Disappearing Salary

[cardstatman]

Some figures

Total 118004600

Pages 768300
Contreras 18000000
Donovan 5400000
Wynn 770850
Arenado 22000000 (no deferral discount given; should be 19000000)
Nootbar 5700000
Scott 764150
Burleson 3500000
Herrera 770300
Lineup Total 57673600

Pozo 760000
Saggese 760000
Gorman 2900000
Walker 770800
Bench Total 5190800

Gray 35000000 (not counting $5M 2027 buyout)
Mathews 760000
McGreevy 760000
Liberatore 2800000
Pallante 3400000
Starters Total 42720000

O'Brien 760450
Romero 4400000
Svanson 760000
Leahy 767000
King 2100000
Alcala 2100000
Fernandez 768600
Roycroft 764150
Bullpen Total 12420200

[Youboughtit]

Goldy
NA
Miles
Matz
Gray
Helsley
Maton
Donny
With no real additions or large salary bumps where is all that $$$ going if not in payroll??

Loss of tv revenue and loss of attendance. Welcome to reality.

That's bull.
Attendance didnt drop till last year. They chose the cuts first.

The TV deal was a notable source of revenue for the Cardinals, who noted Monday the team was likely to decrease payroll for the 2025 season, though attributing that plan to more of a focus on player development.

Do you ever listen to the radio? It has been said many times the that is NOt how and Billionaire runs a business. The MLb payroll has nothing to do with the minor leagues. They are completely separate. Also a $5m increase in coaches and tech would have made them have the largest minor leauge budget of any team. What about the other $45m and not possibly another $50m. Also the reduction of 25% TV contract did not happen until this upcoming season and to compensate they sold the streaming rights. Which means an even larger income. Stop believing this franchise is cash strapped. Why does it have a bottom 5 payroll to revenue?

Unfortunately it's the new reality. I've been telling people this since Diamond overpaid. The bankruptcy was inevitable and the spillover into Cardinals was also inevitable.

I think DeWitt Jr or DeWitt III - whoever is running the team - would be better off charging a reasonable price to make the games widely available on multiple platforms to regenerate fan interest. It isn't only lack of tv money. It's lack of attendance. We are headed for a perpetual dump and rebuild in this new reality.

Why? The cable only deal was $75m per year. 25% of that is $56.25m but add the sale of streaming rights which is how most people watch should double the figure. $100m is more than $75m and that’s local TV$ only. Boras said the general fund distributes over $120m to each team. That’s $220m before attendance and concessions. Forbes had Cardinals at $340m revenue. The problem is they spend bottom 5 in payroll percent, between 40-44%. Just increasing it to leauge average would put payroll back in the $180-$200m range. Thats even before the parking Ballpark village and other ventures. The owner is simply milking the cow and screwing the fans

[Youboughtit]

Some figures

Total 118004600

Pages 768300
Contreras 18000000
Donovan 5400000
Wynn 770850
Arenado 22000000 (no deferral discount given; should be 19000000)
Nootbar 5700000
Scott 764150
Burleson 3500000
Herrera 770300
Lineup Total 57673600

Pozo 760000
Saggese 760000
Gorman 2900000
Walker 770800
Bench Total 5190800

Gray 35000000 (not counting $5M 2027 buyout)
Mathews 760000
McGreevy 760000
Liberatore 2800000
Pallante 3400000
Starters Total 42720000

O'Brien 760450
Romero 4400000
Svanson 760000
Leahy 767000
King 2100000
Alcala 2100000
Fernandez 768600
Roycroft 764150
Bullpen Total 12420200

35+22=57 x.75=42.75m likely to be removed with Gray and Arenado trades. That’s why I expect a $80m payroll

[zuck698]

Goldy
NA
Miles
Matz
Gray
Helsley
Maton
Donny
With no real additions or large salary bumps where is all that $$$ going if not in payroll??

Loss of tv revenue and loss of attendance. Welcome to reality.

That's bull.
Attendance didnt drop till last year. They chose the cuts first.

The TV deal was a notable source of revenue for the Cardinals, who noted Monday the team was likely to decrease payroll for the 2025 season, though attributing that plan to more of a focus on player development.

Do you ever listen to the radio? It has been said many times the that is NOt how and Billionaire runs a business. The MLb payroll has nothing to do with the minor leagues. They are completely separate. Also a $5m increase in coaches and tech would have made them have the largest minor leauge budget of any team. What about the other $45m and not possibly another $50m. Also the reduction of 25% TV contract did not happen until this upcoming season and to compensate they sold the streaming rights. Which means an even larger income. Stop believing this franchise is cash strapped. Why does it have a bottom 5 payroll to revenue?

