Sox Payroll Breakdown

[Kimmi]

And now he's got Brian Bannister, who seems to be gaining a reputation as quite the pitching guru, to go to work on these reclamation projects.

 

One of the best personnel moves the Sox have made in recent years.

[Kimmi]

In the dark part of my mind I can't help thinking there's a panic option built in here somewhere too.

 

I wouldn't have believed it if you told me this at the beginning of the off season, but with pitchers and catchers reporting in less than 2 weeks, I'm starting to think that maybe Dombrowski really is going to go with what we currently have.

 

The panic option may very well be adding a reliever or two before the trade deadline.

[Kimmi]

If there is a spending limit - which is not unreasonable - one has to wonder why Steven Pearce became a higher priority than re-stocking the bullpen.

 

Unless the plan to reset after 2019. Pearce took a one year deal, so he has no impact. DD probably (correctly) figured he would not be able to get Kimbrel or Miller or Britton or Ottavio etc. on a one year deal.

 

But even then, Strickland and Allen both took one year deals. Which makes me think that he prioritized Pearce over the bullpen simply because he did not plan to spend on the bullpen. Like I said before, this is not a new approach for him...

 

Personally, I would prioritize spending on Pearce over spending on the bullpen.

[Kimmi]

Exactly!!!

 

Unless there is no spending limit and DD is just operating under his own constraints. Then it makes sense. It might not be the smartest approach, but at least I can see why...

 

Nope. Not buying that.

[moonslav59]

The panic option may very well be adding a reliever or two before the trade deadline.

 

Why would holding off until the deadline to get more bang for your buck be a "panic move?"

 

I think it might be our most effective option remaining.

 

Have the best team by the playoffs.

 

I know winning the division is very important, but look what we've got in mid season deals the last 2 years:

 

Eovaldi

Pearce

Kinsler

 

Nunez

Reed

[Kimmi]

The panic option may very well be adding a reliever or two before the trade deadline.

 

Why would holding off until the deadline to get more bang for your buck be a "panic move?"

 

I think it might be our most effective option remaining.

 

Have the best team by the playoffs.

 

I know winning the division is very important, but look what we've got in mid season deals the last 2 years:

 

Eovaldi

Pearce

Kinsler

 

Nunez

Reed

 

I don't think it's a panic move. I probably should have put 'panic move' in quotes, as I was just referencing Bellhorn's use of the phrase in the post that I was replying to.

 

I actually think waiting would be a smart idea.

[Kimmi]

The panic option may very well be adding a reliever or two before the trade deadline.

 

Why would holding off until the deadline to get more bang for your buck be a "panic move?"

 

I think it might be our most effective option remaining.

 

Have the best team by the playoffs.

 

I know winning the division is very important, but look what we've got in mid season deals the last 2 years:

 

Eovaldi

Pearce

Kinsler

 

Nunez

Reed

 

And yes, I agree that Dombrowski's midseason moves are among his finest.

[moonslav59]

And yes, I agree that Dombrowski's midseason moves are among his finest.

 

Here is what we gave up for Eovaldi, Pearce (plus some cash), Nunez, Reed & Kinsler (with some cash):

 

Ty Buttrey, Jalon Beeks, Shaun Anderson, Jamie Callahan, Gerson Bautista, Stephen Nogosek, Gregory Santos, Santiago Espinal, Williams Jerez

 

(On a side note: I think the cash we got along with Pearce and Kinsler was an attempt to stay under the max line. I think us going over by such a small amount may have been a miscalculation by the Sox.)

 

[notin]

Here is what we gave up for Eovaldi, Pearce (plus some cash), Nunez, Reed & Kinsler (with some cash):

 

Ty Buttrey, Jalon Beeks, Shaun Anderson, Jamie Callahan, Gerson Bautista, Stephen Nogosek, Gregory Santos, Santiago Espinal, Williams Jerez

 

(On a side note: I think the cash we got along with Pearce and Kinsler was an attempt to stay under the max line. I think us going over by such a small amount may have been a miscalculation by the Sox.)

 

 

 

Or somebody reaching an incentive clause.

 

I will say it might be better to have Ty Buttrey right now. And I was never a Ty Buttrey fan, despite his awesomely smooth name...

