Another week of waiting
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Nov 22, 2010 
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Here we go again. Another Monday. Another week that begins with the Yankees trying to chase Cliff Lee, re-sign Derek Jeter and get the ball rolling on Mariano Rivera.
Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?
One week ago, Brian Cashman showed up in Orlando for the GM meetings and immediately squashed any idea that the Yankees might make significant progress. In the end, they actually did more than expected last week: Choosing a pitching coach and making two minor trades with Arizona and Atlanta.
What’s next on the list? And will anything get done this week?
There’s no real indication that anything is close. The Yankees and Jeter seem locked in a bizarre game of chicken, no one seems sure what exactly is going on with Rivera and Lee is the top free agent on the market. He’s going to make his decision whenever he wants to make it.
Another week begins.
Associated Press photo
And will anything get done this week?
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Let’s hope so.
Lee is the #1 priority, by far.
Another Manic Monday for the poor slobs that have to work for a living, unlike those of us who are independently poor.
Rich-
My sentiments exactly Sir.
No doubt Lee is important, but I’d much rather see them re-sign Jeter and Mo first and then move onto Lee.
GreenBeret7 November 22nd, 2010 at 9:08 am
Another Manic Monday for the poor slobs that have to work for a living, unlike those of us who are independently poor.
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GB7 -
At least you still independent.
That’s a real pity that you can’t see the video, Erin (chuckle, chortle). Great viewing to bring a smile to your face and annoy your cube mates at work.
(sorry for laughing at your misfortune, but, it’s that kind of morning, Dolly)
it appears that Lee is in no rush to sign, which I don’t blame him for
Catch you later.
Lee may be #1 on their priority list, but they can’t dictate how long Lee and his agent want to window shop before they ink a deal.
GB-
Most people who are poor are “dependently” poor rather than “independently” poor.
However, the may be independent in the way they view their poverty.
GreenBeret7 November 22nd, 2010 at 9:11 am
That’s a real pity that you can?t see the video, Erin (chuckle, chortle). Great viewing to bring a smile to your face and annoy your cube mates at work.
(sorry for laughing at your misfortune, but, it’s that kind of morning, Dolly)
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LOL
You have no idea how frustrating it is to see a link for Ernie and Bert and knowing I can’t watch it. (and now I probably just gave you ideas on how to torture me all day, didn’t I?)
I’m betting on a Lee signing for New Year’s Eve…like the Yankees first FA signing, The Catfish.
I’d never be that cruel bERtIN
GreenBeret7 November 22nd, 2010 at 9:16 am
I?d never be that cruel bERtIN
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That’s good. Otherwise I might have had to start faking a cough or something so I could go home and watch.
Actually, Catfish wasn’t baseball’s first FA. That honor belongs to Tommy Henrich in 1937.
Big Al/Kate: Thanks for the TomTom GPS review. Doubt if I’ll be motoring through Utah anywhere soon, but I’ll keep the ‘dead end’ in mind.
GB7: There’s nothing like a programmed-into-the-GPS s*xy female French voice telling me where to go/get off.
Not like THAT hasn’t happened before.
nyuknyuk
Mo appears as if it might be the easiest of the negotiations now so Cashman should get it done and cross it off the To-Do list.
It might actually be December before the Yankees do anything significant player-wise.
List of the 21 teams with arbitration and the players involved.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/
NickSwisher http://twitpic.com/38rty1 what do yall think of my mo? #movember
I wonder if Joanna will make him shave it before the wedding.
I’m sure she won’t care. Do you see the rock on her finger?
Monday Morning Hypo
Jeter, Alex, Tulo, Hanley are all Free Agents.
You can select 2 of those 4 to play on the left side of your infield. Feel free to select 2 SS and shift one over to 3B.
Who do you choose? Anyone?
Phil in Columbus November 22nd, 2010 at 9:55 am
I?m sure she won?t care. Do you see the rock on her finger?
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Phil-very good point. lol
lgy — I’m taking Alex and Hanley
Well I suppose Billy Beane feels relatively silly this morning. He traded his number 3 starter in Mazzarro for DeJesus figuring he would have the Japanese pitcher to replace Vin…not so much.
I don’t get the Jeter camp not wanting to respond to the Yankee offer. I can understand them not wanting to accept it but shouldn’t they at least respond and give the Yankees some idea of where they want to go next?