Unfortunately it's the new reality. I've been telling people this since Diamond overpaid. The bankruptcy was inevitable and the spillover into Cardinals was also inevitable.

I think DeWitt Jr or DeWitt III - whoever is running the team - would be better off charging a reasonable price to make the games widely available on multiple platforms to regenerate fan interest. It isn't only lack of tv money. It's lack of attendance. We are headed for a perpetual dump and rebuild in this new reality.

Why? The cable only deal was $75m per year. 25% of that is $56.25m but add the sale of streaming rights which is how most people watch should double the figure. $100m is more than $75m and that’s local TV$ only. Boras said the general fund distributes over $120m to each team. That’s $220m before attendance and concessions. Forbes had Cardinals at $340m revenue. The problem is they spend bottom 5 in payroll percent, between 40-44%. Just increasing it to leauge average would put payroll back in the $180-$200m range. Thats even before the parking Ballpark village and other ventures. The owner is simply milking the cow and screwing the fans

I feel that the old man basically checked out after 2011. Got the 2nd trophy and yes the team was good for a few years after, basically to 2015. Then slowly, atrophy has been eating away at what was once a great team and great fan base. IMHO

[Youboughtit]

Goldy
NA
Miles
Matz
Gray
Helsley
Maton
Donny
With no real additions or large salary bumps where is all that $$$ going if not in payroll??

Loss of tv revenue and loss of attendance. Welcome to reality.

That's bull.
Attendance didnt drop till last year. They chose the cuts first.

The TV deal was a notable source of revenue for the Cardinals, who noted Monday the team was likely to decrease payroll for the 2025 season, though attributing that plan to more of a focus on player development.

Do you ever listen to the radio? It has been said many times the that is NOt how and Billionaire runs a business. The MLb payroll has nothing to do with the minor leagues. They are completely separate. Also a $5m increase in coaches and tech would have made them have the largest minor leauge budget of any team. What about the other $45m and not possibly another $50m. Also the reduction of 25% TV contract did not happen until this upcoming season and to compensate they sold the streaming rights. Which means an even larger income. Stop believing this franchise is cash strapped. Why does it have a bottom 5 payroll to revenue?

Unfortunately it's the new reality. I've been telling people this since Diamond overpaid. The bankruptcy was inevitable and the spillover into Cardinals was also inevitable.

I think DeWitt Jr or DeWitt III - whoever is running the team - would be better off charging a reasonable price to make the games widely available on multiple platforms to regenerate fan interest. It isn't only lack of tv money. It's lack of attendance. We are headed for a perpetual dump and rebuild in this new reality.

Why? The cable only deal was $75m per year. 25% of that is $56.25m but add the sale of streaming rights which is how most people watch should double the figure. $100m is more than $75m and that’s local TV$ only. Boras said the general fund distributes over $120m to each team. That’s $220m before attendance and concessions. Forbes had Cardinals at $340m revenue. The problem is they spend bottom 5 in payroll percent, between 40-44%. Just increasing it to leauge average would put payroll back in the $180-$200m range. Thats even before the parking Ballpark village and other ventures. The owner is simply milking the cow and screwing the fans

I feel that the old man basically checked out after 2011. Got the 2nd trophy and yes the team was good for a few years after, basically to 2015. Then slowly, atrophy has been eating away at what was once a great team and great fan base. IMHO

I think it is about profit. This ownership group does not consider the $60m they turned into $3.4B profit. They are operating trying to get a 20-30% yearly profit on top of that. IMO it is a promise to the investors. No professional sports team can operate that way. The $ comes from winning and increasing the value of the franchise. Like the Dodgers. They have more revenue but also most importantly spend 90% of that revenue on players. More than double the Cardinals.

[sikeston bulldog2]

My simple take. Back in the cable days, for years, maybe decades, I remember being constantly touched by Braves baseball- Anericas team- TBS, and Cubs baseball- WGN. They built a huge base. Games were on ever day, even If just background noise.

Cards need to go back to a distribution plan- on what ever platforms to an everyday plan. Cards on TV just like Wheel of Fortune .

[alw80]

Goldy
NA
Miles
Matz
Gray
Helsley
Maton
Donny
With no real additions or large salary bumps where is all that $$$ going if not in payroll??

Loss of tv revenue and loss of attendance. Welcome to reality.

Put a (bleep) product on the field and thats what happens.

[sikeston bulldog2]

Goldy
NA
Miles
Matz
Gray
Helsley
Maton
Donny
With no real additions or large salary bumps where is all that $$$ going if not in payroll??

Loss of tv revenue and loss of attendance. Welcome to reality.

Put a (bleep) product on the field and thats what happens.

In a way, it’s like going to church; nothing but old people.

