Royals' Offseason Spending Produces Record-High Payroll

Royals Conclude Spring Training With Projected Payroll of $70.2M, Largest In Franchise History

The Royals concluded Spring Training Thursday with a projected payroll of $70.2M, which "ranks as the largest -- by far -- in the franchise's 41-year history," according to Bob Dutton of the K.C. STAR. The jump "comes after owner David Glass funded an offseason increase of more than 20[%] in a year when the rest of the industry as a whole is projecting an increase of roughly" 0.5%. Only five of MLB's other 29 teams "are projecting percentage increases larger than the Royals," and the club "still has 32 players on its camp roster and must make seven deletions" by 2:00pm CT Sunday. Royals GM Dayton Moore: "Ownership has been very supportive of our efforts to put the best team we can on the field." Dutton notes the Royals' "previous record payroll was last year's $58.2[M] after being as low as $36.9[M] as recently as 2005." Glass said that the "latest increase represented, in part, a good-faith response to the public's support in funding $225[M] in renovations to Kauffman Stadium" (K.C. STAR, 4/3).

NEW MENU: In K.C., Matt Campbell notes the Royals and new concessionaire Aramark "showed off their gastronomic fare Thursday." Royals Senior VP/Business Operations Kevin Uhlich predicted that fans beginning with the April 10 home opener against the Yankees "will find the food options at Kauffman an improvement over past years." Aramark District Manager Scott McGinn added, "I think fans will find some items are less expensive than last year. Some items will be slightly higher than last year. But I think we are very sensitive to the value question. We understand that fans' entertainment dollars are stretched thin" (K.C. STAR, 4/3).