From the Rockies. I almost flipped out of my chair when I saw the news in Tracy Ringolsby's Rockies' payroll breakdown this morning. The Rockies, who have become more frugal recently, will have around an Opening Day payroll of $55 million -- most likely placing them in the bottom six of the league. That's why I was utterly astonished upon reading this: They also have payments for players no longer with them of $2 million to Florida for Mike Hampton, $1.8 million to Denny Neagle as a 20 percent installment on his buyout and $1.7 million as the second of 20 years of deferred payments to Larry Walker.What?!?!?! Are you serious? $3.5 million owed to a pair of players who could be running a pizza parlor or coaching Little League for all we know?
To refresh your memory, Larry Walker retired in '05, and last played for the Rockies in '04 (he was traded to the Cardinals midway through the year). Denny Neagle on the other hand, retired after the '03 season, and has been sitting on his rump, apparently collecting paychecks from the Rox ever since.
Ringolsby's article is well worth a read, especially if you want to find out how much Todd Helton would make if he were named World Series MVP (like that will ever happen), and the amount Aaron Cook would pocket should he bring home the Silver Slugger award to Denver (he's a pitcher mind you).
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-27-2007 @ 8:40PM
atlantic city said...
Baseball players make too much money, and guarantees ruin team's payrolls. This should stop. If I retired, my job still wouldn’t pay me.
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3-28-2007 @ 1:40AM
Larry Herskowitz said...
I don't care what Monfort says, i don't have confidence that he'll pay for any players next year considering he sent Jennings packing. And with all the players with one year deals or on the last year of their contracts, who knows what the rockies will look like next year. Oh yea and good call giving lopez that much money. He deserves it. It isn't like he was a plague in the orioles clubhouse or anything. And even better signing Holliday to only one year deal. He'll just demand more money next year.
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3-30-2007 @ 12:25PM
tennisdude729 said...
Denny Neagle and Mike Hampton didn't produce in Colorado. I have no idea how you conclude that Larry Walker is stealing money. The guy put up great stats for the Rockies and won an MVP. Don't you realize that he deferred this money so that the Rockies would have funds available to sign other players during his playing years? He could have taken it up front.
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