[moonslav59]

 

I will say it might be better to have Ty Buttrey right now. And I was never a Ty Buttrey fan, despite his awesomely smooth name...

 

It would be nice to have Buttrey now, assuming he what he showed for a brief sample size last year, but look at what we got from the 5 players for those 5 partial seasons.

 

To me, it looks like a steal.

 

[moonslav59]

Or somebody reaching an incentive clause.

 

Somebody they didn't foresee getting it?

 

I think we went over by $300K. I think a mistake was made, but it's all so complicated with pro-rated ML -minor league salaries, bonuses, etc...

[Nick]

Let's look at bullpen situation from another perspective.

 

Chris Sale came in to close out the world series.

 

Are we REALLY COMFORTABLE spending $17M (actual cost of $23M+) on Kimbrel? Really? The guy that struggled mightily to locate in September/October?

 

It doesn't make me feel any better. Matter of fact, it makes me feel worse knowing we may be stuck with $17M for 3/4 years. Now that's the nightmare.

 

Kimmi is ALWAYS THE VOICE OF REASON HERE. I'll have what she's having.

Edited February 3, 2019 by Nick

[moonslav59]

Let's all have a round of Kimmi's lager.

[Kimmi]

Here is what we gave up for Eovaldi, Pearce (plus some cash), Nunez, Reed & Kinsler (with some cash):

 

Ty Buttrey, Jalon Beeks, Shaun Anderson, Jamie Callahan, Gerson Bautista, Stephen Nogosek, Gregory Santos, Santiago Espinal, Williams Jerez

 

(On a side note: I think the cash we got along with Pearce and Kinsler was an attempt to stay under the max line. I think us going over by such a small amount may have been a miscalculation by the Sox.)

 

 

It is interesting that they went over the max line by such a small amount. It's possible that it was a miscalculation, but I imagine that they have people on this with a fine tooth comb, even knowing exactly who they can sign at the deadline without going over. If there was a miscalculation, it was really a gross error.

[jacksonianmarch]

It is interesting that they went over the max line by such a small amount. It's possible that it was a miscalculation, but I imagine that they have people on this with a fine tooth comb, even knowing exactly who they can sign at the deadline without going over. If there was a miscalculation, it was really a gross error.

 

A gross and very important error. 10 spots in the draft may not hurt them in terms of the player they select (at that range, they may get the same guy they'd have wanted at 30) but the loss of nearly $500K in draft funds is big. It will harm their ability to get the post round 10 higher bonus signees or keep them from taking a signability case in round 2

[Kimmi]

Let's look at bullpen situation from another perspective.

 

Chris Sale came in to close out the world series.

 

Are we REALLY COMFORTABLE spending $17M (actual cost of $23M+) on Kimbrel? Really? The guy that struggled mightily to locate in September/October?

 

It doesn't make me feel any better. Matter of fact, it makes me feel worse knowing we may be stuck with $17M for 3/4 years. Now that's the nightmare.

 

Kimmi is ALWAYS THE VOICE OF REASON HERE. I'll have what she's having.

 

Big contracts for closers are almost never a good idea, even if there weren't other signs to give us reason to be wary of Kimbrel. I think $17 mil too much for any closer, even on a one year deal. That said, I'd rather overpay with a higher AAV for one year, than to overpay with too many years.

 

And I'm having coffee with white chocolate raspberry cream. Good stuff.

[Bellhorn04]

A gross and very important error. 10 spots in the draft may not hurt them in terms of the player they select (at that range, they may get the same guy they'd have wanted at 30) but the loss of nearly $500K in draft funds is big. It will harm their ability to get the post round 10 higher bonus signees or keep them from taking a signability case in round 2

 

But they did win the World Series, so, you know, I think I've seen worse mistakes.

[Kimmi]

A gross and very important error. 10 spots in the draft may not hurt them in terms of the player they select (at that range, they may get the same guy they'd have wanted at 30) but the loss of nearly $500K in draft funds is big. It will harm their ability to get the post round 10 higher bonus signees or keep them from taking a signability case in round 2

 

You don't have to convince me. Despite the constant posts about how the Sox can afford it, I have always felt like the penalties incurred by going over the max line, or by going over any line for more than 2 consecutive years is harmful, even the loss of the 10 draft spots.

