According to Baseballreference.com, the Cleveland baseball team had a payroll of just under $50 million, a figure that gave them the fourth lowest in the sport, ahead of only franchises telling their fans they are in a rebuild mode: Miami, Pittsburgh, and Baltimore.
Why the ownership went that low, we do not know. We understand their reasoning for trading SS Francisco Lindor (although we don’t agree with it), but why did they also move Carlos Carrasco?
Their top four highest paid players from 2020 (Lindor, Carlos Santana, Carrasco, and Brad Hand) were pared from the roster, and the highest paid player brought in was Eddie Rosario, who lasted until the trade deadline before he was traded.
The lowest payroll to make the post-season in 2021 was Tampa Bay, and they spent $14 million more on players than Cleveland.
We know the Dolan family is looking for a minority owner to replace John Sherman, who went on to buy the Kansas City Royals (they had an $85 million payroll). However, according to reports, the Dolans’ want that investor to be a “silent” partner. So, good luck with that.
It has also been reported the Guardians will spend more in 2022, the question is how much more. Right now, their 40 man roster is top heavy with players who have no major league experience, which means they would be paid the minimum salary if they are on the big league roster.
What the minimum salary is will be determined when the new Collective Bargaining Agreement is made. But, to repeat, as of right now, a little over 1/3rd of the roster will be making the minimum, and that’s only if they are wearing a major league uniform.
So, it would seem there could be money to spend. The Toronto Blue Jays were 15th in spending at $118 million, and it would be shocking if the Guards (we aren’t using Cleveland.com’s “Guardo’s”) were anywhere near that neighborhood.
We would guess the payroll would be around $65-80 million. At the latter figure, they would still be 22nd in 2021, and 27th at the lower figure. Both would be in the comfortable area (for the Dolans) of the bottom third of the sport.
The first logical move would be the approach the team’s best player, and based on MVP voting over the past five seasons, one of baseball’s best, on a long term extension. Jose Ramirez, who has finished in the top six of the American League’s MVP voting four times in the last five seasons, is still under control via team option for 2022 and 2023.
He will be 31 at the end of that last season.
We are sure the Guardians will talk to Ramirez about keeping him here, but it will be not easy and we doubt the third baseman will be interested in giving a hometown discount.
Remember, he didn’t receive a big signing bonus when he signed with Cleveland before he turned 18 out of the Dominican Republic. According to WAR, he’s the 21st best player in the history (since 1901 remember) of the franchise.
By the end of next season, he should rank in Cleveland’s top ten all time in home runs and doubles, and in two more seasons, will creep into other categories as well.
Will the ownership have the stomach to pay one player a per season salary of close to $30 million? Because, if we were Ramirez’ agent, that’s the neighborhood we would want to be in.
If progress isn’t made toward an extension, we would guess this is Ramirez’ last season with Cleveland, and if the team isn’t in the pennant race at the deadline, he might be moved then.
This isn’t a doom and gloom scenario, it’s just how this ownership group does business.
Hopefully, the payroll will increase for 2022, and a bigger wish is a minority owner is found, and it is someone with the wherewithal to buy the team outright down the road.
The rumor is the payroll will increase, but will the action match the whispering?
Cleveland Sports Perspective 