Marlins Payroll Likely To Remain Lowest In MLB Despite Increase

Marlins Increase Payroll For Upcoming '09 Season From $22M To $35M

The Marlins "haven't reduced staff or cut ticket prices," but they still are "likely to have the lowest payroll" in MLB for the '09 season, despite increasing it from $22M to $35M, according to Joe Capozzi of the PALM BEACH POST. Marlins President David Samson said that season-ticket renewals are "up because the package will include the World Baseball Classic at Dolphin Stadium in March." However, that "uptick could be deceiving because the Marlins are working from a low base." Capozzi notes the "bottom line is that Samson is anxious about meeting revenue projections." Samson said given the current economic crisis, "you cannot assume the industry will perform." Marlins P Joe Nelson: "The economy is going to hurt the Marlins. We're a small-market team to start with. We might not be able to get that one extra guy we'd like to right now" (PALM BEACH POST, 12/10). Samson said that "even in a sour economy, the club is under no pressure to trade additional players in order to trim payroll." Samson said that Marlins Owner Jeffrey Loria "has not ordered a payroll reduction." Samson said there is "no mandate of any kind to do any moves at all during" this week's MLB Winter Meetings in Las Vegas. Samson said Loria is "ready to go 'as is,' as his baseball people say, or to make necessary trades that we believe would make our team better." Samson: "I bring that out because you hear rumors about trades that have to happen, and I'm telling you that is not the case." But Samson said that the economy is "going to be a factor throughout" MLB. Samson: "This is a different world. Anybody who does not see it is kidding themselves" (MIAMI HERALD, 12/9).