I wonder how much the Orioles have spent on minor league contracts this winter?

[Frobby]

So far the Orioles have signed more than 30 players to minor league contracts. I'm sure the majority of those are just getting standard MiL contracts where they earn "scale." But there's a good chance that a number of these players signed here because the O's offered something above the standard pay scale. I'm thinking of the following:

Conor Jackson
Travis Ishikawa
Daniel Schlereth
Zach Braddock
Manny Delcarmen
Chris Dickerson
Mark Hendrickson
Arthur Rhodes
Lew Ford

Each of these deals is small potatoes, but I wouldn't be surrised to learn that we've spent $1.5 -2 mm more on our minor league depth guys than other teams typically spend.

We always look at the major league payroll, but it's good to remember that there are a lot of other items in a team's budget. MiL contracts is one of them. The you have Buck and the major league coaches, the MiL staff including guys like Peterson and Boulanger who probably cost more than some other teams' pitching and hitting coordinators, the facilities, the scouting staff, the scouting travel budget, and a lot of other things. There's probably a pretty big variance in what teams spend on things other than the major league payroll, and we really have no idea how the Orioles compare to other teams in that regard.

[MurphDogg]

Perhaps the Orioles are exploiting a market inefficiency.

[Crazysilver03]

This is something I've wondered, if they are paying more than other teams. I wonder if there would be a way to find out.

[wildcard]

We know that Steve Pearce was signed to a 700K major league contract and then DFA'd to the minors.

[waroriole]

We know that Steve Pearce was signed to a 700K major league contract and then DFA'd to the minors.

I think that was to prevent him from refusing the assignment.

[wildcard]

I think that was to prevent him from refusing the assignment.

Agreed. Trayvon Robinson may do the same thing.

[Frobby]

I think that was to prevent him from refusing the assignment.

And to discourage other teams from claiming him. That's a cost of having depth that doesn't show up on the major league payroll.

[wildcard]

And to discourage other teams from claiming him. That's a cost of having depth that doesn't show up on the major league payroll.

Pearce signed a major league contract. That counts against the major league payroll even if he is in the minors.

[paulcoates]

Probably less money than the Ticket Fee they kept for the unplayed playoff games

[waroriole]

Agreed. Trayvon Robinson may do the same thing.

I don't think he can refuse the assignment. The issue with Robinson is that someone else might claim him.

[Dr. Unk]

More concerned on what they haven't spent on the major league team.

[MurphDogg]

More concerned on what they haven't spent on the major league team.

Wait, the Orioles haven't signed all the free agents? Someone should start a new thread and post about that. Shout it from the mountaintop!!

[Dr. Unk]

Wait, the Orioles haven't signed all the free agents? Someone should start a new thread and post about that. Shout it from the mountaintop!!

I've never said that. I hate all of the threads about so and so that we won't ever sign. I would have liked to seen a nice MOO bat added though.

[Crazysilver03]

Agreed. Trayvon Robinson may do the same thing.

Completely different situations. Robinson has a chance of being claimed and is making only the minimum.

[Gurgi]

Maybe they are trying a different tactic. Making sure that if they cant get the best players they can darn well have the best bench or back up guy sitting in the minors. And Baseball being a marathon and not a sprint maybe this helps the Orioles win one or two or three games a year. If it does. It could be very very valuable.

Two games is the difference between Tampa playing Texas and the Orioles being there.


I think this is the difference between Duquette and MacPhail. MacPhail wouldnt waste the money on a team not going anywhere. He would just wait for the prospects and traded for guys to blossom. Duq is in a different place mentally. He is win NOW. WIN all the games type of guy.