Falling wages are normal for now, but Colorado has money problems – Boulder Daily Camera

It’s a familiar refrain Rockies fans throw at me.

“Owner Dick Monfort is a cheapskate,” say the dissatisfied. “Fans continue to flock to Coors Field, but he doesn’t invest in the team on the field.”

That criticism recently came to a head when I reported that the Rockies’ payroll would take a hit in 2025.

The criticism is not supported by facts.

However, it is more than fair to criticize. How The Rockies spent their money. And we’re not just talking about the mind-boggling seven-year, $172 million contract they gave Kris Bryant ahead of the 2022 season.

Colorado’s payroll has been largely consistent with its mid-market status for several years. In 2018, their final playoff season, the Rockies had a total payroll of $143.9 million (per Spotrac) and ranked 13th in the majors. Their 2019 payroll of $157.1 million ranked 11th; their 2023 payroll of $171.0 million ranked 14th.

But in 2024, when the club lost more than 100 games for the second year in a row, its payroll fell to $147.4 (17th). Like most major league teams that don’t own their own television networks, the Rockies’ cash flow has been disrupted by the decline of regional sports networks. Expect this trend to continue.

I predict that after the Rockies make a couple trades this offseason and release some players (right-hander Cal Quantrill, with a projected salary of $9 million, is the most likely player to be moved), the payroll could drop to $130 million dollars. Remember, the club will no longer have Charlie Blackmon’s $13 million contract.

Much depends on whether the team adds a veteran bat and a veteran pitcher, but as Colorado’s low-cost youth movement gains momentum, it will likely rank around 20th out of 30 teams in total payroll.

This is the right approach for now.

The club should conserve its resources to invest in young major leaguers like Gold Glove outfielder Brenton Doyle and prospects who have a chance to become tomorrow’s stars. I’m talking about players like pitchers Chase Dollander and Carson Palmquist, as well as outfielders Zach Wien and Yankiel Fernandez, if they develop the way the Rockies hope.

General manager Bill Schmidt and the front office made a shrewd move last spring by signing shortstop Ezequiel Tovar to a seven-year, $63.5 million contract. The deal includes a team option for 2031 that could increase the deal to $84 million over eight seasons. Tovar has a chance to become the best player in franchise history, so the contract looks like a bargain.

Let’s face it: The Rockies are never going to challenge financial giants like the Mets, Dodgers, Yankees and Phillies. That doesn’t mean the Rockies can’t compete, but they will have to do a better job of developing their own players in the future.

In 2024, heading into their 61-101 record, the Rockies spent $2.41 million per win, the 14th-highest in the majors. It’s no surprise that the Mets finished in first place. Their $317.8 million payroll resulted in an 89-73 record and a trip to the National League Championship Series. The Mets spent $3.57 million to win.

Of course, the Mets and Rockies are apples and oranges. But the five playoff teams with lower payrolls than the Rockies also spent significantly less to win: Kansas City ($1.42 million), Milwaukee ($1.24 million), Baltimore ($1. $21 million), Cleveland ($1.16 million) and Detroit ($1.15 million).

To end its losing tradition, Colorado must stop making stupid salary decisions.

At the top of the list, of course, was Monfort’s decision to give Bryant a mega-deal. I believe the Bryant signing was Monfort’s attempt to “get even” after the extremely unpopular Nolan Arenado trade in 2021. Monfort overpaid significantly for star power, even though other teams knew Bryant’s star was fading.

Bryant is still on the list for four years and $104 million.

But it wasn’t just the Bryant deal that had me scratching my head. I understand Blackmon is a beloved icon, but there was no reason other than sentimentality to pay him $13 million for his final season. The Pirates signed fellow player Andrew McCutcheon to a one-year contract worth $5 million.

Near the 2022 trade deadline, amid trade rumors, Daniel Bard signed a two-year, $19 million contract to remain with the team through 2024. 1.91 ERA in 37 games. But he was also 37 years old and had anxiety problems.

In 2023, with his anxiety issues resurfacing and arm injuries cropping up, Bard pitched poorly (4.56 ERA, one save) and injuries kept him from pitching at all in 2024. The Rockies’ desire and decision not to trade Bard came back to bite them.

Given the Rockies’ current reality, a relatively smaller payroll makes sense. The time to spend big came in 2018, when the core of a powerful team was formed. Alas, they didn’t.

Six years later, the Rockies believe they are beginning a bright new era. Let’s see. But one thing is for sure: they cannot continue making financial mistakes.

The Cost of Winning Major League Baseball

Team	Total salary	Record	Cost per win
1. Metz #	US$317.8	89-73	$3.57
2. Yankees #	$309.9	94-68	$3.29
3. White Sox	$133.8	41-121	$3.26
4. Blue Jays	US$284.4	74-84	$2.95
5. Astros #	US$255.8	88-73	$2.90
6. Rangers	$222.5	74-84	US$2.89
7. Cubs	US$229.6	83-79	US$2.77
8. Angels	$172.2	63-99	US$2.73
9. Withstands #	$236.4	89-73	US$2.67
10. Phyllis #	US$247.9	95-67	US$2.60
11. Giants	$206.7	80-82	US$2.58
12. Red Sox	$190.0	81-81	$2.55
13. Dodgers #	$241.0	98-64	US$2.64
14. Rocky Mountains	US$147.4	61-101	US$2.41
15. Cardinals	$175.9	83-79	US$2.12
16. Sailors	$148.3	85-77	US$2.01
17. Diamondbacks	$172.8	89-73	US$1.94
18. Padres #	$171.8	93-96	US$1.85
19. Gemini	$130.9	82-80	$1.59
20. Marlins	$97.5	62-100	$1.59
21. National	$103.9	71-91	US$1.46
22. Members of the Royal Family #	$122.5	86-76	US$1.42
23. Reds	US$103.3	77-85	US$1.30
24. Brewers #	$115.4	93-69	US$1.24
25. Orioles #	$109.8	91-71	US$1.21
26. Guardians #	$106.8	92-69	US$1.16
27. Tigers #	$98.5	86-76	US$1.15
28. Pirates	$85.4	76-86	US$1.12
29. Rays	$88.8	80-82	US$1.11
30. A	$63.4	69-93	$0.91

(Click here to view the chart on mobile.)

Numbers in millions of dollars | # playoff teams | Source: Spotrac.com

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