All articles tagged with #payroll flexibility
Pirates GM Ben Cherington emphasized that trades are made to improve the team and not to save money, with any payroll savings reinvested into the team. He highlighted the importance of acquiring young talent, maintaining veteran presence, and having a strong farm system for future success, while also explaining the strategic reasons behind recent trades and roster decisions.
The Seattle Mariners face uncertainty at third base for the 2025 season after trading Eugenio Suarez to the Arizona Diamondbacks to create payroll flexibility. Despite Suarez's strong performance with the Diamondbacks, the Mariners struggled with a platoon of utility infielders at third base in 2024. With limited options in free agency and budget constraints, the Mariners may continue with a platoon of Josh Rojas and Dylan Moore, as acquiring a consistent everyday third baseman would likely require a trade.
Shohei Ohtani's 10-year, $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers includes an unprecedented arrangement where he will defer all but $2 million of his annual salary, amounting to $68 million per year, until after the contract's completion. The deferrals were suggested by Ohtani himself to allow the Dodgers to maintain spending around other star players. This structure provides the team with additional cash flow and payroll flexibility, while Ohtani continues to earn significant income from endorsements and off-the-field ventures. The deal is expected to be finalized soon, and it surpasses the previous record contract of $426.5 million held by Ohtani's former teammate, Mike Trout.
The Braves reportedly made a strong offer for Aaron Nola but he chose to stay in Philadelphia. The team still has financial flexibility this offseason, with around $20 million left in available payroll. They may consider signing other free agent starting pitchers like Sonny Gray, Jordan Montgomery, Eduardo Rodriguez, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. In other news, Yoshinobu Yamamoto is expected to meet with potential teams after the Winter Meetings, the Tigers are close to signing Kenta Maeda, and Pirates' Johan Oviedo will undergo Tommy John surgery.