Saltzman Says...25 Man Roster (Dec 8 Edition)

Rotation:
1. #1 Starter:  Matt Cain
2013 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2013 Salary $20 million
2014 Salary $20 million

2015 Salary $20 million

2016 Salary $20 million

2017 Salary $20 million
2018 Salary $21 million (vesting option)
2. #2 Starter: Madison Bumgarner
2013 Salary Situation: Under Contract through 2017

2013 Salary $750K
2014 Salary $3.75 million
2015 Salary $6.75 million
2016 Salary $9.75 million
2017 Salary $11.5 million
2018 (club vesting option)
2019 (club option)

3. #3 Starter: Tim Lincecum
2013 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2013 Salary: $22.5 million


4. #4 Starter:  Barry Zito
2013 Salary Situation: Under Contract through 2014
2013 Salary: $21 million
2014 Salary: $18 million (club option) 

5. #5 Starter: Ryan Vogelsong
2013 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2013 Salary: $5 million
2014 Salary: $6.5 million (club option)


Bullpen:
6. Closer: Sergio Romo
2013 Salary Situation: Arbitration Eligible
2013 Salary: ??

7. Lefty Specialist Javier Lopez
2013 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2013 Salary: $4.25 million

8. Right Handed Reliever Santiago Casilla
2013 Salary Situation: Arbitration Eligible
2013 Salary: ??

9. Left Handed Reliever Jeremy Affeldt
2013 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2013 Projected Salary: $6 million
2014 Projected Salary: $6 million
2015 Projected Salary: $6 million

10. Right Handed Reliever George Kontos
2013 Salary Situation: Team Controlled Contract
2013 Salary: $480K

11. Left Handed Reliever: Jose Mijares
2013 Salary Situation: Arbitration Eligible
2013 Salary: ??

12. Long Man/Spot Starter: Guillermo Mota
2013 Salary Situation: Free Agent
2013 Salary:  ??

Starting Lineup: 
13. Center Field Angel Pagan
2013 Salary Situation: Under Contract through 2016
2013 Salary: $8.25 million
2014 Salary: $10.25 million
2015 Salary: $10.25 million
2016 Salary: $11.25 million

14. Second Base Marco Scutaro
2013 Salary Situation: Under Contract through 2015
2013 Projected Salary: $6.25 million
2014 Projected Salary: $6.75 million
2015 Projected Salary: $7 million

15. Third Base Pablo Sandoval
2013 Salary Situation: Under Contract through 2014
2013 Salary: $5.7 million
2014 Salary: $8.25 million

16. Catcher Buster Posey
2013 Salary Situation: Arbitration Eligible
2013 Salary: ??

17. Right Field: Hunter Pence
2013 Salary Situation: Arbitration Eligible
2013 Salary: ??

18. First Base Brandon Belt
2013 Salary Situation: Team Controlled Contract
2013 Salary: $480K

19. Left Field: Gregor Blanco
2013 Salary Situation: Arbitration Eligible
2013 Salary: ??

20. Shortstop Brandon Crawford
2013 Salary Situation: Team Controlled
2013 Salary: $480K

Bench:
21. Catcher Hector Sanchez
2013 Salary Situation: Team Controlled Contract
2013 Salary: $480K

22. Infielder Ryan Theriot
2013 Salary Situation: Free Agent
2013 Salary: ??

23. Infielder: Joaquin Arias
2013 Salary Situation: Arbitration Eligible
2013 Salary: ??

24. 4th Outfield: Xavier Nady
2013 Salary Situation: Free Agent
2013 Salary: ??

Cots Baseball Projections

Saltzman Says...My Tribute to Matt Cain

 

Matt Cain finished his Perfect Game with 14 strikeouts.

Reaction from the Final Out

A Team Celebration.

