Tigers and Red Wings Owner Mike Ilitch said he wants his MLB franchise "to stay in the family" in the future, but added it is "something I haven't finalized." He said, "You try to cover every base. It's hard." Ilitch: "I feel great, but I don't take [my health] for granted. I'm very, very conscious of my age. I cherish every day. I figure, I don't know if I'll get another shot next year." In working to keep the Tigers long-term contenders, Ilitch acknowledges he has not "totally zeroed in on our payroll yet." He added, "What I'm still trying to figure out is what we need for next year. I want to be in a position to make one or two additions, and generally, they're pretty big additions" (DETROIT NEWS, 9/30). Meanwhile, Ilitch said the Red Wings are "gonna have a new arena. That's the best thing I can say." He also said of the recent sale of the Pistons and his decision not to invest, "My instincts told me what to do, after I analyzed it all. You can cite a lot of reasons, and I don't want to get into it" (DETROIT NEWS, 9/30).
BUDGET REPORT: Mets GM Sandy Alderson Thursday confirmed that the team's payroll "is expected to reside between $100 million and $110 million." In Newark, Andy McCullough notes earlier this season, Alderson had indicated that the number "could be closer to $120 million." Alderson said, "I don't see us going below $100 million. But as is pretty well-documented, I don't see us being where we are today, either" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 9/30). The Mets began the '11 season with an estimated payroll of $118.8M (THE DAILY).
THE WAITING GAME: A's GM Billy Beane said Thursday that he is "not planning on going anywhere" next year and he "believes that the team will get a decision soon on its stadium search after a wait of more than 2 1/2 years." Beane said of his status for next season, "I will be here." He also said that the team has been told MLB's committee "looking into the A's stadium possibilities has completed its work, but he was not specific about the sources of the information." He said that should the A's "get the OK to go to San Jose, they will focus on player development, drafting and international acquisitions to put together a young contending team ready for a new stadium in three years" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 9/30).
