Can the Reds afford Adam Dunn?
Well, Daugherty has taken his message from Sports Talk last night and put it into print. What bothers me about his line of reasoning, besides the unnecessary shots at us numbers freaks, is that he doesn't even to stop to look at whether or not the Reds really can afford Dunn. He just assumes they can't. Well, I've done my best to look at it.
Here is next season's estimated payroll, based on my understanding of the contracts (thanks to MLB4U.com). I only listed people currently with the organization. All guaranteed money is on the 25-man roster (that's why Coffey and Castro are included). I left Hatteberg on the roster because even if the Reds don't pick up his option, they will likely sign someone at that money for the bench, unless they decide to go with Cantu. Most of the league minimum players are interchangeable, so don't worry too much about the fact that I picked EZ over Dumatrait. Financially they are no different. I believe BP and Belisle are the only arb eligible player that will likely be coming back. Their salaries are guesstimates.
SP Aaron Harang 6.75
SP Bronson Arroyo 6.45
SP Homer Bailey 0.38
SP Bobby Livingston 0.40
SP Elizardo Ramirez 0.40
RP Jon Coutlangus 0.40
RP Bill Bray 0.40
RP Mike Stanton 3.00
RP David Weathers 2.75
RP Todd Coffey 0.93
C David Ross 2.53
C Javier Valentin 1.30
1B Scott Hatteberg 1.85
1B Joey Votto 0.38
2B Brandon Phillips 2.00
3B Edwin Encarnacion 0.40
3B Jeff Keppinger 0.40
SS Alex Gonzalez 4.63
SS Juan Castro 0.98
OF Adam Dunn 13.00
OF Ryan Freel 3.00
OF Ken Griffey Jr 12.50
OF Josh Hamilton 0.40
OF Norris Hopper 0.40
-----
25-man roster 66.01
OTHERS
SP Matt Belisle 0.75
SP Phil Dumatrait 0.38
RP Jared Burton 0.40
RP Gary Majewski 0.40
RP Brad Salmon 0.40
RP Marcus McBeth 0.40
RP Eddie Guardado 3.00
IF Jorge Cantu 0.50
Based on my estimates, the Reds 2007 payroll is about $75M. With the 25-man roster that I estimated, the Reds still have around $9M to get back this season's level. Obviously if they increase payroll, they have a chance to spend even more.
Nine million is not a lot to fix what ails this team, but it's a start. They could likely get a couple of decent bullpen arms for that money, maybe a little more. But it's dependent on guys like Coutlangus, Bray, and McBeth (or Coffey or Magi or Salmon) picking up their game quite a bit. It is also dependent on Homer and the other young guys in the rotation being able to hold their own. Basically I'm saying there are still a lot of "ifs".
But I'm not so sure trading Dunn will make it all better as the money saved will likely be spent on a replacement for Lohse. Honestly, I don't think I'd prefer a league average pitcher at 4-years, $10M+ over one more season of Dunn. The only reason I'd be okay with trading Dunn is if (a) they got a can't miss prospect who will contribute next season and (b) the money saved would make them contenders for Carlos Zambrano. Anyone think either of those are likely?
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No...
Grrr...
What are OF/1B with about the same VORP or RC making now?
I would take Dunn over Carlos Lee (6 yrs for $100 m) any day of the week.
I would take Dunn over JD Drew (5 years for $55 m) simply for Dunn's ability to stay on the field for 155 games a year.
by Paul Householder on Jul 31, 2007 10:52 AM EDT reply actions
i think drew is making 5/70
by Charlie Scrabbles on Jul 31, 2007 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions
yeah
Ah.
by Paul Householder on Jul 31, 2007 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions
The thing you probably didn't get a chance to say
If the Reds are at payroll status quo, they can't afford Dunn. However, at payroll status quo, with the relative barrenness of the farm system, they probably can't afford to field a contending ballclub at the current rates of payroll inflation unless Homer Bailey turns into Josh Beckett, Johnny Cueto turns into Carlos Zambrano, Joey Votto turns into a lefty Albert Pujols and Jay Bruce turns into Griffey Junior (the early to mid 90s version).
Furthermore, the payroll inflexibility has been compounded by dumb moves Krivsky has made. Stanton and his fat butt are making $3 million. Juan Castro is eating up nearly $1 million to hit like Mendoza.
Grrr, Grrr and more Grrr...
by Paul Householder on Jul 31, 2007 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions
not a chance
by Charlie Scrabbles on Jul 31, 2007 10:53 AM EDT reply actions
He says..
Well yes, "simple economics" might dictate such.
Slyde, thanks for not being simple.
by Fat Vegas Alan on Jul 31, 2007 11:03 AM EDT reply actions
I do not think it means what you think it means.
I, for one, would focus on how you could improve a club on the margins. Would trading off Dunn for a cheaper outfielder and a mediocre arm yield a benefit to the team? I strongly doubt it.
And of course I know
Is this sarcasm?
by Fat Vegas Alan on Jul 31, 2007 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah. Gotcha.
(I thought it was you whose genuine and sincere sarcasm was questioned. Maybe not. Anywhooo...)
by Fat Vegas Alan on Jul 31, 2007 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions
I don't get it....
by Paul Householder on Jul 31, 2007 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions
Can't we all just get along?
by Fat Vegas Alan on Jul 31, 2007 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Can the Reds afford Dunn?
Larue 3 million
Cormier 2.25 M
Wilson/Aurilia buyouts 1 M
Conine 2 M
Castro 1 M
Milton 9 M
That's over 18 million dollars for players that did nothing or hurt the team (one could argue that Conine hasn't been that bad, but his production could definitely been equaled by a young cheap player). Yes, Milton is the big fish, but just as much money was frittered away on the others.