The Boxscore on the JumboTron

The Message Says It All

McCovey Chronicles Collection of Perfect Game Links

50 Awesome Things About the Perfect Game

Saltzman Says...What The Giants Post Season Roster Should Be

Starting Nine
1. Angel Pagan
2. Marco Scutaro
3. Pablo Sandoval
4. Buster Posey
5. Hunter Pence
6. Brandon Belt
7. Xavier Nady
8. Brandon Crawford
9. Matt Cain

Bench
10. Hector Sanchez
11. Ryan Theriot
12. Joaquin Arias
13. Gregor Blanco
14. Aubrey Huff

Other Starting Pitchers
15. Madison Bumgarner
16. Tim Lincecum
17. Barry Zito

Bullpen
18. Ryan Vogelsong
19. Guillermo Mota
20. Jose Mijares
21. Clay Hensley
22. Jeremy Affeldt
23. Santiago Casilla
24. Javier Lopez
25. Sergio Romo

Saltzman Says...Sabean's Strategery Showing Sure Signs of Success

Six Sure Signs of Success

1. Matt Cain is an Ace
No matter what happens with Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain is signed through 2018.  Regardless of how much money Tim wants, Cain will be here.  That allows the team some leverage in negotiations and does force the hand of Lincecum to perform if he wants more than the $22.5 million he'll make in 2013.

2. 1st Pablo and now Madison
Locking young players up is the easiest way to ensure more cost certainty in the future.  The team did it previously with Cain, and also with Brian Wilson.  Wilson, who's contract is up after the season, actually has a 4th year of arbitration awaiting.  Pablo is signed through his arbitration.  Bumgarner is signed through the first year of his free agency.  Having their salaries locked him could save the team money they might have had to spend to keep them during arbitration, but more importantly, allows them to know what is on their books.

3. 1st Rowand and Huff and then Zito
This year will be interesting because the team might not have any money to spend as they approach the trade deadline, but may have some money next off-season.  Aaron Rowand's $12 million as well as Aubrey Huff's $11 million will both be off the books.  After the team says goodbye to that $23 million, they will finally breathe a sigh of relief the following year when the monstrous 7 year $126 million beast of a contract Barry Zito signed will be gone.  He will make $21 million next season and then the team will pay him $7 million to no longer be a Giant.  That $42 million that is currently devoted to Rowand, Huff and Zito will be gone.

4. The Kids are coming, The Kids are coming...
Freddy Sanchez is making $6 million, Jeremy Affeldt is making $5 million, and Angel Pagan is making $4.5 million. Even if any of these 3 end up having strong years in 2012, they will more than likely be making less in 2013.  It is possible that with the strides being made in the minors by Joe Panik, Heath Hembree and Gary Brown, that the $15.5 million currently devoted to Sanchez, Affeldt and Pagan will turn into $1.2 million to Panik, Hembree and Brown.

5. The Bills will be Paid!
According to Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports, the Giants will no longer owe $20 million a year for AT&T Park after 2017.  So when the Giants are paying Matt Cain $20 million and Madison Bumgarner $12 million, they can afford to pay Lincecum $25 and Buster Posey whatever he will be making.  Same for Pablo Sandoval, Sergio Romo, Brandon Belt, Brandon Crawford, Nate Schierholtz, Gary Brown, Joe Panik, and Heath Hembree.

6. Even more Kids are coming...
Whether it's current 25 man roster contributors like Hector Sanchez and Brett Pill, 40 man roster options like Francisco Peguero and Charlie Culberson or up and comers like Tommy Joseph and Chris Dominguez, the Giants are stockpiled with talent and that will continue because of the scouting department and the staff the team has put together in the minor leagues.  San Jose, Richmond and Fresno are loaded with talent and potential and it will allow the Giants the flexibility to move a player like Zach Wheeler for Carlos Beltran even if it is a 2 month rental because the team has Erik Surkamp or Kyle Crick

Saltzman Says...25 Man Roster (Madison Bumgarner Extension Edition)

Rotation:
1. #1 Starter: Tim Lincecum
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract through 2013
2012 Salary: $18 million
2013 Salary: $22.5 million

2. #2 Starter: Madison Bumgarner
2012 Salary Situation: Team Controlled Contract
2012 Salary: $560K
2013 Salary $750K
2014 Salary $3.75 million
2015 Salary $6.75 million
2016 Salary $9.75 million
2017 Salary $11.5 million
2018 (club vesting option)
2019 (club option)

3. #3 Starter: Matt Cain
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $15 million
2013 Salary $20 million 
2014 Salary $20 million

