Mariners President Kevin Mather said that the team at the end of the '14 season was $16M "over the budgeted payroll" at $107M. He said he "blew by" the approved budget. In Seattle, Ryan Divish noted Mather "wouldn't give an exact number" on the '15 payroll. But he said, "Our number is higher. [Exec VP & GM Jack Zduriencik] has more flexibility ... in excess of what we spent last year." Mather: "Our fanbase has been so good to us. Our fans have been tremendous, loyal and patient to a fault. It’s time we put a winning product on the field and we get that.” He added, “We aren’t going to sell our souls for this year. We want 95-97 wins for the next four or five years" (SEATTLETIMES.com, 12/18).
WHY CAN'T WE BE FRIENDS? In Chicago, Paul Sullivan writes the White Sox and Cubs "are competing for media attention, even if both teams deny it." Sullivan: "The Sox and their fans believe the Cubs get much more publicity, while their counterparts believe the Sox get a pass from the same media that's always ripping them." Cubs President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein said, "I don't look at it, especially in the offseason, as a competitive thing at all." He added, "It's exciting. Chicago baseball (hasn't been) what it should be the last few years, and with both teams taking big steps forward this winter, it only benefits Chicago baseball fans" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 12/19).
YOU STAY CLASSY: In San Diego, Matt Calkins writes under the header, "So Far, Preller Gets An A+." Fans know new Padres GM A.J. Preller "as the 37-year-old wunderkind who took over" in August as Padres GM. Calkins: "But you can refer to him simply as The Man Who Brought Excitement Back to Petco Park. ... You have to admire the man's brazen ways" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 12/18). MLB Network’s Ken Rosenthal said of the Padres, “This is a team that never spent like this. But clearly, they had financial flexibility. We know that and their ownership, which is still relatively new, was eager to make a splash. ... I haven’t added up the numbers yet, but their payroll is going to take a significant hike. They’ve got a new TV deal and it’s a pretty good one ... But at the same time this is not a high-revenue market. ... You look at this creativity that A.J. Preller is showing here and there are other teams that could learn from that (“Hot Stove,” MLBN, 12/19).
