Sounds like the Rangers are done spending. I think we all were hoping for a sure-fire closer but don't think that's happening. Let's just go back to the 2023 style where we run it up so much we just have to white-knuckle the 8th and 9th innings. Fun times.
Here's a post from LSB that helps break it down:
- 15 players are under contract with an AAV of $190.9 million.
- The MLBTR projections for Heim and Taveras are $9.1 million.
- 9 remaining active roster spots at $780k per player is $7.0 million.
- Player benefits, minor league contracts, pre-arbitration bonus pool contribution of $21.8 million.
- Active roster replacements for players on the IL of $8.0 million.
- Performance bonuses of $3.8 million.
We haven't been thinking about the last two categories, but they are more significant than I appreciated. Using total IL days of 1,850 from 2024, the team would incur an additional payroll of $8.0 million for roster replacements assuming a pre-arbitration salary of $780K per player. Their IL days were on the high side last year, so that might be just a little high but probably not too much. Also, the current roster is eligible for about $3.8 million of performance bonuses per Cot's. They won't all be achieved, but if you are committed to staying under the threshold, you have to plan for them. If they are tracking lower on the last two categories through July, it creates some room to add a player.
All of the above is $240.6 million and the threshold is $241 million.