[alw80]

Goldy
NA
Miles
Matz
Gray
Helsley
Maton
Donny
With no real additions or large salary bumps where is all that $$$ going if not in payroll??

Loss of tv revenue and loss of attendance. Welcome to reality.

Put a (bleep) product on the field and thats what happens.

In a way, it’s like going to church; nothing but old people.

Or like a restaurant who goes from fresh ingredients to frozen and then raises prices. People are going to stop eating there.

[ScotchMIrish]

Goldy
NA
Miles
Matz
Gray
Helsley
Maton
Donny
With no real additions or large salary bumps where is all that $$$ going if not in payroll??

Loss of tv revenue and loss of attendance. Welcome to reality.

That's bull.
Attendance didnt drop till last year. They chose the cuts first.

The TV deal was a notable source of revenue for the Cardinals, who noted Monday the team was likely to decrease payroll for the 2025 season, though attributing that plan to more of a focus on player development.

Do you ever listen to the radio? It has been said many times the that is NOt how and Billionaire runs a business. The MLb payroll has nothing to do with the minor leagues. They are completely separate. Also a $5m increase in coaches and tech would have made them have the largest minor leauge budget of any team. What about the other $45m and not possibly another $50m. Also the reduction of 25% TV contract did not happen until this upcoming season and to compensate they sold the streaming rights. Which means an even larger income. Stop believing this franchise is cash strapped. Why does it have a bottom 5 payroll to revenue?

Unfortunately it's the new reality. I've been telling people this since Diamond overpaid. The bankruptcy was inevitable and the spillover into Cardinals was also inevitable.

I think DeWitt Jr or DeWitt III - whoever is running the team - would be better off charging a reasonable price to make the games widely available on multiple platforms to regenerate fan interest. It isn't only lack of tv money. It's lack of attendance. We are headed for a perpetual dump and rebuild in this new reality.

Why? The cable only deal was $75m per year. 25% of that is $56.25m but add the sale of streaming rights which is how most people watch should double the figure. $100m is more than $75m and that’s local TV$ only. Boras said the general fund distributes over $120m to each team. That’s $220m before attendance and concessions. Forbes had Cardinals at $340m revenue. The problem is they spend bottom 5 in payroll percent, between 40-44%. Just increasing it to leauge average would put payroll back in the $180-$200m range. Thats even before the parking Ballpark village and other ventures. The owner is simply milking the cow and screwing the fans

It's possible DeWitt III is now running the team and he has a different philosophy from his father but the timeline of the collapse of tv deal and associated collapse of attendance and payroll are not a coincidence. A lot of people no longer watch Cardinals baseball for a variety of reasons. I refuse to watch DH baseball but a lot of people refuse to pay for something that used to be part of their basic package.

[sikeston bulldog2]

Goldy
NA
Miles
Matz
Gray
Helsley
Maton
Donny
With no real additions or large salary bumps where is all that $$$ going if not in payroll??

Loss of tv revenue and loss of attendance. Welcome to reality.

That's bull.
Attendance didnt drop till last year. They chose the cuts first.

The TV deal was a notable source of revenue for the Cardinals, who noted Monday the team was likely to decrease payroll for the 2025 season, though attributing that plan to more of a focus on player development.

Do you ever listen to the radio? It has been said many times the that is NOt how and Billionaire runs a business. The MLb payroll has nothing to do with the minor leagues. They are completely separate. Also a $5m increase in coaches and tech would have made them have the largest minor leauge budget of any team. What about the other $45m and not possibly another $50m. Also the reduction of 25% TV contract did not happen until this upcoming season and to compensate they sold the streaming rights. Which means an even larger income. Stop believing this franchise is cash strapped. Why does it have a bottom 5 payroll to revenue?

Unfortunately it's the new reality. I've been telling people this since Diamond overpaid. The bankruptcy was inevitable and the spillover into Cardinals was also inevitable.

I think DeWitt Jr or DeWitt III - whoever is running the team - would be better off charging a reasonable price to make the games widely available on multiple platforms to regenerate fan interest. It isn't only lack of tv money. It's lack of attendance. We are headed for a perpetual dump and rebuild in this new reality.

Why? The cable only deal was $75m per year. 25% of that is $56.25m but add the sale of streaming rights which is how most people watch should double the figure. $100m is more than $75m and that’s local TV$ only. Boras said the general fund distributes over $120m to each team. That’s $220m before attendance and concessions. Forbes had Cardinals at $340m revenue. The problem is they spend bottom 5 in payroll percent, between 40-44%. Just increasing it to leauge average would put payroll back in the $180-$200m range. Thats even before the parking Ballpark village and other ventures. The owner is simply milking the cow and screwing the fans

It's possible DeWitt III is now running the team and he has a different philosophy from his father but the timeline of the collapse of tv deal and associated collapse of attendance and payroll are not a coincidence. A lot of people no longer watch Cardinals baseball for a variety of reasons. I refuse to watch DH baseball but a lot of people refuse to pay for something that used to be part of their basic package.

