SI's Joe Sheehan writes during MLB's offseason, it "should be interesting to watch how the excess money in the game affects the free-agent and trade markets." National revenue "is at an alltime high, while payrolls have dipped to just over 40% of revenues, down from close to 60% at the start of the century." Money from new local-TV contracts "is itching to be spent," and high-revenue teams like the Red Sox and Cubs "head into the off-season with room on their payrolls." Second-tier free agents like P David Robertson and 1B Adam LaRoche "could be in for paydays that seem crazy but simply reflect the amount of money burning a hole in teams' pockets" (SI, 11/10 issue).
TORONTO TARNISH? In Toronto, Steve Simmons writes the current state of the CFL Arognauts is the "one giant blemish" on outgoing Commissioner Mark Cohon’s "otherwise impressive and somewhat fortunate resume." The "salvation" of the Argonauts is to "find a way to piggy-back on MLSE and move into BMO Field, which would give them just about the worst stadium in the CFL." They "have one of the best stadiums now -- only it’s cavernous and empty and without feel of any kind." There now "is no football experience at Argo games," which are held at Rogers Centre, "just memories of better days and better times" (TORONTO SUN, 11/7).
SPECIAL FX: In Boston, Stan Grossfeld noted the fledgling FXFL "hopes to charge the NFL for training players in season, but so far, they have not been compensated." The league "is operating at a loss but believes its low costs will keep it from the fate of other defunct alternative football leagues" (BOSTON GLOBE, 11/6).
