Cards Payroll last 20 years--Will they be lower than 2005 in 2026?

[HorseTrader]

It will depend to some extent on how you count payroll.

If the Cardinals send $30, $40, $50, etc. million in 2026 money with Gray, Arenado, Contraras (of the ~$73 million they are due from the Cardinals in 2026) to trade them, are you going to count that $30, $40, $50, etc. million toward the 2026 payroll?

I would.

Yeah, you would have to count those monies.
Right now it's estimated at $122M before trading anyone.
I wasn't thinking about the money they'll have to pay to move players.
Surely it won't be that much.
If they move all three, then payroll is at $48M before including money for any trades.

IMO, if they are serious about going all-in on rebuilding, I would offer to pay their entire 2026 salaries if that meant getting better prospects back. So I wouldn't be opposed to dropping $50, $60, $70 million in 2026 money.

I doubt the commissioner would allow that but I do understand your idea.

So $20 million of my $XX million is now sent.

Yep, you may be closer to right then I think.