Many Cardinal fans are old, and streaming everything boggles the mind. They lose so many fans that way. Put it out there to all. Watch the fan base grow.

[ScotchMIrish]

Goldy
NA
Miles
Matz
Gray
Helsley
Maton
Donny
With no real additions or large salary bumps where is all that $$$ going if not in payroll??

Loss of tv revenue and loss of attendance. Welcome to reality.

That's bull.
Attendance didnt drop till last year. They chose the cuts first.

The TV deal was a notable source of revenue for the Cardinals, who noted Monday the team was likely to decrease payroll for the 2025 season, though attributing that plan to more of a focus on player development.

Do you ever listen to the radio? It has been said many times the that is NOt how and Billionaire runs a business. The MLb payroll has nothing to do with the minor leagues. They are completely separate. Also a $5m increase in coaches and tech would have made them have the largest minor leauge budget of any team. What about the other $45m and not possibly another $50m. Also the reduction of 25% TV contract did not happen until this upcoming season and to compensate they sold the streaming rights. Which means an even larger income. Stop believing this franchise is cash strapped. Why does it have a bottom 5 payroll to revenue?

Unfortunately it's the new reality. I've been telling people this since Diamond overpaid. The bankruptcy was inevitable and the spillover into Cardinals was also inevitable.

I think DeWitt Jr or DeWitt III - whoever is running the team - would be better off charging a reasonable price to make the games widely available on multiple platforms to regenerate fan interest. It isn't only lack of tv money. It's lack of attendance. We are headed for a perpetual dump and rebuild in this new reality.

Why? The cable only deal was $75m per year. 25% of that is $56.25m but add the sale of streaming rights which is how most people watch should double the figure. $100m is more than $75m and that’s local TV$ only. Boras said the general fund distributes over $120m to each team. That’s $220m before attendance and concessions. Forbes had Cardinals at $340m revenue. The problem is they spend bottom 5 in payroll percent, between 40-44%. Just increasing it to leauge average would put payroll back in the $180-$200m range. Thats even before the parking Ballpark village and other ventures. The owner is simply milking the cow and screwing the fans

It's possible DeWitt III is now running the team and he has a different philosophy from his father but the timeline of the collapse of tv deal and associated collapse of attendance and payroll are not a coincidence. A lot of people no longer watch Cardinals baseball for a variety of reasons. I refuse to watch DH baseball but a lot of people refuse to pay for something that used to be part of their basic package.

Many Cardinal fans are old, and streaming everything boggles the mind. They lose so many fans that way. Put it out there to all. Watch the fan base grow.

Paying $20 a month to watch Cardinals baseball is something a lot of people of any age will balk at.

[ecleme22]

Goldy
NA
Miles
Matz
Gray
Helsley
Maton
Donny
With no real additions or large salary bumps where is all that $$$ going if not in payroll??

They will players this offseason. Probably 2 starters, 1 reliever and 1 OFer.

[Midrange Jay]

Goldy
NA
Miles
Matz
Gray
Helsley
Maton
Donny
With no real additions or large salary bumps where is all that $$$ going if not in payroll??

Loss of tv revenue and loss of attendance. Welcome to reality.

Put a (bleep) product on the field and thats what happens.

In a way, it’s like going to church; nothing but old people.

Or like a restaurant who goes from fresh ingredients to frozen and then raises prices. People are going to stop eating there.

And then the owner blames the customers.

[alw80]

Goldy
NA
Miles
Matz
Gray
Helsley
Maton
Donny
With no real additions or large salary bumps where is all that $$$ going if not in payroll??

Loss of tv revenue and loss of attendance. Welcome to reality.

Put a (bleep) product on the field and thats what happens.

In a way, it’s like going to church; nothing but old people.

Or like a restaurant who goes from fresh ingredients to frozen and then raises prices. People are going to stop eating there.

And then the owner blames the customers.

Yep.

[ecleme22]

Here's a little lesson:

Cubs' payroll:
2010: 146mil
2014: 86.5mil
2016: 161.5mil

When you spend a bunch of money in the middle of a rebuild, you're not only using money that you can use WHEN you're finally ready to make a playoff push, but you are potentially investing in players that don't align with your push when the rebuild is over.

For instance, let's say we grab Schwarber for 6/180. NICE! We have an elite DH. But, once 2027 or 2028 hits, maybe our greatest need is two starters or an OFer. And we have 30mil a year committed to a 35 year old DH.


So this doom and gloom about why we haven't replaced Goldy's contract isn't a smart take.