As the Mariners await their July move to Safeco Field
with "increased revenues that could put the team in the
black for the first time in the '90s," they are set to begin
talks with CF Ken Griffey Jr. and SS Alex Rodriguez on
contract extensions -- "a bidding process that could ensure
the team never breaks even," according to Larry LaRue of the
Tacoma NEWS-TRIBUNE. Mariners Minority Owner John Ellis,
who said he is "chasing a moving target" with salaries:
"We've managed to develop a fan support and loyalty, and
produce a stadium -- all of which should produce a stronger
revenue base. If our revenues increase, if the target keeps
moving and you have to lose money to be competitive,
something is haywire with the system. ... It's a system that
has to change." With the 15th highest payroll in MLB, the
team lost nearly $2M last year (NEWS-TRIBUNE, 1/27). LaRue
also wrote that the Mariners must be "creative beyond the
dollars" in the player signings, and that Griffey owning
part of the team has been mentioned. Mariners President
Chuck Armstrong called the scenario "complicated," but not
"impossible." One team exec: "The problem with that is that
Junior and Alex know better than to own something that
continually loses money" (Tacoma NEWS-TRIBUNE, 1/27).
MLB NOTES: In Dallas, Richard Alm writes on the
Rangers' new advertising slogan, "The Texas Rangers: Your
Friendly Neighborhood Team." Rangers VP/Marketing Charlie
Seraphin said the team would start running ads next week.
Two TV spots have been shot, one featuring manager Johnny
Oates and the other featuring 1B Rafael Palmeiro (DALLAS
MORNING NEWS, 1/29). Also in Dallas, Ken Daley examines
MLB's economic disparity under the header, "Money Market:
Small-Budget Baseball Teams Are Out Of Their League" (DALLAS
MORNING NEWS, 1/29)....In Oakland, prospective A's buyer
Andy Dolich said the comments of his partner, Joe Morgan,
that he wasn't interested in buying the team for $120M
"weren't out of line at all with the group's collective
thinking." Dolich, who feels a deal can still occur: "There
are two major hurdles that we're basically discussing
amongst our group. The first is the purchase price of the
club, as it relates to markets around the country.
Secondly, there is discussion and concern in regard to the
economic structure in baseball" (OAKLAND TRIBUNE, 1/28).
