Padres Vice Chair & CEO Jeff Moorad yesterday said a new TV deal will have a "direct impact" on the team's payroll next season. The Padres' 10-year deal with Cox Communications expires after this season, and a new deal "could result in an increase of 10-20% in the club’s player salary obligations." Moorad declined to estimate the "extent his payroll could grow as 'too speculative,' but he has repeatedly pledged that the Padres would reinvest all revenue beyond expenses in the product on the field and Petco Park" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 5/2). Sources believe that the Padres "will be able to add an additional $7-10 million in payroll as a direct result of their upcoming deal." The Padres are believed to be in talks with Fox Sports about a TV deal (NORTH COUNTY TIMES, 5/2).
HEADING THE WRONG WAY: In Pittsburgh, Colin Dunlap noted since the Pirates drew 39,219 fans to their home opener at PNC Park, "no home crowd in the first eight home dates topped 30,000 and three were below 11,000." In a three-game span from Easter Sunday through Tuesday, the Pirates "drew crowds of 9,520, then 12,457 and 9,832." But an "atmosphere where empty seats pervade isn't something that has been indigenous only to PNC Park this season." It has "been a trend" throughout MLB. Pirates manager Clint Hurdle: "There aren't many teams who aren't experiencing this. I don't look any further than the economy. You have choices to make with your hard-earned dollars and baseball can be a viable option for some people; it's not an option anymore for others" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 5/1).
JUMPING ON THE BANDWAGON? In Cleveland, Paul Hoynes reported former Mets GM Omar Minaya spent time in town last week visiting with Indians President Mark Shapiro, GM Chris Antonetti and manager Manny Acta. Shapiro and Antonetti "described it as a 'friendly visit,' but Antonetti has made no secret that he'd like to add the right person to the front office" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 5/1).
