Philadelphia Phillies Payroll In 2016 + Contracts Going Forward

The Phillies have not had a winning season since 2011 after putting forth a decade straight of them. A promising second half to the season – couple with full seasons by Aaron Nola and Maikel Franco could have them inch closer back to achieving that mark in the next few years. The management finally started the rebuild halfway through the year – and the financial flexibility in going forward should really be shaped up in a few more years. Philadelphia has $110 MIL in approximate Team Salary already committed for next year. I would keep the course and build through the Draft. Spending money on any premiere Free Agents is a little premature right now. In addition, the club could really trade away anything not nailed down for 2017.

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The Philadelphia should have a payroll of near $110 MIL after Arbitration dollars are handed out next year.  Of that money, Ryan Howard and 3 players (Cole Hamels, Cliff Lee and Chase Utley) rake in $49 MIL of the salary on players that no longer play on the club, or in Howard’s case – are very unproductive.

I love the deals the franchise has made since the Trade Deadline – and even loved some of the Veterans they have picked up for the coming year like Charlie Morton and Jeremy Hellickson.

Between the half a dozen Starters or so they have acquired through trades, and their nice young Starter in Aaron Nola, they now have a promising future in the Rotation.

Mark Appel was also acquired in the Ken Giles trade.  This is a #1 overall pick who may just need some more seasoning in the Minors.

The albatross of a contract is still the Howard $25 MIL on this year’s book and a Buyout of $10 MIL for next year in lieu of another $25 MIL in 2017. Maybe he can have a decent start and be traded at the Deadline, even if the Phillies pick up most of the Buyout money owed. The Big Piece did still crack 23 HRs and add 77 RBI in just 476 AB during 2015.  Not abhorrent for the position, but really bad when he is making $25 MIL per year.  The Phils hope he can have a great 1st half in 2016 – to make him available for a deal.  Philadelphia will have to eat a lot of his remainder salary including the pending Buyout, but maybe they could get a prospect back.

Lee, Hamels and Utley will also be off the books for good after next campaign.

I like the way the management is clearing the deck.  The Phillies can spend money if they wish too, but building through the Draft and by trading Veterans is a better way of doing this.

The fans have jumped ship on attending games at Citizens Bank Ball Park.  They finished 14th out of 15 clubs with 1.83 MIL fans through the wickets.  This was a franchise that sold out for almost a decade when the team was good.

It is okay to go through the rigors of rebuilding.  Just look at the Houston Astros.

Nobody has a contract past the year of 2018.  This is a ton of financial flexibility in going forward.  Howard, Harrison and Ruiz will be gone by then.

The team only has 3 guys on Arbitration clocks in Freddy Galvis (1st year), Darin Ruf (2nd year) and Jeremy Hellickson (3rd year).  They also have Morton on a one year deal with a $1 MIL Buyout.  Any of these guys could be trade bait at the Deadline.

David Hernandez, Andres Blanco and Peter Bourjos are also only under Team Control for one more year and could be dealt.  I would trade anything not nailed down and continue to build for the future.

The Washington Nationals are quickly aging.  Yes the Mets have great young pitching, but give them a few years when they exponentially go up in Arbitration Dollars and players becoming more expensive to keep, and the Phillies could really gain on them soon.

This is the price to pay for having the greatest time ever as an organization from 2001 – 2011.  A small price to pay for 2 – 3 years.

Phillies fans will come back in droves when the club is good again.  This squad could easily carry a Total Team Salary of north of $150 MIL per year as well.  The timing is just not to spend the money foolishly.

Guaranteed Contracts/POS/AGE:

Ryan Howard 1B (36):  Makes $25 MIL in 2016, and has a Team Option in 2017 for $25 MIL that carries a $10 MIL Buyout.

Matt Harrison SP (30):  Earns $13.2 MIL for both 2016 and 2017 and has a Team Option for $13.3 MIL for 2018 if he throws 200 Innings in each season from 2015 – 2017 (He failed to reach it).  The Buyout is $2 MIL.

Carlos Ruiz C (37):  Makes $8.5 MIL in 2016 and there is a $4.5 MIL Team Option for 2017 – that carries a 500K Buyout.

Charlie Morton SP (32):  The new Phils Pitcher earns $8 MIL in 2016 – and has a Team Option for $9 MIL in 2017 – with a Buyout clause of $1 MIL to the club.

David Hernandez RP (31):  The longterm Arizona Relieve will earn $3.9 MIL in 2016 – and hits Free Agency in 2017.

Peter Bourjos CF (29):  Claimed off waivers recently the OF will make $2.0 MIL In 2016 – will be a Free Agent in 2017.

Andres Blanco UT (32):  Will earn $1.5 in 2016 and become a Free Agent in 2017.

Total Money for this Category – $62 MIL

Arbitration Eligible/POS/AGE

1st Year

Freddy Galvis INF (26):  Is projected to earn $1.5 MIL in 2016 – has 2 more years left of ARB before being a Free Agent in 2019.

