Re-Signing Rick Ankiel, Ryan Ludwick May Hurt Cardinals' Chances at Ben Sheets

Payroll is always a big topic, but especially this week as things start to take their final shape for spring training 2009.

First off, VEB had up a new roster matrix yesterday. It looked all well and good with some room in the payroll for an addition of someone like Ben Sheets, until the release of the arbitration numbers for Rick Ankiel and Ryan Ludwick came out.

Ankiel was offered by the club basically what was estimated on the matrix, though, of course, he might win his case and get $3.3 million instead. (With a gap of less than a million, I'd think there are strong odds they'll come up with a contract somewhere in the middle.)

Ludwick, though, put in a $4.25 million request and the club offered $2.8. The club offer is $1 million over what the roster matrix says.

So we take the $89.25 and give Ankiel $0.3 and assume Ludwick settles for $1.7 more than they've already been accounted for. That'd give a payroll of $91.25. Add in the extra $150K that Brad Thompson signed for yesterday and we're at $91.40. Boy, giving $7 million to Joel Pineiro is going to hurt the Cards this year, isn't it?

If I'm counting right, the VEB matrix includes 26 people. I don't know if the payroll would include, say, Brian Barton, even if he's playing in Memphis. No matter, it looks like the Cardinals are getting close to their limit, but they still seem to have a little money left. A backloaded Sheets contract should be within their reach.

Feel free to ask John Mozeliak about any of these issues in today's chat. I'll be away from my computer today so I'll have to check the transcript this evening. And don't forget, Derrick Goold on UCB Radio Hour tonight!