More payroll cuts likely for Marlins
Don Smiley plans to
reduce player payroll
to $16 million by the
1999-2001 seasons
By Steven Wine
The Associated Press
MIAMI — The World Series
champion Florida Marlins aren’t
finished dismantling, if team pres
ident Don Smiley has his way.
Smiley, who is organizing a
group of investors to buy the team,
plans another drastic: reduction in
player payroll, to $16 million or
less for the 1999-2001 seasons.
To meet such a budget, the Mar
lins likely would be forced to trade
stars Gary Sheffield, Bobby Bonil
la, Alex Fernandez and Charles
Johnson. Smiley considers the
cuts necessary for the Marlins to
make a profit while he seeks a new
ballpark with a retractable roof.
“It’s tough," said Johnson, the
Marlins’ Gold Glove catcher. “It’s
something the organization feels
they have to do, and as players we
have no say-so. We have to go with
the flow.”
The Marlins reduced the pay
roll from $53 million last year to
$33 million this season, which
ranks 20th among the 30 major
league teams.
The only teams
with payrolls be
low $16 million
are Pittsburgh
($13 million) and
Montreal ($9
million).
Smiley dis
closed his budget plans this week
in an outline to more than a dozen
prospective investors. The figures
were confirmed Wednesday by a
source close to the group's negoti
ations with current owner H.
Wayne Huizenga.
The source said Smiley may cut
the payroll to as low as $12 mil
lion.
Fans are already bitter about the
breakup of the team. Attendance
has declined 28 percent this sea
son, and the Marlins drew the two
smallest home crowds in fran
chise history on consecutive
nights this week.
Further belt-tightening would
leave in doubt the future of manag
er Jim Leyland and general man
ager Dave Dombrowski, who may
prefer to find a more competitive
situation. Leyland considered
quitting after one season with the
Marlins because of last winter’s
payroll purge, and Dombrowski is
in the final year of his contract.
The Pittsburgh Pirates had a
payroll of $17 million in 1996, the
year Leyland resigned as manager
because he was frustrated about
the team’s financial situation.
Leyland declined to comment
Wednesday.
Cutting the payroll to $16 mil
lion would be impossible unless
the Marlins trade Sheffield, their
$10 million-per-year slugger.
Smiley’s plan calls for a positive
cash flow of $7.8 million in 1999.
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