Reeling in a Marlin? II

The dual Mike Hampton trade was okayed by the commissioner's office today and now the money situation is alot clearer.

In trade one between the Rockies and the Marlins, the Marlins received $6.5 million dollars. The Marlins owed Johnson and Wilson $54 million over the next three years (is that possible?). Darensbourg was owed $1.1 M in 2003 and a $200 K buyout of a $1.4 M option in 2004. So the Marlins $61.9 M in the black.

In trade 2, the Marlins agreed to pay $30 M of Hampton's contract. So they still finished about $31.9 M in the black, though they need to replace their starting catcher (26-year-old Ramon Castro may inherit the job). Pierre ostensibly replaces Wilson in center.

For teh Rockies:

The Rockies will pay Hampton's $21 million signing bonus and a $6 million buyout of his 2009 option, which was declined just before the trade.

Colorado also was responsible for a $6 million salary in 2001, $8.5 million in 2002, a $1 million payment to the Hampton Foundation, plus payments to Florida of $2 million in 2003, $2 million in 2004 and $2.5 million in 2005.

That's $49 M that Colorado will pay to rid themselves of Hampton. Add in the $55.4 that they took on in salary from the Marlins and subtract the $78.5 that the Marlins and Braves have committed to paying Hampton, and you get $25.9 M in the hole for the Rockies. That's not bad considering how much they had left on Hampton's contract.

The Rockies will install Wilson in CF to replace Pierre and Johnson behind the plate (displacing two former Phils, Gary Bennet and Bobby Estellela). I guess it really doesn't matter who replaces Hampton. he couldn't be much worse.

The Braves will get to back-load Hampton's contract as Murray Chass reported earlier:

From Florida to Atlanta: $9 million in 2003, $10 million in 2004 and $11 million in 2005. The Braves will be responsible for $2 million of Hampton's contract in 2003, $2 million in '04 and $1.5 million in '05...Atlanta is on the hook for only $5.5 million of Hampton's contract over the next three years, then picks up the remainder of what he is owed: $13.5 million in 2006, $14.5 in '07 and $15 million in '08.