At what point do you think other teams start floating offers to Jeter and Mo; just a sort of weather balloon from the team to say “we know you’re not leaving the Yankees, but if you were to consider it, we would be willing to offer X for you.”
And here’s a thought – though not one that really even warrants mentioning – Both Jeter and Mo are Type A free agents – would the Yankees be better off offering them arbitration and letting them go and collecting the draft picks than locking up two older players for multi-year deals?
pat -
I think that would be a great idea. Get some good karma going.
Off to shop for Thanksgiving food.
LGY -
Tulo and Alex with A-Rod at 3b
LGY -
If you would let me move Han-Ram to the OF where he belongs I would pick him.
Sure, I’d rather a few extra youngsters from the amateur draft than two Hall of Famers with 10 rings between them (one who is still the best closer in baseball even at the age of 40).
Not to mention the team will be downgraded significantly without a top tier closer.
If Jeter plays for $1 per year for the next three years, his lifetime Yankee earnings will still make him overpaid in relation to his actual productivity on the field. The Yankees have paid him over $200M over his career. Come on already!
I think you have to offer all the Yankee FA’s except Lance arbitration at this point.
Javy will decline it – simply because he’s going to get a multiyear deal.
Wood may accept it but that’s not a bad thing – the Yankees want him back and rather than go through arbitration he may take a pay cut if the Yankees offer him a multiyear deal. And if they don’t, some team looking for a closer will.
Derek and Mo, see above. Actually giving both of them arbitration would be a good move. Yes, they’ll get more this year than the team wants to pay – but it will just be a 1 year deal.
Giuseppe Franco November 22nd, 2010 at 10:13 am
Sure, I’d rather a few extra youngsters from the amateur draft than two Hall of Famers with 10 rings between them (one who is still the best closer in baseball even at the age of 40).
Not to mention the team will be downgraded significantly without a top tier closer.
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GF – just to play Devil’s Advocate –
The Yankees could still get a top tier closer. If Mo signed elsewhere the Yankees could get in the bidding on Soriano, or be aggressive in trading for Soria.
I bet Cashman doesn’t offer arbitration to any of them.
# Chip November 22nd, 2010 at 10:16 am
The Yankees could still get a top tier closer. If Mo signed elsewhere the Yankees could get in the bidding on Soriano, or be aggressive in trading for Soria.
———–
And that would make sense why?
Because they’d have to overwhelm KC with a lot of young talent that are closer to the bigs to get Soria and they’d have to give up their first round pick in the amateur draft to a division rival (who has done a pretty damn good job drafting the last several years) after signing Soriano.
Sounds like two extremely counterproductive moves, especially when the replacements still wouldn’t be as good as Mo (although they would be younger).
LGY,
We talking about from now forward?…for the next 5 years? Are contracts considered or just on field play?
Giuseppe Franco November 22nd, 2010 at 10:17 am
I bet Cashman doesn’t offer arbitration to any of them.
———————
Well he has to offer it to Jeter, Mo and Andy provided he wants to bring them back and they haven’t signed by the deadline or else he can’t negotiate with them.
Giuseppe Franco November 22nd, 2010 at 10:22 am
# Chip November 22nd, 2010 at 10:16 am
The Yankees could still get a top tier closer. If Mo signed elsewhere the Yankees could get in the bidding on Soriano, or be aggressive in trading for Soria.
———–
And that would make sense why?
————————-
I don’t particularly disagree with you – just suggesting it as a topic of debate.
More to the point, I don’t think another team would offer Jeter or Mo enough that they would leave the Yankees.
As it stands, especially in Derek’s case, the Yankees are prepared to overpay to keep him, they may not want to overpay to the extent Derek wants, but no other team will either.
Mo is a different story – though I don’t suspect his deal will be as hard to close out as Derek’s is proving to be.
Get ready for another lousy winter of FA signings, I just think the big guys will go elsewhere.
The thing with Jeter is just stupid as it drags on.
Chip
I see all three finishing their careers with the Yanks. What’s going on now is more postering. Jeter’s lack of power and his ground balls and DP’s are of a source of concern. I hope all think it was just a one year thing rather than a decline. I know I do.
Now Posada is a different topic, there I think he is in decline and I see his contribution greatly deminished next year.
