MLB Franchise Notes: Denver Post Looking To Sell Stake In Rockies

In Denver, Andy Vuong notes the Denver Post is "actively marketing its minority ownership stake" in the Rockies. Newspaper Owner Digital First Media CEO John Paton in a statement said that the Post is "seeking to sell the stake in the baseball team as it pursues a digital strategy focused on 'content creation and advertising sales on multiple platforms.'" The Post holds a "7.3 percent stake in the Rockies" and took it over "following the closure of the Rocky Mountain News in 2009" (DENVERPOST.com, 11/7).

HOME AWAY FROM HOME: In Seattle, Nick Eaton noted the Mariners yesterday "announced plans to build a new baseball academy for Latin American prospects in the Dominican Republic." The $7M, 24-acre complex will include "enough facilities and equipment to host two full teams and their developmental staff." The Latin American Academy, as the team is calling it, also will "feature a residential area where prospects can live, work out and go to school, in addition to honing their baseball skills." The club said that the new facility in Boca Chica "would make Seattle one of just a handful of teams with their own academy in the Dominican Republic." The facility is the "first big project" for new Dir of Int’l Operations Tim Kissner (SEATTLEPI.com, 11/7).

SITTIN' ON THE DOCK OF THE BAY: The Mets yesterday reached a deal to terminate the remaining year on LF Jason Bay's contract, and SportsNet N.Y.'s Adam Schein said Mets GM Sandy Alderson "has done a good job" in his role with the Mets. SportsNet N.Y.'s Chris Carlin noted Alderson has "gotten rid of a couple of contracts that they needed to get rid of, and that's been more important than anything else" ("Loud Mouths," SportsNet N.Y., 11/7). N.Y. Daily News' John Harper said the Mets need to "rely on" Alderson's "Moneyball" strategy going forward ("Daily News Live," SportsNet N.Y., 11/7). SportsNet N.Y.'s Sal Licata said the release of Bay does not mean the Mets are "going to go out and get a free agent or spend any money" this offseason, but "at least we're moving on" ("The Wheelhouse," SportsNet N.Y., 11/7).

RUNNING THE SHOW: In Boston, Scott Lauber wrote Red Sox President & CEO Larry Lucchino "remains a forceful voice in the Red Sox front office." But as GM Ben Cherington arrived for the two-day general managers meetings that opened in Indian Wells, Calif., yesterday, he is "as empowered as ever in his 13-month tenure on the job." It took a year, but Cherington "finally has a mandate, not to mention his desired manager, to build what he has so frequently called 'the next great Red Sox team'" (BOSTONHERALD.com, 11/7).

STICKING TOGETHER: Pirates Chair Bob Nutting said that the club's management team "would remain intact." Nutting added that the "boot-camp-style developmental camp for prospects, the source of much recent criticism, will be toned down -- at the very least, to a point where developing baseball skills is the highest priority" (MLB.com, 11/6).