2015 Salary $20 million

2016 Salary $20 million

2017 Salary $20 million 
2018 Salary $21 million (vesting option)

4. #4 Starter: Ryan Vogelsong
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $3 million
2013 Salary: $5 million
2014 Salary: $6.5 million (club option)

5. #5 Starter: Barry Zito
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract through 2014
2012 Salary: $19 million
2013 Salary: $21 million
2014 Salary: $18 million (club option) 

Bullpen:
6. Closer Brian Wilson
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $8.5 million

7. Setup Man Sergio Romo
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract 
2012 Salary: $1.575 million

8. Lefty Specialist Javier Lopez
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $4.25 million
2013 Salary: $4.25 million

9. Right Handed Reliever Santiago Casilla
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $2.2 million

10. Left Handed Reliever Jeremy Affeldt
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $5 million

11. Right Handed Reliever Guillermo Mota
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $1 million 

12. Long Man/Spot Starter Clay Hensley
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $750K 


Starting Lineup: 
13. Center Field Angel Pagan
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $4.85 million

14. Second Base Freddy Sanchez
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $6 million

15. Third Base Pablo Sandoval
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $3.2 million
2013 Salary: $5.7 million
2014 Salary: $8.25 million

16. Catcher Buster Posey
2012 Salary Situation: Team Controlled Contract
2012 Salary: $650K

17. Left Field Melky Cabrera
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $6 million

18. First Base Aubrey Huff
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $11 million

19. Right Field Nate Schierholtz
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $1.3 million

20. Shortstop Brandon Crawford
2012 Salary Situation: Team Controlled
2012 Projected Salary: $480K

Bench:
21. Catcher Hector Sanchez
2012 Salary Situation: Team Controlled Contract
2012 Salary: $480K

22. First Base Brett Pill
2012 Salary Situation: Team Controlled Contract
2012 Projected Salary: $480K

23. UT Brandon Belt
2012 Salary Situation: Team Controlled Contract
2012 Salary: $480K

24. UT Ryan Theriot
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $1.25 million

25. 4th Outfield Gregor Blanco
2012 Salary Situation: Team Controlled Contract
2012 Salary: $480K

Aaron Rowand ($12 million)
Total Payroll: $126 million

Saltzman Says...25 Man Roster (Matt Cain Extension Edition)

Rotation:
1. #1 Starter: Tim Lincecum
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract through 2013
2012 Salary: $18 million


2. #2 Starter: Matt Cain
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract through 2017 (vesting option in 2018)
2012 Salary: $15 million

Matt Cain obtains a signing bonus of $5MM and his 2012 salary of $15MM remains unchanged, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports (Twitter links). The right-hander will earn $20MM annually from 2013-17 and the deal includes a $21MM option with a $7.5MM buyout for 2018, according to Rosenthal. The 2018 option will vest if Cain is healthy in 2017, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). Otherwise it becomes a club option. Cain has full no-trade protection, according to Jim Bowden of ESPN.com and MLB Network Radio (Twitter link).

3. #3 Starter: Madison Bumgarner
2012 Salary Situation: Team Controlled Contract
2012 Projected Salary: $850K

4. #4 Starter: Ryan Vogelsong
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $3 million

5. #5 Starter: Barry Zito
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract through 2014
2012 Salary: $19 million ($46 million buyout unlikely)


Bullpen:
6. Closer Brian Wilson
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $8.5 million

7. Setup Man Sergio Romo
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract 
2012 Salary: $1.575 million

8. Lefty Specialist Javier Lopez
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract through 2013
2012 Salary: $4.25 million

9. Right Handed Reliever Santiago Casilla
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $2.2 million

10. Left Handed Reliever Jeremy Affeldt
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $5 million

11. Right Handed Reliever Guillermo Mota
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $1 million 

12. Long Man/Spot Starter Clay Hensley
2012 Salary Situation: Non Guaranteed Contract
2012 Salary: $750K 


Starting Lineup: 
13. Center Field Angel Pagan
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $4.85 million

14. Second Base Freddy Sanchez
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $6 million

15. Third Base Pablo Sandoval
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract through 2014
2012 Salary: $3.2 million

