Fire Sale: If the Cards do the right thing, by Friday payroll could be below $60M in 2026

[Bully4you]

Trade Arenado saves $30M in 2026
Trade Gray saves $35M
All other big money guys, whether they trade or not, are free agents.
That leaves payroll around $60M for the 2026 year.
Assuming no free agents are then signed in off season.
This will give Bloom a lot of flexibility to sign appropriate free agents if he wants to get payroll back to current year levels.
Fire sale.
Let's get r done.

[opti mist]

Significantly, it gets the Cardinals' payroll in position for a lockout when MLB fails to reach a labor agreement prior to the expiration of the CBA on December 31, 2026. This is the secret goal.

Opti

[reson8]

You're not going to trade Nado without picking up a significant chunk of the $$ owed to him. And don't forget he is also owed $$ for 2027.

Ditto for Gray. $45m for the balance of this year and next year. Nobody is trading for him unless the Cards pick up a big chunk of that. And both have NTC's which would make it even more difficult. I'd be shocked if either gets moved.

[3dender]

"The right thing" when it depends on many factors they don't control

[Futuregm2]

Trade Arenado saves $30M in 2026
Trade Gray saves $35M
All other big money guys, whether they trade or not, are free agents.
That leaves payroll around $60M for the 2026 year.
Assuming no free agents are then signed in off season.
This will give Bloom a lot of flexibility to sign appropriate free agents if he wants to get payroll back to current year levels.
Fire sale.
Let's get r done.

We wouldn’t be paying Nado $30 million and we will have to pick up a good size of what we actually do pay him just to deal him anyways.

But yes their payroll can be significantly lower. I just hope they allow Bloom to get the payroll back to previous levels pretty soon.

[3dender]

I just hope they allow Bloom to get the payroll back to previous levels pretty soon.

I'd temper that hope if I were you... there have been many indications that this $150M level is the new normal and DeWitt is done trying to have a #10-15 payroll in the league.

[CCard]

Significantly, it gets the Cardinals' payroll in position for a lockout when MLB fails to reach a labor agreement prior to the expiration of the CBA on December 31, 2026. This is the secret goal.

Opti

You aren't wrong.

[CCard]

You're not going to trade Nado without picking up a significant chunk of the $$ owed to him. And don't forget he is also owed $$ for 2027.

Ditto for Gray. $45m for the balance of this year and next year. Nobody is trading for him unless the Cards pick up a big chunk of that. And both have NTC's which would make it even more difficult. I'd be shocked if either gets moved.

He may not be earning his contract but he isn't chopped liver either. This team needs pitching in the worst way. Good pitching and they would be contending right now. The Brewers have only scored something like 18 more runs than the Cards. Now factor in the ballparks and they are well comparable. But the pitching is setting the Brewers apart. Fix the (bleep) pitching.

[CCard]

I just hope they allow Bloom to get the payroll back to previous levels pretty soon.

I'd temper that hope if I were you... there have been many indications that this $150M level is the new normal and DeWitt is done trying to have a #10-15 payroll in the league.

A team makes $350 million a year and they cut payroll. Disgraceful.

[scoutyjones2]

Trade Arenado saves $30M in 2026
Trade Gray saves $35M
All other big money guys, whether they trade or not, are free agents.
That leaves payroll around $60M for the 2026 year.
Assuming no free agents are then signed in off season.
This will give Bloom a lot of flexibility to sign appropriate free agents if he wants to get payroll back to current year levels.
Fire sale.
Let's get r done.

It takes at least two parties toake a deal...

[brock118]

I just hope they allow Bloom to get the payroll back to previous levels pretty soon.

I'd temper that hope if I were you... there have been many indications that this $150M level is the new normal and DeWitt is done trying to have a #10-15 payroll in the league.

I would temper even more, I think they are trying to get that payroll down to the $120M level.

[desertrat23]

I just hope they allow Bloom to get the payroll back to previous levels pretty soon.

I'd temper that hope if I were you... there have been many indications that this $150M level is the new normal and DeWitt is done trying to have a #10-15 payroll in the league.

A team makes $350 million a year and they cut payroll. Disgraceful.

If they continue to cut payroll, they can continue to expect and deserve more empty seats. Garbage in, garbage out.

[3dender]

I just hope they allow Bloom to get the payroll back to previous levels pretty soon.

I'd temper that hope if I were you... there have been many indications that this $150M level is the new normal and DeWitt is done trying to have a #10-15 payroll in the league.

I would temper even more, I think they are trying to get that payroll down to the $120M level.

Yeah I'm hesitant to put a number on it since it will go up with inflation... wouldn't at all be surprised for them to go into next year with it that low though.

I just think they're now aiming for the 15th-20th highest payroll compared to the rest of the league, rather than the 10th-15th which is where they were for the previous decade or two.

[dugoutrex]

Trade Arenado saves $30M in 2026
Trade Gray saves $35M
All other big money guys, whether they trade or not, are free agents.
That leaves payroll around $60M for the 2026 year.
Assuming no free agents are then signed in off season.
This will give Bloom a lot of flexibility to sign appropriate free agents if he wants to get payroll back to current year levels.
Fire sale.
Let's get r done.

lol - trading Nolen still means we pay 20M for him in '26

[CCard]

I just hope they allow Bloom to get the payroll back to previous levels pretty soon.

I'd temper that hope if I were you... there have been many indications that this $150M level is the new normal and DeWitt is done trying to have a #10-15 payroll in the league.

A team makes $350 million a year and they cut payroll. Disgraceful.

If they continue to cut payroll, they can continue to expect and deserve more empty seats. Garbage in, garbage out.

Agreed. It's a slap in the face of 3 million fans that helped make this brand great.

[AtillaTheBlue1]

You're not going to trade Nado without picking up a significant chunk of the $$ owed to him. And don't forget he is also owed $$ for 2027.

Ditto for Gray. $45m for the balance of this year and next year. Nobody is trading for him unless the Cards pick up a big chunk of that. And both have NTC's which would make it even more difficult. I'd be shocked if either gets moved.

he's owed 2 mil for like 10 years or so, also