Nice job.

Bale is not under contract for 2009 (but is arbitration eligible).

Gobble will not be eligible for free agency until after the 2010 season.

Callaspo very likely will be a super two arbitration eligible in 2010.

Olivo might still be under club control for next year, unless there is a special clause in his contract, which there very well might be—otherwise, I think he misses free agency by one day of service time.

of a quote from Dayton last year, in which he said he envisions a 80-85 million payroll, assuming attendance can get back to where it belongs (2.5 m +).

Now, I assume he was talking in “today’s” dollars when he made those comments, so obviously his target should increase with the same rate as baseball inflation. I think this has been 10-15% historically? If so, the franchise is still a long way from his stated goals. That begs the question: Will Glass continue to increase his financial commitment? I think it’s a good question, because I really doubt the stadium renovations by themselves will increase attendance to where GMDM wants it – I think it will take winning to do that. Can they win with the payroll level they currently have, and a minor league system virtually bereft of hitting prospects? If not, then how many years until a beefed up system starts to bear fruit, and would that amount of time sour Glass on the entire process, assuming we tread water between 70 and 85 wins for several more years, with no playoffs?

of a quote from Dayton last year, in which he said he envisions a 80-85 million payroll, assuming attendance can get back to where it belongs (2.5 m +).

Now, I assume he was talking in “today’s” dollars when he made those comments, so obviously his target should increase with the same rate as baseball inflation. I think this has been 10-15% historically? If so, the franchise is still a long way from his stated goals. That begs the question: Will Glass continue to increase his financial commitment? I think it’s a good question, because I really doubt the stadium renovations by themselves will increase attendance to where GMDM wants it – I think it will take winning to do that. Can they win with the payroll level they currently have, and a minor league system virtually bereft of hitting prospects? If not, then how many years until a beefed up system starts to bear fruit, and would that amount of time sour Glass on the entire process, assuming we tread water between 70 and 85 wins for several more years, with no playoffs?