16. Catcher Buster Posey
2012 Salary Situation: Team Controlled Contract
2012 Projected Salary: $1 million

17. Left Field Melky Cabrera
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $6 million

18. First Base Aubrey Huff
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $11 million

19. Right Field Nate Schierholtz
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $1.3 million

20. Shortstop Brandon Crawford
2012 Salary Situation: Team Controlled
2012 Projected Salary: $480K

Bench:
21. Catcher Eli Whiteside
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Projected Salary: $1 million

22. First Base Brett Pill
2012 Salary Situation: Team Controlled Contract
2012 Projected Salary: $480K

23. Infield Mike Fontenot
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $1.05 million

24. UT Ryan Theriot
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $1.25 million

25. 4th Outfield Brandon Belt
2012 Salary Situation: Team Controlled Contract
2012 Projected Salary: $480K

Bench Estimated Payroll Impact: $4 million

Estimated Payroll: $114 million
Aaron Rowand ($12 million)
Total Payroll: $126 million

Saltzman Says...Hello Andrew Bogut

The Golden State Warriors have revamped their team with the additions of Andrew Bogut and Richard Jefferson as well as adding two draft picks in the upcoming draft.

If they end up with a top 7 pick, they will have 4 draft picks in which to add many pieces to challenge the incumbent Warriors next year.

No Warrior besides David Lee and Klay Thompson are signed past 2013-14, so there is no commitment to any other player beyond two years.  That allows the Warriors two things.  Patience and flexibility.  In that order.

They don't have the trade pieces anymore to make a major change, and they don't have the salary cap space to make any big free agent splash.

However, if they bring back Brandon Rush, Dominic McGuire and/or Nate Robinson, the majority of their roster next year is accounted for.

The only major difference will be if someone decides to take on Andris Biedrins, Dorell Wright, or Richard Jefferson.

Locked in for next year are the following: [IF HEALTHY]

PG Stephen Curry
SG Klay Thompson
PF David Lee
C Andrew Bogut

Curry and Bogut make that a big if.

Point Guard: Nate Robinson has proven to be a nice addition off the bench.  Rookie Charles Jenkins has shown enough flashes to see why the team liked him enough to let Jeremy Lin go {not the blog entry to get into that turn of events}

Both could be brought back to give Jenkins more time to develop and give the team some scoring off the bench.

PG: Curry, Robinson and Jenkins

Shooting Guard: Brandon Rush needs to be signed beyond this season to remain a Warrior, and the team had an offer on the table to get Chris Kaman if they included Rush, and passed.  That shows he is someone they really like.  If they re-sign him, their isn't any further need at the 2 guard spot.

SG: Thompson and Rush

Small Forward: Richard Jefferson hasn't played a game yet under Mark Jackson, so it is way too early to say if he will be a great fit, a long term answer, or even a starter.  He could start over Dorell Wright, which would allow Wright to contribute off the bench.  Either way, both are expendable if the team lands a top 7 pick in the upcoming draft.  Chris Wright, an end of the bench SF right now, will be a long shot to stay with the club next year.

SF: Jefferson and D. Wright

Power Forward: David Lee is your starting PF for the next several years no matter what.  That being said, Dominic McGuire has certainly proven he is worthy for playing time.  His effort on the boards, ability to play defense on the perimeter, and down low, and his overall hustle, makes him as valuable to this team as anyone.  They may bring in another banger to replace Udoh, but only because McGuire can play multiple positions.

PF: Lee and McGuire

Center: Andrew Bogut can easily become the best center in Warriors history since Nate Thurmond simply by being competent on both ends of the floor.  If Healthy, he can be dominant on either end at times.  This does two things.  It allows Andris Biedrins to simply be a backup despite his salary.  Also, it let's Biedrins become expendable.  An twist in the trades made this week would be if the team brought back Kwame Brown next year to backup Bogut.  Jeremy Tyler is way too raw for any kind of consistent minutes at this level.  He won't be moved to another team because why let him blossom somewhere else.

C: Bogut, Biedrins and Tyler

That leaves three open spots if these 12 players are brought back.

The Warriors currently have 2 guaranteed draft picks, both in the 2nd round, and have two draft picks that are conditional.  Their own, which is Top 7 protected and now the Spurs 1st round pick, which is Top 14 protected.

IF the Warriors end up with 4 draft picks, they will either need to release or trade one of the 12 players above, or simply draft a player that is playing overseas and just obtain his rights.  Regardless, the team looks to have a full 15 man roster next year.

