JUPITER ? Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria is so anxious for work to start on the team?s new Miami ballpark that he joked he is keeping the groundbreaking shovel in the trunk of his red Ferrari.

 

?I?d love to have it tomorrow,? Loria said of the $619 million stadium, which received approval from city and county officials and is scheduled to open in time for the 2011 season.

 

While paying his first visit to spring training on Saturday, Loria also vowed to increase payroll with the opening of the new ballpark at the Orange Bowl site, but he did not specify to what extent.

 

The Marlins are projected to open the coming season with a player payroll of about $20 million, the lowest in the majors, and have been jettisoning their highest-paid players the past several years.

 

In December, the Marlins traded Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis to the Detroit Tigers for six prospects ? a deal that saved the Marlins about $15 million for the 2008 season alone ? and not a single player remains from the 2003 World Series team.

 

But Loria said a payroll increase would most likely occur once the stadium opens, and not before. With 17 players on the 40-man roster eligible for arbitration, and potentially significant raises, following the coming season, it could mean a further paring of the roster.

 

?It?s a function of revenues, and we?re not really able to derive any revenues out of that facility,? Loria said of Dolphin Stadium, which the Marlins lease. ?And as we get closer to the stadium, those things will change.?

 

Loria said he envisions a time when the team will be able to afford more expensive players, including those with long-term contracts. Asked if that meant payroll would increase to the mid-range level of major league clubs, Loria replied: ?I think that?s what we?ve been categorized as, a middle market.?

 

Asked if it meant the Marlins would have a better chance of retaining star shortstop Hanley Ramirez, who will become eligible for arbitration after the ?08 season, Loria replied: ?Absolutely.?

 

?It?s all going to be a function of the revenues we generate,? he said. ?If we have a bigger base than we anticipate, that will go back to the payroll.?

 

The Marlins had the lowest home attendance in the majors each of the past two seasons.

 

?We?re right now trying to put together a great young team that can move into this new facility,? Loria said. ?There?s a lot of players here that need to be evaluated, and hopefully will be part of the future for this franchise -- this year, next year and in the new stadium.?

 

Loria said the club is working on architectural plans for the new ballpark, and promised that the retractable-roof stadium would be state-of-the-art.

 

?I can tell you it will be a special stadium,? Loria said. ?At one time we all started out as children, and it was nice to have a home to go home to. And, until now, we weren?t sure whether we had a home or not. We know we?ve got a home now.

 

?The uncertainty of the franchise has always been the main problem for me, and for us. I mean, it?s hard to fall in love with something if you know it?s going to leave. I?ve always been in love with these guys and this team. But, as a fan, it?s something that needed more permanence, and now we have it.?

 

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking_n...ory/440297.html

Loria arrives at Spring Training

Marlins owner says payroll will likely increase with new stadium

By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com

 

JUPITER, Fla. -- Securing the future of the franchise has long been a top priority for the Marlins. A major step on that front was taken recently when South Florida leaders approved funding for a retractable-roof stadium.

 

Next up for the organization is working toward moving into its own park, while grooming some of its young, promising talent.

 

Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria arrived at Spring Training on Saturday morning, and his outlook for the future of the franchise has never been brighter.

 

Among the highlights Loria addressed were:

? Payroll, which projects to increase to mid-range in the league

? Stadium design

? South Florida playing host to future All-Star and/or World Baseball Classic games

? New uniforms down the road

 

Stymied on their stadium front for about a decade, the Marlins received a boost recently when the city of Miami and Miami-Dade County commissioners each approved the final pieces of funding on a $515 million retractable-roof park that is slated to open in 2011 at the Orange Bowl grounds.

 

"It basically solidifies baseball here in South Florida for a long time," Loria said. "We have a home now.

 

"The uncertainty of the future of the franchise has always been a main problem for me and the franchise. It's hard to fall in love with something if you don't know if it's going to leave. As a fan, we needed some more permanence. We now have it."

 

With a stadium deal finalized, the Marlins still have economic challenges until they move into their own park.

 

The past few seasons, the Marlins have ranked at or near the bottom in payroll. As they push toward 2011, payroll is expected to gradually rise. It won't substantially escalate until they are out of Dolphin Stadium and playing at their Orange Bowl home.

 

"Down the road, absolutely," Loria said of a bump in payroll. "I think that's what we've been categorized as -- a middle-market team. It's all going to be a function of the revenues that we generate. If we have a bigger base than we anticipate, then that will go back into payroll."

 

What stadium stability does do is put the team in position to rethink its policy of locking up players through their arbitration years and perhaps into some of their free-agency seasons.

 

The past few years, without the security of a new stadium in place, the Marlins have not considered signing players through their arbitration years.

 

"We're going to look at that going forward," Loria said. "The dynamic has changed. We are challenged until we get into that new stadium."

 

This is significant when it comes to evaluating players such as 24-year-old shortstop Hanley Ramirez, who enters arbitration after this season. Ramirez isn't in line to become a free agent until the 2012 season, yet in arbitration, his salary would dramatically rise.

 

While there is no guarantee the team will lock up Ramirez long term, it appears open to considering ways to get a deal done in the next year or two for the rising star.