Yankees 2010 minor league “positional all-stars” regardless of level according to Milb.com
An interesting assortment.
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.....;fext=.jsp
# Chip November 22nd, 2010 at 10:27 am
Giuseppe Franco November 22nd, 2010 at 10:17 am
I bet Cashman doesn’t offer arbitration to any of them.
———————
Well he has to offer it to Jeter, Mo and Andy provided he wants to bring them back and they haven’t signed by the deadline or else he can’t negotiate with them.
————
Won’t happen. Pettitte has been a FA in each of the last three seasons and Cashman hasn’t offered him arbitration once. Why would he do it now?
Jeter and Mo will be inked long before the deadline and Pettitte as well (if he decides to return).
The Yanks may have a chance to get payroll under 200 million in 2012 as they have a good bit of money coming off the books that hopefully can be replaced cheaply through the farm system (Pettite, Posada, Igawa, Marte, and they have an option on Swisher). Knowing that could allow them to bend a little on the 2011 budget this winter…..who knows.
Blake
They are all free agents today.
Contracts are considered. Yet to estimate what they would get to the best of your ability when coming up with your answer.
1. Mo will ask for and get a 2 year deal, near his 2009 salary of 15M.
2. Smart move by the Yankees offering a 3 year deal, knowing that they’ll have to accept 4. I’d even do a 5th year team option of 5M.
Something tells me that Andy doesn’t sign until items #1 and #2 are resolved.
Come on. So many opionated posters yet so few answers!
Everyone loves a good hypo! Which two?
I don’t want to go to the socratic method here but if you force my hand ill do it
LGY
I want Jeter for now, Tulo for the future for SS. Alex at 3B
LGY,
Tulo to play SS and Arod to play third on a 4 year deal.
I thought Igawa was already off the major league club payroll since he cleared waivers and is off the 40 man roster?
I believe Igawa is still on the payroll. He’s got one season left. He’s just not on the 40-man roster.
Aye Mrs Upstate Kate! Please try to pay attention. If Tulo is a FA today then his deal will be signed for too long to get him as our future SS.
Shaking my head
Mr Franco
You are very talkative today. Whvich two are you selecting?
Yup Igawa is 4 million of the 2011 payroll….as is Marte.
Yanks have 107 million comitted to 2012. Add 40 or so for Lee (if signed) and Jeter and you’re still only up to 147 with not all that many holes to fill ( hopefully). Holes remaining not accounted for in that number would be RF (if they don’t pick up Swishers option), closer (if Mo isn’t back), 5th starter, DH, bench, bullpen.
ah LGY, you are attempting to get me to not pick Jeet, and I don’t want to do it!
Thank goodness Mo, Jeter and Lee are unsigned. Otherwise, what would we talk about?
LGY,
If this excerise is to prove that nobody would pick Jeter…then that’s not really relavent to the discussions that have been going on.
“Well I suppose Billy Beane feels relatively silly this morning. He traded his number 3 starter in Mazzarro for DeJesus figuring he would have the Japanese pitcher to replace Vin…not so much.”
On Mazzaro’s greatest day, he wasn’t Billy Beane’s #3 starter. Anderson, Cahill, Braden and Gonzalez are all ahead of him. A number #5 for DeJesus isn’t a bad deal for him.
As to LGY’s question, I’d want Tulowitzski and Ramirez, but have no confidence that Ramirez could play 3rd, so I’m taking Rodriguez with Tulowitzski as my final answer.
LGY,
Tulo for SS.
For 3B you should have included Zimmerman and Longoria. It’s a tossup between those two for me.
“Yanks have 107 million comitted to 2012.”
The $107M assumes buyouts for Swisher and Cano. Let’s assume the Yankees pick up those options. That makes it $130M. Mo signs 2 years and $30M. That puts you at $145M. Let’s say Jeter signs the 3/$45M. That’s $160M. We’ll say Lee signs for the 5/$115M suggested yesterday. That’s $183M to 10 guys. Hughes is probably looking at $5M – $6M range as an Arb 2. So you’re scratching $190M for 11 guys. Gardner’s an Arb 2 as well.
Things can certainly change, but they are not likely to be as far under $200M as you might believe.
RAB has a good post up discussing whether the Yanks should offer Jeter arbitration or not. Worth thinking about.
