The payroll commitments for 2012 are already $80.5 million. Arbitration costs, for 2012, are estimated by B-R to be $27.3 million. And if you fill up the rest of the roster with $500,000 players you get a total, commitments + arbitration + fillers, of $127.3 million for 2012.
I think those figures don’t include the salary for Will Ohman, whose contract was finalized today. If we add $2 million for Ohman ($2.5 million salary for 2012 minus a $500,000 filler), we get $129.3 million. Let’s round it to $130 million. Whoa Nellie! Yes, the $130 million figure is not very accurate but it provides a helpful estimation.
Now, I wonder how hard the White Sox will try to extend John Danks’ contract (Danks becomes a free-agent after the 2012 season). I guess not very hard unless a trade or two take place before or after Danks signs.