 

Operating in such a manner is just not good business sense. Frankly, I was very surprised that Henry was willing to go over that max line for even one year.

[Kimmi]

But they did win the World Series, so, you know, I think I've seen worse mistakes.

 

Yes, thank goodness it all worked out. We could have just as easily not won the World Series.

[Bellhorn04]

Yes, thank goodness it all worked out. We could have just as easily not won the World Series.

 

It's in the books, Kimmi. Your second sentence is a nasty and needless thought.

[Kimmi]

It's in the books, Kimmi. Your second sentence is a nasty and needless thought.

 

Not at all.

 

Your second sentence was a nasty and needless thought.

[notin]

Not at all.

 

Your second sentence was a nasty and needless thought.

 

No need to perpetuate this. Your second sentence was a nasty and needless thought...

[Bellhorn04]

Not at all.

 

Your second sentence was a nasty and needless thought.

 

It's only the thought I was referring to, not you.

[moonslav59]

It is interesting that they went over the max line by such a small amount. It's possible that it was a miscalculation, but I imagine that they have people on this with a fine tooth comb, even knowing exactly who they can sign at the deadline without going over. If there was a miscalculation, it was really a gross error.

 

So, we basically chose to go over by $300K and got penalized 10 draft slots plus the slot money that goes with that?

 

I think a miscalculation was made.

 

We insisted on money from Toronto and TB, of all teams, when we traded for Eovaldi and Pearce.

 

The Sox don't usually demand money back, but to me that was a clear sign we were pinching pennies to stay under the $40M line and not to avoid paying a tax on $2M instead of $300K.

 

 

[moonslav59]

A gross and very important error. 10 spots in the draft may not hurt them in terms of the player they select (at that range, they may get the same guy they'd have wanted at 30) but the loss of nearly $500K in draft funds is big. It will harm their ability to get the post round 10 higher bonus signees or keep them from taking a signability case in round 2

 

Going over by $300K and losing $500K in slot money is further evidence that the Sox probably felt they had squeaked under the line. It might be a factor in trying hard not to make the same miscalculation this year.

[dgalehouse]

Big contracts for closers are almost never a good idea, even if there weren't other signs to give us reason to be wary of Kimbrel. I think $17 mil too much for any closer, even on a one year deal. That said, I'd rather overpay with a higher AAV for one year, than to overpay with too many years.

 

And I'm having coffee with white chocolate raspberry cream. Good stuff.

 

The good stuff , or the more economical store brand ?

[Bellhorn04]

Going over by $300K and losing $500K in slot money is further evidence that the Sox probably felt they had squeaked under the line. It might be a factor in trying hard not to make the same miscalculation this year.

 

Do you, or does anyone here, have a link to the final, official calculation of our 2018 payroll for tax purposes?

[moonslav59]

Do you, or does anyone here, have a link to the final, official calculation of our 2018 payroll for tax purposes?

 

I don't but there were reports that MLB released the numbers and it showed the Sox just barely went over the max line.

 

This article shows we went over the $40M line by $2.5M not the $300K I thought I read some where else.

 

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/only-red-sox-nationals-owe-luxury-tax-in-2018-as-mlb-teams-combine-for-smallest-bill-in-15-years/

[Bellhorn04]

I don't but there were reports that MLB released the numbers and it showed the Sox just barely went over the max line.

 

This article shows we went over the $40M line by $2.5M not the $300K I thought I read some where else.

 

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/only-red-sox-nationals-owe-luxury-tax-in-2018-as-mlb-teams-combine-for-smallest-bill-in-15-years/

 

The $2.5 million figure is the correct figure.

The $300 K is full of crap.

 

I worked it out myself. To pay $11,951,091 in tax we needed to be over by $42,481,746.

 

$20,000,000 * 20% = $4,000,000

$20,000,000 * 32% = $6,400,000

$2,481,746 * 62.5% = $1,551,091

[moonslav59]

The $2.5 million figure is the correct figure.

The $300 K is full of crap.

 

I worked it out myself. To pay $11,951,091 in tax we needed to be over by $42,481,746.

 

$20,000,000 * 20% = $4,000,000

$20,000,000 * 32% = $6,400,000

$2,481,746 * 62.5% = $1,551,091

 

I'm not sure where I got the $300K number. I tried to google it.

 

My apologies.