Today the Pirates announced that they avoided arbitration with Neil Walker and James McDonald, clearing their arbitration slate. Walker settled at $3.3 mill and JMac at $3.025 mill. Both were the midpoints of their filing numbers. This should effectively give us the Pirates payroll for the year. The question is, what is it?
I follow several Pirates reporters and there seems to be a discrepancy in projected payroll. Bill Brink over at the Post Gazette believes it is $75 million currently with Liriano's deal making it above $80 million. On the other hand, Tim Williams of Pirates Prospects has it currently at $68.3 million with Liriano pushing it near $75 million. Although I usually disagree with Tim, I respect his work and tend to side with him here. He has a chart with all of the salaries and is usually spot on with money projections. I don't know where Bill is getting that extra money but I think he miscalculated. So say when it's all said and done we're near $75 mill. That's a solid number for the Pirates but I still think it's a bit too much.
Trading Garrett Jones could be an option again as it has been. We have way too many 1B/RF players and we added Brad Hawpe for a tryout (a famous Hurdle boy from the Rockies). His salary could be dumped for more relief help or a good potential prospect. I like the idea of selling high on him, as many of you know, because I think we can get the same value out of a combo of the guys we have already. But with where the Pirates payroll is at, I'd be fine with keeping him too. Or at least more comfortable.
Will the Pirates sign anyone else to affect this payroll? Probably not unless they add some washed up relievers and revitalize their careers (there's one every year). I like where the Pirates are at and I'm exited for pitchers/catchers to report.
UPDATE: Tim replied to my question of the payroll difference on Twitter. He said that his payroll deducts what the Yanks/Astros are paying Burnett and Wandy. That makes sense now for that discrepancy.
All Pirates all the time
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Monday, January 14, 2013
Jeff Karstens is Back in Black (and Gold)
Well, everyone is happy. Jeff Karstens is once again a Pirate. According to reports, he signed a one year $2.5 million contract today. I can't think of a single person who was happy with his non-tender earlier this offseason but now we can all stop worrying and be happy. But does this have more significance?
After this deal, I'm not sure what happens. Does this mean we're now out on Francisco Liriano, Shaun Marcum, and Joe Saunders? I'm inclined to say no but reluctantly... I can't see the Pirates going into a rotation with Karstens as the #4 and a rookie at #5. The rotation was obviously our biggest hole and this really doesn't fix it. It's the same rotation as last year. If they only do this, most Pirates fans will be happy but I'll honestly be pissed. The rotation needs improved. This doesn't improve it.
This is an ideal situation for me. Our payroll is around $63 million with Karstens. I can see a deal like Erik Bedard's working for Liriano. $4 million with about $2 million in performance bonuses. That would put the payroll at $69 million max with the chance to add a reliever or two in February like usual. That'll put the payroll at just about $70 million. Right where it should be. This is an ideal situation for us and it has a high probability of happening. And this is without a possible Garrett Jones trade. This would make a rotation of Burnett, Rodriguez, McDonald, Liriano, Katstens. Then when Cole comes up mid season, Karstens can move to the Correia role.
Overall, this is a great deal for Neal Huntington. Karstens should've been worth $4 million for 1 year according to most bloggers, including myself, and that's what he would've got in arbitration. We got him for $2.5. Neal made a great deal as it stands but if there isn't another pitcher signed, this offseason looks like a failure to me.
After this deal, I'm not sure what happens. Does this mean we're now out on Francisco Liriano, Shaun Marcum, and Joe Saunders? I'm inclined to say no but reluctantly... I can't see the Pirates going into a rotation with Karstens as the #4 and a rookie at #5. The rotation was obviously our biggest hole and this really doesn't fix it. It's the same rotation as last year. If they only do this, most Pirates fans will be happy but I'll honestly be pissed. The rotation needs improved. This doesn't improve it.
This is an ideal situation for me. Our payroll is around $63 million with Karstens. I can see a deal like Erik Bedard's working for Liriano. $4 million with about $2 million in performance bonuses. That would put the payroll at $69 million max with the chance to add a reliever or two in February like usual. That'll put the payroll at just about $70 million. Right where it should be. This is an ideal situation for us and it has a high probability of happening. And this is without a possible Garrett Jones trade. This would make a rotation of Burnett, Rodriguez, McDonald, Liriano, Katstens. Then when Cole comes up mid season, Karstens can move to the Correia role.
Overall, this is a great deal for Neal Huntington. Karstens should've been worth $4 million for 1 year according to most bloggers, including myself, and that's what he would've got in arbitration. We got him for $2.5. Neal made a great deal as it stands but if there isn't another pitcher signed, this offseason looks like a failure to me.
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