 

In the near future, the organization will address internally what direction it will go on payroll projections and specific players.

 

"We've got to get the stadium done first," Loria said. "Putting together the team down the road is a separate issue."

 

On the stadium front, Loria spoke with the architects Friday regarding design.

 

"I can tell you it's going to be a special stadium," Loria said. "It will be a special facility which our fans will be very proud of when we're done."

 

Projections on when the design will be completed are six to nine months. Construction remains targeted to begin around November.

 

Traditionally, markets with new stadiums receive an All-Star Game. The Marlins' future home may also be a possible site for an upcoming World Baseball Classic round.

 

"Those announcements will come shortly," Loria said of whether South Florida would someday be a host to either an All-Star Game or a Classic contest. "The answer is yes, but we will be announcing them shortly."

 

When the Marlins eventually move into their park, they will officially change to the Miami Marlins. At that time, they also will revise their uniforms.

 

"There will be a complete change," Loria said. "Nothing has been designed yet. It will be different. It will be fun. It will be something we can all grab on to and call our own."

 

Joe Frisaro is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

 

http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/news/articl...sp&c_id=fla

Now is the time to strike for a long term deal on Hanley. Knowing he will be there as the centerpiece to the new stadium would be huge for the fans. Offer something like 5 years 50 million (lou is better with these type of numbers) dollars, and if accepted Loria would be arrested for stealing come 2011-2012.

He is basically stating the obvious. If he moves into a brand new stadium, he better be spending more than 20 million on payroll.

I thought this was a given, thanks for letting us in on your plans Loria. He really has no choice, imagine if he doesnt? He'd have to hire a horde of bodyguards.

Now is the time to strike for a long term deal on Hanley. Knowing he will be there as the centerpiece to the new stadium would be huge for the fans. Offer something like 5 years 50 million (lou is better with these type of numbers) dollars, and if accepted Loria would be arrested for stealing come 2011-2012.

I think these two contracts pretty much set the level. These are the richest contract ever given to a pre arbitration eligible player for both SS and 3B, and both of them are easily comparable to Hanley on a performance level.

 

Troy Tulowitzki ss

6 year/$31M (2008-13), plus $15M 2014 club option

 

* signed extension 1/23/08

* 08:$0.75M, 09:$0.75M, 10:$3.5M, 11:$5.5M, 12:$8.5M, 13:$10M, 14:$15M club option ($2M buyout)

 

David Wright 3b

6 years/$55M (2007-2012), plus 2013 club option

 

* signed extension 8/06

* $1.5M signing bonus

* 07:$1M, 08:$5M, 09:$7.5M, 10:$10M, 11:$14M, 12:$15M

 

Tulo is basically $30 million over that range (this is with the buyout), Wright is at $37-40 million range (whenever that signing bonus is paid, guessing up front, and you have to notice the $1, year 3 salary, which helps future salary deflection which is why I have it at a greater range than simply adding it up). So do you put Hanley as a SS, or a Slugger? .950 OPS is crazy. We're talking a lot of money with that extra $7-10 Wright is getting

 

I would say Hanley gets a solid $33-35 right now, for 5 years. Probably the upper half of that. That seems rather fair. It pushes him over the SS level, and more to the "slugger" class.

 

If you think about arbitration, and he keeps posting a .950 OPS. He will rocket himself out of SS land and into "slugger' land, and we're looking probably $6-7, 9/10, god knows over that three year span. I would budget him minimum 4/$28, 2008-2011 going through arbitration. And thus we're back to the argument, for the love of god buy him out and get that FA year and save the team the extra $7-10 million dollars that year would cost you. Cause you have to assume he's making $15+ minimum.

I would say Hanley commands a David Wright type salary rathen then a Tulowitzi.

 

5 - 7 yr deal please!

I think Hermida would be the best guy to sign long-term rather than go year-to-year with, considering we will probably save a considerable amount if we go that route. I think he and Hanley are really the only guaranteed players from the 2008 lineup into the new stadium.

I think Hermida would be the best guy to sign long-term rather than go year-to-year with, considering we will probably save a considerable amount if we go that route. I think he and Hanley are really the only guaranteed players from the 2008 lineup into the new stadium.

Why is Hermida is still over rated. He had 1 1/2 season and all of the sudden everyone is threating Hermida a gurantee .300 hitter. :|

Loria need show us that their want keep Hermida here for long run gave them 5 to 8 year contracts

Hermida needs to put together a complete season before they think about signing him long term.

I think Hermida would be the best guy to sign long-term rather than go year-to-year with, considering we will probably save a considerable amount if we go that route. I think he and Hanley are really the only guaranteed players from the 2008 lineup into the new stadium.

Why is Hermida is still over rated. He had 1 1/2 season and all of the sudden everyone is threating Hermida a gurantee .300 hitter. :|

Who over rates him? I say everyone under rates him. 23 year olds who hit an .870 OPS (.956 post) over substantial AB tend to be pretty amazing longterm. He isn't a fluke. His plate discipline is for real. Nothing in his minor league record indicates otherwise. Everyone in baseball is all over guys like Pence and Kemp, which is fine because they are pretty cool players. But I say Hermida batted 30-50 points lower than them (i.e., a realistic sustainable batting average), and was like twenty OPS points away (which is crazy!). Wait till that levels out. Hermida is going to blow past guys completely reliant on batting average for production, because Hermida knows how to work a pitcher. His approach is ridiculous for how young he is. I can't remember the last time I was so excited over a Marlins player. It might have been Sheffield in 94. Literally.

