Rockies Owner Dick Monfort yesterday said that he "will not alter" the team's front-office structure this offseason, and added that he "expects the player payroll to expand" by about $9M for '14 from an estimated $83.7M this past season, according to Saunders & Renck of the DENVER POST. Monfort, speaking during a wide-ranging interview at Coors Field, said that Rockies Senior VP/Major League Operations & Assistant GM Bill Geivett will remain "in charge of day-to-day operations and reporting" to Rockies Exec VP, Chief Baseball Officer & GM Dan O'Dowd, who is "in charge of the Rockies' player development but is also the boss of the front office." He said O'Dowd will oversee the minor-league operations and player development." Monfort "doesn't believe the unusual front-office setup creates confusion for teams trying to make deals with the Rockies." He said, "It's not that we have two GMs, it's that they just switched roles." Meanwhile, Monfort "disagreed with those who contend he doesn't have a passion to bring winning baseball to Colorado." He said, "I want to win at everything, even checkers." Monfort added that a "realistic goal is getting the Rockies into the playoffs 'a couple of times every five years'" (DENVER POST, 10/10).
SEATING RENOVATION AT COORS FIELD: In Denver, Patrick Saunders notes the Rockies yesterday announced the "next major construction project at Coors Field -- an extensive redesign and renovation to the upper right-field seating area and concourse." Monfort said that much of the money for the project "came from a surplus of capital construction funds and also from money the Rockies and the Denver Metropolitan Stadium District received from Aramark and RTD." Monfort insisted that the extra money the club will be putting into the project "won't hurt next year's team payroll." He said, "At best, it cost us a utility player for one year" (DENVER POST, 10/10).