Mell,
Nah I know but they will have an opportunity to save some.l cash after next season if they so choose…..or better have more money to spend in order to stay at their current payroll.
Yankees will never offer Jeter arb. He’s not worth the money he’d get this year and it would be a huge disrespect to him which is something the Yankees don’t want.
“RAB has a good post up discussing whether the Yanks should offer Jeter arbitration or not. Worth thinking about.”
I’ve only been saying this since the season ended. It makes a lot of sense if you ask me (which no one did, BTW).
Gardner isn’t going to arbitration. He’s not eligible. Hughes is a first year eligible and he’ll get about $3-4 mil at best.
Question:
Should the Yankees try to work out a deal with the Twins for Joe Nathan?
Nathan’s in the last year of a deal paying him $11.25 mil this year (plus an option year or 2 mil buyout)
The Twins will have Matt Capps under contract this coming season – he did well as their closer after coming over from the Nationals; makes a fraction of what Nathan does and wasn’t hurt like Nathan was.
The Yankees would be taking a risk on Nathan coming back from his year off and being both healthy and effective – if he’s both then he’s a great set-up option for Rivera and while he’s not young, he may have a year or two more than Mo left in the tank going forward.
I wouldn’t be interested in giving up something profound here – nor do I think the Yankees should be saddled with the entire contract. Maybe something along the lines of: Austin Romine and a low level, high ceiling, minor leaguer for Nathan and some cash.
The Twins get to free up salary space to get some free agent help for their infield and the Yankees get a potential 8/9 combo of Nathan to Rivera.
“Yankees will never offer Jeter arb. He?s not worth the money he?d get this year and it would be a huge disrespect to him which is something the Yankees don?t want.”
How is arbitration disrespectful? The player always ends up with more $$$ than the team would have paid. It also gets rid of the negotiation nightmare that they are in. If I were Jeter, I wouldn’t have any problem with arbitration.
“Gardner isn’t going to arbitration. He’s not eligible. Hughes is a first year eligible and he’ll get about $3-4 mil at best.”
We’re talking about the team’s projected 2012 payroll, GB. Hughes will be an Arb 2 at that point and probably make $6M, perhaps a little more. I incorrectly labeled Gardner an Arb 2 for 2012, but that will actually be his 1st year of Arb.
Patrick -
It may be a formality though based on how negotiations are going when they get to that deadline.
There are lots of cases where a GM and agent agree “look, we’re not taking you to arbitration but we have to offer it to you or else we can’t negotiate with you…”
No disrespect in that.
Laura,
It’s disrespectful because it’s NOT more money. He gets a higher salary this year but overall it’s far less money. Since baseball contracts are guaranteed, a long term deal is always more favorable than a 1 year contract at high money.
It’s the same as when a NFL team puts the franchise tag on a player.. players don’t like it.
The Yanks would be nuts not to offer Jeter arbitration.
Thing is that neither the Yankees or Jeter probably want to go through this again next year….if they offered it he wouldn’t accept and he’s not going to sign with another team.so the offer would be pointless and an unnecessary slap at Jeter.
Laura -
Well I don’t think El Capitan would be thrilled with the notion of a 1 year contract through arbitration – but from the Yankee standpoint it wouldn’t be the worst thing that could happen.
Yes you pay him a bigger chunk than you wanted to; but it is only for one year.
“so the offer would be pointless and an unnecessary slap at Jeter.”
The offer is no slap, because nothing makes Jeter take it. The arbitration protects the Yanks’ backside in negotiations.
If “we’re” talking about 2012, why not talk about 2013 and 2014. They’re about as relevent to 2011.
“The Yanks would be nuts not to offer Jeter arbitration”
Elaborate if you would, Wave. I don’t see it as especially necessary.
“If “we’re” talking about 2012, why not talk about 2013 and 2014. They’re about as relevent to 2011″
If the conversation doesn’t interest you, or is too hard to follow, why not stay out of it then?
Wave,
If Jeter isn’t going to take it then what’s the point…maybe its not a slap but its adding layers to a process that’s already complicated IMO….
“It?s disrespectful because it?s NOT more money. He gets a higher salary this year but overall it?s far less money. Since baseball contracts are guaranteed, a long term deal is always more favorable than a 1 year contract at high money.”
Perhaps, but it would be ONE way to put an end to the current situation.
