Luvofthegame
09-06-2006, 10:50 PM
Sep. 6, 2006
BY RICHARD GRIFFIN
Toronto Star
But should extra moolah be used to keep best player?
Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi sat on the thick padding in front of the field-level seats, his feet dangling, grinning like a Cheshire cat. For one of the rare times, on the subject of player payroll, the usually loquacious Ricciardi refused to comment.
But, clearly, after promises earlier in the day of financial help by owner Ted Rogers, the GM was a happy man. There now seems some semblance of hope for keeping the team's best player, Vernon Wells.
Wells, an all-star and annual Gold Glover, is a huge question mark. At the end of his Jays deal, he will command money in the Carlos Beltran range, around $15 million (all figures U.S.) per year.
Now, with a promised influx of cash it changes that picture of not having any money to offer. But how about Wells?
"It's good for the team, obviously," Wells told the Star. "More money means more options. We can be competitive, but we don't want to just be competitive. We want to win.
"J.P. and I are going to have conversations going into this off-season. It's not fair to say I'm not coming back.
"You never know what's going to happen in contract negotiations and my heart is not set on not playing here.
"The grass is not always greener. Sure I've talked about playing at home (in Texas), but I've been here a long time and it would be hard to leave. I don't know what's going to happen and that's the truth."
Unlike the last time Rogers injected cash into the Jays' payroll, too late to save the departing Carlos Delgado, this time with approval expected by mid-October, Ricciardi will have plenty of time to deal in good faith with his centre fielder, the offensive face of the franchise.
Word had filtered down yesterday that über-boss Ted Rogers let slip at a business partnership press conference with MLSE that Ricciardi and president Paul Godfrey would be given more money to spend on payroll.
For Ricciardi it was mission accomplished, although he remained publicly mute.
Wasn't it just five days ago that he ranted how it was impossible to compete on the measly sum of $70 million that Rogers had generously (he thought) allotted back in '05? Ricciardi seemed happy then, but now, after sliding towards .500, he's saying it isn't enough.
His point was that the Yankees always hover around the $200 million mark, while the Bosox are at $120 million.
The Tigers, leading the American League and hanging onto first in the difficult AL Central, checked in at $81 million as an opening day payroll, while the Jays began the year at just under $72 million.
Logic would indicate that if Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski, who lost out for the Jays job, can produce a winner in Motown for $80 million, that Ricciardi would likely begin by asking for that amount, per year, for the three seasons 2008-10.
"Ted has always said from the day he bought this club that he wants to win," Godfrey said. "He's been a fabulous owner. He's been very supportive and always open to our requests at logical times in the past and it doesn't surprise me that he made that statement today.
"Final details have not been worked out yet, but it's nice to hear that we're going to have a little bit more flexibility."
Godfrey has finally agreed to what the Star has been pointing out, that if the Jays spend the last $80 million of the original $210 million next year and are given the same amount for the next three-year segment, they would be forced down the line to slash salary, a tough sell to fans.
"If you spend the bulk of the money in the last year, which we're doing, it could provide a year that the payroll would drop because of the money not spent in year 1 or 2," Godfrey said, "It can throw the numbers out of whack. You can get caught in that sort of situation."
But if they sign Wells for market value, that would be a $10 million raise per year over and above his '07 contract, the entire amount of the payroll bump. And is Ricciardi willing to put all of his newfound eggs in Wells' basket? We don't think so. There are too many other needs.
But it will make this winter and next brim with optimism for fans.
BY RICHARD GRIFFIN
Toronto Star
But should extra moolah be used to keep best player?
Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi sat on the thick padding in front of the field-level seats, his feet dangling, grinning like a Cheshire cat. For one of the rare times, on the subject of player payroll, the usually loquacious Ricciardi refused to comment.
But, clearly, after promises earlier in the day of financial help by owner Ted Rogers, the GM was a happy man. There now seems some semblance of hope for keeping the team's best player, Vernon Wells.
Wells, an all-star and annual Gold Glover, is a huge question mark. At the end of his Jays deal, he will command money in the Carlos Beltran range, around $15 million (all figures U.S.) per year.
Now, with a promised influx of cash it changes that picture of not having any money to offer. But how about Wells?
"It's good for the team, obviously," Wells told the Star. "More money means more options. We can be competitive, but we don't want to just be competitive. We want to win.
"J.P. and I are going to have conversations going into this off-season. It's not fair to say I'm not coming back.
"You never know what's going to happen in contract negotiations and my heart is not set on not playing here.
"The grass is not always greener. Sure I've talked about playing at home (in Texas), but I've been here a long time and it would be hard to leave. I don't know what's going to happen and that's the truth."
Unlike the last time Rogers injected cash into the Jays' payroll, too late to save the departing Carlos Delgado, this time with approval expected by mid-October, Ricciardi will have plenty of time to deal in good faith with his centre fielder, the offensive face of the franchise.
Word had filtered down yesterday that über-boss Ted Rogers let slip at a business partnership press conference with MLSE that Ricciardi and president Paul Godfrey would be given more money to spend on payroll.
For Ricciardi it was mission accomplished, although he remained publicly mute.
Wasn't it just five days ago that he ranted how it was impossible to compete on the measly sum of $70 million that Rogers had generously (he thought) allotted back in '05? Ricciardi seemed happy then, but now, after sliding towards .500, he's saying it isn't enough.
His point was that the Yankees always hover around the $200 million mark, while the Bosox are at $120 million.
The Tigers, leading the American League and hanging onto first in the difficult AL Central, checked in at $81 million as an opening day payroll, while the Jays began the year at just under $72 million.
Logic would indicate that if Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski, who lost out for the Jays job, can produce a winner in Motown for $80 million, that Ricciardi would likely begin by asking for that amount, per year, for the three seasons 2008-10.
"Ted has always said from the day he bought this club that he wants to win," Godfrey said. "He's been a fabulous owner. He's been very supportive and always open to our requests at logical times in the past and it doesn't surprise me that he made that statement today.
"Final details have not been worked out yet, but it's nice to hear that we're going to have a little bit more flexibility."
Godfrey has finally agreed to what the Star has been pointing out, that if the Jays spend the last $80 million of the original $210 million next year and are given the same amount for the next three-year segment, they would be forced down the line to slash salary, a tough sell to fans.
"If you spend the bulk of the money in the last year, which we're doing, it could provide a year that the payroll would drop because of the money not spent in year 1 or 2," Godfrey said, "It can throw the numbers out of whack. You can get caught in that sort of situation."
But if they sign Wells for market value, that would be a $10 million raise per year over and above his '07 contract, the entire amount of the payroll bump. And is Ricciardi willing to put all of his newfound eggs in Wells' basket? We don't think so. There are too many other needs.
But it will make this winter and next brim with optimism for fans.