[Chip R]

Now that the season is winding down, talk turns to what payroll will be for next season. Now I'm in the dark as much as anyone with regards on what the Reds will do next year but what I'm attempting to do with this thread is basically show what the 2008 payroll could be if all players that the Reds do not have an obligation to in 2008 aren't re-signed. I have included Adam Dunn in this list simply because the only obligation the Reds have to him in 2008 is a $500K buyout. Whether or not they will exercise the option doesn't matter as far as this post goes.

This is broken down into 5 sections: 1. Arbitration eligible players (players who have 3-6 years in the big leagues) 2. Arbitration ineligible players (Players with less than 3 years in the majors. 3. Salary increases (players who have over 6 years service time and are signed through next season and will receive a raise for sure) 4. Salary decreases (players with over 6 years service time who can be free agents) 5. No changes in salary (Players who are signed through next season who will receive the same salary)

The 2008 salaries for the arbitration eligible and ineligible players are guesstimates and shouldn't really be too far off in what they will make in reality. There are a lot of players in the arbitration ineligible area and obviously all those guys didn't make what it says they did this year nor will they make what I estimate them to make in 08 because a lot of them will be in the minors. But that's not going to throw off the total by that much either way. I also had them being paid their full salary even if they were here a short time and are on split contracts but are still in the Reds organization. It's too much of a pain to figure out what Brad Salmon made while he was in the major leagues. The $390K figure is the minimum salary next season.

Most of these numbers are from JaxRed's site. It's also crosschecked with ESPN's and Cot's figures. The only salaries that I'll differ on are Jr.'s and Arroyo's. No matter how you slice it, the Reds are laying out $12.5M a year for Jr. And Arroyo's salary for next year includes his bonus. All players included either are or were on the 40 man roster at one time or another this year or were on the payroll last year and the Reds either exercised their buyout (as in Paul Wilson's case) or are paying part of their salary (as in Jason LaRue's case). Let me know if you have any questions or if you think the figures are wrong.

Arbitration Eligible    2007 Salary 2008 Salary                         
Kirk Saarloos           1,200,000   1,750,000                           
Brandon Phillips          407,500   1,800,000                           
Victor Santos             500,000     600,000                           
Matt Belisle              390,000     500,000                           
Total Arb Eligible     $2,497,500  $4,650,000                           
 
Arbitration Ineligible  2007 Salary 2008 Salary                         
Homer Bailey              380,000     400,000                           
Bill Bray                 382,500     400,000                           
Jared Burton              380,000     390,000                           
John Coutlangus           380,000     400,000                           
Phil Dumatrait            380,000     400,000                           
Edwin Encarnacion         407,500     550,000                           
Michael Gosling           380,000     400,000                           
Josh Hamilton             380,000     450,000                           
Norris Hopper             380,000     400,000   
Jeff Keppinger            380,000     400,000   
Bobby Livingston          380,000     400,000   
Pedro Lopez               250,000     390,000   
Gary Majewski             390,000     420,000   
Marcus McBeth             380,000     400,000   
Brad Salmon               380,000     390,000   
Ricky Stone               380,000     450,000   
Joey Votto                      0     390,000   
Total Arb Ineligible   $5,990,000  $7,030,000   
 
Salary Increases        2007 Salary 2008 Salary 
Todd Coffey               400,000     925,000   
Aaron Harang            4,275,000   6,750,000   
David Weathers          2,500,000   2,750,000   
Bronson Arroyo          3,800,000   6,400,000
Ryan Freel              2,650,000   3,000,000
Juan Castro               925,000     975,000
Alex Gonzalez           3,500,000   4,625,000
Mike Stanton            2,750,000   3,000,000
David Ross              1,600,000   2,525,000
Total Salary Increase $22,400,000 $30,950,000
 
Salary Decreases        2007 Salary 2008 Salary
Scott Hatteberg         1,500,000     175,000   
Mark Bellhorn             380,000           0
Jeff Conine             2,000,000           0
Rheal Cormier           2,250,000           0
Chris Denorfia             80,000           0
Adam Dunn              10,500,000     500,000
Eddie Guardado            500,000           0
Jason LaRue             2,950,000           0
Kyle Lohse              2,800,000           0
Eric Milton             9,000,000           0
Chad Moeller              700,000           0
Javier Valentin         1,250,000           0
Paul Wilson               850,000           0
Total Salary Decrease $34,760,000    $675,000
 
No Changes In Salary    2007 Salary 2008 Salary 
Ken Griffey, Jr.       12,500,000  12,500,000
Total No Changes      $12,500,000 $12,500,000
 
Total                 $78,147,500 $55,805,000