Mell November 22nd, 2010 at 11:55 am
“The Yanks would be nuts not to offer Jeter arbitration”
Elaborate if you would, Wave. I don’t see it as especially necessary.
———————
Mell,
Not to speak for Wave, but as I said. On the one hand it could just be a necessary tactic for allowing the two sides to continue negotiating.
Second, if they do reach an impasse (as unlikely as that may be) and Jeter won’t come down from a request of 5 or 6 years then the Yankees would be able to get him on a 1 year deal.
Mell-
Jeter isn’t signed yet. Everyone thinks he will, but he’s not a Yank yet.
If the Yanks don’t offer him arbitration, if talks break down he can walk and the Yanks get nothing.
If the Yanks offer him arbitration, then one of three things can happen.
First, Jeter and the Yanks can come to an agreement on a contract, in which case the arbitration offer doesn’t matter.
But, it Jeter and the Yanks can’t agree, then Jeter can shop around somewhere and if he gets an offer he likes, he can leave and the Yanks at least get something.
Or, if he doesn’t get an offer he likes, he can accept arbitration. He’ll get a good salary, and the Yanks don’t have a long-term issue.
I just don’t see a down side for the Yanks.
If you’re trying to reach a compromise with Jeter then I don’t see how offering him.arbitration does anything but complicate the ability to do that.
You all are jumping the gun… there is no need to offer DJ arb. The team will work something out with him.
Chip,
No on Nathan.
I think the Twins have a pretty decent catcher already. Don’t think they need Romine.
If we wanted an 11M setup man, then we’d just pick up Kerry Wood’s option. But we didn’t, so therefore unlikely to want a similar contract.
Offering him arbitration would be a huge slap in the face IMO.
They gave Alex an insane contract after he opted out and made a big spectacle during the WS. He’s also embarassed himself a few times BEFORE the steroid stuff even came out. ( the stripper situation comes to mind)
Now I am in no way saying that Jeter should be paid more than Alex, not at all. But he does deserve respect here. You give Alex 10 years at age 32, Jorge and Mo 4 years at age 36, but then you’re going to insult the face of the franchise, who basically has done nothing to embarass the yankees his entire tenure in pinstripes ( maybe except that one time he was partying too much according to The Boss.. lol) with a one year arbitration deal? No way.
The arbitration offer complicates nothing. It’s on a completely separate track.
Mell November 22nd, 2010 at 11:58 am
“If “we’re” talking about 2012, why not talk about 2013 and 2014. They’re about as relevent to 2011?
If the conversation doesn’t interest you, or is too hard to follow, why not stay out of it then?
———————————————————————————————————————-
giving orders, are we? You have about 7-9 salaries/personnel that you have no idea is correct. abritration for Chamberlain, Robertson, Logan,…just to name 3. You don’t know where Posada will remain nor Swisher.
Wave,
You don’t think offering Jeter arbitration would chap him? I do.
blake-
I think they are all big boys. I think negotiations will proceed as they will regardless of who is chapped by who. JMO.
To offer arbitration, or not to offer arbitration. That is the question.
I say no way. I agree with those that say it’d be a huge sign of disrespect to Jeter. Besides, if we had to go through this whole thing again in a year, I think I’d go insane. LOL
Wave,
I agree that they are all big boys and unless they think a deal wont get done then why go down that road……just iron out a deal already.
NYY626,
The difference between Jorge and Mo getting 4 year deals at 36 and Jeter getting one is Jorge and Mo were not showing decline yet at 36 and were at the top of their games.
2 of the last 3 season Jeter has had have been mediocre. Last year was his worst.
Jorge and Mo were rewarded for still being very productive. Jeter doesn’t have that card to play.
If the Yankees and Jeter can’t come to some agreement soon, I don’t see the harm in offering him arbitration.
DaSaint007 November 22nd, 2010 at 12:04 pm
Chip,
No on Nathan.
I think the Twins have a pretty decent catcher already. Don’t think they need Romine.
If we wanted an 11M setup man, then we’d just pick up Kerry Wood’s option. But we didn’t, so therefore unlikely to want a similar contract.
