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Sunday, February 07, 1999 By Paul Meyer, Post-Gazette Sports Writer
With the funding finally in place for PNC Park, it is tempting to think Cam Bonifay will act as if he won the lottery.
That the Pirates' general manager will be able to rush out and sign this free-agent outfielder and that free-agent pitcher and make trades that will add to the payroll and buy a new car and ...
Well, maybe not buy a new car.
And maybe not do any of that other stuff, either. At least, not in the short run.
"We've said all along that this will not affect what we do in 1999," Bonifay said. "The payroll is not going to go up this year. We're not going to get an extra influx of cash this year."
So the Pirates will begin play this year with a payroll of about $23 million, up almost $10 million over last year.
But they also might begin play this year with at least one player signed to a contract extension that could carry through the 2003 season. Locking up first baseman Kevin Young is one of Bonifay's first priorities.
Young, who hit 27 home runs and drove in 108 runs last season, can become a free agent after this season, when he'll make $2 million.
Young, 29, wants at least a four-year deal worth perhaps $28 or $29 million.
"I've made it pretty clear that I want to stay here," Young said. "A lot of players say they want to go to a contender. I want to be here and make Pittsburgh one. I've taken into consideration the whole small-market thing. I'm not out to get Brian Jordan money. I'd like to be between Brian Jordan and Jose Offerman."
Jordan signed as a free agent with Atlanta this winter, receiving a five-year, $40-million contract. Offerman signed with Boston for four years and $26 million this winter.
Waiting for the state Legislature to vote on funding for PNC Park, scheduled to open in April 2001, put the extension of Young's contract on hold.
"That's been the hangup," Young said.
And that could leave the Pirates without much time to get the deal done. Young wants negotiations finished before spring training begins. For position players, that's Feb. 24.
"Once spring training starts, I'd prefer not to do it," Young said. "That's the time to start focusing on '99. I'd say there's a good chance that it will happen, but it's all a matter of what they want to do."
"That decision has not been made," Bonifay said, "but in all probability, we will have a chance to talk about it."
Bonifay indicated pitchers Francisco Cordova, Jason Schmidt and Chris Peters, catcher Jason Kendall and outfielder Jose Guillen also could have their contracts extended.
"Collectively and selectively, we have to make those decisions about our young players," Bonifay said. "We'll continue looking at our long-range plans. With the increased revenue [from the new stadium], those decisions now are going to be there to make."
Those increased revenues will enable the Pirates to gradually boost their player payroll to between $40 and $45 million by the 2001 season, their target date for having a championship-level team.
A $40 million payroll would allow for perhaps one or two players earning $7 or $8 million. And, sometime in the future, the Pirates even could have a player earning Kevin Brown-type money - $15 million per year.
Bonifay conceded that signing a player to a seven-year, $105-million contract - Brown's deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers - "would be very, very difficult" for the Pirates.
But Bonifay indicated that the Pirates, if they think they have a legitimate shot at a championship, could take on a $15 million contract for one year. And that they could shoot the works for a season and jump the payroll to $55 or $60 million in an attempt to win a World Series, then reduce it the next year.
It's more likely, however, that having PNC Park simply will enable the Pirates to keep more of their own talent rather than being heavy players in the free-agent market.
"It's going to allow us to keep the flow of young talent that's been here two or three years, rather than having to trade players before they're free agents because we can't sign them," Bonifay said. "And if we don't sign a free agent, it will mean it's because we decided not to, not because we can't."
Bonifay said the Pirates might be able to take on a bit more salary after the All-Star break this season if they're in contention for a playoff spot.
"I'm not saying we wouldn't have been able to do that anyway," he said, "but I think Kevin McClatchy, realistically, and his ownership group would be more receptive to listen to what we propose now."
"Now" meaning the long-awaited financing of PNC Park is now a reality.
"I'm excited and enthusiastic," Bonifay said. "This is a major thing for the Pirates. In my opinion, it's the biggest moment for this organization since winning the World Series [in 1979]. This is a tremendous opportunity for this organization to do what we've not been able to do - win a championship. I'm glad we finally know about the new stadium. Now we've got to put our plans into effect."
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