In Detroit, Anthony Fenech reports 10 rows of lower-deck seating at Comerica Park have been "rebranded ... as the new 'Lower Infield Box' section." The new section is "made up of 2,700 seats in total" and is "sandwiched between the 'On-Deck Circle' section, which are the closest seats to the infield, and the 'Infield Box' section, which has been reduced in size because of the rebranding." The "Lower Infield Box" seats will be the Tigers' "fourth highest-priced season ticket" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 1/28). Meanwhile, also in Detroit, Tony Paul notes there will be no increase in face value for single-game tickets "because of dynamic pricing." The team first implemented the pricing plan last year, and it "proved successful for the Tigers' bottom line." Despite drawing under 3 million fans "for the first time since 2011 ... they are believed to have more than made up the cash difference thanks to dynamic pricing" (DETROIT NEWS, 1/28).
PREPARING FOR BATTLE: In N.Y., Thompson & O'Keeffe cite sources as saying the MLBPA will help Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez "fight any attempts by the Yankees to refuse to pay the bonuses" while he was suspended. The team is "preparing to battle Rodriguez over the bonuses that are separate" from the remaining $61M on his contract (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 1/28). ESPN N.Y.'s Wallace Matthews wrote in the Yankees' "seemingly all-consuming desire to 'get even' with A-Rod for his foolish and desperate attempts to overturn" MLB's 162-game suspension last winter, the team that is "supposed to be all about winning looks like it is about to compromise its own mission statement for the sake of someone’s revenge." There can be only "one reason for that: The Yankees are holding a grudge, and it could wind up costing them more than mere money" (ESPNNY.com, 1/26).
TAP THE ROCKIES: In Utah, Randy Hollis reports Rockies 1B Justin Morneau, CF Charlie Blackmon, manager Walt Weiss, GM Jeff Bridich and mascot Dinger yesterday “put on a youth baseball clinic for a small group of young ballplayers" at Woods Cross, Utah. The ‘15 Colorado Rockies Caravan had “made previous stops” in Denver, Colorado Springs and Grand Junction, Colo.; Albuquerque; and Boise. Woods Cross was the only tour stop, however, where the Rockies' personnel “put on a clinic for youths, and around 15 players ages 12 to 14 benefitted from the Major League players' and managers' expertise and experience” (DESERET NEWS, 1/28).