—————-
DaSaint -
Two things:
1. I would want the Twins to pick up some of the salary
2. It doesn’t have to be Romine – same ilk though – good but not outstanding prospect. Romine’s just the first name I could think of. Maybe Adam Warren? Again, for the Twins the prospect isn’t as important as shedding a good chunk of that salary so that they can find a SS or starter.
I just think a healthy Nathan would be a far upgrade over what else is on the FA market and, even though he’s coming off an injury, he’s less of a risk than Kerry Wood to go down.
I think the Yankees caught lightning in a bottle with Wood – that he was able to stay healthy over the second half was pure luck. I wouldn’t want to take those odds again.
Offering abritration to both Rivera and Jeter will cost NYYs very little to nothing. The Yanks will offer about the same contract to Rivera and a 20% cut to Jeter. There’s a good chance that both players ask for the same as last year. The difference would be $3.5-$4 mil to Jeter for one year and they can do it again next year or extend the deal and it offers NYY the protection if things get tough. Nobody will sign Jeter to that contract except NYYs.
“Jorge and Mo were rewarded for still being very productive. Jeter doesn?t have that card to play.”
He doesn’t need that card. He’s the most famous and popular Yankee of the current batch. That’s the card he’s trying to play. So far, the Yankees haven’t been swayed by that argument.
Can comeone please insult me with a gaurantee of $17-$18 million a year?
“Can comeone please insult me with a gaurantee of $17-$18 million a year?”
LOL! Me Too!!!
The trouble with trading a catcher like Romine that has no real need for a catcher is that he can be flipped to a thread bare catching organization like Boston. If the bat continues to develop along with the glove, that park would be a huge boost for him.
“giving orders, are we? You have about 7-9 salaries/personnel that you have no idea is correct. abritration for Chamberlain, Robertson, Logan,…just to name 3. You don’t know where Posada will remain nor Swisher”
Orders? I asked you a question. I was responding to something Blake mentioned earlier. If you can’t catch up to the context of that particular conversation, have a reasonably strong understanding of the word “assume”, and/or have any interest at all in what was being said, then why bother getting into it?
G Love
I wasnt even arguing a 4 year deal for Jeter, I was just saying why I think it would be disrespectful to offer him arbitration compared to what they have done in the past, that is all. Its a moot point im sure because I doubt it’s going to happen.
Also, im not buying this “2/3 years jeter was mediocre so he therefore he is in decline” mantra just yet. 2008 he was hurt and this year we just dont know what his deal was. We cant fairly say that jeter is “done” unless he repeats 2010 next year, i think…
“We cant fairly say that jeter is “done” unless he repeats 2010 next year, i think…”
Another reason why an arbitration offer benefits the Yanks.
A cheap curiosity pickup might be Brandon McCarthy, just to see what he’s got. Offer him a 1 year minor league deal with a ST invite and incentives based on a ML call-up.
Jeter would never accept arbitration.
“Jeter would never accept arbitration.”
Assuming that were so, it’s still no reason for the Yanks not to offer it.
New Post: Could Vazquez be the first to go?
gb,
so in your opinion, romine will be an above average ml’er? i am not doubting, just asking.
all this talk of montero’s final position is really unnecessary, he’ll be 27 when tiex’s contract is up.
An arbitration offer only benefits the Yankees if either there was a chance that would accept it or there was a chance that Jeter isn’t a Yankee next year…..I think the chances of either of those happening is pretty low so you have to weigh that vs the possibility that it complicates negociations. Im sure they have a better feel for those things than I do….
Yeah, I think at the very worst, Romine could be AJ Pierzinski with the bat and a much better defense.
I would offer arbitration to Jeter and Mo. There is no way they will offer it to Vazquez, Wood or Berkmann because despite their hopes for a long term, high pay contract I don’t see it happening. The risk is too great the market will not be too hot for them and they accept it. Can you imagine if Javy came back and they were forced to pay him of $10M/ year?
I do think the Yankees should make certain Mo is going to play and demand a contract within reason before relievers like Soriano are off the market. I would do a two year contract with Mo. He is still performing at his usual very high level.
I now wonder what will happen with Jeter. No longer does it seem like a sure thing. As was discussed last year with Damon, players can more readily accept less money from a new team than take a pay cut with their existing team.
I do think the Yankees must consider their payroll for the upcoming years. Do they want $50M annually tied up in AROD and Jeter when they are 40+ years old? Regardless of some views, payroll flexibility does matter.