Total Money for this Category – $1.5 MIL:  Total Team Salary – $63.5 MIL.

2nd Year

Jeanmar Gomez RP/SP (28):  Is projected to earn $1.5 MIL in 2016 – has one more of year of ARB before being a Free Agent in 2018.

Total Money for this Category -$1.5 MIL:  Total Team Salary – $65.0 MIL.

3rd Year

Jeremy Hellickson SP (29):  For his last year of Arbitration he will project to earn $6.5 MIL.  Hellickson is a Free Agent in 2017.

Total Money for this Category – $6.5 MIL:  Total Team Salary – $71.5 MIL.

Dead Money POS/AGE:

Cliff Lee SP (36):  Is owed $12.5 MIL for the Buyout for his contract.  Team is done paying him after this season.

Chase Utley 2B (37):  Is owed $2 MIL for trade option of last year.  Team is done paying him after this season.

Cole Hamels SP (32):  The Phillies pay their former ace $9.5 MIL this year as part of the Texas trade.  Team is done paying after this season.

Total Money for this Category -$24 MIL:  Total Team Salary – $95.5

Buried Contracts/Minors

Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez SP (30):  Is off the 40 man roster, costs the team $4.67 MIL in 2016.  He is off the payroll in 2017.

Ernesto Frieri RP (30):  Signed a Minor League deal and will make 850K whether he is in the MLB or not.  He has 1 year left of Arbitration if he plays in the MLB this year.  Is A Free Agent in 2018.

Total Money for this Category – $5.1 MIL:  Total Team Salary – $100.6 MIL.

Entry Level Contracts POS/AGE

Darin Ruf 1B/PH/OF (29):  Is Arbitration Eligible from 2017 – 2019 and a Free Agent in 2020.

Cody Asche 3B/OF (26):  Is Arbitration Eligible from 2017 – 2019 and a Free Agent in 2020.

Cesar Hernandez UT (26):  Is Arbitration Eligible from 2017 – 2020 and a Free Agent in 2021.

Luis Garcia RP (26):  Is Arbitration Eligible from 2018 – 2020 and a Free Agent in 2021.

Brett Oberholtzer SP (27):  Is Arbitration Eligible from 2018 – 2020 and a Free Agent in 2021.

Cameron Rupp C (27):  Is Arbitration Eligible from 2018 – 2020 and a Free Agent in 2021.

David Buchanan SP (28):  Is Arbitration Eligible from 2018 – 2020 and a Free Agent in 2021.

Odubel Herrera OF (24): Is Arbitration Eligible from 2018 – 2020 and a Free Agent in 2021.

Maikel Franco 3B (24):  Is Arbitration Eligible from 2018 – 2021 and a Free Agent in 2022.

Elvis Araujo RP (24): Is Arbitration Eligible from 2018 – 2021 and a Free Agent in 2022.

Michael Mariot RP (27):  Is Arbitration Eligible from 2019 – 2021 and a Free Agent in 2022.

Adam Morgan RP (26);  Is Arbitration Eligible from 2019 – 2021 and a Free Agent in 2022.

Hector Neris RP (27);  Is Arbitration Eligible from 2019 – 2021 and a Free Agent in 2022.

Aaron Nola SP (23):  Is Arbitration Eligible from 2019 – 2021 and a Free Agent in 2022.

Vincent Velasquez SP/RP (24):  Is Arbitration Eligible from 2019 – 2021 and a Free Agent in 2022.

Aaron Altherr OF (25):  Is Arbitration Eligible from 2019 – 2021 and a Free Agent in 2022.

Dalier Hinojosa RP (30):  Is Arbitration Eligible from 2019 – 2021 and a Free Agent in 2022.

Darnell Sweeney OF (25):  Is Arbitration Eligible from 2019 – 2021 and a Free Agent in 2022.

Jerad Eickhoff SP (26);  Is Arbitration Eligible from 2019 – 2021 and a Free Agent in 2022.

Alec Asher SP (24):  Is Arbitration Eligible from 2019 – 2021 and a Free Agent in 2022.

Colton Murray RP (26);  Is Arbitration Eligible from 2019 – 2021 and a Free Agent in 2022.

Severino Gonzalez SP (23):  Is Arbitration Eligible from 2019 – 2021 and a Free Agent in 2022.

Total Money for this Category – $8.4 MIL:  Total Team Salary – $109.0 MIL.

Philadelphia held a massive consecutive sellout streak from the time CBP was in its first year until the latter parts of their team starting to decline in 2012. In 2015, the franchise finished 14th out of 15 clubs at the turnstiles with just 1.8 Million fans. This was the second straight year of a huge decline. For those reasons it is okay to slowly build this team up with salary.  In a few years the club can go after Free Agents when the core has matured a little bit.

*** The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of mlbreports.com and their partners***

A Big thanks goes out to our chief writer Hunter Stokes for preparing today’s feature post.

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