MLB Franchise Notes: Royals Anticipate 20% Payroll Bump

In K.C., Bob Dutton reports the Royals anticipate increasing team payroll about 20%, or more, next season, to about $70M, which would be almost $12M ahead of last season's franchise-record $58.2M payroll and "comes at a time when several teams are trimming payrolls because of concerns over the economy." Royals Owner David Glass said that the increase was in part a "sign of good faith to the fan base upon completion" of $250M in publicly-funded renovations of Kauffman Stadium. Glass: "We've got a lot going for us next year. The stadium is going to be sensational. ... And we need a good product on the field to complement what's happening with the stadium" (K.C. STAR, 12/5).

MONEY TALKS: Rays Exec VP/Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman, in a Q&A with the ST. PETERSBURG TIMES' Marc Topkin, said of how the economy will affect MLB, "I think everybody's kind of sitting back a little bit trying to figure out the effect the economy will have on teams, and as a result, inertia has set in a little bit. Agents don't necessarily want to do a deal now that in January looks foolish and, conversely, teams don't want to do something now that in January ... as teams are getting a better sense of what their resources are as December comes and goes and as you get into January and you get a much better sense for renewals and season-ticket base and all those different things, it definitely does have an impact. And I think a lot of people aren't sure what's going to happen, which is almost more paralyzing than knowing one way or the other what is going to happen" (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 12/5).

LOST IN TRANSLATION: In Boston, Sean McAdam reports the Red Sox' signing of Japanese P Junichi Tazawa, which was finalized Thursday, has "created a controversy, angering baseball officials here and in Japan." The Nippon Pro Baseball league in a statement suggested MLB teams showing interest in Tazawa had violated a "gentleman's agreement," and the the Red Sox' signing was "truly regrettable." But MLB Exec VP/Labor Relations Rob Manfred said, "I know the Japanese are upset. They are good business partners of ours and whenever a good business partner is upset, we're concerned about it. Having said that, it was 100[%] clear that there is no such thing as a gentleman's agreement with respect to signing (Japanese) amateur players and there never was" (BOSTON HERALD, 12/5).

NOTES: The MLBPA Thursday in its annual report indicated that the average MLB player salary in '08 was $2.93M, up 3.6% from '07, which was the smallest increase since '04, when the average salary declined 2.5% from the previous year. The Yankees' average of $6.86M was tops in MLB, but down from a record $7.47M in '07, followed by the Cubs ($4.68M) and Angels ($4.56M) (AP, 12/4)....The Padres have unveiled a specially-designed logo to commemorate their 40th anniversary, which will be displayed on a uniform patch and sewn into the team's home, away and alternate blue jersey tops. The logo also will be featured in club ads, promotional materials and throughout Petco Park (Padres).