These moves allow the Warriors to be much more balanced next season.

Saltzman Says...Goodbye Monta Ellis

The Warriors were bought by Owners with a background in two things as it relates to sports: Owning teams, and building teams.

Peter Guber's Mandalay Entertainment owns several Minor League teams.

Joe Lacob owned part of the Boston Celtics and saw the internal workings of a organization that carved out a plan, stuck to it, and delivered a championship from it.

Bringing in Jerry West as an advisor to evaluate talent, Rick Welts to run the business side that bobby fowell used to, Bob Myers to help improve the Warriors standing with other GM's and agents, and Mark Jackson to build a team that relies on passing the basketball and defense. 

Everyone hired was hired for a purpose.

The team was not fully built by the time David Lee was traded for, but the move had the ok from ownership.  They traded three complimentary pieces:

Anthony Randolph, who is currently playing 12 minutes a game, scoring 5.9 PPG for Minnesota

Ronny Turiaf, who is currently averaging 1.2 PPG and 3 RPG for Washington

Kelenna Azubuike, who is not currently playing basketball.  

The Knicks, in essence, traded David Lee for cap space to pursue Amare Stoudemire and trade for Carmelo Anthony.  As good as they look on paper, especially now with Jeremy Lin, they aren't in any better shape than the Warriors currently.  

For all of David Lee's shortcomings on defense, he is an offensive force at times, and he has a consistent jumper that helps open the floor for his teammates.  He is also a willing passer.  It doesn't make up for his lack of defense, yet he is now going to be paired with Andrew Bogut.

Bottomline: Monta Ellis doesn't play defense.  Monta Ellis is not as good long term as Stephen Curry or Klay Thompson.  Monta Ellis is not as important to a playoff team as Andrew Bogut.

Every single Warrior that has been brought in plays defense since the front office was completely built.

Klay Thompson

Kwame Brown

Dominic McGuire

Brandon Rush

 

Nate Robinson

Andrew Bogut

Stephen Jackson

Every one of those players puts in work on the defensive side of the ball.

PG Stephen Curry (backed up by Nate Robinson)

SG Klay Thompson (backed up by Brandon Rush)

SF Dorell Wright (backed up by Stephen Jackson)

PF David Lee (backed up by Dominic McGuire)

C Andrew Bogut (backed up by Andris Biedrins)

{That would be a fun 5-on-5 to watch.}

with Charles Jenkins and Jeremy Tyler, that is a much more balanced team with a very talented bench.

If Stephen Jackson can embrace the 6th man type role that Nate Robinson has, we can be tough to beat next year.

We will certainly look to bring in a rookie or two to challenge for playing time

I could see the Warriors bringing in a rookie SF to make Stephen Jackson expendable.

(Ideally, Harrison Barnes or Michael Kidd-Gilchrist)

I could see the Warriors bringing in a rookie C to make Jeremy Tyler work and Andris more expendable.

I could even see the Warriors bring back Kwame Brown this off-season.

 

Saltzman Sees...Top 10 Football Movies of All-Time

With the Super Bowl on Sunday, and my new movie blog launched (http://saltzmansees.blogspot.com) no better time than now to present my top ten Football movies of All-Time:

1. Rudy

2. Remember the Titans

3. Brian's Song (1971)

4. Radio

5. The Blind Side

6. We Are Marshall

7. Invincible

8. The Express

9. The Longest Yard (1974)

10. Possums




Honorable Mentioned: All the Right Moves, Any Given Sunday, Brian's Song (2002), Everybody's All-American, Facing the Giants, Friday Night Lights, Heaven Can Wait, Jerry Maguire, Jim Thorpe: All-American, Little Giants, Lucas, Necessary Roughness, North Dallas Forty, Semi-Tough, The Best of Times, The Game Plan, The Last Boy Scout, The Last Game, The Longest Yard (2005), The Program, The Replacements, The Waterboy, They Call Me Sirr, Triumph of the Heart. The Ricky Bell Story, Varsity Blues, Wildcats, and Year of the Bull

Saltzman Sees...Top 10 Sports Movies of All-Time

Moneyball doesn't make my top 10, despite being a top 10 movie in 2011.  Here is my top 10 sports movies of all-time

1. Field of Dreams: A love story between a father and son and their love for the game of baseball.  One of the most beautiful stories ever on screen.

