Orioles are around 79m right now. (Update: $83M)

[Three Run Homer]

Sure. It's a long offseason and it's not over. Further, there are several expected salary dumps expected between now and Opennig Day of over-priced, yet productive major leaguers.

Who do you think are likely to be traded, and who would the O's be targeting?

[El Gordo]

Who do you think are likely to be traded, and who would the O's be targeting?

Exactly, who are these expected salary dumps?

[fearthenoodle]

I still think there is a decent chance that Ike Davis is traded during the spring. Not exactly a salary dump, obviously.

Anyway- with payroll around $83MM now, all it takes is one FA starter signing to put you back at 2013's OD salary, and then if they end up deciding to sign Balfour or Rodney, suddenly payroll is right around the range that everyone thought based on DD's comments.

[Mayor McCheese]

Agreed. Especially when the GM has stated that we wouldn't be cutting payroll.

Exactly, who are these expected salary dumps?

Jim Johnson was a salary dump.

[weams]

Jim Johnson was a salary dump.

Jim Johnson was not a salary dump. He was speculated to make more in arbitration than any small market team should pay for a closer. The fact that Billy Beane decided to do something with him kept him from being non tendered. We simply kept him from the Yankees and Red Sox.

[backwardsk]

Jim Johnson was not a salary dump. He was speculated to make more in arbitration than any small market team should pay for a closer. The fact that Billy Beane decided to do something with him kept him from being non tendered. We simply kept him from the Yankees and Red Sox.

Is Oakland no longer a small market team, or are they just poorly run?

[wildcard]

I consider the Johnson trade a salary dump.

[Redskins Rick]

I consider the Johnson trade a salary dump.

Most teams when they salary dump, they dump more than one player.

Orioles dumped JJ, not so-much for his 6.5 million, but for what he was going to make, 10+.

Only Webb has been signed to a major league deal for the bullpen at 4.5 million for 2 years.

I see this as a salary dump.

Some might see this as smart fiscal baseball, if Webb pitches well, and they find a closer that closes out 85% of the games with a "S".

But, the off-season isn't officially over yet, so maybe something happens between now and then.

[wildcard]

Most teams when they salary dump, they dump more than one player.

Orioles dumped JJ, not so-much for his 6.5 million, but for what he was going to make, 10+.

Only Webb has been signed to a major league deal for the bullpen at 4.5 million for 2 years.

I see this as a salary dump.

Some might see this as smart fiscal baseball, if Webb pitches well, and they find a closer that closes out 85% of the games with a "S".

But, the off-season isn't officially over yet, so maybe something happens between now and then.

Multiple salary dumps is one off season is call a fire sale.

[Ripken]

Jim Johnson was not a salary dump..

Come on, weams. Of course it was. Doesn't mean it wasn't the right move...

[twinedenter]

Jim Johnson was not a salary dump. He was speculated to make more in arbitration than any small market team should pay for a closer. The fact that Billy Beane decided to do something with him kept him from being non tendered. We simply kept him from the Yankees and Red Sox.

When you trade one of the better closers in the game for a fringe second-basemen, its a salary dump. One that I agreed with, but still a salary dump.

[Can_of_corn]

When you trade one of the better closers in the game for a fringe second-basemen, its a salary dump. One that I agreed with, but still a salary dump.

Not sure what the cutoff for "better" is?

Of course it was a salary dump. No way paying 10 million for a prime regression candidate was a sound idea.

[Number5]

Is Oakland no longer a small market team, or are they just poorly run?

I think trading for JJ simply underscored how much Oakland just didn't want Balfour back.

[SilentJames]

So, if the Orioles make like one or two more FA signings before the start of ST then the won't have cut salary?

[Can_of_corn]

I think trading for JJ simply underscored how much Oakland just didn't want Balfour back.

I think they wanted someone on a one year deal.