARB
RP McClung 1.6625 ARB
LF Braun .745 1
INF Counsell 1 FA
RP Julio .95 (Released)
RP Coffey .8 ARB
RP Villanueva .477 ARB
SP Parra .426 .426+
C Rivera .415 ARB
SP Gallardo .414 .414+
RP Stetter .4075 .4075+
RP DiFelice .403 .403+
3B McGehee .400 .400+

Midseason Acquisitions
2B Lopez 3.5 FA
RP Weathers 3.5 3.7 option .4 buyout
OF Gerut 1.775 ARB

With assorted other rookies and whatnot on the books, along with portions of signing bonuses being doled out, opening day payroll 2009 was $80m+.

--Here is an explanation of contracts for those of you who don't know--
Players with less than 4 years of service time have contracts decided on by the club. The players listed with a "+" in there '10 column have two or less years of service, and assuming they do not sign a long term deal, will make only marginally more money.

Now players with 4-6 years of service time are eligible for arbitration. This means that unless a salary can be agreed upon my player and team figures will be exchanged and a court will choose one of those two figures. Since Melvin has been GM no arbitration cases have gone to court. There are some players in this service range who have salaries listed, this is because they have signed long term (i.e. Braun, Fielder). Players entering their first arbitration year are typically due large raises (Fielder got about $6.5m more) because they are going from team control to market fairness levels. During these years players may be non-tendered, or simply not offered a contract. If this is done they are free agents and may sign with any team for any amount of money. Players who were making lots of money and then had some down seasons may be non tendered as arbitration allows only a 20% pay cut at most.

Players past 6 years of service time are no longer under team control if they do not have a contract. However, the team they are leaving still has the right to offer the player arbitration. If the player declines they become free agents, if they accept the process is the same as other arbitration eligible players. The tricky part that comes in is that depending on the quality of the player, then can be designated as a type A or B player (most are nothing at all). These designations give draft picks to the team the player leaves; but, the former team only gets the draft picks if they offer the player arbitration. Type A gives the new signing teams 1st or 2nd (depending on standings) round pick to the former team, plus an extra supplemental round pick (between round 1 and 2); a type B is just rewarded the supplemental round pick, with no penalty to the new team. It can be risky to offer players arbitration, as you may end up with paying more salary than you want, or too many players, however it is risked because teams want the extra draft picks.
--End way too long contract system explanation--

Oh man that was long.

The only Brewers free agents who are worthy of a ranking is Mike Cameron and Felipe Lopez, who both look to be type B.
-Cameron will not be offered arbitration, he is currently making $10m, and would get at least a small raise. Way too much money. He has said he would like to come back, and implied that he would take a discount. Maybe not a bad idea as #1 CF prospect for the Brewers in Lorenzo Cain, who is looking like he'll need at least one more season in AAA. If we can resign Cam to maybe something in the 4-5 million range I would be accepting. He still plays plus defense, and can be counted on for .250 avg and 20+hrs.

-Lopez is more interesting. GM Doug Melvin recently reiterated that Rickie Weeks is the Brewers second basemen. However Lopez was signed last year for a reasonable 3.5m, and is coming off of a career season (.310 avg). Seems like the Brewers will take this one up, as I really doubt Lopez would except the offer, and the Crew would come away with an extra pick. But, as always when offering arbitration you need to think of both possibilities. If accepted you get a .300 switch hitter for probably under 5m who can play 2B and SS (though not real well). Picks this deal up.

Because this post is so super long I will come back with a discussion of arbitration eligible players later. I will try to repost some important things, like total salary numbers in every discussion.

That's all for now. I'm spoiling everyone with how much I'm writing. Don't get to used to it, I may actually have something important to do in the future (though probably not).

Brew Up.