Revenue-sharing "is on its way" for MLB franchises,
according to USA TODAY. If all goes as planned, reports Hal
Bodley, MLB owners will hold a special meeting next month in
Chicago to vote on a plan "in which rich teams kick in more of
their millions for the poor guys." Acting MLB Commissioner Bud
Selig would only confirm that he will probably call a special
session in the second or third week of February and that revenue-
sharing will be discussed. According to Bodley, revenue-sharing
will be introduced in stages over five years, "with gross
revenues determining which group a team falls in. Group A will
contribute to a central fund, Group B will neither give nor
receive and Group C will be the beneficiaries" (USA TODAY, 1/30).
In Dallas, Ken Daley examines the recent free agent signing
season. Nearly 51.4% of the more than $245M spent on hiring free
agents was spent by four big-market teams: the Yankees, Marlins,
Cardinals and Orioles. Also, of the $377M spent to retain
players, 40.3% was spent by the Yankees, Braves, Indians and
Dodgers (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 1/28).
LONG-AWAITED MARKETING PLAN: Selig promises an announcement
soon on the "historic" marketing campaign he promised before the
World Series, according to this morning's MILWAUKEE JOURNAL
SENTINEL. Selig: "As a matter of fact, I've been doing a lot of
work on it the past few days. We've got a lot of things in the
works. There will be a huge, new marketing structure." Tom
Haudricourt reports Selig is "waiting until all the ducks are
lined up" before naming a new Marketing Director. While Arlan
Kantarian of Radio City Music Hall remained the "leading
candidate," Selig said that "many 'extraordinary' people had
applied" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 1/30).
