OK, so tacking onto my last diary, I thought I'd take a look at our salaries going forward the next 2 years.  Not sure if it's been covered or not, so I hope I'm not duplicating efforts.  Implicit in this projection are my ideas in the previous diary, Mark Ellis, Adrian Beltre, and necessary extensions for the team.  I see payroll going up a lot next year if need be.  Our payroll was roughly $72 Million in 2006, and is only $57 Million this year.  And new stadium revenues will begin to kick in in 2009 from season tickets, etc.  I see our 2009 payroll (if need be) being at LEAST $80 Million, and jumping all the way up to (again, if need be) closer to $100 Million in 2010.  But judging by this, even with VERY conservative estimates, a couple of signings/expensive trades, and even a couple of "early" extensions to insure we keep the core of the team together, we're in great shape the next 2 years if those numbers are right.  We'll see.  Anyway, have at it.  This is meant to be a general help to us looking forward, and you all know I love doing this; just about my favorite part of baseball. 

2009:
Lineup:
C: Mauer; $13.5 Million (extension bonus/salary)
1b: Morneau; $10.6 Million
2b: Ellis; $6 Million (FA contract estimate; 2-3 year deal)
SS: Casilla; $450K
3b: Beltre; $12 Million  (Young traded)
RF: Cuddyer; $6.75 Million
CF: Gomez; $450K
LF: Span; $450K
DH: Kubel; $4 Million (arbitration/extension estimate)
Bench:
Redmond: $1 Million
Pridie: $400K
Tolbert: $400K
Harris: $450K
Ruiz: $400K
(Sunk cost; Lamb: $3 Million)
TOTAL OFFENSE: $59.85 Million
Rotation:
Liriano; $2Million (extension bonus/salary)
Baker: $2 Million (extension bonus/salary)
Slowey: $450K
Blackburn: $400K
Humber: $400K (Swarzak in the wings as insurance also)
Bullpen:
Nathan: $11.25 Million
Neshek: $450K
Boof: $450K
Perkins: $450K
Crain: $1.7 Million
Mijares: $400K
Breslow: $400K (Guerrier traded)
TOTAL STAFF: $20.35 Million
TOTAL TEAM SALARY: $80.20 Million
 
2010:
C: Mauer; $14 Million (extension salary)
1b: Morneau; $14 Million
2b: Ellis; $6 Million (FA contract estimate; 2-3 year deal)
SS: Casilla; $1 Million (extension estimate)
3b: Valencia/Hughes; $400K
RF: Cuddyer; $8.5 Million
CF: Gomez; $1 Million (extension estimate)
LF: Span; $450K
DH: Kubel; $7 Million (arbitration/extension estimate)
Bench:
Morales: $400K
Pridie: $450K
Tolbert: $450K
Harris: $450K
Ruiz: $450K
TOTAL OFFENSE: $54.55 Million
Rotation:
Liriano; $4Million (extension bonus/salary)
Baker: $4 Million (extension bonus/salary)
Slowey: $450K
Humber/Swarzak/Blackburn/Manship: $450K
Humber/Swarzak/Blackburn/Manship: $450K
Bullpen:
Nathan: $11.25 Million
Neshek: $1 Million (arbitration/extension estimate)
Boof: $1 Million (arbitration/extension estimate)
Perkins: $450K
Humber/Swarzak/Blackburn/Manship: $450K
Mijares: $450K
Slama: $400K (Crain traded or otherwise gone)
TOTAL STAFF: $24.35 Million
TOTAL TEAM SALARY: $78.9 Million