DBacks Fail To Learn From History

And, natch, have been consigned to play it out all over again.

Not content with being on the hook for "only" $44M to Randy Johnson
between now and 2012, the new "fiscally responsible" folks running the
club have decided to increase that load by more than 18% in 2009-10.

That's right: the club is deferring $8M of the new Johnson contract until
after the contract has expired.

The breakdown (use fixed-font viewer for best results):

YEAR SALARY SIGNING BONUS (DEFERRED)

2007 $ 4M $ 3.5M
2008 $10M $ .5M
2009 $ 4.0M
2010 $ 4.0M

Granted, 2009-10 project to be years where the team's average salary could
project to drop substantially as low-cost pre-arb players assert
themselves on the 25-man roster, so this move only handicaps the club a
bit further than was already projected, but it's still exacerbating the
situation, even if "only" at the margin.

Look, you need to find an extra $4M this year and next? Bite the bullet,
dump Eric Byrnes somewhere outside the division, give Scottie Hairston the
LF job (which he's earned several times over, anyway) until he either
gives it back or is passed by one of the young guys, and move forward.
Find a new home for Jorge Julio or Juan Cruz. Cut Todd Walsh's meal money
in half. Whatever.

But, ferpeetsake, you don't fix mistakes by making them all over again.

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