It has been mentioned many times by people that the Cubs will have significant money coming off their roster after the 2011 season. Because of that, reporters, columnists, and fans have all stated that the Cubs might be in the best position to sign Albert Pujols before the 2012 season.
Are the Cubs actually in a good position after this season is over? And how do they match up with the rest of the division as far as contract obligations over the next two off-seasons?
Well, let's take a look at the charts for each team in the NL Central (except the Pirates, who don't really count).
Astros:
Player | 2012 | 2013 |
Lee | $19.00 | FA |
Rodriguez | $10.50 | $13.50 |
Myers | $12.00 | $3.00 |
Pence | Arb 3 | Arb 4 |
Lyon | $5.50 | FA |
Bourn | Arb 3 | FA |
Hall | $0.25 | |
Keppinger | Arb 3 | FA |
Quintero | Arb 4 | FA |
Figueroa | Arb 2 | Arb 3 |
Rowland-Smith | Arb 2 | Arb 3 |
Happ | Arb 1 | Arb 2 |
Fulchino | Arb 1 | Arb 2 |
Towles | Arb 1 | Arb 2 |
Arias | Arb 1 | Arb 2 |
TOTAL | $47.25 | $16.50 |
Brewers:
Player | 2012 | 2013 |
Greinke | $13.50 | FA |
Wolf | $9.50 | $1.50 |
Hart | $9.33 | $10.33 |
Weeks | $11.00 | $11.00 |
Betancourt | $2.00 | |
Braun | $6.29 | $8.79 |
Marcum | Arb 3 | FA |
Gallardo | $5.75 | $8.00 |
Gomez | Arb 3 | Arb 4 |
Loe | Arb 3 | FA |
Parra | Arb 2 | Arb 3 |
Green | Arb 3 | FA |
Nieves | Arb 3 | FA |
McGehee | Arb 1 | Arb 2 |
Stetter | Arb 1 | Arb 2 |
Dickerson | Arb 1 | Arb 2 |
Kottaras | Arb 1 | Arb 2 |
TOTAL | $57.37 | $39.62 |
Cardinals:
Player | 2012 | 2013 |
Holliday | $17.00 | $17.00 |
Carpenter | $1.00 | |
Lohse | $12.19 | FA |
Westbrook | $8.50 | opt |
Wainwright | $9.00 | $12.00 |
Molina | $0.75 | |
Theriot | Arb 3 | FA |
Schumaker | Arb 3 | FA |
McClellan | Arb 2 | Arb 3 |
Cox | $0.85 | $0.95 |
Rasmus | Arb 1 | Arb 2 |
Motte | Arb 1 | Arb 2 |
Garcia | Arb 2 | Arb 3 |
TOTAL | $49.29 | $29.95 |
Cubs:
Player | 2012 | 2013 |
Soriano | $19.00 | $19.00 |
Zambrano | $19.00 | opt |
Ramirez | $2.00 | |
Dempster | $14.00 | FA |
Silva | $2.00 | |
Garza | Arb 3 | Arb 4 |
Byrd | $6.50 | FA |
Marmol | $7.00 | $9.80 |
Soto | Arb 2 | Arb 3 |
Marshall | $3.10 | FA |
Baker | Arb 3 | FA |
Hill | Arb 3 | FA |
Wells | Arb 1 | Arb 2 |
DeWitt | Arb 1 | Arb 2 |
Perez | Arb 1 | Arb 2 |
TOTAL | $72.60 | $28.80 |
Reds:
Player | 2012 | 2013 |
Cordero | $1.00 | |
Arroyo | $12.00 | $11.50 |
Phillips | $1.00 | |
Rolen | $8.17 | FA |
Votto | $11.50 | $19.00 |
Chapman | $4.71 | $4.71 |
Cueto | $5.40 | $7.40 |
Bruce | $5.08 | $7.54 |
Volquez | Arb 2 | Arb 3 |
Masset | Arb 3 | Arb 4 |
Alonso | $1.40 | |
Cairo | $1.00 | FA |
Lewis | Arb 2 | Arb 3 |
Grandal | ||
Burton | Arb 3 | Arb 4 |
Bray | Arb 2 | Arb 3 |
Bailey | Arb 1 | Arb 2 |
Hanigan | Arb 1 | Arb 2 |
Herrera | Arb 1 | Arb 2 |
Janish | Arb 1 | Arb 2 |
TOTAL | $51.26 | $50.19 |
The Reds have a lot of young talent...and now they are going to have to pay the price for it. They have more money owed for 2013 than any other team in the division. They have contract buyouts for Cordero and Phillips, if they pick up the options on both of those guys, that will add $22 million to that total for 2012. What will they do with Edinson Volquez? Will they go the Brewers route and try to sign him to a deal to buy out the rest of his arbitration years and a couple of his free agency years? This is a smaller market team and they may have a hard time maintaining deeply talented roster. A couple of injuries will set this franchise back significantly. Even if the rest of the roster does produce, Dusty will figure out a way to make the whole thing just fall apart.
*******************
Conclusion:
Despite all the money coming off the books for the Cubs in 2012, they still have a rather large payroll obligation to this point for just a few players. The Cardinals could be headed for some tight financial times. e The Brewers seem setup for make a good run for the next 3 years, especially if they can find some way to keep Prince Fielder. They might be better of letting him go, though and focus more on extending Zack Greinke. The Reds are sitting on a fence and could go the way of the Brewers if they make some wise moves, or the way of the Cardinals if they spend their money in the wrong places. Houston will have a lot of money and they'll need it because they have the most holes to fill. I didn't really figure in the Pirates because, frankly, they have practically no significant payroll obligations. Andrew McCutchen will be due money soon...hopefully the Pirates pay him because those fans desperately need something to cheer for.
For us Cubs fans, it is important to note that the Cubs don't appear to be in bad shape, especially with the revenues available, once 2011 is over. We just need to hope for one of two things to happen after this season. Either the young players have to step up and become the true leaders of this team, or we have to trust Jim Hendry (or whoever the GM at the time is) will make some solid veteran pickups.
Thanks to Cot's Baseball Contracts which I used for the payroll data.