This too is from Adam Rubin’s chat yesterday, and really explains the math well.
I feel badly for Sandy Alderson in one respect. If you’re told you can spend $95 million (estimated) on payroll and Johan Santana, Jason Bay, David Wright, R.A. Dickey and Mike Pelfrey account for roughly $65 million, you’re in an untenable situation. That does not mean he has $30 million to fill out his team. You have to understand that you go through more than 25 players a season, and even if everyone else made the major league minimum — which is impossible — you have to add another $10 million in costs roughly. So he may really have $20 million to spend over the major league minimum for the rest of his team. And then subtract $2 million or so for D.J. Carrasco and Tim Byrdak over the minimum and you’re down to $18 million. You basically need an entirely new bullpen, center fielder (or subtract $4 million to $5 million you’re playing Pagan), a starting pitcher, etc. And you’re accepting Tejada instead of Reyes.
And if y’all can figure out a way to pay Reyes $20 million in this scenario, please let Sandy know.