Mariners aim to emulate Royals; will KC land Big Piece?

PHOENIX — They have a staggering $256 million payroll, and now they have baseball's most expensive front office to go along with it.

And with six current and former general managers now working in their front office, earning in excess of $15 million, the Los Angeles Dodgers may have become an agent's biggest nightmare.

If you're spending that kind of money on executives, you don't waste the brainpower to simply write the biggest checks for the best free agents on the market.

You're expected to scout and develop your own players, lower your payroll, and win championships without the need of 11 players earning at least $10 million last year, and eight who made at least $15 million.

The Dodgers' current payroll - based on salary information obtained Monday by USA TODAY Sports - is $91 million higher than the World Series champion San Francisco Giants, and $24 million higher than the New York Yankees, who have baseball's second-largest payroll.

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Worse, the Dodgers are saddled with baseball's most exorbitant salary commitments through 2018, owing $201.2 million to just 15 players next year, and $166.8 million through 2017. No other team has even $100 million worth of commitments in three years.

It's no wonder why the Dodgers have let teams know they're willing to trade one or two of their high-priced outfielders, starting with Andre Ethier, who's owed $53.5 million, and Carl Crawford, who's owed $62.25 million. They could also move right fielder Matt Kemp, who has $106 million remaining through the next five years, but he was their best player in the second half.

So, as baseball's general managers' meetings commence - kicking off an intriguing off-season in earnest - the Dodgers are easily among the five most intriguing teams to watch this week:

Help wanted in the Bronx

The Yankees, whose shopping list grew by one with closer David Robertson rejecting their $15.3 million qualifying offer, need help everywhere: Shortstop, starting pitcher, a closer, a third baseman and perhaps a second baseman.

They talk privately of not being in the market for a marquee starter like Max Scherzer or Jon Lester, but just a year ago, they were telling everyone they wanted to below the $189 million luxury tax figure, too.

They proceeded to drop nearly $500 million.

GM Brian Cashman, who wants to add at least one starter, concedes that shortstop "is limited, because of the availability and acquisition costs.''

Of course, there's one tantalizing shortstop they will certainly explore in trade talks: Colorado Rockies All-Star Troy Tulowitzki.

He may be injured, recovering from hip surgery. He's owed $118 million. But money has never stopped the Yankees from trying to produce a World Series team. If they can't get Tulowitzki, the Chicago White Sox have let teams know that shortstop Alexei Ramirez is available.

Tearing down in Philly

The Phillies finally came to the startling discovery that it's time to rebuild.

Their best trade chip is ace Cole Hamels, who has four years, and $94 million remaining on his contract.

Yet, the man is worth every penny, and could bring back a nice array of prospects.

The Cubs appear to be a natural fit, but aren't about to surrender their blue-chip prospects now after years of development.

The Boston Red Sox have the pieces, and are rich in prospects, but they also happen to be on Hamels' no-trade list. If they up the ante and pick up that $19 million option ion 2019, Hamels may be all ears.

They are intent on dumping first baseman Ryan Howard and the remaining $60 million on his contract, but after finding no takers during the season, they have surprising interest from a small-market club with one baseball's lowest payrolls.

The Royals.

The Royals aren't about to rip up their payroll, and David Glass suddenly isn't about to go all Steinbrenner on us, but if the Phillies are willing to eat most of the contract, the Royals have had internal discussions about acquiring him.

They believe he just might be the perfect fit to replace Billy Butler as their everyday DH, and considering they didn't have a single player hit 20 homers or drive in 75 runs last year, he may be the power threat the Royals need to return to the World Series.

Mariners seek some pop

The Mariners plan to be the 2015 Royals.

They knocked on the playoff door with their 87-win season, knowing if they just got into the dance with their star-studded pitching, they might have been sweeping the streets of confetti.

They simply didn't have the offense to survive.

They have told agents here they are willing to do everything possible to assure they'll return to the playoffs for the first time since 2001, and that means acquiring are some of the biggest and most expensive bats on the market.

They are aggressively pursuing Dodgers free agent shortstop Hanley Ramirez, a high-ranking Mariners executive said, and also are making a run at DH Victor Martinez and outfielder Torii Hunter.

Certainly, they can't afford to land all three, but if they land Ramirez or Martinez, along with Hunter, they just may be the team to beat in the AL West.

A bear-sized appetite in Wrigleyville

The Cubs already coughed up $25 million for a manager, they've got plenty of money in the vaults, and they are hungry.

It's a dangerous combination, with virtually every free agent in baseball linked to the Cubs, knowing they plan on being competitive in 2015, and winning it all in 2016.

"It's nice to be talked about again,'' Cubs GM Jed Hoyer says. "It's been pretty quiet the last few winters, but now, it seems like we're in a lot of discussions.''

Join the crowd.

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