2. Hoosiers: The greatest underdog story in movie history, with incredible performances by Gene Hackman, Dennis Hopper, and the small town of "Hickory."

3. Rudy: Underdog stories are a common theme in sports, and Rudy is as inspirational as they come of a young boy living his life long dream.

4. Remember the Titans: The hard truths of racism in America during the 1960's is documented brilliantly through the eyes of two men coaching football in Virginia. Denzel Washington is coach Herman Boone.

5. Rocky: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burgess Meredith, Burt Young and Carl Weathers are magnificent in a true tale of opportunity in America. A beautiful love story that proves the American Dream is still possible.

6. Miracle: One of the greatest upsets ever, documented beautifully by Disney. A true David and Goliath. Kurt Russell is tremendous.

7. Brian's Song: One of the most unlikely but truly great friendships ever immortalized on film.  James Caan and Billie Dee Williams are terrific as Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers.

8. Million Dollar Baby: A story of determination and love that captures the human spirit. Clint Eastwood's heartfelt story of a woman's dedication to make something of herself.

9. Radio: The true story of a young man who brought out the best in everyone he ever touched. Cuba Gooding Jr., Ed Harris, Alfre Woodard and Debra Winger are masterful telling the tale of 'Radio."

10. Seabiscuit: Jeff Bridges, Tobey Maguire and Chris Cooper learn about hope during one of the darkest times in our nation's history. During the depression, America fell in love with an undersized, overweight horse.

For more on my love affair with the Cinema, please go to: SaltzmanSees.blogspot.com

Saltzman Says... Giants 25 Man Roster, Updated 1/27/12

Rotation:
1. #1 Starter: Tim Lincecum
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract through 2013
2012 Salary: $18 million


2. #2 Starter: Matt Cain
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $15 million (with added extension??)

3. #3 Starter: Madison Bumgarner
2012 Salary Situation: Team Controlled Contract
2012 Projected Salary: $850K

4. #4 Starter: Ryan Vogelsong
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $3 million

Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com has the breakdown (on Twitter). Vogelsong will earn $3MM in 2012, $5MM in 2013, and then a $6.5MM club option with a $300K buyout for 2014 comes into play. The total guarantee is $8.3MM.

5. #5 Starter: Barry Zito
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract through 2014
2012 Salary: $19 million ($46 million buyout unlikely)


Bullpen:
6. Closer Brian Wilson
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $8.5 million

7. Setup Man Sergio Romo
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract 
2012 Salary: $1.575 million

8. Lefty Specialist Javier Lopez
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract through 2013
2012 Salary: $4.25 million

SAN FRANCISCO -- Left-handed reliever Javier Lopez has agreed to an $8.5 million, two-year contract to stay with the San Francisco Giants, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press on Sunday.
Lopez -- one of baseball's most reliable lefties out of the bullpen -- had been set to become a free agent before receiving a new deal, confirmed under the condition of anonymity because the team had yet to make a formal announcement. Lopez will earn $4.25 million in 2012 and '13.

9. Right Handed Reliever Santiago Casilla
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $2.2 million

10. Left Handed Reliever Jeremy Affeldt
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $5 million

11. Right Handed Reliever Guillermo Mota
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $1 million 

12. Long Man/Spot Starter Clay Hensley
2012 Salary Situation: Non Guaranteed Contract
2012 Salary: $750K 


Starting Lineup: 
13. Center Field Angel Pagan
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $4.85 million

The Mets avoided arbitration with outfielder Andres Torres on a deal worth $2.7MM, tweets Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.  The Mets also avoided arbitration with reliever Ramon Ramirez, agreeing to a $2.65MM deal, tweets ESPN's Enrique Rojas.

(Saltzman Says...By my count, we saved $500K.  With only that savings, I sure hope Pagan is a major upgrade from Torres, because Torres is a better defender and Ramirez was a very strong arm in the bullpen. I'm not sure if we will replace Ramirez with a better arm.)

