Morrow to Bullpen?

[DuckDuckGose]

If you're also incorporating Chappy's suggestion, you're looking at a $150-160M payroll (depending on the cost of Melky, Janssen and Lind). They're at $136M this year.

 

He was suggesting cutting ~$17M in salary which would theoretically cover it except for some salary increases across the roster. The biggest difference is the backloaded deals originally signed by MIA reach their full payout (Reyes $22M, Buehrle $20M) next season, The Jays will be paying $7M more for those two players than in 2014.

[Chappy]

If you're also incorporating Chappy's suggestion, you're looking at a $150-160M payroll (depending on the cost of Melky, Janssen and Lind). They're at $136M this year.

 

Lind has a $7.5M option, he is making $7M this year, so it's a $500k increase if the option gets picked up, if not then a $6.5M reduction compared to the 2014 payroll. Sergio Santos is making $3.75M this season and a $750k buyout, so that's a $3M reduction. Happ is making $5.2M with no buyout, so that all comes off the books. Morrow is making $8M this year and has a $1M buyout, so that's a 7M savings. Rasmus is making $7M this year and he is a FA. Melky is making $8M and is also a FA. Janssen is at $4M and a FA.

 

If all contracts come off the books we would see a $40.2M reduction in payroll compared to the 2014 payroll. That's not counting arbitration eligible players and increases through signed contracts. It probably leaves $25M max leftover which isn't a lot, but at the end of the 2015 season, we see even more significant payroll coming off with guys like Buehrle, Izturis, Navarro and Dickey(has an option). That is another $35M in savings compared to the 2015 payroll. That is not counting the options to Bautista and EE which I assume would be picked up unless something drastic happens.

 

There is room for AA to get creative with some deals and probably keep payroll around the $140M mark.

[Chappy]

I'd rather try to move Rasmus for some pitching this season. Although there is no chance I'd let him walk without offering the QO offer. The guy/team I'd try to target is Jon Niese/the NYM. They desperately need another OF'er and have an abundance of pitching. It would take resigning Rasmus and some pitching going the other way as well I would imagine.

 

Most of us would like to see that, but I doubt it happens. Rasmus probably sees a QO.