Numbers

[JohnU]

Empty seats will just make it cheaper because Votto and Bailey are lifers.
That's about $300M those two are owed over the next 300 years.

 

[Redsfan1507]

They used to say, you can always lose cheaper. Not sure that's always true these days, when teams eat $80M of a guys contract just so some other team will take him in trade. I guess the bottom line is if Votto is 20% of the $100M payroll, and Bailey is another 15%, that means the other 23 players have to split the $65M that's left over. That's an average of just $2.8M/yr. each. The MLB (and team)average is $4M/yr.

Thats not all the story- in reality Bruce, Phillips, others make a lot more than $2.8M, leaving a lot less for everyone else, but you get my point.

$2.8M doesn't buy even an average player these days, unless he's a pre-arbitration eligible youngster. I'd say, the Reds better be growing a bunch of them, and turning them over before they get trapped into a non trade able contract. Just like Cueto I suppose, except if we were going to finish 4th last year and this year, I would have rather traded Cueto for three future players last year, than whatever they get at the trade deadline this year.

 

[Redsfan1507]

What would the BRM cost in today's payroll ? Just the starting 8 might easily be $150-$175M.

 

[JohnU]

It does seem to make sense when you think of it, Cueto winning 20 games last year still gave the Reds 4th place. Had he been replaced by somebody who won ... say 10 games, they'd have still finished 4th or 5th. And coming into this year, Cueto -- even if he wins 20 again -- will not mean the Reds are any better off than they were a year ago.

 

[JohnU]

If Hamtilton worked on his bunting in the winter, he was told not to show it.

 

[JohnU]

Phillips applauded for great baserunning? Yeah, right.