 

They should absolutely buyout Hanley and Hermida for 5-6, and then play arbitration for everyone else. The pitchers, because we have a plethora so we don't need to lock ourselves into anyone. The hitters, because Uggla, Hammer, and Jacobs are complementary pieces and not core players. Hermida, and Hanley tough. That's the offensive core. ]

My prediction is that Hanley Ramirez stays two seasons longer than Cabrera.Then Loria pulls the plug.

Of course payroll should/will increase when the stadium opens. But that doesn't prevent - and shouldn't prevent - the Marlins from working out longterm contracts with some key players now, Hanley first among them. Structure the contracts so they are backloaded to pay out most of their salaries in 2011 and beyond.

Usually all long term contracts are backloaded. Each year is usually 1 or 2 million more than the previous year

Usually all long term contracts are backloaded. Each year is usually 1 or 2 million more than the previous year

 

I realize this. I just don't want to see the stadium revenues argument used as an excuse not to work out longterm deals now - when we could still afford to pay Hanley something in the $10-$12 million range at the backend of the contract instead of something around $20 million at the backend of the contract if the Marlins wait another couple years.

I thought this was a given, thanks for letting us in on your plans Loria. He really has no choice, imagine if he doesnt? He'd have to hire a horde of bodyguards.

He lives in NY much of the time. I know Loria wants to win, just hope he doesn't fool himself believing that he will just get lucky again. It usually takes a long range committment to quality to win.

I thought this was a given, thanks for letting us in on your plans Loria. He really has no choice, imagine if he doesnt? He'd have to hire a horde of bodyguards.

He lives in NY much of the time. I know Loria wants to win, just hope he doesn't fool himself believing that he will just get lucky again. It usually takes a long range committment to quality to win.

 

What does that matter? Trust me if he backs away from raising payroll ill gladly pay for a ticket to NYC, hide behind one of his precious paintings and bitch slap him when he walks towards it. :hammer :hammer :hammer :hammer :hammer :hammer

At the current rate that teams are overpaying for mediocre players, the average payroll in 2011 will be like $150 million

Jeffrey Loria sucks. plain and simple.

Jeffrey Loria sucks. plain and simple.

I figured this would stop after the stadium was approved. Guess I was wrong.

Nope. He's still a bad owner. So the stadium got approved, yet we have to wallow in low payroll for 3 more years? Why can't he at least apply the profits from the last two seasons towards a slight increase? There's no excuse for that.

how many bad owners bring a world series to a city whether they spend money or not??

Nope. He's still a bad owner. So the stadium got approved, yet we have to wallow in low payroll for 3 more years? Why can't he at least apply the profits from the last two seasons towards a slight increase? There's no excuse for that.

Two reasons

 

1 - What does payroll have to do with it? Really. Is signing a $10 mil a year OF and a $10 mil a year pitcher making this a playoff team? No. This team is being built around Hanley/Hermida/Maybin, and the 20+ arms we have that could develop. When the time is right, meaning 2-3 years down the road when everyone is MLB ready and we have some experience, then it might be necessary to add a FA player to compliment what we have. Adding payroll right now, to defer against future income, is absolutely retarded unless you believe a $5 million dollar Kenny Lofton lofts this team above Atlanta, Philly, and NYM. I say, no. He does not do that. (And any rational baseball person would agree.) Therefore, adding payroll is a horrid idea. Meaning not a Loria issue.

 

2 - The stadium is approved, but cost over runs are not accounted for. The Marlins are on the hook for this, so until a realistic stadium cost is realized, which will take 1-2 years into construction, the Marlins do not have flexibility until they know how much they are going to have to spend on the stadium. It is a smart idea to be cautious and not add payroll. Let the kids develop. We'll see what we have post 09.

 

I am not a Loria fan by any stretch, but if this is your argument against him, you need to rethink this and come up with a more compelling reason.

Sorry, I've been meaning to say this since I saw this thread was posted and read the title.

 

DURRRR- Ofcourse Loria is going to increase payroll.

 

Kinda hard to keep arbitration eligible players at the ML minimum each and every year. No way he can keep trading everything to keep the payroll down.

 

My opinion, let him do what he wants for the next year, 2. By then NY will be old, ATL won't have pitching, and PHI will flounder under Howards Demands and Utley and Rollins overbloated contracts and weak system.

 

In 2009, 2010- thats when this team can compete.

 

Look at the rosters the teams in our division has and tell me that there isn't 15, 16 guys who can retire tommorrow.

 

The team I would be afraid of in the future is Washington because I fear the unknown. Not NY, PHI, or ATL.

 

AND I'M A FRIGGIN MET/MARLINS FAN. (90 Marlins, 10 Mets-the final series last year was mixed joy).

 

Chris