Question: How much money will it cost to keep this Jays team together for 2016?
Impossible to say (but, let's try!).
The only 2 big ticket items on the roster for '16 are Tulowitzki & Martin ($35M).
The club holds options on E.E., J.B., R.A.D., Izturis, Romero.
Say they decline the options on Izturis, Romero (guaranteed), that's $1.6M.
Presume the Blue Jays pick up the other three options, that's $14M (J.B.), $10M (E.E.), $12M (R.A.D.).
That's $72.6M with 5 players accounted for.
A few players will be in line for raises (some significant) in arbitration, i.e. Donaldson, to a lesser extent Cecil, Smoak, Hutchison, Revere among them.
Lets say the Arbitration Eligible players account for ~$20.4M in salary, the club would be at $93M with 12-13 players signed.
There's a few not yet Arb. Elig. players, that will likely make the club in '16, Travis, Sanchez, Osuna, Pillar among them.
Presume the club signs 5 of those Non-Arb guys to start '16 with the big club. We'll say that totals $4M
They're at ~$97M with ~19 players signed.
6 players (including some key free agents) remain to be signed.
David Price, oh, lets say $28M
Mark Buehrle re-ups for $14M ...and flights home to see his pitbull whenever he wants
LaTroy Hawkins signs up $2.5M
Marco Estrada says sure $8.5M
Someone to back up RM $2.5M
Some backup utility guy $1.8M
Using my wild stabs at salary/option/arbitration decisions, heh, not so bad, right around $154M to put the band back together.
Opening Day payroll for 2015 was $125,915,800