Payroll Issues -- 11/2/03
November 02, 2003
Just over a month into the offseason, and the Brewers are showing signs of having the financial troubles that they had when County Stadium was still standing and drawing 14,000 a night. GM Doug Melvin has a good idea what the payroll will be and it doesn't look good.
Last season the Brewers had a payroll of just over $40 Million. Which was down $10 Million from the 106 loss season. This year, we are looking at a payroll roughly between $35-37 Million.
Next, Geoff Jenkins and Richmond Sexson are set to make nearly $17 Million combined next year. Factor in Ben Sheets jumping to nearly $2 Million in Arbitration and Wes Helms making $1 Million and is also Arbitration eligible. Add that all together and $20 of $35-37 Million would be taken on four players. That would leave Melvin $15 Million to sign the other 21 players on the roster which would be nearly impossible.
What's the answer to this problem? You can expect that the Brewers will trade Richie Sexson this offseason. He is far more marketable than Jenkins who has been injury-prone, and the Brewers believe they'll have a replacement in a couple of years with minor-league prospect Prince Fielder.
The teams that have shown strong interest in Richie include Arizona, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Atlanta, and Baltimore. Melvin has reportedly talked to Sexson's agent Casey Close, but a contract extension is highly unlikely.
Melvin has kept his eyes open and mouth shut as far as the Sexson situation goes. He knows that the Sexson issue is a delicate one to Brewers fans because of the teams slide to perennial losers due to trades and disastrous drafts in the mid to late 90's.
A trade is almost certain, and is certainly necessary. You cannot field a competitive team when two players are taking nearly 50% of the payroll.
