With the deal for Kendall seeming to be done, I thought it would be interesting to do the math on what the team is getting payed this coming year and after. Some of the players pay is still up in the air, like Durazo. I tryed to guess a figure. It is a ballpark figure so if I am high or low on arbitration figures when one puts them together (Byrnes, Dotel..) it is probable a wash.

So here goes...
Chavez 8.5
Hudson 6.0
Kotsay 6.5
Mulder 6.0
Rincon 1.95
Zito   4.8
Kendall 10-1=9
Dotel   3.0
Durazo  4.
Hatteburg 2.5
Byrnes   2.0
Ellis     .35
Scutaro   .35
Duch      .35
Melhuse   .35
Keilty    .75
Johnson   .35
Crosby    .35
Harden    .40
Bradford  1.5
Lehr       .35
Street     .35
Swisher    .35
plus 2 more @ .35

25 players about 61 million

So that being added up and the A's at about 58 million payroll the A's will cut 3 million off. This would likely come from Kielty and Bradford being cut and maybe Hattaburg going in a trade for some AA junk. The other way is trading Durazo or one of the big three. An example is Hudson for Arrojo and minor leaguers cuts 5 million. Not good

The 2005 payroll is ok and take on Kendall with small changes but the problems begin in 2006.

2006 payroll
Chavez 9.5
Kotsay 6.5
Mulder 7.25
Zito   8.25
Kendall 11-1=10

if all other players on the team made .35 each, that is another 7 million and 48.5 total. So say A's owners raise payroll to 62 million we would have 13.5 million for Hudson, Byrnes, Dotel, Durazo, Ellis... So, ok we may not need Dotel if Street is good, and maybe Johnson replaced Hatt but if you give Hudson 9 million in his first year of the hoped for 4 year 45 million deal (ok a guess) One of the 5 names above must go.

While it may be nice to say we trade Kendall after on year any sort of bad year in 2005 and the 24 million over 2006-7 would make him untradeable even if the A's throw in the 7.5 they get form Pitt.

On looking at the numbers I am given the veiw that while the big three may stay together for one more year, If the A's sign Hudson they will trade a Mulder or Zito before the 2006 season starts.

Hope all this adds up