Im sure this won't be as thourough as one that Adam or spursdynasty could do but I figured we could get a look at what, as of now, next years payroll looks like.

All figures from cots

Tom Hicks has stated that next years payroll won't increase significantly but could if the right situation presented itself. Presumably that would mean one of the top FA starting pitchers signed for below market value here (hello Mr Sheets)

Guaranteed contracts

Kevin Millwood: 11M

Vicente Padilla: 12M

Hank Blalock: 6.2M

Michael Young: 16M

Frank Catalanotto: 4M

Joaquin Benoit: 3.5M

Ian Kinsler: 3M

Total: 55.7 Million

As you can see Youngs contract is a big piece. I think we all pretty much agree he is overpaid but theres nothing we can do about that now. Kinslers extension may prove to be an unbelievable bargain. As of now only Young and Kinsler out of this group are signed past next year.

Arbitration eligibles (2009 projected salary listed, 2008 salary in parenthesis)

Gerald Laird: 2.5M (1.6M) Laird had a solid season for a catcher. I imagine he will ask for somewhere in the 3M neighborhood and they will settle for 2.5

Marlon Byrd: 3M (1.8M) Byrd put together another strong season. I actually think this        one could go to arbitrator with Byrd asking for somewhere in the 5M range and the Rangers only offering 3M

Frank Francisco: 1.25M (0.775M) Frankie could get more than this due to his late season role as closer. His second arbitration season.

CJ Wilson: 1M (0.42M) His injury probably cost him a bit more but he should break the million dollar mark. His first arbitration season.

Brandon McCarthy: 0.6M (0.4M) All his time on the 60 day DL caused this. He won’t get much of a raise but hes a lot closer to FA than hoped for after this past season. His first arbitration season.

Kam Loe: 0.5M (0.41M) Wasted season but his time up put him over the three year mark. His first arbitration season.

Total (projected): 8.85M

Total team (projected): 64.55M

Loe could get DFAd and Laird could get traded so that would affect this category. Overall that’s 13 players so far with 12 being guaranteed a spot on the roster if they are still here. The only one I see not being on the 25 man is McCarthy because he has options left and we may be squeezed for rotation spots

Pre-arbitration players (2009 salary projected but will all be similar to 2008 most likely)

Nelson Cruz: 0.42M

Wes Littleton: 0.4M

Scott Feldman: 0.5M

Josh Hamilton: 0.75M

Jarrod Saltalamacchia: 0.42M

Dustin Nippert: 0.4M

David Murphy: 0.425M

Travis Metcalf: 0.4M

Josh Rupe: 0.4M

Brandon Boggs: 0.4M

Chris Davis: 0.4M

German Duran: 0.4M

Matt Harrison: 0.4M

Eric Hurley: 0.4M

Warner Madrigal: 0.4M

Taylor Teagarden: 0.4M

Total (projected): 6.915M

Total (team projected): 74.465M

Kason Gabbard, John Rheinecker, Joaquin Arias, Luis Mendoza, Julio Borbon, Thomas Diamond, Tommy Hunter, Doug Mathis, Max Ramirez. All these players are currently on the 40 man who I project to start the season in the minors (if they are still in the organization) and who will make the minimum if called up. Now that list is 16 players which combined with the 13 above makes 29. Four too many for the active roster. I listed 3 catchers so one will most likely either be in the minors or have been traded. Also a couple of the young starters will probably start the season in OKC.

This doesn’t include a possible extension for Hamilton. If its like Kinslers was it wo’t take affect until 2010 anyway. Also this doesn’t have any free agent signings. If we did go out and sign say Ben Sheets we would be looking at a payroll in the upper 80s to close to 90 million. Not necessarily out of the realm of possibilities but highly unlikely.

Well hope this can create some discussion and helo people when they are considering who we can and can’t sign. Now back to your regularly scheduled programming