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SSt. Louis Cardinals Payroll History (2005-2025)
The following table outlines the St. Louis Cardinals' payroll over the last 20 years.


Year Year-End Payroll
2005 $87.4M
2006 $96.1M
2007 $99.3M
2008 $109.1M
2009 $102.7M
2010 $98.4M
2011 $113.2M
2012 $115.4M
2013 $119.6M
2014 $121.0M
2015 $132.6M
2016 $153.7M
2017 $155.2M
2018 $165.8M
2019 $178.9M
2020 $69.3M
2021 $168.9M
2022 $165.4M
2023 $173.1M
2024 $178.3M
2025 $134.5M

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.

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 05:49 am 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.

Bully4you wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 06:48 am

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 05:49 am 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.

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 06:51 am

Bully4you wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 06:48 am

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 05:49 am 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.

Wow.
That's a tough pill to swallow.
Paying up to $70M for some prospects?
Sorry, even though it isn't my money, I wouldn't advocate for that.
I doubt that is even a consideration for dEwitt.
Prospects are so risky, there's no way I could do that kind of deal.
I know we are desperate, but that's crazy.

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 06:51 am

Bully4you wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 06:48 am

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 05:49 am 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.

It is unbelievable what Bill is doing to the fans of this franchise. On top of this reversion to ancient payroll numbers, he raises ticket prices! If this doesn’t say “screw you” to the people who have supported him quite handsomely over the past 30 odd years, I don’t know what would. So, I say screw you back, Billy boy. Not that it matters to him, but I will never forgive him for this and that will translate into dollars and cents. He deserves all the negative things he gets from disgruntled fans.

Bully4you wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 06:56 am

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 06:51 am

Bully4you wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 06:48 am

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 05:49 am 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.

Wow.
That's a tough pill to swallow.
Paying up to $70M for some prospects?
Sorry, even though it isn't my money, I wouldn't advocate for that.
I doubt that is even a consideration for dEwitt.
Prospects are so risky, there's no way I could do that kind of deal.
I know we are desperate, but that's crazy.

They are bigger numbers but I don't see it as being any different than paying money to sign an international prospect or obtaining a player by trade for "cash considerations."

They are just bigger numbers because you first have to pay off some to get the contacts (at least Arenado and Gray) out from being "underwater" before you can offer to pay more to get a better prospect(s).

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 06:51 am

Bully4you wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 06:48 am

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 05:49 am 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.

How about dropping $50M on actual players. Like oversees players or vets that can be flipped at the deadline. There’s no excuse to have a $110M payroll or less!

2019-$179mil

So in 7yrs with inflation most likely 30-40% higher Cards payroll will be under 100mil because of a local TV contract that went form 75mil>>>>58mil annually????

Someone with a PHD in economics please help with this one!!!

PadsFS07 wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 08:35 am

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 06:51 am

Bully4you wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 06:48 am

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 05:49 am 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.

How about dropping $50M on actual players. Like oversees players or vets that can be flipped at the deadline. There’s no excuse to have a $110M payroll or less!

I can see them spending $30, $40, etc. million on an OF and a SP or two on 1 year/~$10 million deals which have a team option year for 2027. I think that is certainly plausible.

I'd say no.

If they deal NADO, Gray and Donny I think Dewitt will give Bloom somewhere in the $110-130M range.

Anything lower would be a slap in the face to Cardinals Nation, likely resulting in 12-15,000 per game attendance if the team is under .500.

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 08:38 am I can see them spending $30, $40, etc. million on an OF and a SP or two on 1 year/~$10 million deals which have a team option year for 2027. I think that is certainly plausible.

I don’t see that at all unfortunately.

rockondlouie wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 08:43 am I'd say no.

If they deal NADO, Gray and Donny I think Dewitt will give Bloom somewhere in the $110-130M range.

Anything lower would be a slap in the face to Cardinals Nation, likely resulting in 12-15,000 per game attendance if the team is under .500.

Who would they add to the team that would put butts in the stands?? They need stars and they need to win and I don’t think you’re getting that for 110-130.

Why does anyone care what the Cardinals payroll is this year?

* The team is rebuilding. I don't care what they call it.
* They have essentially no chance of winning the WS: (.02%)
* It would take a near miracle for the team to be .500.

The coming season is about cutting old, over-the-hill and expensive contracts, acquiring young talent, and evaluating what they already have and can acquire in the offseason.

Any new money spent this season should be foundational--laying the groundwork for 2027 and beyond. The process will take several years.

A smart team will prune the payroll as much as possible--no point in paying steak prices for hamburger.

Red Bird Classic wrote: ↑25 Nov 2025 09:12 am Why does anyone care what the Cardinals payroll is this year?

Some insist on equating spending with trying and will be offended if the Cardinals don't try enough.