14. Second Base Freddy Sanchez
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $6 million

15. Third Base Pablo Sandoval
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract through 2014
2012 Salary: $3.2 million

16. Catcher Buster Posey
2012 Salary Situation: Team Controlled Contract
2012 Projected Salary: $1 million

17. Left Field Melky Cabrera
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $6 million

18. First Base Aubrey Huff
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $11 million

19. Right Field Nate Schierholtz
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $1.3 million

20. Shortstop Brandon Crawford
2012 Salary Situation: Team Controlled
2012 Projected Salary: $480K

Bench:
21. Catcher Eli Whiteside
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Projected Salary: $1 million

22. First Base Brett Pill
2012 Salary Situation: Team Controlled Contract
2012 Projected Salary: $480K

23. Infield Mike Fontenot
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $1.05 million

24. UT Ryan Theriot
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $1.25 million

25. 4th Outfield Brandon Belt
2012 Salary Situation: Team Controlled Contract
2012 Projected Salary: $480K

Bench Estimated Payroll Impact: $4 million

Estimated Payroll: $114 million
Aaron Rowand ($12 million)

Total Payroll: $126 million

Saltzman Says... Golden State Warriors State of the Franchise 2012

We are 10 games into a 66 game, condensed schedule, lockout shortened season.  The Warriors, 3-7, like play-by-play man Bob Fitzgerald predicted on his KNBR radio show, are off to a bumpy, injury prone, dramatic start.

The Good - The Warriors have beaten two teams, Miami and Chicago that have combined for 18 wins already this year, and also beat the New York Knicks. 

The Bad - The Warriors played 7 of their 1st 10 at home and have a losing record (3-4) at home.

The Ugly - It will get worse before it gets better.  Stephen Curry has missed most of the season so far with sprained ankles that have come 3 separate times this season.  Also, Kwame Brown is done for the season with a torn chest muscle.

As far as the franchise goes, the team seems to have a good nucleus in place in the front office and with their staff.  Joe Lacob, the principle owner of the franchise, hired Jerry West to serve of his executive board, hired Rick Welts as his president, Bob Myers as his asst. GM, and hired Mark Jackson as his head coach.  While West's reputation is legendary and Welts is as well respected around the league as anybody, Myers and Jackson are brand new to their job descriptions.  Myers is a former player agent and Jackson is a former player and analyst.  That being said, Myers is one of the most respected player agents in the game, and who better to deal with other agents, than a former one.  Jackson, while never having coached before, certainly knows how to lead, whether as a starting point guard in the NBA for 17 seasons or at his church as the pastor.  It can certainly be said that the health of the organization at the top is good news for fans.

As far as the team goes, they are a long way from respectability.  Stephen Curry, Monta Ellis, Dorell Wright, David Lee and Andris Biedrins is the team's starting lineup if everyone is healthy, and that if has been a big one the last year and 10 games.  Ekpe Udoh is the only other returner from last season.  The team found a lot of 1 year replacements to fill out the roster this season.  Kwame Brown, who was brought in to fill the void of a true backup center, is out for the year with a torn chest muscle.  The combination of Brown and Biedrins certainly helped the team's interior defense. Second year man Udoh has had to log critical minutes at center this season, and he was certainly over matched against the best center in the game last night in Dwight Howard.  Lee's primary backup is Dominic McGuire.  Wright's primary backup is Brandon Rush who has a qualifying offer for next season.  Rookie Klay Thompson is the primary backup to Ellis and veteran Nate Robinson was brought in to backup Stephen Curry.  Second year man Ish Smith and rookie Charles Jenkins can both play point guard as well, and rookie Jeremy Tyler is another big body that is very raw.

The team should have about $14 million to spend next season and about $19 million to spend in 2013/14.  That kind of money should give the team some flexibility heading into the off-seasons.  None of the new players this year will cost the team much more than they are making this year.  Brown, McGuire, Rush, Robinson and Smith could all be brought back to small, reasonable contracts.  That kind of versatility hasn't been the case in several years for the Warriors.

Also, with each passing year, Ellis, Biedrins and Lee's contracts become more trade friendly.  The turnover between this year and next year could finally see some changes to the starting lineup.  As fans, people will be hoping for a trade deadline miracle along the likes of Baron Davis a few years ago.  We'll see if the new ownership has something up their sleeve.