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What will the Indians' payroll look like in 2015? Perhaps only Paul Dolan knows.

(Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians opened last season with a payroll of about $84 million. Veterans Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn accounted for one-third of that sum. The club received the most production -- and value -- out of players earning the league minimum, or something close to it.

How will the Indians' payroll shape up as the winter unfolds? How much money will the front office have available to spend, if it chooses to do so? Let's examine.

The wealthy

Swisher, who turns 34 in November, will earn $15 million in 2015 (and in 2016). Should he reach 550 plate appearances in 2016 and pass a physical, his $14 million option for 2017 will vest.

Bourn, who turns 32 in December, will earn $13.5 million in 2015 (and $14 million in 2016). He has the same qualifications as Swisher for a $12 million vesting option for 2017.

The Indians are stuck with these overbearing, all-but-untradeable contracts, a reminder of how unappealing free-agent signings can look in the long-run.

The core

Last spring, the club signed second baseman Jason Kipnis, catcher Yan Gomes and left fielder Michael Brantley to long-term extensions.

Coming off of an All-Star season, Brantley will earn $5 million in 2015. He is signed through 2017 and the Indians hold an $11 million option on him for 2018.

Gomes will make $1 million next season, a bargain for the Tribe. He is signed through 2019, and Cleveland holds options on him for the two years beyond that.

Kipnis will earn about $4.2 million. His annual salary jumps quite a bit each year until 2020, when the Indians hold a $16.5 million option on him.

First baseman Carlos Santana is signed for $6 million in 2015. He will make $8.25 million in 2016 and then the Indians hold a $12 million option on him for 2017.

The extras

Right fielder David Murphy will make $6 million in 2015. Ryan Raburn will make $2.5 million. Reliever Scott Atchison, who will turn 39 a week before Opening Day, will earn $900,000.

The Indians have until three days after the conclusion of the World Series to either exercise or decline utility man Mike Aviles' $3.5 million option.

Save for Atchison, the rest of the Indians' pitching staff will earn either the league minimum or will be eligible for arbitration.

What it all means

The Indians owe slightly more than $54 million in guaranteed contracts for 2015. They have seven players -- Marc Rzepczynski, Josh Tomlin, Bryan Shaw, Lonnie Chisenhall, Chris Gimenez, Carlos Carrasco, Zach McAllister -- eligible for arbitration. All but Rzepczynski and Tomlin will be eligible for the first time.

Baseball-reference.com estimates those seven arbitration-eligible players will earn nearly $14 million next season. Carrasco could have earned more had he discovered his effective pitching formula earlier in the year. Chisenhall could have boosted his income with a better second half. Shaw should receive a hike in pay after setting the franchise record in pitching appearances.

Nick Swisher will earn $15 million in 2015.

Still, the Indians will have plenty of contributing players earning the league minimum. Typically, this would be an ideal time to pounce on an established free agent or trade target or two, regardless of salary. Instead, the club is tied down by having tens of millions tied up in Swisher and Bourn.

Corey Kluber and Cody Allen will not be eligible for arbitration until next winter. Trevor Bauer and Danny Salazar are cost-controlled for another two years. Jose Ramirez, Kyle Crockett and T.J. House need a few more years of service time before they can earn considerable raises.

The Indians could discuss a long-term extension with Kluber later this winter. That would save them from potentially having to fork over exorbitant sums stemming from future arbitration cases.

Without any extensions, free-agent additions or trades, the club's payroll would hover around $73 million entering the 2015 campaign. That does not include Aviles' option, which also includes a $250,000 buyout if it is declined.

So, if the Indians desire a payroll in 2015 commensurate to the one they carried in 2014, they could have about $8-12 million to spend this winter. That won't get you what it used to.