Francisco Rodriguez accepting arbitration from the Brewers stretched their payroll to the limit, so Aramis Ramirez’s three-year, $36 million deal is heavily backloaded.
Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that Ramirez will get just $6 million in 2012, leaving $30 million to paid for the other two seasons, and $6 million of his 2014 salary will be deferred.
Ramirez’s backloaded deal likely still doesn’t clear enough payroll space for the Brewers to sign a veteran first baseman or more bullpen help, as general manager Doug Melvin indicated yesterday that the team is already over budget. However, that could change if they find a taker for Rodriguez and his salary that figures to be at least $12 million.
