In Dallas, Evan Grant notes with the "final eight signings on the 40-man roster Thursday, the Rangers payroll pushed close to $127 million, but club president Nolan Ryan said it wouldn't force the team to dump any salary this spring." Ryan said, "I don't know that we'll totally know what our payroll is until we get to opening day, but I think we will be able to operate within the confines of our budget." The $127M payroll "would be the highest in club history by more than $20 million and is expected to rank in the top five in MLB" (DALLASNEWS.com, 3/1).
TEAMING UP: CRAIN'S CHICAGO BUSINESS' Ed Sherman noted the White Sox and the Univ. of Illinois have "come together in a unique partnership." The deal, announced Wednesday, calls for a "cross-promotional relationship between the baseball team and the school's athletic program." Illini fans "will receive special offers to select White Sox games and they'll be able to walk on the field during a pregame parade at U.S. Cellular for the 'Illini Day' Sox-Seattle game on June 1." From the White Sox' perspective, the deal gives a "shot at marketing the team to an Illinois alumni base that includes 220,000 people in metro Chicago and an Illini fan base that reaches into seven figures." The university also intends to "reach out to Sox fans with deals for its football and basketball games" (CRAIN'S CHICAGO BUSINESS, 3/1).
ROYAL LEGACY: In K.C., Sam Mellinger notes Royals Owner David Glass is "in good health but slowly removing himself from daily operations with the team." The "wave of talent" personified by Royals 1B Eric Hosmer and 3B Mike Moustakas "likely will be Glass’ last contribution and legacy as the Royals owner." Glass "isn't at spring training yet, and opinions about what this all means to him vary." Team President Dan Glass "mostly dismisses the idea that age and years of criticism mean his father has more emotion invested in this group than past years." But others "within the organization disagree." The Royals’ payroll "figures to be between $60 million and $75 million most years." Mellinger: "Maybe they can go a little higher based on attendance, but Glass has been consistent in saying he’ll extend the payroll if the Royals are contending for a playoff spot" (K.C. STAR, 3/2).
GUEST STARRING: In Milwaukee, Don Walker reported Packers QB Aaron Rodgers "has shot a couple of Milwaukee Brewers promotional spots, which will start appearing around the beginning of the season." Brewers VP/Communications Tyler Barnes confirmed that Rogers "was in Arizona to shoot the ads." Barnes "declined to say if Rodgers was compensated for the work." The Rodgers ads will be "part of the usual rotation of promotional ads the Brewers air each season" (JSONLINE.com, 2/29).