This is what kills small market teams. Money for nothing. The problem isn't paying a productive player 13 million when you believe he might only be worth 10.
One thing I forgot to mention
And chicks for free...
by Paul Householder on Jul 31, 2007 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions
Incidentally
Interesting.
And yet
Oh, and by the way, Dunn's SLG is higher than Jr's.
Absolutely
I did a cost analysis at another site and let's just say that not only can the Reds "afford" an Adam Dunn in 2008, but they can also afford him at 15-16M past 2008. And the way this club is set up, the window is right around 2009-2010.
Daugherty's playing the old "too expensive" card without contextual consideration (projected payroll increases, Run Diff hit, market value, etc.). He's pandering to the masses and the masses already think every ballplayer is too expensive. Gee, way to go out on a limb there, Paul.
What he should be focusing on is not paying non-projectible "support" pieces millions of dollars rather than demanding there's no way to pay a consistent high-value performer the going rate. If the Reds are going to hit a window that's possibly opening a couple years from now, they need to think and act as if they are the anti-Daugherty. Pay your performers. Stop wasting money in the middle.
I'll trade anyone for the right pieces. But if you're not looking at a Jason Bay/Oliver Perez type return for Dunn, you pay him because he's what you need.
by Reds123 on Jul 31, 2007 11:29 AM EDT reply actions
well said
This is exactly what I was getting at.
Oh and...
by Paul Householder on Jul 31, 2007 11:29 AM EDT reply actions
It's one thing to make knee-jerk statements. It's another thing to use facts to back them up.
Facts?
Anyone see any potential "fact" issues with that?
by Reds123 on Jul 31, 2007 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions
Nice
Yeah.
by Paul Householder on Jul 31, 2007 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions
Well he has done more to help the team
Payroll
I really believe Bruce will give us 75-80% of the offense that either of these guys would provide next year. Defensively he will be an upgrade over both Dunn and Jr. If you replace Jr with Bruce I believe you may see a 100% production return when you figure in injuries and probably decline in production.
Personally I would trade Jr in the offseason for whatever pitching prospect we could get, turn the saving for Jr into more pitching, and give Bruce the RF job.
Yep on Jr.
This team does look to have a window if it plays it's cards right. Considering that most young players don't just hit the ground running, making room for Bruce and Votto makes plenty of sense. But they have to move the right guy. That's just not Dunn as he projects to actually assist with hitting he window I'm talking about.
by Reds123 on Jul 31, 2007 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions
Also
A whole 9 M!
Those payroll numbers are a little off.
by redlegrulers on Jul 31, 2007 12:18 PM EDT reply actions
the thing is
That's why I've quoted the $12.5M
The question becomes, once he's gone will they turn around and put the deferred money on the payroll budget too? Any accountants on the site? Is that a way to make your numbers look better or worse?
If the Reds infact do trade Dunn...
Joe Nathan Would be a dream pick up in the offseason, Is he worst 9M alone?
ROWLAND WOULD BE A GREAT PICK UP
Rowland

Adam Dunn couldn't hit that
That's the problem
IF that is true than ofcourse it does.
Byrnes is scrappy and solid and should of been an All-Star if you ask me.
I would pay 6-7M for one of them but I think Joe Nathan would have to be the the first guy the reds go for
I wouldn't overpay for a "closer"
heh
Right
RIght, im just saying if they trade Dunn
You're not getting it.
Should also note...
by Reds123 on Jul 31, 2007 12:27 PM EDT reply actions
Why make
If Bob Castellini is not willing to pay $13 million to keep the Reds' best offensive player, even if he has to up payroll $4-5 million to do it, then the "we're here to win" rhetoric when he took over the team was just that.
Nice
I love that Daugherty's $100 million claim is approximately $25 million MORE than the Reds payroll would be even IF they keep Dunn. Marvelous.
How is it that sports journalism can have integrity standards that are SO much lower than any other branch of journalism? Why is it that there is absolutely no culture that puts value on actually checking one's facts? This is the Cincinnati Enquirer, not the National Enquirer, right?
-j
Because it's easy to read i guess
You don't need stats
I'm just asking that he identify a) the current total payroll, b) what salaries are leaving, and c) what players are set to receive raises. Nothing more than what Slyde did in this post. It's a very simple bit of math, and certainly falls within the minimal effort that should be expected of a professional newspaper writer. -j
Dude Speak English
C'mon Zach
Daugherty chose to go the hyperbolic and personal attack route on Dunn. What sucks is that he's got no reason to not do that because there is no way for him to be stopped. The standards of sports journalism are much too low.
is Rowland
by Man Mountain on Jul 31, 2007 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Properly...
j/k Zach
Needs...
by Paul Householder on Jul 31, 2007 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions
my response to this comment
I didn't get it...
by Paul Householder on Jul 31, 2007 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions
dang gone social skills...
more fact checking
by omnired on Jul 31, 2007 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions
yeah
that would have brought dead silence
by Man Mountain on Jul 31, 2007 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions
Daugherty
I think the "Reds can't afford Dunn" thing is the best he could do.
by Paul Householder on Jul 31, 2007 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions
yes
And what suprised me about the callers was that they missed the implication of Daugherty's argument--if the Reds can't afford to pay a slugger like Adam Dunn what he's worth on the market, then they aren't planning on being real contenders, certainly not contenders who will "do whatever it takes to win." That should have pissed the regular Reds fan off more than the stat geek stuff. Talk about blinded by hatred.
by Man Mountain on Jul 31, 2007 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Its good not to hear the old:
I agree
And the best part is we could still get a good pitcher or two!
I wouldnt
I agree with that
Because I'm bored
As I expected
What that has to do with his errors about the payroll, or Dunn's no-trade clause, I have no idea.
Yes The Reds can afford Adam Dunn...
Ummmm...yes Final Answer

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